The years 1936 and 1937 were breakthrough years for three of country music’s biggest names: Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass; Bob Wills, the master of western swing; and Roy Acuff, the king of country.
The Monroe Brothers
“What Would You Give In Exchange?” (Bluebird B-6309, 1936)
Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music, began his recording career as part of a close-harmony singing duo with his brother Charlie. “What Would You Give In Exchange?” was a huge hit for the brothers – so much so that they went on to record three sequels to it. Charlie plays gentle rhythm guitar and Bill adds quiet but superb flourishes on mandolin that only hint at the proficiency he would show later in his career. The mandolin had never before been considered a lead instrument, but then again it had never before been played so adeptly.
Meanwhile, their voices are perfectly matched in close harmony with each other, as only siblings can be. The result is so sweet that it almost belies the cautionary lyrics: “Risk not your soul / It is precious indeed.”
~ You may also like: The Monroe Brothers, “My Long Journey Home” (Bluebird B-6422, 1936)
The Blue Sky Boys
“Sunny Side of Life” (B-6457, 1936)
Earl and Bill Bolick were another close-harmony brother duo, and in fact one of the best. “Sunny Side of Life” was their first hit and an excellent example of their addictive singing style. Just as they stay close but not quite together on harmony, so too they parallel each other on the lyrics during the choruses with enchanting results. One brother draws out words like “happy” and “sunny” while the other says them each twice, adding a dynamic dimension to what had seemed a low-key song. Factor in the sheer magic of the way the brothers’ voices sound together and you have the makings of an amazing record.
~ You may also like: The Monroe Brothers, “My Savior’s Train” (Bluebird B-6729, 1936)
Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
“Steel Guitar Rag” (Vocalion 3394, 1936)
Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
“Right or Wrong” (Vocalion 3451, 1936)
The untimely death of Milton Brown cut short the career of one of the true masters of “western swing” music. Fortunately, the music carried on through many other artists, and it was Brown’s good friend and former band mate who led the way. Bob Wills was a fiddle player who had served with Brown in the Light Crust Doughboys in Fort Worth, Texas in the early 1930s, and it was there that the pair created the basic blueprint for what would become western swing. Wills’ ear for the music matched, and possibly even surpassed, his friend’s. While Wills employed other people to sing the lead vocals, each song was peppered with his trademark interjections, often in a high-pitched nasal tone: “Aww, swing it, Mr. Leon, swing it!”
“Steel Guitar Rag” is a great example of energetic, no-holds-barred western swing. It features Leon McAuliffe in an electrifying performance on electric steel guitar. The steel guitar’s trademark slide sound comes from sustaining notes, so one might think that using it as the lead instrument would make for a slow record. Instead, the rhythm section propels it forward with relentless energy, while McAuliffe adds color by making the steel sing. The other instruments are just as good: Al Stricklin bangs raucously on piano, and Robert “Zeb” McNally gives a rock-and-roll worthy performance on the sax. Little touches like cowbell and shouts from Wills add to the entertainment.
~ You may also like: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, “Osage Stomp” (Vocalion 3096, 1935)
“Right or Wrong” shows Wills and company in a slower, but no less compelling context. The vocals are sung by Tommy Duncan, who was the band’s primary vocalist during its heyday from 1933 to 1948. Duncan has the perfect voice for western swing: strong and twangy enough for country, but smooth and sophisticated enough for jazz. The lyrics are wonderfully heartbreaking, and Duncan imbues them with just the right amount of pathos. His band mates are wonderful too, from Wills’ longing fiddle solo at the beginning to the bittersweet melancholy of Everett Stover’s Mexican-style trumpet during the bridge. The sorrowful tension hits a boiling point at the end as Duncan raises his voice to a wail and repeats, “All along I thought I’d lose you!” He then adds a little well-placed yodel to brilliant effect as he brings the song to its conclusion.
~ You may also like: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, “Who Walks in When I Walk Out” (Vocalion 3206, 1936)
--------------------------------
1937 Headlines … Great Depression continues … Franklin D. Roosevelt begins second term as U.S. President … German airship Hindenburg consumed by fire … Joe Louis becomes heavyweight boxing champ
--------------------------------
Roy Acuff and His Crazy Tennesseans
“Great Speckled Bird” (Melotone 7-01-59, 1937)
Roy Acuff is one of country music’s giants and the first person ever inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In addition to being one of the Grand Ole Opry’s biggest stars for decades, he would become one of country music’s most influential people after co-founding Acuff-Rose Music, the first major Nashville-based music publishing company, in 1942.
“Great Speckled Bird” was one of his signature songs and his first big hit. Over Clell Sumne’s slow, haunting steel guitar, Acuff reverently sings this popular hymn written by Reverend Guy Smith. The lyrics describe the Bible as a speckled bird, based on Jeremiah 12:9 (“Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her…”). Acuff had a good strong voice that came across clearly on radio and record alike. While he could be quite animated, on this record he wisely showed great restraint, measuring his words carefully and allowing the story and Sumne’s ethereal slide work to carry the song.
