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Info: Greenbriar Boys
Related threads:
Dian James & the Greenbriar Boys LP (18)
Obit: John Herald (Greenbriar Boys) (1939-2005) (28)
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Subject: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 23 Jun 99 - 10:43 PM does anyone know where i can find cd's cassetts etc. on the greenbriar boys (esp. dian and the greenbriar boys) i been searching for a long time -- and haven't found a thing |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Sandy Paton Date: 24 Jun 99 - 12:03 AM Have a look here Vanguard Bluegrass catalog. Just scroll down a bit from the top; the titles are alphabetical. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Tiger Date: 24 Jun 99 - 06:49 AM I've managed to get a couple of these over the years. Some of my favorite cuts:
Amelia Earhart's Last Flight |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rockaday Johnny Date: 24 Jun 99 - 09:05 AM Dian & Greenbriar Boys is an lp Ive been after for years also - It was released on Elektra and predated the Vanguard recordings I just missed a copy on Ebay that went for $30 + so good luck -The only CD is "The Best of" which is great and should be easily found in cutout bins these days |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rasta Date: 25 Jun 99 - 01:29 AM Now were talkin . Not quite the same as the Kingston trio but just as good. I think the original banjo man was Eric Weisburg but later replaced by Bob Yellin. If you can find a copy of an album called New Folks , they do three cuts on that album with the Late Ralph Rinzler on mandolin and John Hearald on guitar who still plays gigs.--the album also had Hedy West (500 miles) Jackie Washington and Dave Gude or guide all nice cuts. they have it in CD form. ---Diane had no eyebrows , Im sure she is or was a groovy person though because after all its whats inside that counts--I would love to find a copy of the original Vanguard album (The Greenbriar Boys) with nine poud hammer. Nuff said Rastaaaaaa |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 27 Jun 99 - 05:30 PM i've tried all the above suggesstions (thanks all) but i still haven't had any luck --- i'm hoping for some more info ----- |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: JOField Date: 27 Jun 99 - 06:35 PM I b'lieve "Dion and the Greenbrier Boys" was after the original Greenbrier Boys album -- by a few years. That band had a real effect on all us city bluegrassers. The first New Yawkah to really spread the bluegrass news was Roger Sprung, but the Greenbrier Boys carried the message all over the Northeast and then the country. James. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Art Thieme Date: 28 Jun 99 - 03:03 PM Rasta, Could you be confusing the Greenbriar Boys with THE TARRIERS?? I know weisberg was with the Tarriers before "Dueling Banjos" made him famous (if not infamous for makin' a bundle with someone else's song). Art |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: dick greenhaus Date: 28 Jun 99 - 03:35 PM From memory: Erik DARLING (not Weissberg) was with the Tarriers, along with Bob Carey and Clarence Cooper. The Greenbrier Boys started out with Bob Yellin, John Herald and Paul Prestopino. Things changed. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Art Thieme Date: 29 Jun 99 - 12:53 AM Darling was with the Tarriers when they had their hits, "The Banana Boat Song"("Day-O"), And "Cindy, Oh, Cindy" (Down by the seaside sifting sand...) in the 1950s. Erik Darling, from my memory (which aint to good lately), then joined THE WEAVERS when Pete left. That made room for Eric Weisberg to join The Tarriers. I saw them at the new Gate Of Horn in Chicago with Weisberg after the original Gate burnt down. The new club was a spruced up fancy nightclub at the State St. and Rush St. conjunction. Had big pretensions and plush carpets. Bar downstairs and show room upstairs. The new Gate was to the old Gate what Ricky Whats-his-name is to Pete Seeger. Art |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: woody Date: 29 Jun 99 - 01:09 AM I've got the Electra LP EKL-233, Dian James,vocals, John Herald, guitar; Bob Yellin, banjo; Ralph Rinzler, mandolin. Sez here, Dian James...born in New York City, raised in Hollywood and on numerous movie locations around the country...played her first featured role at the age of 13(The Bachelor and The Bobbysoxer)...got lotsa eyebrows!!! |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: woody Date: 29 Jun 99 - 01:31 AM That's lotsa eyebrow....and lotsa eyeshadow!!! woody |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 29 Jun 99 - 09:02 PM to woody ! that's great !!! you have the record --- is there any way that i could get a copy (cassette) ? or ? --- i can't believe i'm this close ! |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Bill D Date: 29 Jun 99 - 09:59 PM little late looking at this thread, but I also have "Dian and the Greenbriar Boys"...also "The Greenbriar Boys...Ragged but Right"..Vanguard VRS-9159..(also "New Folk"...where they had ¼ of an album..with Hedy West, David Gude and Jackie Washington (wow...you live long enough, and that old stuff starts to get hard to find..) |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: woody Date: 29 Jun 99 - 10:23 PM thosp; Be happy to send you a cassette. Pos tyour address on this thread or e-mail me at:dwoodbury@rkymtnhi.com. woody |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 29 Jun 99 - 11:05 PM hi woody ! i can't believe my luck ! thanks ! thanks ! thanks ! ( i guess i'm excited ) let me know if i can return the favor ! thomas p. mcgrath 3804 greystone ave. #C-3 riverdale ny 10463-1924 thosp@aol.com thanks tom |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 29 Jun 99 - 11:07 PM and thanks to everyone for being so helpful !!!! |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 29 Jun 99 - 11:54 PM somehow i detraced this --- i don't know what that means -- but it doesn't sound good. