BS: What is Country?

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 04:23 PM

Here in Juneau there is a weekly (10:00 PM- 1:00 AM) radio show called 'Mule Train' (complete with Rose Maddox's recording as the theme song) that will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month.

The host, Don Drew, plays almost entirely only country songs and artists circa 1930's-1960. It's a great opportunity to hear singers and songs you haven't heard for years. He himself has thousands of records and CDs and box sets on his living room shelves, so if he doesn't have the song you request this week, he'll bring it next time. We're lucky to have him. Great guy besides.

Art, Alice Gerrard (and Tom and Brad) are going to be the Guest Artists in this spring's Alaska Folk Festival. I'm looking forward to it, to understate just a bit. :)

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 05:11 PM

Ebbie,

I love and tape the reruns of Northern Exposure whenever they're good ones. Is that the real Alaska? ;-) We tried to drive there once. Blew 2 of 4 cylinders North of Whitehorse---before they paved that highway. Drove back to Chicago with the other 2 cylinders--mostly on the shoulder. Our kid, conceived in an ovfernigtht snow storm that night (in our VW bus) is now 30 years old.

SAY, If you see my old pen pal, PAUL ROSELAND (The Singing Sourdough) up your way be sure to give him our heartiest salutations. His new CD is wonderful. THE GOLD RUSH COLLECTION: 1849-1941. All Alaskan, Yukon and Klondike mining songs. I never heard Paul sound better. And he's got so many great songs. Real literary content there. And yes, "Squaws Along The Yukon" is included.(order Paul's things from ALASKA FOLK MUSIC---P.O. Box 91324-----ANCHORAGE 99509)

Also, TOM, BRAD & Alice's CD for Copper Creek BEEN THERE STILL is a great example of modern folks doing the roots music straight on and without any attitude or agenda other than doing it really well and having fun too. You'll enjoy them I'm certain.

I like Emmylou's cool even sexy gray hair. But she is one who swallows final consonants to a huge extent. Her diction is so bad (copared to the clarity of a Hank Snow) that I, truly, can't listen to her. I guess that's just me.

AN ASIDE: (as if I post anything else): I just found a slide I took of BILL MONROE and IKE EVERLY (the brothers dad) doing a guitar mandolin duet in concert at the University of Chicago Folk Festival about 1965. Another slide is of both mom and dad performing there.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 05:52 PM

Boy am I enjoying this.

If you're looking for artists that are keeping the tradition of the Louvins, Hank Williams, and such alive there are a few who are doing quite well. I think Dwight Yoakam knows the territory and stays home most of the time. I also think that Marty Stuart knows and respects his roots. Unfortunately, both of these guys have flirted with POPularity and have done some pandering to the least common denominater. Dwight tends to ladle on the twang at times.

There are a lot of Austin songwriters who also build on the roots of American rural music and early country. There was a band called the O'Kanes (Keiran Kane and Jamie O'Hara, I believe) who did two terrific recordings together that really capture the close harmony singing of the Everly's or Louvin's. Both discs have been cut-out; I actually bought them for $1.00 each from a bargain bin at a place called Rock Records in Chicago. The best $2.00 I have spent in a long time.

Jim Lauderdale and Robert Earl Keen are also excellent. Lauderdale just released an album with Ralph Stanley that is excellent, from what I understand.

Art - It's funny you mention Don Gibson. I met him once out in Reno, Nevada. At the time when I was pushing (or pulling) a five piece country band around the country trying to get recorded, we would occasionally get hired to back fading Nashville singers. One such engagement was with Billy Walker (The Tall Texan), who was an Opry regular in the 60's and was the first to record Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away". We were rehearsing at the hotel/casino (waiting for the star to show up), when in walks **Don Gibson**. Big as life. Just like he looked on the album jacket. We introduced ourselves and had a nice pleasant little conversation about the business. He was doing a show up the street, but he promised to try to catch our act if he got the chance (he didn't). He also told us to remember the fans; that they were the ones who determined your success or failure. He was one of the humblest guys I ever met. All I kept thinking was "this is the guy that wrote 'Oh Lonesome Me' and 'I Can't Stop Loving You' in the same afternoon. What a thrill.

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 06:27 PM

Just to mntion that all the recordings mentioned are available from CAMSCO Music. ([e-mail]) (800548-FOLK). If you order from CAMSCO, please mention Mudcat; that way Mudcat gets a cut.

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 06:37 PM

Geez - I almost forgot to mention Iris Dement. And James Talley. And Guy Clark. And. . .

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: GUEST,Wendy
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 11:55 PM

WKCR is having a "country" music fest this weekend. See the schedule here .

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:09 AM

Wendy.

That's a fine lineup. What town is that in ?

Art

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:49 PM

Art, I never saw 'Northern Exposure' so I can't really say. I think it was shot in Washington state, though. Or was that 'Twin Peaks'? Which I didn't see either.

Yes, Paul Roseland comes here sometimes, and when I see him, I'll definitely tell him HI for you.

I haven't heard Tom, Brad and Alice yet, although I do have some Hazel Dickens and Alice CDs and tapes. As I said, I'm really looking forward to the Folk Festival this year. I don't require that every year's guest artists be my favorite performers and genres but it's really grand to have it every couple of years.

At least you almost made it to Alaska. Glad to hear you enjoyed the north. ;) I like the notion of knowing where one's child was conceived!

Eb

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: GUEST,Wendy
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 03:13 PM

Art - WKCR is in NYC. It's associated with Columbia University. It's 89.9

Wendy

Subject: RE: BS: What is Country?
From: GUEST,Wendy
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 04:47 PM

More importantly, you can listen to the live webcast...
There's a link to it on the schedule (for WKCR's Country Music Fest this weekend).

Wendy