A History of American Roots Music: Chapter 1
The little old log cabin in the lane – Fiddlin' John Carson. 1923. The Complete Fiddlin' John Carson. (The first catalogued “country/hillbilly” record)
Fiddlin' John Carson. - 1868-1949. Fannin' County, Georgia.
John Carson, was a champion 'Old time fiddler' who learned to play 'Country style' on a fiddle that had belonged to his Irish grandfather. Carson broadcast on radio from 1922 & made the first commercial hillbilly recordings in June 1923 with 'The little old log cabin in the lane' & 'That old hen cackled & the roosters going to crow'.
Wreck of the old ‘97 - Vernon Dalhart. 1924. American Roots.
Vernon Dalhart. - Jefferson,Texas.1883-1948. Not so much a sell out as a sell in!
Born Marion Try Slaughter. Was a cowboy in north Texas, driving cattle between the towns of Vernon & Dalhart until 1902, whilst also attending Dallas conservatory of music. Moved to N.Y.C. in about 1910, where he studied opera. Made first record ('Can't you hear me callin, Caroline') in 1916, which was justifiably unnsuccesful. Had limited success as both a pop & opera singer. In the early 1920,s Hillbilly music was starting to sell, so he went back to his roots & got involved, recording his first hillbilly song, 'Wreck of the old '97' in 1924 (b.w. 'The prisoners song' which he re-recorded under numerous other names, numerous times. In fact it has been said that he used as many as 110 other names!). 'Wreck..... ' became the first million selling 'Country' song. ('Wreck' was recorded by its composer , the Virginia born guitarist, fiddler, pianist & harmonica player Henry Whitter, the previous year but Dalhart 'stole' it & bled all of its success for himself). By the early 30's his career was on the wane, due mainly to Jimmie Rodgers truer form of hillbilly music. He recorded the childrens favourite 'The runaway train' in 1931. He was also closely associated with another C & W arch-populariser, Carson Jay Robison. (see seperate entry). He eventually moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he gave singing lessons & worked as a night clerk in a hotel
Wreck of the old ‘97 - Johnny Cash. 1956. Best of the Sun Years.
Johnny Cash. Kingsland,Arkansas.1932- 2003
Worried blues - Frank Hutchison. 1926. White country blues.
Frank Hutchison. - Raleigh County,West Virginia. 1897--1940.
A truly original hillbilly.
Was predominately a blues player. Last recorded, in N.Y.C on 9.7.29. First recording was 'Worried Blues' in 1926. He lived for much of his life in Logan county, West Virginia, a hard mining area for both blacks & whites. He played slide guitar, (possibly the first whiteman to be recorded doing so) using a pocket knife, which he learned how to do from a black railroad worker named Henry Vaughan, in about 1905. He learned 19th century songs from another black, Bill Hunt. By the early 20's he was good enough to eke out a living from his music, by playing in mining camps, political rallies, cinemas etc. During the depression he played on riverboats on the Ohio river, before giving up music & settling down with his wife. He opened a store which was eventually burned down. He died of liver cancer in 1940.
Engine 143 - Carter family. 1927. Harry Smiths Anthology of American Folk Music..
Carter family. - Alvin Pleasant Delaney "Doc" Carter, Maces Springs, Va. (In the Clinch mountains). 15.12.1891 - 1960. Sara Dougherty, Wise county, Va. 12.7.1889 - 1979. Maybelle Addington,.Nickelsville, Va. 10.5.1909 - 1978. Virginia.
With Jimmie Rogers, the first commercial Hillbilly/Country stars.
Sara - lead vocal & autoharp (a zither like instrument with felted wooden bars that formed chords); Maybelle - vocal & guitar; A.P - occasional fiddler & harmoniser. They auditioned for Ralph Peer at the famous "Bristol sessions" (see Jimmie Rodgers) in 1927 on the Virginia/Tennessee border. Although they never had a hit they sold consistently. Were popular on the radio & in their personal appearances. A.P. copyrighted all of the songs he wrote, plus some English & Irish songs that he didn't!(although, he was responsible for collecting & preserving many very old songs that may have been lost without him). Maybelle was Sara's younger cousin & married A.P's brother. They recorded for the Victor company, the largest label at the time, from 1927 & from 1928 produced many best sellers, including, 'Wildwood flower, 'My Clinch mountain home', 'Foggy mountain top'. A.P. wrote these & many other C & W greats, including 'I,m thinking tonight of my blue eyes' (variously recorded by others such as Montana Slim & Bing Crosby), & 'Wabash cannonball'. (see Roy Acuff). They sang of the importance of family & home, of good fellowship & old fashioned morality & of a peaceful, rural America which was rapidly fading. They were as renowned for their unique vocal style as they were for their musicianship (Maybelle's 'thumb-brush' guitar style was to be much emulated), it was their role as collectors & conservators of old time music traditions that was their greatest legacy. Sara & A.P. seperated in 1933 & divorced in 1939, although they still worked together. The group finally split in 1943, having recorded 287 sides; more than double jimmie Rodgers output. A.P. opened a store. Sara & her husband moved to California. Maybelle started 'Mother Maybelle & the Carter sisters' with her daughters, Helen, June & Anita. Junes daughter, Carlene records as does husband, Johnny Cash's daughter Rosanne.
