Info: Greenbriar Boys

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.

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

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."

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?

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!),
That had to be a monumental task digitizing those old tapes from the age ravaged and deterriorated old reel-to-reel tapes of those University of Chicago Folk Festivals. We put several tracks from my sets at various of those fests on my 1998 CD and we had to bake the tapes in a convection oven to set the oxide before they could be played one time only to make the DAT tape. After that the reels were just trash. It's great thr who shebang was saved. Thanks should go to Kate Early and Rich Warren and radio station WFMT-FM in Chicago and others for doing the truly hard work on that project.

Art Thieme

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 .??

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.)

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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".

Subject: RE: Help: greenbriar boys
From: thosp
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 12:21 PM

wow!! great!!! i can hardly wait!
thanks! pdq


thosp

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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