Topic: Virginia Traditions - Western Piedmont Blues

[outfidel]

blurb from Roots & Rhythm

Virginia Traditions - Western Piedmont Blues     
Global Village 1003

CD $15.98
17 tracks, 48 mins, very highly recommended

Available again. Straight reissue of Blue Ridge Institute LP BRI 003 featuring some truly lovely country blues from Virginia in the flowing Piedmont tradition. There are two tracks from 1929 by the wonderful pre-war bluesman Luke Jordan. There are two tracks from somewhat noisy 1953 radio station acetates by the excellent James Lowry. The rest is all from the mid 70s and includes sides by Clayton Horsley, John Tinsley, Marvin Foddrell, Richard Wright, Turner Foddrell and the wonderful and the wonderful Rabbit Muse. Muse played blues ukulele and if you think the uke is just for strumming wait 'til you hear his lovely picking on the gorgeous Jailhouse Blues. He adds a kazoo into the mix for the fine hokum number Rabbit Stomp. The CD ends with a really lovely guitar duet by Herbert & William Richardson. Includes booklet with microscopic notes. (FS)

[uncle bud]

A good CD that's on the Juke. I agree with Frank Scott's assessment. The Luke Jordan pieces are not new ("My Gal's Done Quit Me," "Won't You Be Kind") The rest of the material is pretty darn rare. Rabbit Muse is wonderful and worth the price of the disc alone. Some of the others sound influenced by Blind Boy Fuller.

Global Village put out another companion CD I think, but can't recall it right now.

[dj]

Actually they put out at least 8 CDs in the Virginia Traditions series, at least 4 of which would be of interest to Weenies.  I have no idea if anything other than the Western Piedmont Blues disk is still available.

CD 1001 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: NON BLUES SECULAR BLACK MUSIC.
CD 1002 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: BALLADS FROM BRITISH TRADITION.
CD 1003 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: WESTERN PIEDMONT BLUES.
CD 1004 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: NATIVE VIRGINIA BALLADS AND SONGS.
CD 1006 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: TIDEWATER BLUES.
CD 1007 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: VIRGINIA WORK SONGS.
CD 1008 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS:SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BLUES.
CD 1010 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: EARLY ROANOAKE COUNTRY RADIO.

[Stuart]

Actually they put out at least 8 CDs in the Virginia Traditions series, at least 4 of which would be of interest to Weenies.  I have no idea if anything other than the Western Piedmont Blues disk is still available.

CD 1001 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: NON BLUES SECULAR BLACK MUSIC.*
CD 1002 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: BALLADS FROM BRITISH TRADITION.*
CD 1003 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: WESTERN PIEDMONT BLUES.*
CD 1004 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: NATIVE VIRGINIA BALLADS AND SONGS.*
CD 1006 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: TIDEWATER BLUES.*
CD 1007 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: VIRGINIA WORK SONGS.*
CD 1008 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS:SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BLUES.*
CD 1010 VIRGINIA TRADITIONS: EARLY ROANOAKE COUNTRY RADIO.*

A quick check shows that they are all available--from one source or another.

Thanks Outfidel and DJ!

[Bunker Hill]

This compilation was briefly discussed in a Rabbit Muse post and IMHO definitely one to acquire despite the short playing time by today's standards. Quality rather than quantity rules ok...

I think an 80s review was posted at the original RM thread. What I do know is that the discussion prompted Stefan to create a Rabbit Muse discography! 

[Bunker Hill]

Y-i-p-p-e-e, the Rabbit Muse tag took me to the very discussion (started by Stefan) and therein is a review of the 1993 Global Village cassette which a couple of years later became a CD...