Engine 143 - Dave Alvin. 2000. Public Domain.(event happened in 1890)
Dave Alvin. Great roots rock/country from the ex-blaster. Los Angeles, California.1955-
The Butchers boy - Buell Kazee. 1928. Harry Smith Anthology.
Buell Kazee. - Burton Fork. Kentucky. 1900-1976.
Was college educated & had formal voice training, having stopped playing the banjo, which he had learned as a child. After leaving college he worked as a music teacher. In April 1927, at the encouragement of the owner of the local music store, he made his first recordings in N.Y.C. He was told to do away with the tutored voice & go back to his old 'back home' accent. Generally used old mountain ballads, set to his own banjo accompaniment; 'East Virginia', 'Wagoners lad', 'John Hardy, 'Butchers boy' were all old Appalachian songs. Also sang some pop & western songs & a couple of times did comedy. Was a baptist minister & didn't record after the depression. Later gave recitals & wrote religious books.
The Butchers boy - Lambchop. 1999. Nixon. or More sounds of the new west.(probably a combination of 2 x 18th cent.British songs) Lambchop. Nashville, Tennessee. 1986- (Main members- Kurt Wagner/Paul Burch/Deanna Varagona/Paul Niehaus)
Fiddlin' John Carson. - 1868-1949. Fannin' County, Georgia.
John Carson, was a champion 'Old time fiddler' who learned to play 'Country style' on a fiddle that had belonged to his Irish grandfather. Carson broadcast on radio from 1922 & made the first commercial hillbilly recordings in June 1923 with 'The little old log cabin in the lane' & 'That old hen cackled & the roosters going to crow'.
Wreck of the old ‘97 - Vernon Dalhart. 1924. American Roots.
Vernon Dalhart. - Jefferson,Texas.1883-1948. Not so much a sell out as a sell in!
Born Marion Try Slaughter. Was a cowboy in north Texas, driving cattle between the towns of Vernon & Dalhart until 1902, whilst also attending Dallas conservatory of music. Moved to N.Y.C. in about 1910, where he studied opera. Made first record ('Can't you hear me callin, Caroline') in 1916, which was justifiably unnsuccesful. Had limited success as both a pop & opera singer. In the early 1920,s Hillbilly music was starting to sell, so he went back to his roots & got involved, recording his first hillbilly song, 'Wreck of the old '97' in 1924 (b.w. 'The prisoners song' which he re-recorded under numerous other names, numerous times. In fact it has been said that he used as many as 110 other names!). 'Wreck..... ' became the first million selling 'Country' song. ('Wreck' was recorded by its composer , the Virginia born guitarist, fiddler, pianist & harmonica player Henry Whitter, the previous year but Dalhart 'stole' it & bled all of its success for himself). By the early 30's his career was on the wane, due mainly to Jimmie Rodgers truer form of hillbilly music. He recorded the childrens favourite 'The runaway train' in 1931. He was also closely associated with another C & W arch-populariser, Carson Jay Robison. (see seperate entry). He eventually moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he gave singing lessons & worked as a night clerk in a hotel
Wreck of the old ‘97 - Johnny Cash. 1956. Best of the Sun Years.
Johnny Cash. Kingsland,Arkansas.1932- 2003
Worried blues - Frank Hutchison. 1926. White country blues.
Frank Hutchison. - Raleigh County,West Virginia. 1897--1940.
A truly original hillbilly.
