NEW RELEASES
(Received November 25-December 24)

NORMAN BLAKE
GREEN LIGHT ON THE SOUTHERN
Western Jubilee Recording 824761428121 (compact disc)

TRAVIS CHANDLER & AVERY COUNTY
STATE OF DEPRESSION
Patuxent Music CD212 (compact disc)

CHESHAM CREEK BAND
HIGHWAY OF BROKEN DREAMS
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

TIM FINCH AND SAVANNAH WITH THE EASTMAN STRINGBAND
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

GLENN GIBSON
WHEN TIMES ARE HARD
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

KNUCKLE KNOCKERS
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

MILFORD STATION BLUEGRASS BAND
FIELDS OF CAROLINE
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

CRAIG MORRIS
BANJOLOGY
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

JOE MULLINS & THE RADIO RAMBLERS
HYMNS FROM THE HILLS
Rebel Records REBCD1839 (compact disc)

NEW NORTH CAROLINA RAMBLERS
FOUR AND A HALF
Old Blue Records OBCD704 (compact disc)

NEW NORTH CAROLINA RAMBLERS
LIVE & LIVELY
Old Blue Records OBCD706 (compact disc)

BOBBY OSBORNE & THE ROCKYTOP XPRESS
MEMORIES
Rural Rhythm Records RUR1072 (compact disc)

PARKER & BOND
A STREAM OF TALES, VOLUME 1
No Label, No Number (compact disc)

PATENT PENDING
NOT A DAY GOES BY
Tuscarora Records, No Number (compact disc)

PICKIN’ STICK: BUILDING A STRINGED INSTRUMENT
BY JOHN RESSLER
Schiffer Publishing 9780764335716 (book)

RUNAWAY STRING BAND
DOWN THE RIVER I GO
No Label, RSB002 (compact disc)

KIRK SUTPHIN & RILEY BAUGUS
LONGTIME PIEDMONT PALS
Old Blue Records OB705 (compact disc)

TAYLORS GROVE
KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE
Fishtraks Records FT1880 (compact disc)

ADDITIONAL RELEASES
By Les McIntyre

DALE JETT & HELLO STRANGER
GOING DOWN THE VALLEY
No Label, No Number.

Dale Jett (guitar, autoharp and vocals) is the Grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter and has been carrying on the musical tradition of the Carter Family for a number of years. In this latest recording effort, Going Down The Valley, he is joined by his wife Teresa (bass and vocals) and longtime musical partner, Oscar Harris (guitar, autoharp, mandolin, and vocals). Also appearing are several guest musicians including the legendary Bill Clifton (vocals on the title track) and guitarist Wayne Henderson. The 14 selections are songs associated with the Carter Family including “Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone,” “Cannon Ball Blues,” “The Cyclone Of Rye Cove,” “Little Black Train” and others. Dale Jett & Hello Stranger have created a pleasant collection of traditional music that pays an emotional tribute to the immortal Carter Family. (Oscar Harris, P.O. Box 171, Mendota, VA 24270, www.dalejett.com.)

LONESOME MEADOW
CARRY ME AWAY
No Label, No Number.

Lonesome Meadow is a family band from Westerville, Ohio, consisting of Ann Marie (fiddle, mandolin and vocals), John (guitar and vocals), Gary (banjo and vocals) and dad Mark Jackson (bass). They have been dubbed “the best kept secret in Central Ohio,” and they certainly prove it in this latest collection which is a blending of established pieces and well thought out original numbers. The Jackson’s especially stand out on their own compositions including “Steam Train,” “Carry Me Away” and “South Fork Dam” which recounts the story of the Johnstown Flood. Also featured are effective renditions of “Carolina In The Pines.” Johnny Williams and Tom T. Hall’s “Papa Loved Ringing That Bell” and Gary Jackson’s instrumental “Midnight Moon.” Carry Me Away is the fourth compact disc from Lonesome Meadow and certain to win many new followers for this talented family band. (Julie Jackson, P.O Box 1632, Westerville, OH 43086, www.lonesomemeadow.com.)

HUNT FAMILY BLUEGRASS
OKLAHOMA WIND
Rock Springs Records RSR004.

Hunt Family Bluegrass is an Oklahoma band consisting of Terry (guitar and vocals), Leanne (bass and vocals), Andrew (fiddle, mandolin and vocals) and Jonathan Hunt (banjo, guitar and vocals). Oklahoma Wind is their latest recording and consists of 13 selections, six of which were composed by various bandmembers. One interesting recording is Jesse McReynolds’ “The Southbound Train” which Jim & Jesse recorded back in 1963, but apparently remained unissued until it was released on a Bear Family box set several years ago. Original numbers include the title song, “Ozark Mountain State Of Mind” and the fiddle tune “Old Traveler.” Other noted performances include the Carter Family’s “Coal Miner’s Blues,” “Love Of The Mountains” and the close-out number, “Sunny Side Of The Mountain.” Oklahoma Wind is an imaginative collection of bluegrass that amply demonstrates the tremendous potential of Hunt Family Bluegrass.

(Terry Hunt, 30025 CR 100, Orlando, OK 73073, www.huntfamilybluegrass.com.)

DR. ELMO
BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS
Time Life Records 25894D.

