June 23, 2012

Top New Bluegrass Songs: 6/23/12 (WNHU Black Diamond Show)

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 6/23/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

  1. Lou Reid & Carolina, Carolina Moonshine Man
  2. Darrin & Brooke Aldridge, Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
  3. Detour, I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages
  4. Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
  5. The Bluegrass Martins, Don’t Laugh
  6. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Moon Magic
  7. Johnny Williams, Jeanette Williams, Adam Steffey, Tina Steffey, Samantha Snyder, Zeb Snyder, Scott Freeman & Bud Snyder, Chilly Winds (Close Kin)
  8. April Verch, Guide Me Home
  9. Dailey and Vincent, Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord
  10. Freeman & Williams, When Halley Came to Jackson
  11. Steep Canyon Rangers, Reputation
  12. Chris Brashear, Mama’s Opry
  13. The Missy Werner Band, I’d Rather Love a Memory
  14. Jim Lauderdale, Cruel Wind and Rain
  15. Ronnie Bowman, The Story in your Eyes
  16. Crowe Brothers, Southern Moon
  17. Steep Canyon Rangers, Nobody Knows You
  18. Mike Scott, Aubrey Haynie, Mike Compton, Bryan Sutton & Ben Isaacs, Road to Columbus
  19. Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdom of God
  20. (tie) Charlie Sizemore, I Don’t Remember Loving You
    (tie) Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Ominous Anonymous

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today, the FOLKDJ-L email list & folkradio.org, and Roots Music Report.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

June 19, 2012

Playlist for 6/18 and 6/21

  • Artist / Song / Album / Label / Date(s) / Notes
  • Don Stover / Black Diamond / Things in Life / Rounder / 1972 / Theme
  • Balsam Range / East Virginia Blues / Trains I Missed / Mountain Home, Crossroads / 2010
  • Evie Ladin Band / Sleepy Eyed Joe / Evie Ladin Band / Evil Diane / 2012
  • Wayne Scott / Sunday With My Son / This Weary Way / Full Light / 2005
  • Jim Watson / Daddy and Home / This World Would Be All Sunshine / Barker / 2008
  • Steve Martin / Daddy Played the Banjo / The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo / Rounder / 2009
  • David Davis and Scott Brannon / Silver Haired Daddy of Mine / Plum Pitiful / Wango, Time-Life / 2004
  • Mike Cross / Elma Turl / Sugar Hill 50 / Sugar Hill / 1979, 2009
  • The Piros / Louisville Breakdown / The Piro’s / self / 2010
  • Crowe, Lawson, and Williams / Prayer Bells of Heaven / Old Friends Get Together / Mountain Home, Crossroads / 2010
  • Detour / I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages / A Better Place / Bluegrass Ahead / 2012
  • The Improbabillies / Salt River / The Improbabillies / Yodel-Ay-Hee / 2007
  • Doc Watson and David Holt / The Train that Carried My Girl from Town / Legacy / High Wind Audio / 2002
  • Dailey and Vincent / Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord / Rounder, Cracker Barrel / 2012
  • Lionel Cartwright / I Watched It All on My Radio / Geffen MCA Music Video Soundtrack / Geffen / 1990
  • Mariel Vandersteel / Flannery’s Dream / Hickory / Self / 2012
  • The Bluegrass Martins / Don’t Laugh / World of our Own / self / 2011
  • Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne with Del McCoury (guitar) / Westphalia Waltz / Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza / Acoustic Disc / 1999
  • The Johnson Mountain Boys / Only a Hobo / Blue Diamond / Rounder / 1992
  • Rhythm Billies / Little Stream of Whiskey / North of North Carolina / self / 2004
  • James King and David Davis / Hobo’s Meditation / Freight Trains Ride Again / Wango / 2000
  • Tex Ritter / Big Rock Candy Mountain / Waltz Across Texas / Four Matt Music / 1952, 2010
  • Tim O’Brien / Busted / Cornbread Nation / Sugar Hill / 2005
  • The Perfect Strangers / Homeless Joe / The Perfect Strangers / Rebel / 2003
  • Hank Williams / A Tramp on the Street / Health and Happiness Shows / Mercury Nashville / 1949, 1993
  • The Bartley Brothers / Big Mon / Live at Bean Blossom / Rural Rhythm / 2011
  • Dale Ann Bradley / Run Rufus Run / Catch Tomorrow / Compass / 2006
  • The Prairie Acre / Little Rabbit / Jaybird and the Sparrow Hawk / self / 2007
  • The Honey Dewdrops / Bright Morning Stars / Silver Lining / self / 2012
  • Samantha Snyder et al. / With Tears in My Eyes / Close Kin / Mountain Roads Recordings / 2011
  • Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Moon Magic / Prime Tyme / Rural Rhythm / 2011
  • Del McCoury Band / Lonesome Road Blues / Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe / McCoury Music / 2011
  • Bill Monroe and Doc Watson / Have a Feast Here Tonight / Off the Record, Volume 2, Live Duet Recordings 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways / c. 1965, 1993
  • Blue Moon Rising / Freight Train / One Lonely Shadow / Lonesome Day / 2008
  • Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys / Little Maggie / Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall / Columbia / 1962, 1963
  • The Stanley Brothers / Handsome Molly / An Evening Long Ago: Live 1956 / Columbia, Sony BMG / 1956, 2004
  • Don Stover / Black Diamond / Things in Life / Rounder / 1972 / Theme