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Bill D Date: 29 Jun 99 - 11:56 PM means it WONT be in your personal page..maybe you only traced it...if it says 'detrace' beside it, then you have locked it into your list |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 01 Jul 99 - 01:03 AM to Bill D ----- hi ! and thanks ----- somehow i missed your first post to this thred ---- Ragged but Right------ would it be possible to get a cassette copy ---- there is absolutely nothing to be found in stores both internet and shoeleather ----- tom |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rasta Date: 01 Jul 99 - 02:23 AM Hey Art--well lM not hung up on being right bout everything but somewhere in my travels I remember hearilng that Eric Weisburg was an orignal Greenbriar boy , perhaps it was just for a week or month. Dont really know. All those guys knew each other in the 50*s in the village. And Im not confusing it with the Tarrierers . The album they did with the cover shot outside the bitter end was a great album. Weisburg also did an album called New Dimensions in bluegrass with Marshall Brickman on double banjo and Gordon terry on fiddle and clearince white on guitar. whewwww what an album , Id love a reissue on CD of that project.----Anyway happy 4-th---====-----Rastaaaaaa |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Sourdough Date: 07 Jul 99 - 01:21 PM I was working in New York in the late Fifties, a college kid with a job at what was incredibly enough, at a successful avante garde theater. God knows, there were plenty of avant garde theaters in NY but one that actually drew audiences night after night and made money, was a rarity. My employment gave me a mild amount of celebrity points so I was invited to places that I might never have seen otherwise. Since my taste ran to folk music, that's the scene I entered. What made me think of this was coming acros this Greenbrier Boys thread. John Herald used to go to a lot of folk parties around Manhattan. If the Greenbrier Boys were in town and didn't have an engagement, John Herald would be in some loft or other with a group of fifty or more other guests, and there would be lots of music. On these nights, only daylight crowding through the windows of the lofts seemed to be strong enough to push people out and towards their homes. I used to bring my guitar to these social events which were certainly the highlight of my calendar. My guitar was what was once an inexpensive Gibson blues guitar. I have no idea what the model was but it was finished a deep brown all over the box, front, back and sides. With its black scratchboard, it was a somber and somehat reserved looking instrument. John Herald, for what ever eason, never seemed to bring a guitar to these gatherings and would to borrow one. That's how I met him, he wanted to borrow a guitar and I offered mine. He picked it up by the neck and kind of hefted it as though he felt that the weight was important. It seemed to satisfy him so he swung it up and played a simple figure on the strings. "Thanks, it has a nice old time 'thunky-thunk sound'". I knew exactly what he meant. I also knew why it had that old time thunky-thunk sound. It was the strings. Even successful avant-garde theaters don't pay very much. I was making $34 week so strings were a luxury. Those particular strings might easily have been six months old although once, when I needed a low cost way of entertaining myself, I had boiled them to try to restore some of their clarity." Six weeks or so later, there was John Herald in a loft, at a party looking for a guitar to borrow. "Would you like to try this one?", I offered. He took it, hefted it a bit, played a few notes and said, (You are probably getting ahead of me here) ""Thanks. It has a nice old time 'thunky-thunk sound'". He had absolutely no memory of either me or the guitar but I have to admit that his critical facilities were very consistent because this same scene was replayed several more times over the next months until I decided that I had to devote more time to school. I was in a college seventy miles away and all this NY living with only occasional forays to classes was taking a toll on my grades. I left New York. It was probably fifteen years before I realized that I had been on the edge of a very special time in New York when the Beat Generation, the Abstract Expressionists, the Folk Wave, Bop, Pop Art, Happenings and more were all vital parts of a cultural stew that bubbled in theaters, bars, storefronts and lofts all over Manhattan. Nearly forty years later and three thousand miles away, I can still see the ripples. Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Date: 08 Jul 99 - 03:00 AM I dug out the ol;d vinyl LPs and may have solved the Eric Weissberg question. On their second Vanguard album, "Ragged But Right", Eric Weissberg played bass. As to whether he ever performed with the group outside of the recording studio is something I would not know. I can't keep my eyes off of the dust covers of these old records. They did some great songs. If anyone is intereswted, their first album also included Buddy Pendleton on fiddle and Jack Cook on bass. One of my favorites on that album is 'Rosie's Gone Again'. Their third Vanguard release was "Better Late Than Never" and was recorded after Ralph Rinzler left. Mando-maniac Frank Wakefield plays on this one, as well as Jim Buchanan on the fiddle and Russ Savakus on the bass. About two years ago I tried to get a copy of the CD "Best of John Herald and the Greenbriar Boys" and it took a lot of work. The shjops couldn't find a distributor who carried it, and I made several phone calls to Vanguard. I finally was able to talk with someone who tracked down a copy and I got it in the mail. One of the video releases of the old Pete Seeger "Rainbow" show features the Greenbriar's as they appeared on that third album. It is a lot of fun to watch, but a friend of mine told me that they have pulled all of those videos out of distribution, also. Consequently, about a month ago a friend of mine was on a bluegrass web site and people were doing the same thread. Bob Yellin thanked all for the compliments. The next response was to try to get a campaign to get Vanguard to release the old stuff again. Yellin's response was that it was very unlikely. That led me to wonder how difficult it would be to purchase the masters of some of these old beloved groups and rerelease them ones self. Maybe that could be a new thread? |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: CarlZen Date: 10 Jul 99 - 02:13 AM Sourdough, Thanks for another good story. I think as a boyhood fan of the Greenbriars I had that dream many a night. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Tommy Mooney Date: 23 Mar 00 - 04:52 PM Recently played an old vinyl of Joan Baez and (I had'nt played it since the 70's, it was left in a "box in the attic" after moving house) re-discovered the "Greenbriar Boys" who joined her on "Banks of the Ohio" and "Little Darling, Pal of mine". They were the band who first turned me on to Bluegrass , it must be - oh, some forty odd years ago. Wonder where are they now. I was amazed to hear that Eric Weisberg was a member, as I saw and heard him here in Ireland a few years back. He was playing Nylon guitar with a band called something like "New Purple South"???? It featured Bill Keith on Banjo, Jim Rooney on rythym guitar( He played it "Back-to-front" - a left-hander) and a Bass player and fantastic fiddle-player whose names have presently escaped me. Are these the same Greenbriar Boys who had all those records that an old thread mentioned. (I was advised to try the archive before posting this, but here goes anyway.) If anyone can provide a cassette I'd love to return the favour if there's some thing I can get?? Tommy |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 23 Mar 00 - 05:52 PM No one has mentioned Joe Isaacs. Wasn't he a member of the Greenbrier Boys after Bob Yellin left? He was and is a great bluegrass banjo player. He has been performing with his family on the bluegrass and gospel circuit and the Isaacs Family has been a very popular group, consistently charting on Gospel radio. His two daughters and son are excellent musicians and they have written some good music as well. Daughter Sonya Isaacs is now building a solo career out of Nashville. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Stewie Date: 23 Mar 00 - 06:05 PM The 'Greenbriar Boys' entry in K.Baggelaar & D. Milton's 'The Folk Music Encycopaedia' says that they were formed in 1958 and 'originally comprised John Herald, Bob Yellin and Eric Weissburg'. It goes on to say that Weissburg left the group in 1959 and was replaced by Rinzler. Their information was unually pretty reliable. The 'Ragged But Right' album sleeve has 'assisted by Eric Weissburg on bass'. The CD 'Best of' is a straight reissue of the Vanguard 'Best of' LP 79159 with no extra tracks - short for a CD, but good though. --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Wally Macnow Date: 23 Mar 00 - 06:34 PM They turned out to be my favorite bluegrass band even after all these years. Eric and Bob and John and I (along with a number of others, Roger Sprung and Lionel Kilberg of The Shanty Boys, Joe and Willie Locker, et. al.) used to play together in Washington Square before they formed the band. John and I were both learning to play guitar at that time. If memory serves me right, Eric left when there was an opening in The Tarriers. That was when Erik Darling, who replaced Alan Arkin, left. Again, if memory serves, Marshall Brickman joined the group and I think he replaced Clarence Cooper. Art, wasn't it Alan Arkin with The Tarriers when they had their hit singles? |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,bigJ Date: 23 Mar 00 - 08:38 PM Well, I've just been downstairs to rifle through my old 10 inch LPs and there's 'The Tarriers' on Columbia 33S 1115. No date, but the group consists if Erik Darling aged 23 - Bob Carey aged 24 - and Alan Arkin aged 23 (ah, we were all young then!). The songs on it are Pretty Boy/I Know Where I'm Going/ Rock Island Line/ East Virginia/ Drill Ye Tarriers/ Shadrack/ Those Brown Eyes/ Chaucon/ Acres of Clams and Lonesome Traveller. Regards. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rick Fielding Date: 24 Mar 00 - 12:17 PM Wish I'd noticed this one earlier. Yup Eric Weissberg sure did play banjo with the Greenbriars. As did Paul Prestopino. Fred Weisz played bass at times. Even RICHARD GREENE was a member for a while! As Yellin said in an interview, "we weren't very good, but we were enthusisatic"! He of course was basing "good" in relation to the bands that they idolized who were all Southern and VERY tight. Loved the Greenbriars. (even played in a band called the "Gangreen Boys") Rick |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rick Fielding Date: 24 Mar 00 - 10:27 PM This brought back a great memory this afternoon. On one of their many visits to Toronto I took Frank Wakefield home to meet my mother and have lunch. Frank was the first "real" southern musician I'd gotten to know and I was a little wary of how my mother with her very liberal views would interact with one of my heroes who's ideas were decidedly conservative to say the least. I needn't have worried. After lunch the two of them played 4 handed piano on hymn after hymn. I just sat in awe. Rick |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: SINSULL Date: 14 Aug 00 - 01:29 PM I am refreshing this in the hope someone can tell me where I might be able to find some of Paul Prestopino's earlier recordings - early to mid fifties. He did a concert/festival in NJ (Princeton, maybe) and it was recorded - "Three (3) Folk Sing. Anybody have his webpage address maybe? Mary |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Mark Clark Date: 14 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM I'm afraid I can't help with the recordings but you bring up a name I haven't heard in a long time. Didn't Paul and Danny Kalb make music together long ago? Maybe in Madison? - Mark |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Art Thieme Date: 14 Aug 00 - 11:58 PM At the first University of Chicago Folk Festival in 1961 a group from Madison, Wisconsin played at the open stage. They were so good they were asked to do a set at the evening concert in Mandel Hall that night. The guys went on stage and were introduced as Marshall Brickman and Troup. All I recall from that show was that they did a loose version of Rev. Gary Davis' song "If I Had My Way". I think it was Brickman, Danny Kalb, maybe Weisberg and Prestopino too. There were 5 or 6 guys in that long ago impromptu group of friends taking in this all traditional American music folk festival. February 3, 4 and 5, 1961. The festival is still going strong in 2000---forty years later. I think the Greebriar Boys were at the third U. of C. Folk Festival. I've still got a slide of Ralph Rinzler on stage sitting in with the New Lost City Ramblers and the great autoharper Kilby Snow. What wonderful music came out of those festivals---when the GREAT traditional roots informants/artists were still with us. From here, looking back, what a grand priviledge it was to be able to hang out and soak up the music. And then I was hired to play at 3 of the later festivals. Whenever I'd walk out on that Mandel Hall stage where Frank Warner and Frank Proffit, Jean Carignan and Allan Mills, The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker, Elizabeth Cotten, Horton Barker, Roscoe Holcomb, Jean and Edna Ritchie, Muddy Waters, Booker "Bukka" T. Washington White, Sandy Paton, Almeda Riddle, Dewey Balfa, Bob Atcher, Glenn Ohrlin, Johnny Gimball, Rev. Gary Davis, Willie Dixon, Nahville's Tom T. Hall -- and so many more. Yes, when I would walk out on that same stage, I could feel the spirits of ALL of those marvelous singers and musicians buoying me up and saying, "Go ahead, kid -- show 'em what you've found." And what a kick and a half it was for me to be there. Thanks for letting me perpetrate this blatant thread creep. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: SINSULL Date: 15 Aug 00 - 10:27 AM Art, Blatant thread creep some more. It must feel strange to be one of the "spirits" yourself now. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Mark Clark Date: 15 Aug 00 - 11:12 AM I was still living in Des Moines in 1961 and some friends of mine used to travel to Madison. They'd come back with tapes made at jam sessions where Prestopino, Kalb, et al. were present. We were all just blown away. I never got there but I did get to meet Paul a couple of years later in Chicago. I think it was at the old Rising Moon on Pearson. He was backing somebody... maybe it was Chad Mitchell, can't remember anymore. Art, those UofC festivals were/are truly great. What an amazing opportunity they were/are. When I couldn't scare up enough money for tickets, I'd still ride the El down on a Sunday morning for all the free workshops in Ida Noyes Hall. Sometimes you couldn't decide whether to hit the jams or the workshops; they were both so great. You could just stop someone walking through and ask "On your album, how did you play ..." and as often as not, they'd stop right there, take your guitar and show you. We always looked forward to festival weekend because of the traditional Sunday afternoon jam session at Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap. There were bluegrass/old-timey sessions there every Sunday but festival weekend many of the booked musicians would come over and join in. Mike Seeger played at CSPS here in Cedar Rapids not long ago. I asked him if he still attended the festival. He said "no" but didn't elaborate. And that's what I know about the Greenbriar Boys. <g> - Mark |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Art Thieme Date: 15 Aug 00 - 11:53 AM Mark, The sessions at Jimmy's were great. Paul Goelz and Stan Chapin and Chuck Cling and Mark Dorinson, yourself and many others--some ultimately became The Greater Chicago Bluegrass Band and even The Volo Bogtrotters. (The V.B. are still going strong along with the CAJUN ACES offshoot.) Fred Campeau, Steve Rosen, the Terr brothers, Lynn Terr, Paul Tyler (whose wife is now interim head of the Old Town School Of Folk Music), Richard and Mose Hood, Vicki Moss and Flawn Williams. Good people and fine old-timey music & dance. Thanks for the mamaries ! Art |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: MAG (inactive) Date: 15 Aug 00 - 12:51 PM Mike Seeger. He emceed a workshop at that fest. (??early seventies) on barbershop quartet harmony. A female quartet was on, and I was so impressed with Mike's questions; he had them describe how they laid out the melody first, then usually the descant, bass and alto. How they built the harmony. It was great. I discovered Louis Killen at that festival (probably not he same year). and got in some clogging practice. (I had taken Sharee Shepherd's clogging class, with a to-remain-nameless live musician friend, and it was hard to find places to practice afterwards.) Boy, those were good times. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Mark Clark Date: 20 Aug 00 - 12:53 AM Art, Yeah, the people that used to come through Jimmy's could make a book in itself. Remember Artie P. Crowder "The Old Man From The Mountain"? He'd come up from Indiana with Bill Jackson and Harold Lamb? What a treat they were. Dave Prine and Tyler Wilson used to come by too. And Dave Samuelson would come by and sit in on mandolin. Dave produced the Buck Graves and Kenny Baker albums on Puritan. Stan Shapin is out in LA now. I had a chance to visit a few years back but haven't heard from him for a long time. I'm always amazed that I don't run into him here. I always admired his banjo playing and valued his friendship. The GCBG actualy came as much from Lackey's Steak House as it did Jimmy's. Remember Gene Lackey? Gene had a little corner resteraunt in Rogers Park that was SO SMALL... (How small was it?) It was so small that Gene wasn't forced to buy his meat from the outfit. It was so small, they didn't even make him put in a juke box! It was so small, they didn't even have a liquor license, you had to go around the corner to buy a bottle of wine or a six pack and bring it with you for dinner. Now that's small. Gene was a wonderful country singer from Mt. Home, AK and an absolute genius with cut up pieces of dead cows. I used to love to eat dinner there and stay to listen to Gene sing. It was there that I first met Chuck and Richard. Flemming Brown used to show up there quite a bit as I recall and a fledgling band with the cheeky name "Chicago" used to rehearse there after hours. Gene and his wife were tuned into the arts community so touring Brodway productions often held their parties there. Well, it seems I remember more about the Greenbrian Boys than I thought. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 20 Aug 00 - 08:25 AM What a fascinating thread! It's been waved under my nose a few times now, and I did keep meaning to look in. So thanks to those who have kept reviving it, I've finally made it. The first time I saw the term "bluegrass" was on that Joan Baez album that Tommy Mooney has. The banjo solo on "Pal of Mine" has stayed in my head ever since (seem like note of it), and the Baez/Greenbriar version of "Banks of the Ohio" is still the best I've heard. Can someone tell me when this album was issued? It's called Joan Baez Volume Two, issued on Vanguard. I saw a copy recently, prominently labelled Vanguard front and back. But in tiny print on the back, there was also the Pye imprint, and "copyright 1975" - so this is obviously a reissue, probably UK only. And is there any way of knowing who was playing banjo on that album? I'm really curious to know, just like I keep meaning to find out who played sax on "Still crazy after all these years." Bluegrass never featured much in the 60s folk clubs I frequented, though I well remember a banjo player called Pete Stanley, who was still going strong on the London pub scene quite recently. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Bud Savoie Date: 20 Aug 00 - 08:29 AM Fionn: Bob Yellin played banjo on that album. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 20 Aug 00 - 08:46 AM Four minutes, Bud? I expect quicker than that from Mudcat! BR>Many thanks. I've been meaning to get this resolved for maybe thirty years. How did you know it was Bob Yellin? Are the players credited on the original album, or do you know from knowing when the album was cut? (Or is the style just obvious to true bluegrass afficionados?) |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Bud Savoie Date: 21 Aug 00 - 07:47 AM OK, Fionn, this is a lot later than four minutes, but I was away at a country fair all day yesterday. Yes, there were good notes on the back of the original album. This was the first time I had heard of the Greenbriar Boys. Saw them a couple of years later in person, and they exceeded expectations. All three of them were superb musicians and obviously enjoyed what they did. I think the album came out in 1960. Bud
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Art Thieme Date: 21 Aug 00 - 01:41 PM Mark, I just found this thread again. I've got tapes of some of those times at Lackey's. Artie P. and Fleming and Steve Wade jamming with Davey Prine. Doug Montegue too I think. and unique tapes of Hobart Smith---recorded while sitting on the couch in George & Gerry Armstrong's livingroom. Someone--not G. & G.---put the mike under the couch. Lackey's place at Lunt & Glenwood was across the L tracks from the No Exit in those days. The space is now THE HEARTLAND CAFE owned by Mike James--who just bought the No Exit---cleaned the place up pretty well and reopened it. Probably the longest running coffeehouse in the U.S. I played there for 37 years. I guess they've been around under all the different owners for 43 years. Art Thieme Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Mark Clark Date: 21 Aug 00 - 03:59 PM Art, Now that you mention it, I remember the No Exit being there. When I think of the No Exit, I still think of Sheridan Road near the El tracks. My oldest daughter, Manda, told me she spent many nights in her teen years in the No Exit listing to you. I believe it was in that location though I may be wrong. I'm happy to say that you brought her along in fine shape. I don't think Manda ever mentioned the Greenbriar Boys though. <g> I'm glad to hear the No Exit remains extant. If they remain true to their purpose, there'll be another crop of young people introduced to folk music. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Tommy Mooney Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:36 PM Yes Fionn I too was "hooked" on Bluegrass having first heard the solo by Bob Yellin on the Pal o' mine track on Baez's album that we mentioned. It must have been in the sixties (early) that it was first released because I bought it in HMV Oxford Street, London before leaving the UK in 1965. I met Eric Weisberg in person at a "Bluegrass Festival" in Athy, Co.Kildare, Ireland back about 1986/7?. He did a workshop there on Nylon Strung guitar since Bill Keith was also there and, of course, took the Banjo "session". (It was outdoors, by the riverbank and it was unforgettable. I learned more in a half hour than I had done in several years of self teaching from manuals, records , whatever.) TM |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Tommy Mooney Date: 21 Aug 00 - 05:55 PM Sorry, forgot to respond to another remark of Fionn's. I have also met Pete Stanley that excellent 5-string Banjo player, it was in a Pub in Higate , North London if I remember correctly. It would have been around 1988/89 I believe. I have never before, or since heard Jig-time tunes handled so well on that instrument. Incidentally, Pete Stanley used to figure quite a bit on Radio folk shows in the 60s and 70s around London. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: JJ Date: 10 Sep 02 - 06:39 PM Wasn't Dian James married to Bud? Or Travis? That's a terrific album (bought it on eBay), and I wonder what became of her. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Stewie Date: 10 Sep 02 - 08:06 PM There's a recent 2-CD reissue by Vanguard. Good value. Greenbriar Boys: Best of the Vanguard Years --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Chris in Wheaton Date: 11 Sep 02 - 03:04 PM Great thread - saw the Greenbriar Boys at the Ash Grove in LA ('63?). The album with Frank Wakefield was not to my taste, but everything else was great and I have sung Ragged But Right since those days (even with the key change!!). Art or others - the Chicago Public Library has tapes of the UC Folk Fests and has converted some to cd's. Can't somebody find a way to get the best parts released publicly? I listened to Maybelle with the NLCR - great stuff. Chris in Wheaton |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST Date: 11 Sep 02 - 04:58 PM If I'm guessing right, Tommy Mooney saw a group in which Eric Weissberg played QUITE A FEW YEARS BACK....."New Purple South" is a fun guess, but they were called the Blue Velvet Band. Absolutely legendary, they made one album, which cannot be found anywhere, with Richard Greene playing fiddle and Weissberg playing steel guitar. I still do one of the songs from that album, called "Hitch-hiker"- a wonderful progression, and a real crowd pleaser. Sorry, can't help you on the Greenbriar Boys albums. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Stoo from Vancouver Date: 11 Sep 02 - 05:25 PM Fascinating thread - I know I have a couple of Greenbriar Boys albums, and I'm almost certain I have the Blue Velvet Band album as well... Does anyone remember hearing John Herald do a song about the Salvation Army? I saw him on the toob donkey's years ago, and he sang a song that stuck in my mind for years, but of course I can't remember it at the moment. I also bought a more recent album of his in some second-hand store, but found it a sad disappointment. A.J. (Stoo) Born |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Muskrat Date: 11 Sep 02 - 05:48 PM Dian James was married to Travis Edmonson. Their daughter, Catherine James, lives in Los Angeles, and many moons ago was the subject of John Mayall's (1) lust and (2) the song "Miss James." |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: JJ Date: 11 Sep 02 - 07:11 PM Thank you, Muskrat! But does anyone know what became of the career of Miss James' mother Dian? |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Art Thieme Date: 13 Sep 02 - 01:04 AM Finding this thread, at this late date, is like day job vu all over again.
Chris in Wheaton (John Belushi's home town!), Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: musicmick Date: 13 Sep 02 - 02:11 AM I have additional Greenbriar Boys information. I knew them in the late 50's and early 60's when they were John Herald, Ralph Rinzler and Bob Yellin but at this year's Philly Festival, Eric Weissberg told me that he had been an original member (with John and Bobby) and, when he left to join the Tarriers in 1957, he was replaced by Paul Pretapino, who was replaced by Ralph. Paul Prtestapino later worked as accompanyist for the Chad Mitchel Trio and, I think, for Judy Collins (or was that Steve Mandel?) In the mid 60's Bobby Yellin moved to Israel, married, changed his name to David and performed with his wife, Yona. They had a popular recording of a song for immigrants called "Tsarik Lilmod Ivrit", which means You Have To Learn Hebrew. They lived on a kibbutz called Endor and I often came over to jam. Nobody on my kibbutz could play bluegrass, either. Before the festival, I hadn't seen Eric for twenty years and we spent hours playing "Do you remember..." and "What ever happened to....". Nostalgia is one of the few pleasures of dotage.