Was predominately a blues player. Last recorded, in N.Y.C on 9.7.29. First recording was 'Worried Blues' in 1926. He lived for much of his life in Logan county, West Virginia, a hard mining area for both blacks & whites. He played slide guitar, (possibly the first whiteman to be recorded doing so) using a pocket knife, which he learned how to do from a black railroad worker named Henry Vaughan, in about 1905. He learned 19th century songs from another black, Bill Hunt. By the early 20's he was good enough to eke out a living from his music, by playing in mining camps, political rallies, cinemas etc. During the depression he played on riverboats on the Ohio river, before giving up music & settling down with his wife. He opened a store which was eventually burned down. He died of liver cancer in 1940.
Engine 143 - Carter family. 1927. Harry Smiths Anthology of American Folk Music..
Carter family. - Alvin Pleasant Delaney "Doc" Carter, Maces Springs, Va. (In the Clinch mountains). 15.12.1891 - 1960. Sara Dougherty, Wise county, Va. 12.7.1889 - 1979. Maybelle Addington,.Nickelsville, Va. 10.5.1909 - 1978. Virginia.
With Jimmie Rogers, the first commercial Hillbilly/Country stars.
Sara - lead vocal & autoharp (a zither like instrument with felted wooden bars that formed chords); Maybelle - vocal & guitar; A.P - occasional fiddler & harmoniser. They auditioned for Ralph Peer at the famous "Bristol sessions" (see Jimmie Rodgers) in 1927 on the Virginia/Tennessee border. Although they never had a hit they sold consistently. Were popular on the radio & in their personal appearances. A.P. copyrighted all of the songs he wrote, plus some English & Irish songs that he didn't!(although, he was responsible for collecting & preserving many very old songs that may have been lost without him). Maybelle was Sara's younger cousin & married A.P's brother. They recorded for the Victor company, the largest label at the time, from 1927 & from 1928 produced many best sellers, including, 'Wildwood flower, 'My Clinch mountain home', 'Foggy mountain top'. A.P. wrote these & many other C & W greats, including 'I,m thinking tonight of my blue eyes' (variously recorded by others such as Montana Slim & Bing Crosby), & 'Wabash cannonball'. (see Roy Acuff). They sang of the importance of family & home, of good fellowship & old fashioned morality & of a peaceful, rural America which was rapidly fading. They were as renowned for their unique vocal style as they were for their musicianship (Maybelle's 'thumb-brush' guitar style was to be much emulated), it was their role as collectors & conservators of old time music traditions that was their greatest legacy. Sara & A.P. seperated in 1933 & divorced in 1939, although they still worked together. The group finally split in 1943, having recorded 287 sides; more than double jimmie Rodgers output. A.P. opened a store. Sara & her husband moved to California. Maybelle started 'Mother Maybelle & the Carter sisters' with her daughters, Helen, June & Anita. Junes daughter, Carlene records as does husband, Johnny Cash's daughter Rosanne.
Engine 143 - Dave Alvin. 2000. Public Domain.(event happened in 1890)
Dave Alvin. Great roots rock/country from the ex-blaster. Los Angeles, California.1955-
The Butchers boy - Buell Kazee. 1928. Harry Smith Anthology.
Buell Kazee. - Burton Fork. Kentucky. 1900-1976.
Was college educated & had formal voice training, having stopped playing the banjo, which he had learned as a child. After leaving college he worked as a music teacher. In April 1927, at the encouragement of the owner of the local music store, he made his first recordings in N.Y.C. He was told to do away with the tutored voice & go back to his old 'back home' accent. Generally used old mountain ballads, set to his own banjo accompaniment; 'East Virginia', 'Wagoners lad', 'John Hardy, 'Butchers boy' were all old Appalachian songs. Also sang some pop & western songs & a couple of times did comedy. Was a baptist minister & didn't record after the depression. Later gave recitals & wrote religious books.
The Butchers boy - Lambchop. 1999. Nixon. or More sounds of the new west.(probably a combination of 2 x 18th cent.British songs) Lambchop. Nashville, Tennessee. 1986- (Main members- Kurt Wagner/Paul Burch/Deanna Varagona/Paul Niehaus)
.
In the jailhouse now - Jimmie Rodgers. 1928. The very best of…….. Jimmie Rodgers. - Meridian,Mississippi.1897-1933. The first solo Country superstar!At once a genuine folk & blues country singer & guitarist & a big commercial success, the so-called 'Father of Country Music', Rodgers blended mountain music & the cowboy style to his own special recipe. A large number of his hits featured railroads (the million selling, 'The brakemans Blues') he was also dubbed the 'Singing brakeman'. A brakeman in early life, he was a native of Meridian, Mississippi. After developing the tuberculosis that was to end his life so prematurely, he took to singing in 1926. His first records, made for Victor in 1927, included the million selling 'Blue yodel'. Other similar successes, followed by tours of the U.S.A, Mexico, Canada & England quickly made him a household name , & it would be difficult to overestimate his importance in the spread of C & W worlwide. Rodgers was a pioneer broadcaster on the Nashville based radio programme, Barn dance', which in 1927 was re-christened 'Grand ole opry' & he was honoured with first placing in the country music hall of fame.(Nashville 1961).
