NEWSLETTER #284 COUNTY SALES P.O. Box 191 March-April 2007 Floyd,VA 24091 www.countysales.com PHONE ORDERS: (540) 745-2001 FAX ORDERS: (540) 745-2008 FLATT & REB-1820 JOHN STARLING & CAROLINA SCRUGGS STAR “Slidin’ Home” One of the great singers of contemporary Bluegrass and acoustic music, John on NEW DVDS! Starling is back with a superb album that finds him in The big news this month is the release of two DVDs that a perfect setting for his soulful voice. Starling, a feature the legendary, long awaited Martha White Grand founding member of one of the all-time great acous- Ole Opry shows featuring Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, and tic bands, the Seldom Scene, was away from ac- originally filmed over 45 years ago. See our brief reviews tively performing for many years while he pursued of the first two volumes on page 2 (about 8 more volumes his career as a surgeon in the medical field. It’s great are projected). We will have these on sale this month for to have him back, especially in a band that is very just $ 18.00 each—they are GREAT. And to celebrate this reminiscent of the Seldom Scene—as well it should good news we are running a special sale on various Flatt & be, condsidering that two members—Mike Auldridge Scruggs CDs this month only (also on page 2). and Tom Gray—were also important & founding members of that group. Unlike the Scene, it’s a group NEW BEAR FAMILY BOXED SETS: without a banjo, but additional members Jimmy Gaudreau (mandolin) and Rickie Simpkins (fiddle) add We have just received our initial supply of two important beautifully to a tasteful and wonderfully musical treat- new Bear Family Boxed sets by BILL MONROE (My ment of some fine Last Days On Earth) and MAC WISEMAN (On Susan’s material. Every song floor). Both of these are fascinating 4-CD sets that come is powerful in its own with impressive hardback books. See page 8 for the or- way, starting with dering numbers and prices of these fine German imports! Starling’s take on the old Jimmie Rodgers IMPORT PRICE CHANGES: Effective immediately favorite, WAITIN’ we are reducing our price on the following Import labels to FOR A TRAIN. John $ 17.00 per disc: BEAR F AMILY (Single CDs), is joined by longtime BRONCO, and CATTLE (These German Import labels friend of the Scene, were previously $ 18.00 per CD). We will be making Emmylou Harris, in a equivalent reductions on most of the Bear Family boxed poignant treatment of sets as well. Gram Parsons’ IN MY HOUR OF STANLEY BROTHERS BOX SET DARKNESS, and his achingly beautiful vocal on the There is a new 3-CD Boxed set of the STANLEY BROTH- classic Leon Payne song THEY’LL NEVER TAKE ERS (put out by Time-Life) that should be available in early HER LOVE FROM ME is to me worth getting the April. Customers ordering by phone after March 30 can record for. Another great song is Gillian Welch’s ask for details, or watch for it on our Web Site, RIVERBOAT SONG, and THOSE TWO BLUE www.countysales.com Speaking of the Stanley Brothers, EYES, WILLIN’, COLD HARD BUSINESS and their fine 4-CD Boxed set on KING is available once again Sarah Pirkle’s PRAYER FOR MY FRIENDS are after being out of print for over a year. You can order KING- all impressive. A gem of an album! $ 13.50 7000 ($ 45.00) Purchase Amount $4.00-29.99 $30.00-59.99 $60.00-139.99 $140.00-199.99 Over $200.00 U. S. Regular Mail 3.50 4.00 6.00 6.50 7.50 U. S. Priory Mail 4.50 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 International Surface 6.00 7.50 9.00 11.50 Actual International Air 9.00 12.00 15.00 25.00 Actual **For COD shipments, please add $6.00 in addition to regular shipping charges. DOMESTIC ORDER ONLY. For special expedited rates (FED EX, UPS, NEXT DAY, etc) please call or fax us for cost & authorization. DOMESTIC ORDERS ONLY. **CANADIAN ORDERS: MINIMUM SHIPPING CHARGE is $6.00 for 1-7 CDs and $8.00 for 8 or more CDs. SEND ALL ORDERS TO: COUNTY SALES P.O. BOX 191 FLOYD, VA 24091 540-745-2001 * Minimum credit card order is $25.00 * (Fax) 540-745-2008 2 FLATT & SCRUGGS ON DVD SHAN-611-DVD BEST OF THE FLATT & SHAN-612-DVD BEST OF THE FLATT & SCRUGGS TV SHOW—Volume 1 Although Lester SCRUGGS TV SHOW—Vol. 2 This second generous Flatt & Earl Scruggs recorded their classic sounds more helping of vintage Flatt & Scruggs on film consists of shows than 50 years ago, they remain a very strong fan favorite to from July and August of 1961—the latter a great show that this day, and deservedly so. For the past 20 years or so includes guest Mother Maybelle Carter picking