4 -CD boxed set (LP-size) with 136-page hardcover book, 100 tracks. Playing time approx. 302 mns The famous 1927 Bristol Sessions, produced by Victor Records in Bristol, Tennessee are known as 'The Big Bang Of Country Music. ' But don't overlook the recordings made in nearby Johnson City by Columbia Records in October 1928 and October 1929. Collectively, the Johnson City recordings are regarded by scholars, collectors, and lovers of old-time music as a distinctive cross-section of Appalachian music, captured on the cusp of the Great Depression. Indeed, the final recordings of the 1929 session took place on October 24 - the infamous 'Black Thursday' when Wall Street crashed. Bear Family Records has gathered the entire issued output of the 1928-29 Johnson City sessions. This is the first time all 100 songs have been issued together... and the first time many have been heard since the Depression. The accompanying 136-page, LP-size hardcover book contains newly researched essays on the background to the sessions and the artists, with many rare and unpublished photographs. Also included are complete song lyrics and a detailed discography. Three of these performances were chosen by the pioneering scholar Harry Smith for his 1952 compilation 'Anthology Of American Folk Music' - a seminal source for the urban folk revival of the 1950s and '60s: The Coo-Coo Bird by Clarence (Tom) Ashley, Old Lady And The Devil by Bill and Belle Reed, and Down On Penny's Farm by The Bentley Boys - the inspiration for Bob Dylan's Hard Times In New York Town and Maggie's Farm. Other gems include a topical best-seller of the Prohibition era, When the Roses Bloom Again For The Bootlegger, the Grant Brothers' Tell It To Me, revived by the Old Crow Medicine Show, and many more. 'Can You Sing Or Play Old-Time Music?' is packed with stringband tunes, ancient ballads, sacred songs, hillbilly blues and blue yodels - the entrancing musical world of old Appalachia. Track ListingDisc 1: Shell Creek Quartet - Song of Ruth - Lotte Lenya mit Orchester, Dir -Maurice Levine Shell Creek Quartet - My Boyhood Days Shell Creek Quartet - Back Where The Old Home Stands Grant Brothers & Their Music - When A Man Is Married Grant Brothers & Their Music - Goodbye My Honey I'm Gone Grant Brothers & Their Music - Tell It To Me Grant Brothers & Their Music - Johnson Boy Roane County Ramblers - Home Town Blues Roane County Ramblers - Southern No. 111 Roane County Ramblers - Step High Waltz Roane County Ramblers - Tennessee Waltz Rich, Renus & Bradshaw, Carl - Goodbye Sweetheart Rich, Renus & Bradshaw, Carl - Sleep Baby Sleep Greene, Clarence & Wise Brothers - Pride Of The Ball Greene, Clarence & Wise Brothers - Kitty Waltz Greene, Clarence - Johnson City Blues Greene, Clarence - Ninety-Nine Years In Jail Proximity String Quartet - Lindy Proximity String Quartet - Louise Greensboro Boys Quartet - Sing Me A Song Of The Sunny South Greensboro Boys Quartet - Sweet Little Girl Of Mine Harold, Richard - The Battleship Maine Harold, Richard - The Fisher's Maid Harold, Richard - Sweet Bird Harold, Richard - Mary Dear Disc 2: Bowman Sisters - My Old Kentucky Home Bowman Sisters - Swanee River Bowman, Charlie & His Brothers - Roll On Buddy Bowman, Charlie & His Brothers - Gonna Raise The Ruckus Tonight Reed, Bill & Belle - You Shall Be Free Reed, Bill & Belle - Old Lady And The Devil Reed Children, The - I'll Be All Smiles Tonight Reed Children, The - I Once Did Have A Sweetheart McVay & Johnson - Ain't Going To Lay My Armor Down McVay & Johnson - I'll Be Ready When The Bridegroom Comes Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - Steamboat Man Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - When The Roses Bloom for the Bootlegger Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - Poor Little Joe Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - We Parted At The Gate Roark, George - I Ain't A Bit Drunk Roark, George - My Old Coon Dog Ed Helton Singers - A Storm On The Sea Ed Helton Singers - My Old Cottage Home Garland Brothers & Grinstead - Just Over The River Garland Brothers & Grinstead - Beautiful McCartt Brothers & Patterson - Green Valley Waltz McCartt Brothers & Patterson - Over The Sea Waltz Blalock & Yates - Morning Star Waltz Jackson, Jack - Flat Tire Blues Jackson, Jack - My Alabama Home Disc 3: Wade, George & Braswell, Francum - Think A Little Wade, George & Braswell, Francum - When We Go A-Courtin' Jackson, Jack - In Our Little Home Sweet Home Jackson, Jack - I'm Just A Black Sheep Roane County Ramblers - Free A Little Bird 1930 Model Roane County Ramblers - Johnson City Rag Roane County Ramblers - Callahan Rag Roane County Ramblers - Alabama Trot Wyatt & Brandon - Evalina Wyatt & Brandon - Lover's Farewell Harvey, Roy & Copeland, Leonard - Just Pickin' Harvey, Roy & Copeland, Leonard - Beckley Rag Harvey, Roy & Copeland, Leonard - Underneath The Sugar Moon Harvey, Roy & Copeland, Leonard - Lonesome Weary Blues Spindale Quartet - Sweet Peace The Gift Of God's Love Spindale Quartet - God Will Take Care Of You Spindale Quartet - Face To Face Spindale Quartet - Lift Him Up Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - The Virginian Strike Of '23 Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - The Policeman's Little Child Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - My Yodeling Sweetheart Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - I'm Longing To Belong To Someone Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - We Have Moonshine In The Vest VA. Hills Shirkey, Earl & Harper, Roy - A Hobo's Pal Moatsville String Ticklers - The West Virginia Hills Moatsville String Ticklers - Moatsville Blues Disc 4: Weaver Brothers - You Came Back To Me Weaver Brothers - Prison Sorrows Moore, Byrd & His Hot Shots - Frankie Silvers Moore, Byrd & His Hot Shots - The Hills Of Tennessee Moore, Byrd & His Hot Shots - Careless Love Moore, Byrd & His Hot Shots - Three Men Went A-Hunting Bateman Sacred Quartet - Nothing Like The Old Time Religion Bateman Sacred Quartet - Some Day Richards, Fred - My Katie Richards, Fred - Danville Blues Ashley, Clarence - Dark Holler Blues Ashley, Clarence - The Coo-Coo Bird Ashley, Clarence - Little Sadie Ashley, Clarence - Naomi Wise Bentley Boys - Down On Penny's Farm Bentley Boys - Henhouse Blues Bowman Sisters - Railroad Take Me Back Bowman Sisters - Old Lonesome Blues Woodie, Ephraim & The Henpecked Husbands - The Last Gold Dollar Woodie, Ephraim & The Henpecked Husbands - The Fatal Courtship Yates, Ira & Eugene - Powder And Paint Yates, Ira & Eugene - Sarah Jane Williams, Ellis - Buttermilk Blues Williams, Ellis - Smokey Blues Additional Details Label: Bear Family Records Genre: Country Run Time: 302 mins Release Date: 10/25/13 UPC: 5397102160837
