The Grand Ole Opry has posted the schedule for the shows this weekend, along with the upcoming Tuesday Night Opry. First, let's cover the shows over the weekend.
Appearing both nights will be Opry member Vince Gill. Vince is usually one of the Opry's more loyal members, and even with all his frequent appearances around Nashville and his touring, he has kept up his appearances. However, I can't help notice that Vince has been at the Opry less this year then he has been in the past. Hopefully the trend will change.
Joining Vince on Friday night will be Opry members Diamond Rio, along with some interesting guest artists. Kix Brooks makes a return to the Opry stage, along with Tracy Lawrence and Sam Bush. On the female side, there is Lindsay Ell and Sunny Sweeney. Also scheduled is frequent Opry guest Chris Janson. Out of the 12 acts scheduled, 6 are Opry members.
On Saturday night, in addition to Vince, will be guest artists Holly Williams, Kim Richey, Aubrey Peoples, from the Nashville show, Exile and Jimmy Wayne. Finally, on the schedule for their first Opry appearances, are Nathan East and Bob James. Nathan is described as a "jazz, R&B, rock bass player and vocalist. He is also said to be the most recorded rock bass player in musical history. He has recorded with Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins and Toto, among others. (I don't see any country artists on the list). Bob James is cut from the same cloth and is touring with Nathan as part of "Fourplay."
Nothing against Nathan and Bob, but what can I say? I guess Steve Buchanan and Pete Fisher want to give this week's Opry audience a taste of jazz instead of country. Being on Vince's segment, I also wonder how much he had to do with their booking on the Opry?
Anyways, of the 12 acts booked on Saturday night, they managed to round up 5 members of the Opry.
Friday August 15
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Chris Janson; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Diamond Rio (host); The Whites; Sam Bush
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Lindsay Ell; Tracy Lawrence
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Sunny Sweeney; Kix Brooks
Saturday August 16
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Holly Williams
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Kim Richey; Jimmy Wayne
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Aubrey Peoples; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Nathan East and Bob James; Exile
For the Tuesday Night Opry on August 19, there are 2 shows scheduled as Carrie Underwood returns to the Opry. Joining Carrie will be Opry members Trace Adkins, Del McCoury and Craig Morgan. Also scheduled for the first show is Terri Clark. Again, Carrie is upholding her end of being an Opry member.
Tuesday August 19
1st show
7:00: Terri Clark; Joel Crouse
7:30: Del McCoury Band; Mark Chesnutt
8:00: Sam Hunt; Craig Morgan
8:30: Trace Adkins; Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson; Joel Crouse
10:00: Del McCoury Band; Mark Chesnutt
10:30: Sam Hunt; Craig Morgan
11:00: Trace Adkins; Carrie Underwood
And now here is the Grand Ole Opry posted line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, August 14 & 15, 2009:
Friday August 14
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider; Justin McBride
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Rodney Atkins
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jim Ed Brown; Riders In The Sky; The Whites
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Vince Gill
Saturday August 15
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Infamous Stringdusters
7:30: Vince Gill (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jack Greene; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
8:00: Mel Tillis (host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Jim Ed Brown; Josh Turner
Now, from 10 years ago this weekend, August 13 & 14, 2004:
Friday August 13
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Andy Griggs
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Louvin; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Bruce Robison
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; John Anderson
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Melonie Cannon; Jack Greene
9:30: John Conlee (host); Craig Morgan; Ray Price
Saturday August 14
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; BR549
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Osborne Brothers; Katrina Elam
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jack Greene; Mountain Heart
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Rodney Atkins; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; T Graham Brown
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Katrina Elam
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith; T Graham Brown
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Stonewall Jackson; Rodney Atkins; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Billy Walker; Mountain Heart
11:30: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; BR549
For this week's featured line-up, I am posting the show from Saturday August 15, 1992. It was 22 years ago this weekend that June Webb made a return visit to the Grand Ole Opry at the request of Roy Acuff.
