That Yodellin' Song/Ballad of the Maples (Staines)

Subject: That Yodellin' Song
From: GUEST,Don
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 10:57 AM

Back in the early-to-mid 70's, I saw Bill Staines in concert at Cornell University (or, at least, I'm 95% sure that it was Bill Staines.) One of the songs he performed that night was called "That Yodellin' Song" (or perhaps it was "That Yodelling Song".) A short while later I heard this same song coming from someone's dorm room, which led me to believe that Mr. Staines had recorded it.

Assuming that I am remembering correctly that it WAS Bill Staines, can anyone tell me if he did in fact record "That Yodellin' Song", the name of the record where it is recorded, and whether or not it is still available? A visit to his web site yielded no information.

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 12:01 PM

Hi Don.....welcome to Mudcats.

Yes, Bill recorded the song....I think it's on his "Just Play One Tune More" album (cassette and remastered CD.) It's still available and can be ordered directly from him or through Mudcatters Sandy and Caroline Patton.    Folk Legacy

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 12:04 PM

link doesn't work here. Hold that click Don....

you can click it now, Don:-)
el joeclone

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song
From: GUEST,Don
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 02:41 PM

Thanks for the information, Night Owl, but when I go to the Folk Legacy site the song is not included in the playlist for "Just Play One Tune More", nor for any other Bill Staines recording listed there.

I suppose it is possible that the song is not actually CALLED "That Yodellin' Song". I note that there is a song on one of his albums called "The Happy Yodel", but I am betting that that is not the one I am after.

Still, once again, thanks for trying!

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 09:30 PM

Don, "That Yodeling Song" is one of the "10 other songs" mentioned on Bill's site (NOT included in the website playlist).

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 10:02 PM

or NOT!!   checking my tapes here...

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 10:18 PM

apologies Don.   I don't have my original cd's and tapes and am getting my info from tapes I made for traveling music in my car. I remembered after my last post that I miss-labeled some of those tapes.
"That Yodeling Song" is different than the "Happy Yodeler"....and you're right that Bill recorded "That Yodeling Song". I went through the songs on my tapes and believe that the song you're looking for is on his "Rodeo Rose" cassette. Couldn't find the cassette listed at Folk-Legacy.

(thanks "el joeclone" for fixing my link)

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:03 PM

I think it's "Ballad of the Maples," which appeared on the 1981 "Rodeo Rose" album. I'll do my best at typing up a transcription, but Bill sings it darn fast.
In the meantime, you can Click here to hear a recording of the song at The Record Lady.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Night Owl
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:09 PM

that's the one....thanks Joe. Don't think I ever knew the right title!

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Musicman
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:10 PM

is is called the ballad of the maples. and is also on the first million miles vol 1......

Subject: ADD: Ballad of the Maples (Staines)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:24 PM

THE BALLAD OF THE MAPLES
(Bill Staines)

I used to go to country bars, sit and watch them play guitar
And I'd order me up six or seven beers
How I'd love to hang around, listen to that country sound
To the band that played sweet heaven in my ears
Little Ray was on guitar, and I'd watch him from the bar
Like lightning did his fingers run the strings
And the people near dropped dead when he played behind his head
Doing crazy licks and lots of other things.
Brother Earl (?) would pick and sing, white lightning was his thing
And he used to tear the place up with that song
But was Johnny led the band, and there ain't no one to stand
When he rolled them over with that yodeling song.
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song

Now, I've got one thing to say, it it's to my dying day
I'm gonna learn to do that yodelin'
Take my place down with that tune, and let 'em hear me 'round the moon
Have 'em dancin' in the aisles when I sing
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song
Yodel...
Do that yodelin' song

More yodeling...

From the 1981 Bill Staines release Rodeo Rose

(transcribed by ear from the Bill Staines First Million Miles CD)

JRO

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:26 PM

If I recall correctly, Bill said "The Maples" is a bar in New Hampshire, Bill's home state.
Do they yodel in New Hampshire?
Maybe only when it's cold, huh?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Jim Krause
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:31 PM

Here's the lyric: Ballad of the Maples (Bill Staines) 1. I used to go to country bars     Sit and watch them play guitars     And I'd order me up six or seven beers     How I'd love to hang around     Listen to that country sound     And a band that played sweet Heaven in my ears Little Ray was on guitar     And I'd watch him from the bar     Like lightning did his fingers run the strings     And the people near dropped dead     When he played behind his head     Doing crazy licks and lots of other things     Oh the world would pick and sing     White lightnin' was his thing     And he used to tear the place up with that song     Backwoods Johnny led the band     And there ain't no one could stand     When he rolled 'em over with that yodel song yodel       Do that yodelin' song     yodel       Do that yodelin' song 2. Now I've got one thing to say        If it's to my dyin' day        I'm going to learn to do that yodelin'        Take the place down with that tune        Let 'em hear me round the moon        Have 'em dancin' in the aisles when I sing yodel       Do that yodelin' song     yodel       Do that yodelin' song There, I think I got the words. There may be a mondagreen where I've written "Backwoods Johnny led the band...." I can't quite make out Johnny's nicname. Sounds like Backwoods, but I'm not sure. Jim

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Jim Krause
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:34 PM

Well Joe, looks like you and I both had the same idea at the same time

Jim

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:02 AM

I own Bills Staines second or third album with The Maples on it as well as a great song called Railroad Blues. But my favorite on the album is Just For Love, about a horse that loved a rider.

