Jenks "Tex" Carman self titled LP on the Sage label

Here is a mighty unusual LP, or at least a might unusual performer! Jenks Carmen is one of the most unusual artists. He was popular in California from the 40`s up into the early 60`s and performed on the Town Hall Party TV show with people like Joe Maphis. He played guitar in the old Hawaiian style, that is just a regular flat top type Martin in the laying down position, and was both adept at playing breaks, solos and backing up his singing. What makes his guitar style so unusual was that the stacatto type style he played was popular in the teens up into the mid 20`s. It was the style of the "real" Hawaiians that migrated here from about the turn of the century till the mid 20`s.
His vocal stylings were something to behold too. He sang in a high, nasal toned voice. His singing matched his guitar stylings, stacatto. I`ll admit some people may not like his voice, I like to hear him myself. He was part Cherokee Indian and could speak the Cherokee language. On his song Hillbilly Hula, the words just sound like jibberish but it is in the Cherokee language. Also, he uses a Cherokee word that sounds like "chippeha" that he says sometimes that he said the meaning of is like when we might say "yee-haw" or "whoopee" when we hear something we like.
So---give ole Jenks a chance and listen to this, I think if you try it a couple times it will sort of grow on you.



Click here to download Jenks "Tex" Carman self titled LP

Jimmy Driftwood - A Lesson In Folk Music LP on the Rimrock label RLP-496

This is a pretty neat record as it is presented actually as sort of a lesson. This material was apparently recorded at a old-time music workshop of some kind. Mr. Driftwood talks some an each track (if I remember right) about the song (source, how old, etc.) Or about the instruments he is playing or all of the above.
Anyone that knows anything about at all about Jimmy Driftwood knows he wrote the words to the Johnny Horton hit The Battle Of New Orleans, which is set to the old fiddle tune the Eighth Of January. The eighth of January is the actual date of the battle at New Orleans with "Old Hickory" (who became a national hero and eventually a president by the name of Andrew Jackson) leading the American forces to victory over the English army. The most interesting fact of this battle to me is that it was fought after the war was actually over. A peace treaty had been signed, but since there was no speedy way to relay news then, neither side was aware that the war was already over.
Jimmy Driftwood is still pretty well known around the area where I live in the Missouri Ozarks and in northern middle Arkansas. He is largely responsible for Mountain View, Arkansas becoming an attraction for traditional musicians. He (as well as Grandpa Jones) had a dinner theater in Mountain View for many years. Also, Mountain View has the Folk Center that he helped get going. They have many music and other traditional activities and festivals throughout the year.
Just as a side note, Bookmiller Shannon was very well known in the area around Mountain View as an old-time banjo picker. Jimmy and his wife Cleda, as well as Bookmiller Shannon, have all passed away some time back. I don`t know anything at all nor ever even heard of Barbara Sanders.
I wonder when people quit using the term "folk music" for old-time music, or when the term "old-time music" came into common use for this type music. I have saw many references in articles from the 30`s & 40`s using the term folk music for what we now call Old-time music. Of course we all know what became known as folk music in the 50`s, music mostly played by "city folks" of the older style country material, then evolving into all the protest type stuff and eventually evolving into stuff such as pshychodellic type stuff that my ears can`t even start to tolerate. No offense intended here if you like that type of music. All the early folk type bands singing traditional material sound phony to me. As I said, no offense to people who like that type music, I`m just on a little rant here. To each his own!!
Hope you like this LP, it`s a pretty neat record.



Click here to download Jimmy Driftwood "A Lesson In Folk Music"

Obray Ramsey Sings Folksongs From The Three Laurels

Here`s a another good Obray Ramsey LP. Not that it`s any better or not as good as the others! I like all his music. There really isn`t anything more I can say about him, so if you want to learn a little more about him just check out the other posts of his material. As always, just click on any picture to enlarge it. Enjoy!!



Click here to download Obray Ramsey Sings Folksongs From The Three Laurels

Wade Mainer - First Time In Stereo - Homestead 90002

Here`s a mighty good record if you like Wade Mainer. It`s seems to be the first record made since his 78 days back in the late 30`s or early 40`s. The liner notes explain some about why he had quit the music buissness and such.
I was very familiar with Wade`s old recordings, but just in the last 3 or 4 years heard some of his later recordings. His banjo picking is a 2 finger style, sort of sounding like a pre-Scruggs bluegrass style.
I got to meet Wade about 5 or 6 years ago at Uncle Dave Macon Days where they honored him that year. He was about 94 and his wife about 90. It was about 100 degrees that day and they gave a show about 45 minuets long! Wade and his wife are still living and I believe he is 102!!
If you watch PBS any, you might catch Wade and his wife on a music show (I can`t remember the name of the show at the moment) from a few years ago. I believe Wade is 98ish on this show. It`s also a good show because they interview him some and it`s pretty interesting. Hope you like this one!!