June Webb was a popular country artist in the 1950s and 1960s. Beginning in the early 1950s, she made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. She also was on the RCA label and in 1958 she won the award as the "Most Promising Female Artist." Also in the 1950s, she began working with Roy Acuff and joined his road show as the lead female vocalist. She appeared with Roy everywhere including whenever he played on the Opry. In the early 1960s, she went in a different direction and left the music business. As mentioned, in 1992 Roy Acuff asked her to make a final Opry appearance with him, which she did on August 15.
For those interested, she has a very nice website which includes old music, new music and videos. And, she sounds as good as ever.
Here is the line-up from August 15, 1992:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Porter Wagoner (host); Tennessee Saturday Night
Wilma Lee Cooper: There's A Higher Power
Porter Wagoner: Misery Loves Company/Dooley
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Jeannie Seely: Houston
Jim Ed Brown: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On/Morning
7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): I'm On My Way Back to the Old Home
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Charlie Louvin: The Family Who Prays
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Billy Walker: Smokey Places
Bill Monroe: Tennessee Blues
7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): Same Old; Same Old Love
Justin Tubb: Imagine That
The Whites: San Antonio Rose
Alison Krauss: A New Fool/Another Night
Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White: Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: Did We Have to Come This Far to Say Goodbye/Satisfied
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band/Jole Blon
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Roy Acuff: That's the Man I'm Looking For
8:30: Opryland
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
4 Guys: Big River
Jean Shepard: Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me
Jack Greene: Statue of A Fool
George Hamilton IV: Break My Mind
Hank Snow: The Rainbow's End
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale that the Crow Told Me
Alison Krauss & The Cox Family: I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name/Standing By the Bedside of A Neighbor
Porter Wagoner: I'm Gonna Act Right
10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): Why Did You Wander
Roy Drusky: Blues in My Heart
David Houston: My Elusive Dreams
Bill Monroe: A Beautiful Life
10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
4 Guys: My Prayer
June Webb: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/Making Believe
10:30: Pet Milk
Ricky Skaggs (host): I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
The Whites: Pins and Needles
Ricky Skaggs: Country Boy
10:45: B.C. Powder
Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock/Evil On Your Mind
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Lost Indian
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Jean Shepard: Above and Beyond
Charlie Louvin: Charlie Whitstein: Knoxville Girl
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore
Hank Snow: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
11:30: Creamette
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Jim Ed Brown (host): The 3 Bells
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Johnny Russell: In A Mansion Stands My Love/He'll Have to Go
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
A final June Webb note. Hank Williams was scheduled for a show in my hometown of Canton, Ohio on January 1, 1953. As everyone knows, he died in route to this show. Included on the schedule that night were the Webb Sisters, which were June and her sister. The buiding they were to perform at is still in use today. That evening, after news of Hank's death was released, the show went on with the performers turning it into a Hank Williams tribute show.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteJune Webb was one of the good, good, good ones. Her Hickory version, from 1959 or '60, of "Sweeter Than the Flowers," with backing by the Smokey Mountain Boys, is a treasure. She was an important part of Roy's new sound in the late '50s, really taking over the tenor part, on his first Hickory recordings, traditionally assigned to Oswald. She did the same thing on the great gospel album he recorded for MGM, a one-shot, just before Hickory.
This was Roy's version of "modernization": While nearly everyone except Ray Price and George Jones was adding "voices" (and dropping fiddle and steel), Roy hired Shot Jackson to play pedal steel, temporarily bumping Oswald's dobro on the new numbers.
June can also be seen and heard, pre-Roy Acuff, on the Opry TV shows from the mid-50s. A great looker as well as great singer.
I have to confess, these posts are depressing me. Maybe it's losing Jimmy C. Newman and Earl White, who were my two real links to the Opry, but I'm constantly reminded of how far down the Opry has come. Again, I don't oppose change (Earl appeared on Viva NashVegas with George Hamilton IV and V, and told the story of how Herman Crook wanted him to play Sally Goodin almost every appearance--Earl didn't mind change and I don't either!).