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 23 Sep 02 - 01:56 AM good news!!! amazon.com recently notified me -- that vangard has released a 2cd set "the greenbriar boys" "best of the vanguard years" which i ahve ordered and recieved and am enjoying---------now if electra would rerelease "di'an and the greenbriar boys"----that would do me just fine peace (Y) thosp |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rick Fielding Date: 23 Sep 02 - 10:55 AM I'll always be a dunderhead on the computer, but it has allowed me to make contact with some of the folks that I owe (virtually) my whole lifestyle to. So, Art...you may know this first hand, but what a shock it was to me. A couple of months ago Erik Darling sent me a CD of early Tarriers material. I was simply blown away at how accomplished a musician and arranger Alan Arkin was. This guy could PLAY! To think that he gave up the opportunity to live a life of poverty for that of a movie star! Paul Prestopino is one of those names that pops up a lot when folks are talking folk nostalgia and the New York scene. Is it possible he just drifted out of music and is actually living a repectable life somewhere? Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Noel Paul Stookey Date: 23 Sep 02 - 11:32 AM Hello Rick and all, For most of the sixties, Paul Prestopino played guitar for the Chad Mitchell Trio. Since that time, he's played for many folk and pop music artists and his been the backup guitarist on all of Peter, Paul and Mary's tours since I don't remember when. Paul has also been very active as recording engineer and studio designer. He put together the Record Plant Remote truck and is its chief engineer. For the loove of the music, NPS |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 23 Sep 02 - 12:56 PM Allan Arkin was with the Tarriers when they had their hit singles. I had (and may still be able to dig out) the album that had Banana Boat Song on it, and the cover had a photo of the three guys. On the liner notes on the back of the album it said that Alan Arkin's long-term desire was to be an actor, and he certainly achieved that. I'll have to check Critics Choice Music on the internet after I post this. I'm quite sure that they released that same album I have/had on CD. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 23 Sep 02 - 01:04 PM My mistake: It's Collectors Choice Music. They do have a CD of the album I have that has Banana Boat Song on it. The record was on the Glory label. The CD has several bonus tracks from a French label that was recorded live. Eric Darling and Alan Arkin are prominently visible on the cover photo. The CD is on sale for $13.46, if anyone is interested... Jerry |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Foe Date: 23 Sep 02 - 01:29 PM When I worked at a folk club in Tucson, the Greenbrier Boys came through town as opening act to Joan Biaz. Ralph Rinzler told me that the three of them, (he, Bob Yellin and John Herald) were not a group but hung out at Washington Square jammin', during early folk days. Joan Biaz was in a studio recording and was feeling down so one of the record label people ran down to Wash Sq and grabbed the three of them to come play some Bluegrass for Joan as she liked that kind of music. So they gave themselves a name and went on tour with Biaz. Ralph would laugh because they traveled around the country in a Nash Rambler and Mike Seeger and the New Lost City Ramblers were traveling around the country in a Chevy Greenbrier. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Jack The Lad Date: 23 Sep 02 - 02:17 PM In the mid 70's I and a group of friends lived on a kibbutz in Israel. We decided to start a folk club- as none existed at that time. We heard about the duo David &Yona- and that David was none other than Bob Yellin of the Greenbriar Boys. We decided to invite him to play at the club (Jacob's Ladder), and he eventually agreed - though he was reluctant at first, saying he was a little rusty on banjo! He went on to join a group of musicians- forming "The Unknown Country Band" which went through several transmogrifications- ending up as White &BlueGrass . David left Israel sometime in the '80s- but the bluegrass that he introduced here lives on. Cheers- Jack The Lad |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: beachcomber Date: 23 Sep 02 - 05:14 PM Apropos of an earlier post to this thread, would "Muleskinner" be the Title of the album by that old "Blue Velvet Band" by any chance .?? |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: musicmick Date: 23 Sep 02 - 08:55 PM Speaking of Alan Arkin, does anyone know what became of his brother, Steve? Steve Arkin was a wonderful bluegrass banjo player who won a number of contests in the mid 60's and worked with Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys for a while. Monroe used to introduce him as "our Jewish banjo player from New York." (When Bill Kieth played for the Bluegrass Boys, he was called Brad Kieth because Monroe didn't want another Bill in the band. Well, nobody's perfect.) |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: jets Date: 23 Sep 02 - 11:16 PM I have Di'an & The Greenbria boys/Electra ERS7233-A in a good jacket and sleeve. It was recorded by Electra with permision from Vanguard. |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Rick Fielding Date: 24 Sep 02 - 11:36 AM Refreshing this because I idolized the GBBs as a yout'. Any other personal memories are welcome. Cheers Rick Oh.....P.S. Frank Wakefield pulled out his F-5 in the Sai Woo Chinese restaurant in Toronto, where we'd go after the show, and played (his idea of) Chinese music to get a waiter's attention! The staff absolutely LOVED him! |