June 11, 2012

Pharis and Jason Romero Interview: June 11 and 14

There are certain artists that when you interview them, you have such a comfortable experience that you just smile from ear to ear. Well, that's my experience. This week's show includes an interview with two folks who enter that category for me: Pharis & Jason Romero.

Nestled up in Horsefly, BC, Canada, this husband and wife team make amazing custom banjos--mostly open-back--and terrific traditional country music. If you missed the interview on Monday, catch the repeat on Thursday evening. You can find information about their banjos at romerobanjos.com and find info about their music at www.jasonandpharis.com. Check out the detailed pics of their banjos.

You can also find a great video interview on their property up in Horsefly at the Fretboard Journal website.

Thanks for your support of WNHU and of bluegrass and traditional country music.

  • Artist / Song / Album / Label / Date(s) / Notes
  • Don Stover / Black Diamond / Things in Life / Rounder / 1972 / Theme
  • Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / Where is my Sailor Boy? / Off the Record, Volume 2, Live Duet Recordings 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways / c. 1968, 1993
  • Rafe & Clelia Stfanini / Shove the Pig Foot a Little Bit Further into the Fire / Lady on the Green / Old Willow Tree / 2012
  • Hank Williams / Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain / Unreleased Recordings / Time-Life / 1949, 2008
  • Larry Stephenson with Ricky Skaggs / My Old Kentucky and You / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle / 2010
  • Akira Otsuka / Line Drive / First Tear / Patuxnet Music / 2012
  • Rhonda Vincent / Silent Partner / Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ / Upper Management Music / 2012 (upcoming)
  • Hank Thompson / Too in Love / Vintage Collections / EMI / 1963, 1996
  • Acoustic Blue / Heel Toe the Mark / Bein’ Country / Bishop Hill / 2012
  • Pharis & Jason Romero / Hillbilly Blues / A Passing Glimpse / self / 2011
  • Pharis & Jason Romero / Interview / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Pharis & Jason Romero / Wild Bill Jones / Soundtrack from video at romerobanjos.com / Fretless Journal / 2011
  • Ivan Rosenberg / Soda Springs / Back to the Pasture / Slosh Tone / 2002
  • Pharis & Jason Romero / My Flowers, My Companion, and Me (Reprise) / A Passing Glimpse / self / 2011
  • The Haints / Tupelo Blues / Shout Monah / self / 2009
  • Pharis & Jason Romero / A Passing Glimpse / A Passing Glimpse / self / 2011
  • Pharis & Jason Romero / My Flowers, My Companions, and Me / A Passing Glimpse / self / 2011
  • April Verch / Guide Me Home / That’s How We Run / Slab Town / 2011
  • The Delmore Brothers / You Can’t Do Wrong and Get By / Sand Mountain Blues / County / 1947, 1995
  • Terry McGill / Bunker Hill / Straight Drive / Cabinwood Music / 2001
  • Darrin & Brooke Aldridge / Lonely Ends Where Love Begins / So Much In Between / Mountina Home, Crossroads / 2011
  • Cahalen Morrison & Eli West / Over There / The Holy Coming of the Storm / self / 2011
  • Detour / I’ll Go Stepping, Too / A Better Place / Bluegrass Ahead / 2012
  • Flatt & Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys / ‘Til the End of the World Rolls Round / The Golden Era / Rounder / 1954, 1977
  • Larry Sparks / Just Lovin’ You / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel / 1972, 1988
  • The O’Kanes / Daddies Need to Grow Up, Too / The O’Kanes / Columbia / 1986
  • Joe Newberry / I Know Whose Tears / Two Hands / 5-String Productions / 2005
  • Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press / New Bluegrass and Old Heartaches / Heartache Looking For a Home / Rural Rhythm / 2012
  • The Hillbenders / Red Stains / Down to my Last Dollar / self / 2010
  • Warrior River Boys / Fireball Mail / Freight Trains Ride Again/ Wango / 2000
  • Don Stover / Black Diamond / Things in Life / Rounder / 1972 / Theme

June 8, 2012

Playlist for Doc Watson Tribute (6/4 & 6/7)

Doc Watson was one of everybody's heroes when I was growing up playing guitar. He will be missed, but my heavens he left us a lot of great music.

Thanks to Phil Rosenthal of Guilford, CT, and Joe Newberry of Raleigh, NC, for being willing to share their insights about Doc with us. Appreciate it a lot.