ReplyDeleteBut I think Byron's comment about Vince Gill is telling. He's undoubtedly around Nashville on a lot of Saturday nights but he doesn't come over to perform each time. Nor does Marty Stuart. I'm for what Bill Anderson said, that he realized he needs some more time off and that it's good for him, so there are times he doesn't do the Opry when he could. I understand that. But we're seeing a lot more of that, I think, and I believe it's a comment on what it has become.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteMichael, I'm on Gaylord's side this far: You can't have a cast, and weekly lineup, made up of octogenarians, many of whom can hardly sing anymore. That way, the show is buried with the last octogenarian. My argument is with the people he's bringing around in their place. Most of them not only don't sing country, they're nothing special at the rock or pop they DO do. (That's probably why they're available to the Opry.)
I think it's reasonable to think people like Vince and Marty have simply gotten discouraged by what they see of the Opry these days, and feel less of obligation to show up to support a show that ain't what it used to be and holds out little prospect of ever returning. I'd feel the same way.
The good country (and 'grass' and oldtime) acts are out there. Gaylord isn't booking them, evidently casting its future with Radio Country. (Altho many of those guests aren't even played on the radio.)
Gaylord's choice. Our choice is whether to listen or not. Maybe there are enough bubble-gummers out there to support the Opry into its second century. I'm getting too creaky and cranky to care. I've got my music downstairs, and Gaylord can't touch that.
Fred, I am with you and Gaylord. I've said this before: the Opry can't stay the same. Brad Paisley has said that if you have on the younger acts and attract the younger fans, they might say, wow, how about that Jimmy Dickens; and the older crowd members might say, hey, those kids aren't bad. I think it's important to have the combination.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll repeat that this isn't new. The Opry has gone through major changes over the years, with a lot of heartache and/or complaint included. I think of the late 1950s with bringing in younger acts like the Everly Brothers and Rusty and Doug Kershaw, and eliminating the Gully Jumpers and the Possum Hunters. There was a pretty big behind-the-scenes tug of war in the mid-1980s when the TNN telecasts started and the older acts were worried that they wouldn't get any air time. I can understand the debate.
I'll use this as my basis for comparison. There's a fascinating book, The Powers That Be, by David Halberstam. He talked about the LA Times. Into the 1950s, it was a horrible newspaper, and incredibly biased--if you were a politician the editors and publishers didn't like, you couldn't get your name in there unless there was a scandal. Finally, the publisher realized the need for change and installed a new editor, Nick Williams (a southerner, interestingly enough), who had been at the paper for more than 25 years and wanted to change the place. Halberstam talked about how Williams was very careful to move the paper toward being fair, and more thorough, but also doing it slowly, so that the changes were harder to notice and he wouldn't offend its traditional base of support. Halberstam's great line was that Williams understood how much elastic was in the rubber band--how far to go.
So, I'm with Buchanan and Fisher and company on the need to change. But they have done it very badly, and managed to offend a lot of their constituency. And I think, in the long run, they will do more harm than good.
From Anonymous in PA: Have previously said this - there is nothing about the Opry anymore that would warrant us planning a trip to Nashville for the Opry; we used to make the trip 3-4 times a year and are regulars for the Anniversary weekend; have already decided that next year's 90th will be our last. It is still a mystery to what they will do for this year's 89th. We always loved those trips and saw wonderful shows (and the Midnight Jamboree) and did many other events/activities/tours/historical sites etc, when in town.