Click here to download Wade Mainer - First Time In Stereo

5 String Banjo - America`s National Instrument - 10 inch LP

Here is an unusual record. The only one of these pickers I`ve ever heard of is the great classic style player Fred Bacon. It`s odd to have a track by Fred Bacon on here (from an Edison recording from sometime in the teens) with the other artists that were current recordings when the LP was issued (early 50`s I`d say). Fred Bacon of course was one of the best classic banjoists of the early part part of the 1900`s. I`ve never even heard of the other artists.
Now, this banjo music isn`t country or bluegrass, it ain`t even old timey. This is classic style (early finger style) and some plectrum or tenor type playing (with a flat pick). Give it a listen, you may enjoy a style of banjo playing you`ve never heard before.



Track list---
Come On Down South - Ted Shawnee
Southern Coffee Klatch - Alexander Magee
Hungarian Dance #6 - Frank Bradbury
Waiting For The Robert E. Lee - Ted Shawnee
Massa`s In The Cold Cold Ground - Fred Bacon
Dance Of The Hours - Frank Bradbury
Jolly Darkies - Alexander Magee
Dill Pickles - Ted Shawnee

Click here to download 5 String Banjo - America`s National Instrument

Leslie Keith - Black Mountain Blues

Here`s a fine LP. Leslie Kieth was one of those fiddlers that fell between old time and bluegrass. He was a fiddler from a generation sort of after Fiddlin` Arthur Smith and Clayton McMichen in style, but still not quite the hot, breakneck speed of a bluegrass fiddler. I like the singing with the fiddling. I also like his old-time banjo picking on this.
Likely the one huge thing of note about Leslie Kieth is the tune Black Mountain Blues he wrote, which fiddler Tommy Magness turned into one of the most well known show off fiddle tunes today, Black Mountain Rag. I`m pretty sure you`ll all like this one!











I have deleted the download link as I just got an email that this is available from the people who now own the rights to this LP. It can be bought at Sierra Records at www.sierrarecords.net

Problems!!

For some reason now I can`t upload anything, period. I can`t upload music to the file service to post on the archive blog, I can`t even attatch a song to an email now. Anyone have any ideas what might be wrong with my computer, or something??!! HELP! I have a great LP just waiting to be posted!!

78`s!

Here is something new I`m going to try with 78`s. I will post a picture of the label with the disc information beside the picture, I`ll also try to mention if the recording is an acoustic recording (recorded with a horn, pre-microphones). Some of these have great sound and are nearly new condition, some don`t sound so good and have lots of wear. I don`t believe any of this material has been re-issued on LP or cd, some are quite rare.
There will be no track list, the songs with the pictures will be in the order of the songs in the download. The download link will be at the end of the post as usual. Hope you all like this material!

Sourwood Mountain/Cumberland Gap - Gibbs & Watson, this is from Columbia masters by Gid Tanner & Riley Puckett, put out on a cheaper label by Columbia, recorded Sept. 11 & 12, 1924, acoustically recorded.

Only A Step To The Grave/If I Could Only Blot Out The Past - Supertone 9373 This is from Gennett masters by Kirk McGee & Blythe Poteet, put out on a label that was sold by Sears department stores. Recorded November 27, 1928.


Polecat Creek-Waltz/My Two Sweethearts-Waltz - Victor V-40240, Jimmie Wilson`s Catfish String Band, recorded Oct. 17, 1929.


The Death Of John Henry/Little Brown Jug - Champion 15198 This is from Gennett masters issued as Herb Jennings. This is actually Welby Toomey, recorded October of 1926, acoustically recorded.


The Farmer Feeds Them All/Jim Blake, The Engineer - Montgomery Ward 4334. Most, if not all, Montgomery Ward records are from Victor masters. Frank Wheeler & Monroe Lamb, recorded May 27th & 28th, 1930.


Georgia Railroad/John Henry - Columbia 15019-D by Gid Tanner & Riley Puckett. Recorded September 11th & 12th, 1924, acoustic recording.


Barn Dance On The Mountain Part 1 & 2, Broadway 8137 by The Great Gap Entertainers. Broadway was a subsidiary label of Paramount. This is from Paramount master as the Lookout Mountain Revelers, recorded June 1928. This is a pretty rare one and pretty exciting to hear as the performers are Lowe Stokes, Bert Layne & Claude Davis. This is sort of a spin off group from the Skillet Lickers and this recording is a skit sort of like the Skillet Lickers recordins of Corn Licker Still In Georgia, etc.


