Description
DESCRIPTION
Born in 1911 on a Kentucky farm, Bill Monroe was the youngest of eight. The three youngest brothers formed a trio, Birch on fiddle, Charlie on guitar and Bill on mandolin. Bill made quick progress. He quit school aged 11. By 14 he was a full time heavy wagon driver. And he was getting experience in local dance bands. In 1927, Birch and Charlie left for Detroit to find work. They made extra cash by playing for fellow southerners. In 1929 they got Bill a job with their company. In 1932, the brothers joined the WLS Barn Dance as dancers. They revealed their musical skills and were soon radio regulars. In 1933, Charlie was offered a spot on the Texas Crystals radio show, broadcast from Shenandoah, Iowa. Bill went too. Despite it's success, Texas Crystals axed the show in 1936. The Monroes moved to Crazy Crystals. A hectic round of radio and dances ensued. They were signed to Victor's Bluebird label. The ten sides recorded at their first session were probably part of their radio set - nearly all were 'one-take' cuts. Of the ten sides, What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul was a huge hit. Regular recording dates became part of the schedule. Monroe product was released every four weeks. But in 1937 Bill and Charlie, mutually hostile in spite of their success, split. Bill gained a slot on a small radio station in North Carolina. The band he created - the Bluegrass Boys - generated a buzz on radio and at dances. Finally Bluebird signed him. The records he made justified their confidence. The wartime recording ban didn't hinder Bill's fame - he made regular Opry appearances - and in 1945 he was back in the studio. The 1946 and 1947 line-ups, with Flatt & Scruggs in the band, are exceptional. In the 1960s, after a slip in popularity, the folk revival helped him re-establish his leading status. During his life he celebrated 50 years on the Grand Ole Opry, performed at the White House and worked almost to the last. He died in 1996.
TracksCredits
- Disc 1 -
1 My Long Journey Home
2 What Is Home Without Love
3 What Would You Give in Exchange?
4 Little Red Shoes
5 Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy
6 On Some Foggy Mountain Top
7 Drifting Too Far from the Shore
8 In My Dear Old Southern Home
9 New River Train
10 This World Is Not My Home
11 Watermelon Hangin' on That Vine
12 On the Banks of the Ohio
13 Do You Call That Religion?
14 God Holds the Future in His Hands
15 You've Got to Walk That Lonesome Valley
16 Six Months Ain't Long
17 Just a Song of Old Kentucky
18 Don't Forget Me
19 I'm Going
20 Darling Corey
21 My Saviors Train
22 I Am Thinking Tonight of the Old Folks
23 Dreamed I Searched Heaven for You
24 The Old Cross Road
25 The Forgotten Soldier Boy
26 We Read of a Place That's Called Heaven
27 Will the Circle Be Unbroken
28 The Saints Go Marching in
29 Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
30 Where Is My Sailor Boy
- Disc 2 -
1 Am I Ready to Go
2 What Would the Profit Be
3 Some Glad Day
4 I Have Found the Way
5 I Am Going That Way
6 Kate Cline
7 Roll on Buddy
8 Weeping Willow Tree
9 I'll Live on
10 Oh Hide You in the Blood
11 What Would You Give in Exchange
12 On That Gospel Ship
13 What Would You Give in Exchange (Part 3)
14 Let Us Be Lovers Again
15 All the Good Times Are Passed and Gone
16 What Would You Give Me in Exchange (Part 4)
17 On My Way to Glory
18 My Last Moving Day
19 He Will Set Your Fields on Fire
20 Sinner You Better Get Ready
21 Have a Feast Here Tonight
22 Goodbye Maggie
23 Rollin' on
24 The Old Man's Story
25 I've Still Got Ninety Nine
26 Little Joe
27 A Beautiful Life
28 Pearly Gates
29 On My Way Back Home
30 When Our Lord Shall Come Again
- Disc 3 -
1 Mule Skinner Blues
2 No Lette in the Mail
3 Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord
4 Six White Horses
5 Dog House Blues
6 I Wonder If You Feel the Way I Do
7 Katy Hill
8 Tennessee Blues
9 Shake My Mother's Hand for Me
10 Were You There
11 Blue Yodel #7
12 The Coupon Song
13 Orange Blossom Special
14 Honky Tonk Swing
15 In the Pines
16 Back Up and Push
17 Rocky Road Blues
18 Kentucky Waltz
19 True Life Blues
20 Goodbye Old Pal
21 Footprints in the Snow
22 Blue Grass Special
23 Heavy Traffic Ahead
24 Blue Moon of Kentucky
25 Toy Heart
- Disc 4 -
1 Summertime Is Past and Gone
2 Mansions for Me
3 Mother's Only Sleeping
4 Blue Yodel #4
5 Will You Be Loving Another Man
6 How Will I Explain About You
7 Wicked Path of Sin
8 I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky
9 It's Mighty Dark to Travel
10 I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling
11 Little Cabin on the Hill
12 My Rose of Old Kentucky
13 Blue Grass Breakdown
14 Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
15 The Old Cross Road
16 That Home Above
17 Remember the Cross
18 Little Community Church
19 Along About the Daybreak
20 When You Are Lonely
21 Molly and Tenbrooks
22 Shine Hallelujah, Shine
23 I'm Travellin' on and on
24 Can't You Hear Me Calling
25 Travelin' This Lonesome Road
26 Blue Grass Stomp
27 The Girl in the Blue Velvet Band