ReplyDeleteI won't mention names but some of the people we often mention here as needing to be inducted as members might not care to be so much anymore. I feel like most of them not only would cherish just realizing the dream of membership but they probably also wanted to be part of a culture and a family that preserved and promoted the type of music they represent. Most of their peers they probably wanted to appear along side have either passed or are not ask to appear anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a while since I said this but I really wish they would just call the Opry something different maybe after the 90th and quit dragging it's tradition and history through the mud. I agree that I have no desire to drive five hours and pay $75 to see what they now offer. Like Fred, I'm just about ready to say let the bubble-gummers have it.
On Bill Anderson cutting back, lord knows he had done his time and truly lover the Opry. I miss having him on but he still travels and we just saw him in May without having to listen to all the high school kids and misfits perform.
June Webb-another of those fine singers that few remember but put down some really solid recordings and added very nicely to the Roy Acuff sound. If you have the Once More LP of Roy on Hickory from 1960 she is all over it! That night in 1992 she gave two very good performances with the staff band and she and Roy reminisced for a good while on stage. It was what they would now call an Opry moment. Well, maybe not since no one would know who she is but it was an Opry moment.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
There are young traditional acts out there that could be booked more; Some that come to mind are Amber Digby, Justin Trevino, The Quebe Sisters Band, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Teea Goens. I'm sure they all tour, but their schedules are not booked up that the Opry couldn't call more often.
ReplyDeleteAmen. I try not to drop those names because I am so partial to what they do but the good acts are out there to continue the tradition if management wanted to. It is almost like there needs to be two different programs but they would have to be promoted properly and it probably wouldn't be good business.
ReplyDeleteI hated that everyone moved to Branson back in the 80's but maybe that's what the Opry needs today to bring it back to center, some good competition!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Nathan East? Don't get me wrong, he's technically a very good bassist, but his appearance leads me to seriously wonder as to whether or not there might be a day when Justin Bieber stands in the Opry circle.
ReplyDeleteThe Opry always has had a history of booking non-country artists. I think we all remember James Brown, The Pointer Sisters and even Perry Como back in the day. And there have been many others. I guess the difference is that back in those days there were 25 or 30 other acts on the Opry playing country music. Now, there are just 10 or 12.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything against these other acts and many I have seen in person. I just wish that a country music show would stick to country music, or something close to it.
From Anonymous in PA: absolutely agree with you fayfare at 3:02pm
ReplyDeleteFred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteJim, Michael, Byron & all:
My fondest hope is that Gaylord -- or Ryman Hospitalities, as they now call themselves -- won't have final say on the future of the Opry. They must have had some sincere interest in country music when they produced Hee Haw and then bought the Opry, the radio station and all. Evidently that interest has taken a back seat to business concerns -- understandable.
But, if God still likes country music, Ryman will decide show biz is less dependable than hotels and spin off the Opry and radio station to somebody else. Betcha there are some country-music true hearts with enough bucks to make the purchase. (Garth, Dolly?) Byron thinks the Opry still makes money, and radio stations -- altho not the cash registers they used to be -- can still make a living.
I think a sale is our best, if faint, hope -- rather than looking for reformation of Ryman at this late date.
How much do you think it would cost? Not just to buy the Opry and WSM, but to run them each year including payroll and such. Serious question. My estimates would be at least a couple million each year. Why wait for someone like Garth or Dolly though? What if we all pooled together our resources? Would we collectively have enough to buy it from them?
ReplyDeleteA.B.
The only good news for me is that I am retired and live about five hours from Nashville. I can check the upcoming lineups a few days before the scheduled show and THEN decide if I'm going to run down to Nashville.
ReplyDeleteI have no way to check out my theory, but I would say the type of show most of us are interested in is the type of show with the best seats available.
Rolling the dice weeks out and getting junk like several shows of late is no longer an option for me.
But I'll bet I'll be going down before the end of the year. Once in a while they still have all country shows at the 'Opry.
Chris Janson whining on the stage................ going to seriously throw up.
ReplyDelete@A.B. .......... I will join that crusade!!!!!!!!