~ You may also like Acuff singing to a different style of steel guitar: Roy Acuff and His Crazy Tennesseans, “Steel Guitar Blues” (Melotone 7-07-52, 1937)
Milestone Recordings in American Music
6/18/10
Country Kings (1936-1937)
Labels:
1930s records,
1936,
1937,
Bill Monroe,
Blue Sky Boys,
Bob Wills,
Grand Ole Opry,
Roy Acuff,
Tommy Duncan,
western swing
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
hollister co
ReplyDeletecanada goose outlet
canada goose coats
polo ralph lauren outlet
ugg boots
ugg boots clearance
timberland shoes
nike sneakers
canada goose jackets
louis vuitton uk
20161018yuanyuan
new orleans saints jerseys
ReplyDeletereplica watches
michael kors handbags
hugo boss sale
yeezy boost 350
cleveland browns jerseys
jordan shoes
ferragamo shoes
nike blazer pas cher
jacksonville jaguars jersey
michael kors handbags
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet
oakley sunglasses
michael kors handbags
coach outlet
ray bans uk
uggs on clearance
boston celtics jerseys
michael kors handbags
seahawks jerseys
chenlina20170309
nike air max
ReplyDeleteralph lauren outlet
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren uk
michael kors outlet
adidas superstar
fitflops
longchamp uk
timberland boots
mulberry handbags
20170321huazhen
longchamp
ReplyDeleteyeezy boost
reebok shoes
links of london
jordan 12
michael kors factory outlet
kobe 11
pandora jewelry
moncler jackets
goyard
michael kors purses
ReplyDeletenike running shoes
kyrie 3
christian louboutin shoes
hermes belts
oakley sunglasses
pandora charms
prada eyeglasses
nike shoes for men
fenty puma
20181104 xiaoou
ReplyDeletekate spade outlet online
pandora jewelry
cheap oakley sunglasses
mlb jerseys wholesale
cheap jordan shoes
canada goose outlet
tory burch handbags
texans jerseys
san antonio spurs jersey
uggs outlet online
nike air max 270
ReplyDeleteadidas stan smith women
russell westbrook shoes
moncler outlet
louboutin shoes
huarache shoes
moncler coat
jordan shoes
supreme outlet
michael kors handbags
jordan 12
ReplyDeletesupreme hoodie
kd 12 shoes
jordan shoes
adidas zx flux
hermes
balenciaga
golden goose sneakers
curry 5
jordans
Coach Canada Bags Outlet, Constant communication. It was more than flying to Russia for meetings. It was not just about having conversations about what particular contract we were going to sign or how much we were going to transition between the United States and Russia.
ReplyDeleteCoach Makeup Bag Outlet, These toys can make a couples' sex life more fun and exciting, says sex educatorBianca Alba, MPH. For starters, demo ing a toy gives your partner an idea of the strokes and touches you really dig. Also, a sex toy can give you the chance to try a new sensation or type of play, surprising you with how great it feels..
He wins battles of attrition. I won by intelligence, skill and ring savvy. Was never in danger of visiting the mat. (Michael Kors Black Soft Leather Purse)This has been established by the observation of modern day relations (Neotrigonia found in Australian waters) and by fossil record analysis. The foot is used for burrowing by means of the shell rocking back and forward. Although not itself fossilised the muscular foot can be traced back through Trigoniid phylogeny by indirect means because of its coadaptive relationship to certain skeletal features.. (Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Small Black Crossbody Bag)
When this country was founded congressmen walked our streets and did the peoples business living normal and humble lives. They would travel commercially by car or air and as public servents one would not be able to tell one person from another. Their main job was to serve the people. (Michael Kors Black Jet Set Travel Crossbody Bag)
White Coach Dust Bag, Falk throws 3 TDs, No. 19 Washington State beats Utah 33 25Washington State v UtahSALT LAKE CITY, UT NOVEMBER 11: Davontavean Martin 1 of the Washington State Cougars catches a pass during their game against the Utah Utes at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images).
(Ray Ban Outlet) 21, Depending on conditions. Subwater thanks to twenty years of expertise about the western coastline for a flat screen tv reports (Coach Outlet Clearance Sale) developer, Photojournalist, Media press news reporter then mission publisher. (Cheap Yeezys For Sale) Affiliate marketer along with the marine corps..
ReplyDeleteGenerally Sri (New Yeezys 2020) Lankan city struggle has now quite a number root results in: The ways that they modern day cultural personalities have been turned (Ray Ban Outlet Store) while remade simply because colonial circuit, Rhetorical competitions (Michael Kors Outlet Store) additional historical world-wide-web and set status etymologies, Together with the politics utilisation of (Coach Outlet Online) the national more than. The municipal conflict comes armed with leaded to the loss of in excess of 70,000 everyday people young and old and even, Based on individual liberties lists equivalent to perspective, The pressured disappearance pertaining to (New Jordan Releases 2020) thousands other (Yeezy Boost 350 Cheap) folks(Be able to observe: White-coloured van abductions on the inside Sri Lanka). Considering the fact that 1983, Sri Lanka in addition has perceived considerable private displacements in excess of a million most customers, That has eighty for every cent of finding Sri Lankan Tamils.
This Site high quality replica bags visit site useful source More about the author see
ReplyDelete