Coming off a big weekend where the Grand Ole Opry recognized Barbara Mandrell upon her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night will celebrate the influence and music of country music legend John Anderson. The Opry will bring to life a portion of the upcoming album release Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute To John Anderson, which is scheduled for release Friday, August 5 by Easy Eye Sound.
Scheduled to perform are John Anderson with special guests Dan Auerbach and Tyler Childers along with Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Sierra Hull, Elizabeth Cook. The tribute will take place during the second hour of the show and will be televised live on Circle TV, along with the various social media sites.
While there will be no Grand Ole Opry members on the Circle TV televised portion of the Opry on Saturday, Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky and John Conlee will be appearing during the first hour, along with Deana Carter.
Looking at the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider and Riders In The Sky are listed, along with a return appearance by Suzy Bogguss, who was part of the Barbara Mandrell anniversary show last Saturday night. I know it has been mentioned several times, by myself and others, that Suzy would certainly make a great Opry member.
John McEuen is scheduled for Friday night. Can you believe it has been 50 years since The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded and released their groundbreaking album "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" Sadly, the vast majority of the artists, including Jimmy Martin, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff and Mother Maybelle Carter, who were part of that album, are no longer with us. However, while John McEuen is no longer a part of the Dirt Band, he has written a book about the historic recording:
The highly celebrated Will The Circle be Unbroken, the seventh and perhaps most consequential album released by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in November. To mark this Golden Anniversary, John McEuen is releasing a book that details the making of the star-studded 3-LP set released in 1972.
John was not only the banjo player with the Dirt Band, he and his brother, William (Bill) who produced the recordings, were the driving force behind the whole project. “This has been fifty years in the making. Will the Circle be Unbroken was a collaboration of many famous bluegrass and country-western players. In fact, the album played a significant role in furthering Vassar Clements to a much wider audience,” said John.
This book is filled with memories showcasing the recording of this album. Stories are shared by John McEuen, Marty Stuart, members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and many more. Photos Bill had taken during the recording sessions are included, which have never been seen until now.
This really sounds like a wonderful book and a must have for anyone who is a fan of the album.
Also appearing on the Friday Night Opry will be Bryan White, CJ Solar, Carter Faith, and Dylan Schneider. Personally, I am happy to see Bryan back on the Opry. He has always been one of the favorites.
Friday August 5
7:00: Jeannie Seely, CJ Solar, Mike Snider, Carter Faith, Bryan White
Intermission
8:15: Dylan Schneider, John McEuen, Suzy Bogguss, Riders In The Sky
Saturday August 6
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith, John Conlee, Deana Carter, Riders In The Sky
8:00: Sierra Hull, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Elizabeth Cook, John Anderson w/Dan Auerbach and Tyler Childers
And now from 50 years ago, Saturday August 5, 1972:
1st show
6:30: Stu Phillips (host); Diane Jordan
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Anthony Armstrong Jones
7:00: Hank Locklin (host): Stringbean, Wilma Burgess
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Karne Wheeler, Hugh X Lewis, Crook Brothers
8:00: Billy Grammer (host); Mel Street, Stan Hitchcock
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mac Wiseman, The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Stu Phillips (host); Wilma Burgess; Anthony Armstrong Jones
10:00: Stu Phillips (host); Diane Jordan
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Stringbean
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Karen Wheeler
10:45: Billy Grammer (host); Hugh X Lewis; Crook Brothers
11:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel Street; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam and Kirk McGee
11:30: The 4 Guys (host); Mac Wiseman; Stan Hitchcock
(What a very thin night for Opry members. You could count the number of Opry members on both hands. On the first show, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper were scheduled on the 6:30 segment, with Stoney hosting, while they were also scheduled for the 9:30 segment on the second show, again with Stoney hosting. Because of the Coopers canceling, Stu Phillips hosted two segments on each show. Then on the second show, Roy Acuff also hosted a double segment as Hank Locklin hurt his foot and was unable to appear.)