Sugar baby - Dock Boggs. 1928. The Legendary Dock Boggs
Dock Boggs. - Wise County,Virginia. 1898-1971. Raw, white country blues.
With a voice just a few steps away from primitive & a banjo he picked like a guitar instead of strumming or flailing, as was the common practise, Dock Boggs music was as chilling, raw & thoroughly mesmerising as nearly anything that emerged from Appalachia in the 1920's. He is said to bridge the worlds of black blues & white folk music.
The coo coo bird - Clarence Ashley.1929. Harry Smith Anthology.
Clarence (Tom) Ashley. - C.D. Bristol, Tennessee.1895-1967.
He learned songs & Banjo from his aunts. He played with various bands, notably the Carolina Tar Heels, but stopped in the mid 1940,s after a hand injury. He was brought out of retirement in the 1960's thanks to Ralph Rinzler's enthusiasm for his recordings in the Harry Smith Anthology. Dock Watson was also rediscovered at the same time & the two enjoyed a late flowering second career.
The coo coo – Tarbox Ramblers. 2000.Leader, Michael Tarbox. Group are longtime Boston favourites.
Soldiers joy - The Skillett lickers. 1929. Roots 'n' blues.
Skillett Lickers. - 1920's. North Georgia
Wild & kooky in spirit, the Atlanta, Georgia based Skillet lickers were the quintessential old time hillbilly string band. The group centred around Gid Tanner who played fiddle, banjo & guitar & was also a skilled showman. The other central musicians were influential singer/guitarist Riley Puckett, fiddlers Clayton McMichen & Lowe Stokes, & banjoist Fate Norris. Between 1926 & 1931 they made more than eighty recordings.
Sugar baby - Dock Boggs. 1928. The Legendary Dock Boggs
Dock Boggs. - Wise County,Virginia. 1898-1971. Raw, white country blues.
With a voice just a few steps away from primitive & a banjo he picked like a guitar instead of strumming or flailing, as was the common practise, Dock Boggs music was as chilling, raw & thoroughly mesmerising as nearly anything that emerged from Appalachia in the 1920's. He is said to bridge the worlds of black blues & white folk music.
The coo coo bird - Clarence Ashley.1929. Harry Smith Anthology.
Clarence (Tom) Ashley. - C.D. Bristol, Tennessee.1895-1967.
He learned songs & Banjo from his aunts. He played with various bands, notably the Carolina Tar Heels, but stopped in the mid 1940,s after a hand injury. He was brought out of retirement in the 1960's thanks to Ralph Rinzler's enthusiasm for his recordings in the Harry Smith Anthology. Dock Watson was also rediscovered at the same time & the two enjoyed a late flowering second career.
The coo coo – Tarbox Ramblers. 2000.Leader, Michael Tarbox. Group are longtime Boston favourites.
Soldiers joy - The Skillett lickers. 1929. Roots 'n' blues.
Skillett Lickers. - 1920's. North Georgia
Wild & kooky in spirit, the Atlanta, Georgia based Skillet lickers were the quintessential old time hillbilly string band. The group centred around Gid Tanner who played fiddle, banjo & guitar & was also a skilled showman. The other central musicians were influential singer/guitarist Riley Puckett, fiddlers Clayton McMichen & Lowe Stokes, & banjoist Fate Norris. Between 1926 & 1931 they made more than eighty recordings.
Shaking hands (Soldiers joy) - Michelle Shocked. 1992. Arkansas Traveler. (with Uncle Tupelo & Bernie Leadon). Michelle Shocked. Quirky roots music. Dallas, Texas. 1962 -
Back in the saddle again - Gene Autry. 1930. The very best of……
Gene Autry. - Tioga,Texas.1907-1998.The cowboy element of the C & W business was pioneered by Texan actor, radio, film & recording star, Autry. After working on his fathers ranch, he began broadcasting on radio from Tulsa in 1929; by 1930 he was known nationally through the WLS national barn dance network. In 1934 he made the first of innumerable screen appearances as the 'singing cowboy', partnered as often as not by the equally famous horse, Champion! The most universally popular country singer of the mid-30's he had a cult following with such hits as 'Yellow rose of Texas,1933, 'The last roundup', 1934, 'Tumbling tumbleweeds', 1935, 'Mexicali rose', 1936, 'South of the border' 1940, 'You are my sunshine', 1941.His own 'Atlanta bound' is an interesting & less often heard item of earlier vintage.(1931).