Don

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:28 AM

The song you are looking for is on an off-the-radio cassette I have of Bill in concert at the University Of Wisconsin --- as played on Wisconsin Public Radio. But this yodeling song was never issued commercially I don't believe. Also, Bill did a marvelous spoof of Mazart's Horn Concertos using just his mouth and vocal chops. Very impressive and right on. The recording I have of that was taken from airplay also. He's a great talent that we take for granted sometimes me thinks 'cause he has always been around and pickin'. I do wonder just how many miles this man has put on during his long and marvelous career. Hearing all of Bill's songs about being on the folkie road took care of any inclination I might've had toward making my own songlist top-heavy with too many of those. For that I will always be grateful to Bill. "MISSOURI ROAD SONG" and Elkin Thomas's "JOLI GIRL" (which Bill Staines sang on his first Folk Legacy record) at top volume in the car kept me awake through many a long night's drive trying to make that ABC TV show in Wichita before going on to Winfield.

As you can tell, I'm a big fan of the man.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:58 AM

I must admit that I'm not all that famiiar with Bill's music... I have heard a few of his tunes... seen him in two concerts... but what I'm most happy with... is that I have met and chatted with the man himself... and right now... I can tell you that the man is "pooped out"! His e-mail addy is [e-mail].... why not drop him a line and let him know what he means to you... it will not go un-appreciated! As he goes through his life building "Bridges"... I know he could use a little "Quiet Faith" of his fellow man!!

LL

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: GUEST,Don
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 08:44 AM

Thanks, yet again, to all who supplied information! Special thanks as well to whomever added "(Staines)" to the thread name (I should have done that in the first place!)

The consensus seems to be that the song is actually called "The Ballad of the Maples" (go figure), and that it appears on Rodeo Rose. I note from Bill Staines's website that Rodeo Rose was recorded in 1981, so it couldn't have been the record I heard playing in somebody's dorm room in the early-to-mid 70's. I also note that he apparently has five albums that are no longer in print. One of those five is probably the album I'm really looking for. But I'll give Rodeo Rose a try.

Interesting note about "The Maples" being a bar in New Hampshire. As I recall from that long-ago concert, he mentioned the Hawthorne hotel in Salem MA in his introduction to "Ballad of the Maples". That isn't so very far from the New Hampshire border.

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Night Owl
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 10:53 PM

Art, that's a wonderful "tribute" to Bill Staines you've posted!

I DO WISH.....I wish you would write more threads/stories in the forum.

(A few years ago, Bill was being called the "Dean" of Folk Music here..[New England]. He claimed he was too young to be called the "Dean" of anything).

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Jim Krause
Date: 25 Oct 02 - 12:03 PM

I have also been a big fan of Bill's for years and years. And I can't quite remember how it is I happened onto any of is recordings or heard of him in the first place.

I did meet him briefly in Omaha back in '98 or '99 I think it was. I only had enough time to introduce myself and shake hands with him. I kept looking to a chance to have a short conversation with him, but he was obviously busy connecting with old buddies or getting ready for his next set/worshop etc.

Jim

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 25 Oct 02 - 04:59 PM

Night owl,

Thanks. When I first looked in here at Mudcat ('97?) there were more threads looking for info I had. It's kind of like looking at the movie stars these days; there are very few I've ever heard of. But ask me about times I was part of, and you can't stop me from discoursing. Contributing here keeps my hands and fingers in things folkie, so I'll put in my .02 every so often---.

And I did send Bill a fan letter/email, as some suggested here. (I do hope that was really his email address.) His music has been a melodic backdrop for my years of doing stuff on the scene. I should've sent that long ago. Even more than Bill Staines' lyrics, his melodic instincts and use of chord structure rivals even Bob Gibson. And coming from me that is high praise. His exceptional musicality and taste makes you listen hard and love the song even if a given lyric is only passable.

Art

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: clueless don
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:46 AM

Wow, I was still "GUEST,Don" when I started this thread back in 2002. I did end up buying Rodeo Rose (on pre-recorded audio cassette - now there's up-to-date technology for you!), and I'm glad I did, but as I suspected the recording of The Ballad of the Maples on it is not the one I remember from the '70s. I wish I knew which of his out-of-print albums had the original recording of "Maples", so I could look for it on used record sites.

Don

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: Tommy 2.0
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 01:39 PM

You can also find a performance if the Ballad of the Maples on The Prairie Home Companion Anniversary Album from 1980

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song (Staines)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 09:56 AM

Here's a video of it. The six or seven beers have morphed, as you can hear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeHdNqf40CE

Subject: RE: That Yodellin' Song/Ballad of the Maples (Staines)
From: GUEST,Rex Solomon
Date: 08 Sep 16 - 12:14 AM

You can find it on A Prairie Home Companion Anniversary Album, Vol. 2 on itunes.