Chris janson sounds like a walrus or seal in heat!!!!!! disturbing...... very disturbing
ReplyDeleteAUGUST 16 IN SPAIN .... REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL....... ELVIS PRESLEY.
ReplyDeleteAND TO THINK AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY, HIS PERFORMANCE WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED, AND THE MANAGER TOLD HIM TO KEEP DRIVING HIS TRUCK ............. IN THE END I GUESS IT WORKED OUT AFTER ALL
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteTHREE songs by those ridiculous people from the TV show! That tears it.
Pains me to say this but the true self proclaimed non country performers on Vince Gill's show was easier to listen to than most of the other new acts that claim to be country and appear each week. Not saying I like it but it didn't make me want to scream and turn the sound down.
ReplyDeleteWhat was that supposed to be that Aubrey Peoples did? I've never really heard a dying calf in a hail storm but apparently she has and has spent considerable time figuring out how to imitate it. Saddest part of all is the crowd approved. And why not. We are at the world famous Grand Ole Opry. You've really proved yourself and have great talent if you finally made this stage. What today's crowd is ignorant of is that any such requirement went out the window at least ten years ago. And so it goes.
Little bitty positive note. Tater may not sound like he did ten years ago but he did a real good job last night considering his recent health issues. Too bad that multi-talented staff band doesn't know his material or was it the sound folks. Either way they missed the guitar lead and left Tommy White to figure it out.
Nice of Vince to mention Earl both nights.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Back to the 1992 show with June Webb. I had noted that Oswald was not there that night. He had recently had jaw surgery. I'm thinking that was the first of many that he had.
ReplyDeleteI hate to live in the past but it is nice to be able to look back at things like this revisit notes and listen to old tapes and video. We have been watching some of the Opry live recordings off TNN from the late 80's. Some have said it had become stale but for someone 20ish at that time it was really a great time.
What I am leading to is that I am grateful to Byron and those who post here and it is nice to know that there are other folks out there show love and appreciated the Opry in the same way my brother and I do.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteJim, "There are still a few of us left," as Simon Crum said so memorably. Just yesterday, I was killing time at the (waste-of-time) CD display at Walmart, C&W section, when a fellow browser introduced himself by mourning: "It's sure hard to find good old country music these days."
He was Tennessee talent, up here (in North Dakota) to work the oil fields. Needless to say, we had a lot of talk about. He confessed that the music shortage extends to Tennessee, but said country can still be found at the occasional joint. "But not at the Grand Ol' Opry!"
Jim, that August 12, Oswald had surgery for cancer of the jaw. The jawbone was removed and he had 33 radiation treatments. He said he'd never eat steak again, but he was glad to survive it!
ReplyDeleteOswald cooperated on a book with Peggy and Michael McCloud about his life. It's not great, but it's fun. At the end of the book, they updated it with the news of his surgery and of Mr. Acuff's death.
The apocalypse is official here:
ReplyDelete"Big Machine Records, Mötley Records and Eleven Seven Music announced today that the highly-anticipated Country tribute album NASHVILLE OUTLAWS: A TRIBUTE TO MÖTLEY CRÜE will be released on July 8. The project will feature fresh takes on 15 of the band’s biggest hits covered by some of Country music’s biggest names, including Florida Georgia Line, Justin Moore, Big & Rich, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts and more."
Help me here folks, but aren't two of those mentioned above current members of the 'Opry, and haven't all of them pretty much been on the 'Opry stage at one time or another? This ought to tell us all something about the current state of country music and the current state of the Grand Old 'Opry.
Nat, remember what I was saying a few weeks back:
ReplyDeleteI have always felt that those citing those rock influences were not good enough at their first love to run with the big dogs so they decided to sing songs about beer, being drunk, cheating, tailgating, driving a tractor, all the stereotypical topics but add their rock influenced noise and melodies, if they can be called that, and call it country. By the time this started happening in the 70's the good rock that at least had some talented performers, Elvis, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Darin, The Everly Brother's was also being run down by the hard rock and southern rock and those fans turned to country and pretty soon we ended up with this homogenized mess we call country today.