guitar & sing- there have been rumors of the exist- ing WILDWOOD FLOWER, and then playing ence of some of their legendary LIBERTY DANCE on her autoharp. In addi- Martha White TV shows from the late tion to newer songs, the group does a super job 1950s and early 1960s, but many of with the old timers DOWN THE ROAD and us who knew of their survival had de- WE’LL MEET AGAIN SWEETHEART. spaired of ever being able to get to see Thanks to Flatt’s masterful MC work, the shows any of this material. Now, at long last, have a relaxed & friendly feel that is even ap- and thanks to a collaboration between pealing when they make the occasional mistake: Shanachie Records and the Country Lester announces “FAREWELL BLUES” but Music Hall of Fame, the rumors have Earl goes on to play “FIREBALL MAIL”, and become reality, and this first volume in another instance Scruggs botches a break on (of a projected 10-volumes) will bring EARL’S BREAKDOWN and takes a good na- joy to the hearts of thousands, we are tured ribbing from Lester at the end of the tune. sure! This first disc includes two full The disc is replete with hitherto unexpected sur- 30-minute TV shows, one from Au- prises like the quartet singing ARE YOU gust 1961 and the other from Febru- WASHED IN THE BLOOD with Scruggs pick- ary 1962, just as they were originally ing guitar, HAVE broadcast, complete with commercials YOU COME (most announced by T. Tommy Cutrer). Each show fea- TO SAY GOODBYE, and tures around 10 songs & tunes, which typically consisted of Lester’s masterful recitation both the group’s current “hits” (A HUNDRED YEARS on I DREAMED ABOUT FROM NOW), some songs from their earlier repertoire MAMA LAST NIGHT. (JIMMIE BROWN THE NEWSBOY), a bit of comedy Watching these thoroughly and some instrumentals (featuring some combination of Earl professional and entertain- Scruggs’ banjo, Paul Warren’s fiddling, and dobro playing ing shows, viewers can re- by “Uncle Josh” Graves). On one of the two shows here ally appreciate Curly Hylo Brown is a guest (singing JOHN HENRY and Seckler’s superb tenor sing- LOVESICK & SORROW). Apart from the wonderful ing, Scruggs’ amazingly solid fiddle & banjo tunes that marked every show, there are other & tasteful banjo picking, and great moments that were never preserved on record: the Flatt’s smooth, consum- Foggy Mountain Boys Quartet doing a lovely a cappella mate MC work (as well as rendition of PRECIOUS MEMORIES, and a neat up- his wonderful vocals). The tempo version of PIG IN A PEN featuring the unusual trio of group worked beautifully Curly Seckler, Uncle Josh and Paul Warren, with Scruggs around two mikes—one for the instrumental breaks and the picking some dynamite banjo! The shows are all in black & other for the vocals— whether it be a solo, a duet, a trio or white and a bit grainy, but this will matter little to the legions quartet, the band’s blend and choreography were impec- of Flatt & Scruggs fans who should be ecstatic to view these cable. There’s plenty going on here—fans of Josh Graves’ shows at last. This disc also includes BEFORE I MET YOU, dobro and Paul Warren’s fiddling will certainly enjoy seeing GEORGIA BUCK, DURHAM’S BULL, JESUS SAV- their work as well. (See description of SHAN-611-DVD IOUR PILOT ME, etc. DVD: $ 18.00 for more commentary on this great series. DVD: $ 18.00 Other Flatt & Scruggs CDs Available FOGGY MT. BANJO STRICTLY FOGGY MT THE ESSENTIAL THE COMPLETE (On Sale: $ 8.00) INSTRUMENTAL SPECIAL $22.50 MERCURY (On Sale: $ 8.00) (On Sale: $ 8.00) RECORDINGS' $15.00 3 OLD WEST-004 SKIP GORMAN “Mandolin In The Cow Camp” Mr Gorman has had several previous albums HAPIDOG-2006 HARD RYDE “Expressed” out (some on Rounder and 3 on his own label) featuring Excellent hard-driving Bluegrass by this Canadian either his mandolin picking or his array of cowboy songs, or band that has put it all together. The 15 cuts feature a good variety of material, including Bluegrass stan- both. While we have enjoyed all his previous efforts, we are dards like EAST VIRGINIA, GIRL AT THE not sure what to make of this new 2-CD set that presents CROSSROADS 140 minutes of mandolin music (62 tunes altogether!). The BAR and SOME- set is very attractively packaged, and there are plenty of HOW TONIGHT; very nicely played, interesting tunes. The accompaniments others familiar to our are mostly simple and tasteful, with guitar on about 2 dozen audience are YOU of the tracks, plus some old-time banjo (Tom Carter) and a DON’T HAVE TO touch of octave mandolin and mandocello or 2nd mandolin.