Dr. Elmo is indeed the Elmo of Patsy who created that hilarious holiday ditty “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.” In reality Dr. Elmo is a licensed veterinarian, competitive runner and a banjo picker who fronts his own bluegrass band. In this latest bluegrass Christmas collection, Dr. Elmo and the gang perform a mixture of Christmas favorites along with original undertakings like “Come On Boys It’s Christmas,” “Here’s To The Lonely” and “Grandpa In The Santa Suit Show.” This particular project is actually more conservative than some of his previous holiday outings. Also featured are seasonal favorites “Greensleeves,” “Deck The Halls,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and an instrumental version of “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.” While Bluegrass Christmas arrived a little too late for the recent holiday season, it would be well worth keeping this latest Dr. Elmo undertaking in mind when the yuletide season rolls around once again. (Laughing Stock Records, 2521, Laguna Vista Dr., Novato, CA 94945, www.drelmo.com.)

TOMMY CONNER
GOOD’N COUNTRY II
No Label, No Number.

This latest compact disc from Tommy Conner is the follow up project to his previous compact disc of several years ago (See BU, Sept. ’01). While the proceedings exude a definitive country flavor, the instrumentation and overall style is bluegrass. The ten selections come from a myriad of sources including Jimmie Rodgers (“My Rough & Rowdy Ways” and “No Body Knows”), The Beatles (“Yesterday”), Flatt & Scruggs (“No Mother Or Dad”) and others. Anyone who enjoys Tommy Conner’s Good ’N Country collection will certainly find much to savor in this followup release. (Thomas Conner, 613 Dark Run Rd., Elliston, VA 24087, email: tommyrotten53@yahoo.com.)

BOBBY MILLER AND THE VIRGINIA DAREDEVILS
BROTHER, ADIEU
No Label, No Number.

Bobby Miller and the Virginia Daredevils is a recently established bluegrass band based in western North Carolina. They apparently take their name from Virginia Dare whose name is associated with the famous Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Brother Adieu is an interesting collection of material ranging from the traditional instrumental “Pretty Little Indian” to Lennon and McCartney’s “She Said, She Said” and Bobby’s own “Coleman’s Lullaby.” In between are such pieces as “Clayton Lunsford Died,” “Boots On Betsy” and the instrumental “El Cumbanchero.” Bobby Miller and the Virginia Daredevils have created a style of acoustic music that is truly innovative yet maintains stalwart traditional values. Look for great things to come from this truly talented group of pickers. (Bobby Miller, 129 Choctaw St., Asheville, NC 28801, email: virginiadaredevils@gmail.com.)

BOYS FROM CAROLINA
COUNTY LINE
No Label, No Number.

The Boys From Carolina are a five-man group based in Raleigh, N.C., and consist of Chuck Schutte (guitar, resonator guitar and vocals), Wright Young (mandolin, fiddle, guitar and vocals), Bob Wilkerson (banjo), Larry Nunnery (guitar and vocals) and Lester Duquay (bass and vocals). In their latest release, the Boys are featured on 13 tracks including “Old Train,” “All I Ever Loved Was You,” “Pass Me Not” and the Bill Emerson instrumental “Welcome To New York.” Also featured are performances of Chuck Schutte’s “County Line,” Dance Little Jean” and Dee Gaskins gospel number “You Bore Me Up.” While the performances tend to be uneven in spots, County Line still offers plenty of basic bluegrass with a contemporary air that should be welcomed by anyone familiar with the music of the Boys From Carolina. (Charles Schutte, 232 Competition Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603, www.boysfromcarolina.com.)

STONEY CREEK BLUEGRASS BAND
HOT OFF THE PRESS
No Label, No Number.

The Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band is a West Virginia foursome consisting of noted banjo picker Darrell Sanders, Brett Smeltzer (mandolin and vocals), Ed Barney (mandolin and vocals) and Libby Files (bass and vocals). Hot Off The Press is the group’s latest recording venture and has apparently drawn praises from a myriad of sources. The dozen selections are an interesting assembly of bluegrass standards including “Steel Rails,” “Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong,” “Erase The Miles,” “Long Gone” and the classic Pete Wernick instrumental “Armadillo Breakdown.” Hot Off The Press is mainstream bluegrass at its best and another significant milestone in the musical journey of the Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band. (Stoney Creek, 284 Calvary Hill Rd., Hedgesville, WV 25427, www.stoneycreekbluegrass.net.)

49 SPECIAL
No Label, No Number.

49 Special is a contemporary bluegrass band based in San Francisco that is causing quite a stir on the West Coast. In fact, they were the 2009 winners of the prestigious Rockygrass band competition. This foursome includes Tyson Alteri (guitar and vocals), Danny Booth (bass and vocals), Alisa Rose (fiddle and vocals), Jim Chayka (banjo and vocals), and Michael Carroll (drums). Coproduced with Jim Nunally, this self-titled offering features 13 titles composed by various bandmembers. Their instrumentation is precise and dynamic and complemented by soaring vocals. The many highlights include performances of “Crossroads,” “Cold Mountain Blues,” “The Call Of A Lonesome Road,” “Blue’s Not Your Color” and “Highway 1.” 49 Special has created a magnificent body of contemporary bluegrass that still bears a healthy respect to tradition. Hopefully this band will be a moving force on the bluegrass scene for many years to come. (Jim Chayka, 1234 35th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122, www.fortyninespecial.com.)