You just found more proof. This shows us the true colors of most of today's so called country acts. It is going to be hard for us to hear real country in ten years. Once the last generation that made a living with it has passed I'm afraid it will be dead commercially. We'll all be in our basements like Fred with our memories. Is this what Chet and Owen had in mind when they were trying to enlarge the country audience with the Nashville Sound?
As I write this at 11:50 eastern my brother is playing Charlie Walker and Pick Me Up on Your Way Down on the Terre Haute airwaves. Still out there but it's fading fast.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteIn the same ballpark as the Motley tribute is Charlie Daniels' new CD on Bob Dylan. Yikes, if Charlie has run out of better things to say with his music, maybe he has recorded enough and should retire from the studio.
I think it's because all of today's artists want to part of the celebrity culture of today.
ReplyDeleteThey want to appeal to a larger, more "cosmopolitan," (dumber) audience.
Webb Pierce didn't give a hoot about what anybody thought of his hillbilly music.
He knew his audience, and they all loved him.
I wonder how many of the the hot-shot Motley-Crue wannabes of today will be around in even ten years.
Perhaps Charlie Daniels is simply a fan of Bob Dylan's music, and wanted to record a tribute to him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'll cut Charlie some slack. He appeared on a bunch of Dylan's stuff in both of their early days.
ReplyDeleteHard to get real mad at Charlie.
Motley-Cure country tribute albums seem to be a different breed of cat to me.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize the two went back. I'll go along with, "Hard to get real mad at Charlie."
I can find ways to get mad at Charlie! But, that said, remember that Jim & Jesse did an album called "Berry Picking in the Country" on Chuck Berry's music, and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead used to say that if his life had been perfect, instead, he would have been one of Bill Monroe's band members because he adored bluegrass. Closer to what we like, Mac Wiseman did a terrific album of Gordon Lightfoot songs. So, if you have bona fides, as Charlie does, you can do some different things.
ReplyDeleteAlso, remember that Charlie isn't the first to do a Bob Dylan album. http://www.bobdylanroots.com/scruggs.html. One of the things that tore it between Lester and Earl was the latter's desire to do more "modern" music. For what it's worth, Marty Stuart told the story that he saw Dylan in 1979 and Dylan asked him how Lester was doing and Marty replied, "He's dying." Dylan said, "You know, Abbott and Costello were going to reunite, but Costello died before they could do it." Marty immediately called Earl, went to see him, and Earl went to see Lester in the hospital. So, we'll cut Dylan a little slack, too.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI'll mellow out with the rest of you guys. Mac's LP on Lightfoot is in my collection, so what can I say? (I will say Lightfoot's music is more country than most of what's called country today; always liked the man and his music, myself.) Earl, no doubt influenced by his sons, really did go off on a tangent, and it's little wonder he and Lester split.
Speaking of bluegrass: Has anybody else caught up with the Lilly Brothers? After years of blandishments by David Freeman, proprietor of County Sales (www.countysales.com), I recently succumbed, and have been whooping and hollering nearly every night since. (They were a 1950s-60s-early 70s act, and simply have an intensity -- along with 'A' material -- that will cause you to act up.)
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteAs evidence of their virtue, Everett Lilly is the only singer who has ever been able to make me listen to "Barbara Allen" all the way through -- 7 minutes' worth!
If I'm thinking correct one of those guy's was the father of Charles Lilly who worked with Johnny Russell and later with Billy Walker and he was killed in the accident with Billy. If not the father they are related some way.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI checked Wikipedia, and Jim is right; Charles was the son of Everett. I guess this didn't register at the time of the accident because I had not yet been introduced to the Lilly Brothers. I have learned since, from a CD booklet, that the reason the brothers went into semi-retirement in 1970 was the death of a second Everett son, Jiles, in another highway accident.