Back in the saddle again – Cowboy Nation.2000. A journey out of time. (Chip & Tony Kinman. Formed 1996, formerly of “Rank & File” & “The Dils”).
John Hardy - Carter Family. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology.(The classic murder ballad!!!)
Back in the saddle again - Gene Autry. 1930. The very best of……
Gene Autry. - Tioga,Texas.1907-1998.The cowboy element of the C & W business was pioneered by Texan actor, radio, film & recording star, Autry. After working on his fathers ranch, he began broadcasting on radio from Tulsa in 1929; by 1930 he was known nationally through the WLS national barn dance network. In 1934 he made the first of innumerable screen appearances as the 'singing cowboy', partnered as often as not by the equally famous horse, Champion! The most universally popular country singer of the mid-30's he had a cult following with such hits as 'Yellow rose of Texas,1933, 'The last roundup', 1934, 'Tumbling tumbleweeds', 1935, 'Mexicali rose', 1936, 'South of the border' 1940, 'You are my sunshine', 1941.His own 'Atlanta bound' is an interesting & less often heard item of earlier vintage.(1931).
Back in the saddle again – Cowboy Nation.2000. A journey out of time. (Chip & Tony Kinman. Formed 1996, formerly of “Rank & File” & “The Dils”).
John Hardy - Carter Family. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology.(The classic murder ballad!!!)
.
John Hardy - Uncle Tupelo.1990. No Depression.
Uncle Tupelo. Belleville, Illinois. 1987-1994.
Group Members: Ken Coomer Jay Farrar Michael Heidorn Max Johnston John Stirratt Jeff Tweedy
With the release of their 1990 debut LP No Depression, the Belleville, Illinois trio Uncle Tupelo launched more than simply their own career — by fusing the simplicity and honesty of country music with the bracing fury of punk, they kick-started a revolution which reverberated throughout the American underground. Thanks to a successful on-line site and subsequent fanzine which adopted the album's name, the tag 'No Depression' became a catch-all for the like-minded artists who, along with Tupelo, signalled alternative rock's return to its country roots — at much the same time, ironically enough, that Nashville was itself embracing the slick gloss associated with mainstream rock and pop. Uncle Tupelo was led by singers/songwriters Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, lifelong friends born in the same Belleville hospital in 1967. During high school, the pair formed a punk cover band called the Primitives along with drummer Mike Heidorn and Farrar's older brother Wade. After Wade enlisted in the Army, the Primitives broke up, but in 1987, the remaining trio reunited, changed their name to Uncle Tupelo, and began incorporating elements of country into their music as well as writing original material. Touring constantly throughout the Midwest, the band members eventually quit school as their music became more and more successful, and in 1989 they signed a contract with the small independent label Rockville. Taking its name from the A.P. Carter gospel song covered therein, No Depression reflected the band's disparate influences, ranging from everyone from Hank Williams to bluesman Leadbelly through to the famed postpunk trio Husker Du. The most rock-centric of Uncle Tupelo's releases, its songs were meditations on small-town, small-time life, candid snapshots of days spent working thankless jobs and nights spent in an alcoholic fog. After the release of "I Got Drunk," a brilliant single backed with a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Sin City," 1991's Still Feel Gone struck a finer balance between their rock and country aims. While Farrar's contributions—sung in his reedy, Neil Young-like voice—were often informed by a rootsy, scorched-earth mentality, Tweedy's, with their grittier vocals, delved deeper into the trio's punk origins, as typified by the song "D. Boon," a tribute to the late frontman of the legendary Minutemen.
A year later, Uncle Tupelo released March 16-20, 1992, an acoustic record which saw the group plunging fully into country and folk. Recorded live in the studio with producer Peter Buck (of the band R.E.M.), the album drew heavily on painstakingly authentic covers of standards like "Moonshiner" and "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" along with a fitting rendition of the Louvin Brothers' "The Great Atomic Power" and Farrar and Tweedy's originals, which maintained the record's spare, haunting ambience. Shortly after its release, Mike Heidorn left the group to devote time to his family, and was replaced by drummer Ken Coomer, formerly of the group Clockhammer. Multi-instrumentalists Max Johnston and John Stirratt also signed on as part-time members.