We did take a couple of breaks from playing Doc's music; we played some related music; we played some music from some other stars who have passed away lately; and we played one set of happy tunes not related to anything--just 'cause I was getting morose.

Thanks for all the great music, Doc.

  • Artist / Song / Album / Label / Date(s) / Notes
  • Don Stover / Black Diamond / Things in Life / Rounder / 1972 / Theme
  • Doc Watson / Tennessee Stud / Southbound / Vanguard / 1966
  • Doc Watson & David Holt / I played like the rest of the boys (Interview) / Legacy / High Windy Audio / 2002
  • Doc & Merle Watson / Summertime / Elementary Doctor Watson / EGGE / 1972, 2002
  • Phil Rosenthal / Interview (pt. 1) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Doc Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Country Music and Bluegrass at Newport / Vanguard / 1963
  • Byron Berline, Dan Crary, John Hickman / East Tennessee Blues / B C H /Sugar Hill / 1986
  • Phil Rosenthal / Interview (pt. 2) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Doc Watson / Talk about Suffering / Doc Watson / Vanguard / 1964
  • Flatt & Scruggs, Doc Watson, & The Foggy Mountain Boys / Careless Love / Strictly Instrumental / Columbia / 1967
  • Doc & Richard Watson / Moody River / Third Generation Blues / Sugar Hill / 1999
  • Doc Watson & Junior Huskey / Cannonball Rag / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / United Artists / 1972
  • Joe Newberry / Interview (pt. 1) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson / Roll On Buddy / Doc Watson On Stage / Vanguard / 1970, 1971
  • Joe Newberry / Interview (pt. 2) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Merle Travis / Cane Bottom Chair / Merle Travis: Hot Pickin’ / Proper / 1950, 2003
  • Doc Watson & Merle Travis / First meeting of Doc Watson & Merle Travis / Will The Circle Be Unbroken / United Artists / 1972
  • Doc Watson & Merle Travis / San Antonio Rose / Folk Duets / Vanguard / c. 1976, 1998
  • Hazel Dickens / Busted / Hard Hitting Songs for Hard Hit People / Rounder / 1979
  • Phil Rosenthal / Interview (pt. 3) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Clarence “Tom” Ashley, Doc Watson, Fred Price, & Clint Howard / Way Downtown / Country Music and Bluegrass at Newport / Vanguard / 1963
  • Phil Rosenthal / Interview (pt. 4) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson / Doc’s Guitar / Doc Watson On Stage / Vanguard / 1970, 1971
  • Doc & Merle Watson / Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette / Blackberry Rag / Rounder / c. 1983, 2006
  • Kenny Baker / Done Gone / High Country / County / 1967
  • The Lilly Brothers / Sinner, You Better Get Ready / Classic Bluegrass from Smithsonian Folkways, Volume 2 / Smithsonian Folkways / 1961, 2005
  • Josh Graves & Kenny Baker / Deep Elm Blues / The Puritan Sessions / Rebel / 1973, 2005
  • The Bluegrass Martins / Happy on the Mississippi Shore / World of our Own / self/ 2011
  • Homer & Jethro / I Want to be Happy / Playing it Straight / Miller International / 1962, ND
  • The Hot Club of Cowtown / I Laugh when I Think I Cried over You / Tall Tales / Shout / 1999
  • Chet Atkins & Doc Watson / Black and White Rag, Ragtime Annie / Reflections / Legacy Recordings / 1980, 2011
  • Joe Newberry / Interview (pt. 3) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Doc Watson / The Train that Carried My Girl from Town / Classic Bluegrass from Smithsonian Folkways / Smithsonian Folkways / 1963, 2002
  • Doc Watson / Ready for the Times to Get Better / Legacy / High Windy Audio / 2002
  • Doc Watson / The Intoxicated Rat / Doc Watson / Vanguard / 1964
  • Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Pete Kirby, Junior Huskey, Randy Scruggs, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Keep on the Sunny Side / Will the Circle Be Unbroken / United Artists / 1972 Norman Blake & Tony Rice / Father’s Hall / Blake and Rice 2 / Rounder / 1990
  • Joe Newberry / Interview (pt. 4) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Bill Monroe & Doc Watson / Banks of the Ohio / Off the Record, Volume 2, Live Duet Recordings 1963-1980 / Smithsonian Folkways / c. 1970, 1993
  • Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Del McCoury / Live and Let Live / Mac, Doc, & Del / Sugar Hill / 1998
  • Joe Newberry / Interview (pt. 5) / Black Diamond Show / WNHU / 2012
  • Doc & Rosa Lee Watson / Your Long Journey / The Doc Watson Family / Smithsonian Folkways / 1963, 1990
  • Doc & Merle Watson / Below Freezing / Red Rocking Chair / Flying Fish / 1980
  • Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson / Salt River, Bill Cheatam / Doc Watson On Stage / Vanguard / 1970, 1971
  • Doc Watson / Alberta / Southbound / Vanguard / 1966
  • Don Stover / Black Diamond / Things in Life / Rounder / 1972 / Theme