Article 15079 of rec.music.country.old-time: From: tag9@pge.com (Todd A. Gracyk) Newsgroups: rec.music.country.old-time Subject: Doc Watson Recordings Date: Sun, 16 Feb 1997 05:00:46 GMT It occurs to me that some fans of bluegrass and old-time country music may be unfamiliar with early recordings by Doc Watson made for the Folkways label in the early 1960's that have been re-issued on the Smithsonian/Folkways label. These are the double CD/tape box set "The Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley: 1960-1962", Smithsonian/Folkways 40029/30 and the single CD/tape "The Doc Watson Family", Smithsonian/Folkways 40012. Most of these recordings were originally released in 1961 and 1963 on "Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley's, Volumes 1 and 2" and in 1963 on "The Watson Family". The generous re-issues (48 and 26 tracks, respectively) contain many previously unreleased cuts and both re-issues contain extensive liner notes. "The Doc Watson Family" is one of my all-time favorite recordings because it contains the original version of "My Long Journey" (which is actually "My Lone Journey") and a haunting version of "The Lone Pilgrim". "The Doc Watson Family" also contains great versions of "Bonaparte's Retreat", "I'm Troubled", "That Train That Carried My Girl From Town", and "Darling Corey". Last, but not least, is "The Lost Soul", a song that scares the hell out of me! "The Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley: 1960-1962" is a gorgeous box set featuring a 32 page booklet with notes by Ralph Rinzler. Rinzler goes into some depth describing how he "discovered" Watson while visiting Ashley for a recording session (Ashley suggested that Watson play electric guitar for the session). The song notes are fascinating and several photographs help illustrate this exciting period of the old-time revival. I re-read this booklet last night and can say that the writing and photos make it one of the treasures in my collection. Rinzler captures well the importance of these recordings (and live appearances during that period). So much for the book, what about the music? Well, there isn't a weak cut on either disc (or tape) of "The Original Folkways Recordings of..." and the version of "Hick's Farewell" heard here (with a short introduction by Watson) is phenomenal. Watson and Ashley are accompanied by Clint Howard, Fred Price, and several others. I am especially fond of "Way Down Town", "Looking t'ward Heaven", "Tough Luck", "Sweet Heaven When I Die", "Daniel Prayed", "Richmond Blues", "Old Ruben", "Willie Moore", "A Short Life of Trouble", "John Henry", "God's Gonna Ease My Troublin' Mind", and "I Saw A Man At The Close of Day". There are many fine recordings featuring Watson on the Smithsonian/Folkways, Vanguard, Rounder, and Sugar Hill labels but none are as wonderful as "The Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley: 1960-1962" and "The Doc Watson Family" (but the live duets with Bill Monroe come damn close). Todd A. Gracyk Petaluma, CA tag9@pge.com See also Lenny Bruce
At his concert in Asheville, NC, on November 1st 1997, Bob Dylan acknowledged Doc Watson's presence. His exact words were: "......." (Please tell me if you have a tape!)
Subject: Re: Asheville, Doc Watson Reference From: Seth Kulick (skulick@linc.cis.upenn.edu) Date: 5 Nov 1997 03:09:40 GMT [...] I just want to put in a plug here for Manfred's Doc Watson page: --------------------------------------------------------------- "Ballads From Deep Gap and elsewhere" Doc Watson/Woody Guthrie/ American History in Song Website at http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/3448/index.html(A> --------------------------------------------------------------- I've been told that Doc Watson has been covering Dylan's "Buckets of Rain" recently. I'd love to hear that. Dylan, of course, mentions Doc on the liner notes of World Gone Wrong as his source for "Lone Pilgrim", which he heard on an "old Doc Watson record". He's referring to one of the Watson family recordings (called "The Doc Watson Family", or something like that), from Smithsonian/Folkways, rereleased on CD a few years ago. For anyone unfamiliar with Doc, I would still recommend his first Vanguard album, titled just "Doc Watson". Go get it, put on Black Mountain Rag, and then play it again and again.... -- ------------------------------------------------------------ Seth Kulick "There are no kings inside the University of Pennsylvania gates of Eden" - Bob Dylan skulick@linc.cis.upenn.edu http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~skulick/home.html