Digging a little deeper, here is the actual running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms/Rudy's
Stu Phillips (host): Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Diane Jordan: Cry
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry/That's A Chance I'll Have to Take
Anthony Armstrong Jones: Proud Mary
Don Wayne: Hank
Stu Phillips: Where No One Stands Alone
7:00: Rudy's
Hank Locklin (host): Country Hall of Fame
Stringbean: Old Joe Clark
Wilma Burgess: Help Me Make It Through the Night
Hank Locklin: She's As Close As I Can Get
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Wilma Burgess: Never Ending Song of Love
Hank Locklin: Jealous Heart
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Karen Wheeler: Mule Skinner Blues
Hugh X Lewis: Welcome to My World
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Karen Wheeler: The First Time for Us
Hugh X Lewis: In the Misty Moonlight
8:00: Martha White
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Mel Street: Big Blue Diamond
Stan Hitchcock: Dixie Belle
Billy Grammer: Wildwood Flower/Under the Double Eagle
Mel Street: Borrowed Angel
Stan Hitchcock: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Billy Grammer: Whispering Hope
8:30: Stephen's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Diggy Liggy Lo
Mac Wiseman: Jimmie Brown the Newsboy
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Blackberry Blossom
Jimmy C Newman: Not As a Sweetheart, But Just As a Friend
Mac Wiseman: On Susie's Floor
The 4 Guys: Sweet Yesterday
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's/Fender
Stu Phillips (host): Crystal Chandeliers
Wilma Burgess: Welcome to My World
Anthony Armstrong Jones: Me & Bobby McGee
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Wilma Burgess: For The Good Times
Anthony Armstrong Jones: Statue of a Fool
Stu Phillips: Help Me Make It Through the Night
Diane Jordan: Cry
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
10:15: Union 76/Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Tied Down
Stringbean: Ruby
Roy Acuff: Where The Soul of Man Never Dies/Little Pal
Karen Wheeler: Delta Dawn
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:45: Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Hugh X Lewis: Don't Be Angry
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Billy Grammer: Power in the Blood
11:00: Coca Cola
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Mel Street: Big Blue Diamond
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Jimmy C Newman: A Fallen Star
Mel Street: Borrowed Angel
Sam and Kirk McGee: Southern Moon
Jimmy C Newman: Big Bayou
11:30: Elm Hill
The 4 Guys (host): Cottonfields/Mariah
Mac Wiseman: On Susie's Floor
Stan Hitchcock: Daily Satisfied
The 4 Guys: My Special Angel/On the Other Side
Mac Wiseman: Love Letters In the Sand
Stan Hitchcock: I'm Back In Baby's Arms/I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
Tried to watch the CMA show tonight. First half hour seemed like everybody sang the same song. All narrative with music in the background. It wasn't even good rock and roll. And all at screechy level ! I give up --- Flushing, Michigan - Dashmann
ReplyDeleteWhile I have only seen the first two hours, I put the last hour on DVR, the BEST performance of the first two hours (and most likely all three) ... Carly Pearce and Wynonna singing The Judd's "Why Not Me" ... it was just great!
DeleteWatching this show reminds me every year why I no longer travel to Nashville for what originally was a wonderful idea held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, called Fan Fair.
(Jeanene)
Didn't bother to turn on the CMA show, your description is what I expected. We saw the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in May - still a fantastic group and show.
ReplyDeletePersonally, it is a “head shaking moment” for one-half of a night at the Opry does not involve any Opry members.
ReplyDeleteJust remember that 20 years ago this is the direction Mr. Fisher said he wanted to take it!
ReplyDeleteJim
I'll be blunt. I wonder if the 'Opry simply can't find enough 'Opry members in a given night who are willing to perform. Old Rockers and young aspiring artists are thrilled to show up. Honest question, for which I have no answer.
ReplyDeleteIn one of my long winded posts I got down to putting most of the blame for the shows content on lack of loyalty of much of the membership. Too bad they can't all be like Rhonda Vincent or Carrie Underwood. I remember Brad Paisley saying in memorial to Tater "We'll take it from here". Well if they had to survive on his contribution since that time it would be just a memory.
ReplyDeleteI've been reviewing some of my information going back 20 years for a display I'm putting together. I am amazed that this really started that long ago. The ten years of the 90's were not kind to the Opry. Think of all the "pillars" as Eddie used to call them, that we lost. Acuff, Monroe, Jones, Pearl, Snow and others. Along came Fisher and the 2000's and everything seemed to accelerate. Thinking in those terms, as much as I complain, I recognize just how lucky we are to have the Opry still somewhat resemble what most of us grew up on.
I'll use the term again.....I hate to see the greatest country show of all time have to PROSTITUTE itself with rockers old and new just to put on a show to survive. Mostly because members they enlisted to support the show are not dedicated enough to give a little of their time as part of an elite club.
Right or wrong, agree or disagree, it is a sign of the times. There is something about the ideals of some of the newer artist(80's and beyond) that's different than those of earlier generations. That's not a criticism, just the way I think it is. I think a lot more of todays performers have or will take the path of Carl Smith, maybe for different reasons. I believe Carl partly quit because his style of music was left behind and he didn't care to change with the times and stop doing what he believed in. So, there is not as big of pool of artist that are still known but slowing down that can help support the show, the likes of Brown, Anderson, Shepard, Smith, Louvin, Seely and others did up into the 90's and still are. Just the way it is.
Like I say, we've been lucky and should be thankful. I know I am!
Jim
Jim, I don't mind the old rockers as much I mind the same history lessons and comedy videos I've listened to a thousand times before repeated almost weekly.
ReplyDeleteGave Riders in the Sky about six minutes tonight to make way for the history and comedy videos.
Ain't getting old a bad deal ? 😄