The Death Of John Henry/Roving Gambler - Gennett 6005. This is by Welby Toomey, recorded October 1926. This is the Same recording of The Death Of John Henry as the one above on Champion by Herb Jennings. Although the label syas "New Electrobeam" (Gennetts trade name for an electrically recorded disc, using microphones) this is pretty obviously an acoustic recording. Acoustic recordings have sort of a flat sound, that is no depth of tone. Several labels would issue extra pressings of acoustic recordings with electric marked labels.


Jennie Lind Polka/Nellie Gray - OKeh 40211. Recorded by Whitter`s Virgina Breakdowners July 16, 1924. Acoustic recording. Great string band sound in what is now called the Round Peak style.


Hello Aloha/Last Night I Was Dreaming Of You - Broadway 8018 by Jack Penewell from Paramount masters. Date of recording unknown to me. I like where the label says "Twin Six Guitar", these two sides are Hawaiian guitar, very well played I might add!


Will You Love Me When I`m Old/True And Trembling Breakman - Challenge 269. These are from Gennett masters, recorded by Aulton Ray April 27th, 1927. Aulton Ray was a member of Taylor`s Kentucky Boys. Challenge was a label issued by Sears department stores.


Liza Jane/O! Susanna - Silvertone 3261, issued as Tom Watson. This is from Columbia masters recorded by Riley Puckett, Sept. 11th, 1924, acoustic recording. Riley Puckett is well known to fans of old-time music as a member of the Skillet Lickers and also his own solo recordings. This is from an early session in his recording career. What makes this a noteworthy record is that although Riley was a famous back-up guitarist, he plays clawhammer banjo on this disc.


Click here to download My 78`s #1

Uncle John Patterson - Plains, Georgia Rock LP

Ok you old-time banjo fanatics----here`s another one for you. This is a great LP. Uncle John Patterson had a unique banjo style and I can`t even think of anyone else I`ve heard to compare him to. Also, he can beat the poop out of that old-time piano. Too bad he didn`t do a piano LP also, this country style piano is a pretty rare sound.
There isn`t anything about Uncle John I can say that isn`t in the cover notes I`ve included here. Hope you all like this one.

Rear cover notes---





Rear cover photo---


Track listing---


Click here to download Uncle John Patterson - Plains, Georgia Rock

Bashful Brother Oswald & Charlie Collins LP "Oz And Charlie"

Here is one of my favorite LP`s by one of my musical mentors, Bashful Brother Oswald. This is one of the artists (and also one of the LP`s) that made me want to play old-time music.
Oswald was a great old-time banjo picker and singer, but is best known for practically inventing a style of playing the Dobro. Oswald is likely most well known for being the Dobro player in Roy Acuff`s Smoky Mountain Boys. He held that "gig" for about 55 years!! Who works one job for 55 years!!?? He performed on the Grand Ole Opry for about 62 years, playing as a solo Opry member after Roy Acuff passed away.
Oswald`s Dobro style is so unique and immediately recognizable that it could definatly be argued that without the style of Oswald`s dobro playing that Roy Acuff might not have eventually became "The King Of Country Music". Roy`s sad (sometimes even morbid) songs coupled with the sounds of Oswald`s Dobro could bring tears from audiences.
Oswald was heavily influenced by Hawaiian music and his style of playing Dobro shows it with all the trills and slants he done. Listen to Hilo March, a Hawaiian song, which is one of my favorite Dobro songs.
Now... not only is Oswald great, Charlie Collins is certainly one of the best flat top pickers of all times. Also, Charlie is one of the greatest rhythm guitar pickers ever in my book. He got with Roy Acuff about 1965ish and styed with him till Roy passed away. Charlie also has several LP`s & CD`s of his own as well as these LP`s recorded with Oswald. Charlie has recorded playing rhythm guitar on many records, including recording under Bill Monroe a time or two. Charlie is also a good bluegrass style mandolinist and plays good fiddle in sort of a cross between bluegrass and old-time fiddle styles, sounding more bluegrass influenced.
The other two artists on this LP likely need no introduction, the great Norman Blake on mandolin and some lead guitar, and Sam Bush playing fiddle and guitar.
Hope you all like this one. Let me hear from you, it`s nice to know if you all enjoy what I post.

Rear cover notes---


Track list---


Click here to download Bashful Brother Oswald "Oz and Charlie" LP