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Subject: RE: greenbriar boys From: Mark Ross Date: 24 Sep 02 - 12:29 PM Bob Yellin appears to be in Burlington, VT, where he owns a couple of music stores. The GBB's were one of my favorite groups when I was younger, unfortunately, my voice would not get up into those celestial ranges that John Herald was capable of reaching. They were a great influence on all of us who grew up in the Great Folk Music Scare of the '60's. Mark Ross |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 01 Jul 06 - 11:04 PM i thought i'd dust off this old thread --- as i'm still looking to get Di'an and the Greenbriar boys --- i have a cassette that woody was nice enough to send me --- but it is now very worn ---so i'm wondering if there is any new info thanks thosp |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: Big Al Whittle Date: 02 Jul 06 - 03:26 AM Nothing to add. i can remember ralph and the Greebriar Boys touring England in 1965 - though I didn't get to see them on account of the tickets being really expensive 7/6d asI remember. I loved reading all this, particularly Sourdough's reminisences. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: pdq Date: 02 Jul 06 - 11:46 AM "Dián James & The Greenbriar Boys" has an official release date (on CD) of August 29, 2006. I was going to have a friend copy my LP this summer but will not do so since the CD will be available. A matter of ethics. Also, the better the re-issues sell the more the record companies are motivated to re-issue more classics. I will be "Collectors' Choice Music Catalog #671 due August 29, 2006". |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: thosp Date: 02 Jul 06 - 12:21 PM wow!! great!!! i can hardly wait! thanks! pdq thosp |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: Big Tim Date: 03 Jul 06 - 03:52 AM I've just seen this Thread and I'm not going to read it all (!), so if the following has already been mentioned, please forgive. A DVD, 'Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest - New Lost City Ramblers and Greenbriar Boys. Two classic shows from the 60s - 2 hours' was released in 2005. Contains some great music and interviews with the lads. A book by Bob Yellin was mentioned but I've haven't been able to trace it. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Jim Date: 03 Jul 06 - 11:45 AM I saw the GREENBRIAR BOYS twice. Once in the very early sixties at a coffee house in Hamilton, Ontario called the Happy Medium. It was Ralph, John and Bob with a guest, the fiddle player from the York County Boys.(Sorry, I don't remember his name.) The second time I saw them was at the Mariposa Folk Festival the year it was held in Maple Leaf Stadium. That year Rev. Davis, John Hurt, Joanie Anderson (now Mitchell), Gord Lightfoot, Buffy St. Marie, David Rae and a bunch of other people were there too. I'm pretty sure Al Cromwell, and Ken & Chris Whiteley were in the audience. At that festival the GB boys were John and Bob with Frank Wakefield on mandolin and comic relief plus Jim Buchanan on fiddle. They had a bass player too, maybe Eric Weisberg? I also saw John Herald and the Honkies on Ian & Sylvia Tyson's show in the 70's. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Guest Rick Date: 07 Jul 06 - 09:14 PM I have searched high and low and cannot find the lyrics to "Rosie's Gone Again". Does anyone know where I can find a copy of the lyrics? Thanks, Rick |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: Mark Clark Date: 07 Jul 06 - 11:44 PM No but I still have my copy of the LP it's on. I'll make a point of capturing the lyrics for you. It'll probably be a few days though. I'm pretty busy this weekend. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: Peace Date: 08 Jul 06 - 01:16 AM Available here for $.99 It was also recorded by Jimmy John in 1957. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: Mark Clark Date: 11 Jul 06 - 12:20 AM Okay, lyrics are posted. I started a new "Lyrics Add" thread for it. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Rick Date: 11 Jul 06 - 06:44 AM Thanks a lot Mark for taking the time. It is appreciated. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,Jan Lewis Date: 21 Jul 21 - 11:23 PM I'm looking for a song I believe was done by the Greenbriar Boys back in the 1960's called "Didn't He Ramble." Anyone remember this or know where I can get or listen to a copy? |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: GUEST,# Date: 22 Jul 21 - 10:08 AM Jan Lewis, I cannot find "Didn't He Ramble" or "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" and I wonder if you might mean "Rambling 'Round" which is done to the tune of "Goodnight Irene"? If indeed it is RR, it's on YouTube. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: Reinhard Date: 22 Jul 21 - 10:34 AM A 1993 live recording of the Albion Band singing "Didn't He Ramble" is on the Ashley Hutchings anthologies The Guv'nor Vol 1 (1994) and Burning Bright (2005). The latter's booklet noted: Nowhere is the way traditional lyrics evolved better illustrated than in what happened when folksongs were replanted in America - they were both preserved and transformed, as Cecil Sharp discovered. Here Ashley reunites the old Christmas ritual song, The Derby Ram, with the New Orleans jazz standard it became. Not content with that, and bearing in mind the traditional song hails from his new home territory, he builds in a reference to one of his non-musical passions, football. Although no one seems to have come up with a satisfactory explanation of the origins of this gigantic mythical beast, it was preserved in public consciousness in a number of regional mumming plays, most of which included variants of the song. Didn't He Ramble, along with The Saints, was the upbeat tune played for celebration of life at the end of a jazz funeral in New Orleans. |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: gillymor Date: 22 Jul 21 - 11:00 AM Could it have been the New Lost City Rambler's version done in their old-timey manner. Didn't He Ramble |
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Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys From: GeoffLawes Date: 23 Jul 21 - 10:44 AM There are many YouTube videos featuring The Greenbriar Boys https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+greenbriar+boys |
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