In 1992, Uncle Tupelo signed to major label Sire/Reprise, and in 1993 issued the LP Anodyne. Widely regarded as the group's definitive statement, it was a true country-rock hybrid which accented the power of both musical forms; the album even featured a cover of the song "Give Back the Key to My Heart" sung with its writer, roots-rock pioneer Doug Sahm. After a tour in support of the album, however, the long-standing relationship between Farrar and Tweedy dissolved in bitter acrimony, and Uncle Tupelo disbanded; shortly thereafter, Tweedy recruited Coomer, Johnston and Stirratt to form the band Wilco, while Farrar reunited with Heidhorn in Son Volt. — Jason Ankeny1990 No Depression Rockville
1991 Still Feel Gone Rockville
1992 March 16-20, 1992 Rockville
1993 AnodyneSire
The House Carpenter - Clarence Ashley. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology.
The House Carpenter - The Handsome family. 1999. Down in the Valley.
Handsome Family. Chicago, Illinois. 1993- (Brett Sparks, from Texas, studied music, moved to Chicago mid 1990,s & met Rennie, a fiction writer from Long Island).
The runaway train - Vernon Dalhart. 1931. American roots.
Uncle Tupelo. Belleville, Illinois. 1987-1994.
Group Members: Ken Coomer Jay Farrar Michael Heidorn Max Johnston John Stirratt Jeff Tweedy
With the release of their 1990 debut LP No Depression, the Belleville, Illinois trio Uncle Tupelo launched more than simply their own career — by fusing the simplicity and honesty of country music with the bracing fury of punk, they kick-started a revolution which reverberated throughout the American underground. Thanks to a successful on-line site and subsequent fanzine which adopted the album's name, the tag 'No Depression' became a catch-all for the like-minded artists who, along with Tupelo, signalled alternative rock's return to its country roots — at much the same time, ironically enough, that Nashville was itself embracing the slick gloss associated with mainstream rock and pop. Uncle Tupelo was led by singers/songwriters Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, lifelong friends born in the same Belleville hospital in 1967. During high school, the pair formed a punk cover band called the Primitives along with drummer Mike Heidorn and Farrar's older brother Wade. After Wade enlisted in the Army, the Primitives broke up, but in 1987, the remaining trio reunited, changed their name to Uncle Tupelo, and began incorporating elements of country into their music as well as writing original material. Touring constantly throughout the Midwest, the band members eventually quit school as their music became more and more successful, and in 1989 they signed a contract with the small independent label Rockville. Taking its name from the A.P. Carter gospel song covered therein, No Depression reflected the band's disparate influences, ranging from everyone from Hank Williams to bluesman Leadbelly through to the famed postpunk trio Husker Du. The most rock-centric of Uncle Tupelo's releases, its songs were meditations on small-town, small-time life, candid snapshots of days spent working thankless jobs and nights spent in an alcoholic fog. After the release of "I Got Drunk," a brilliant single backed with a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Sin City," 1991's Still Feel Gone struck a finer balance between their rock and country aims. While Farrar's contributions—sung in his reedy, Neil Young-like voice—were often informed by a rootsy, scorched-earth mentality, Tweedy's, with their grittier vocals, delved deeper into the trio's punk origins, as typified by the song "D. Boon," a tribute to the late frontman of the legendary Minutemen.
A year later, Uncle Tupelo released March 16-20, 1992, an acoustic record which saw the group plunging fully into country and folk. Recorded live in the studio with producer Peter Buck (of the band R.E.M.), the album drew heavily on painstakingly authentic covers of standards like "Moonshiner" and "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" along with a fitting rendition of the Louvin Brothers' "The Great Atomic Power" and Farrar and Tweedy's originals, which maintained the record's spare, haunting ambience. Shortly after its release, Mike Heidorn left the group to devote time to his family, and was replaced by drummer Ken Coomer, formerly of the group Clockhammer. Multi-instrumentalists Max Johnston and John Stirratt also signed on as part-time members.
In 1992, Uncle Tupelo signed to major label Sire/Reprise, and in 1993 issued the LP Anodyne. Widely regarded as the group's definitive statement, it was a true country-rock hybrid which accented the power of both musical forms; the album even featured a cover of the song "Give Back the Key to My Heart" sung with its writer, roots-rock pioneer Doug Sahm. After a tour in support of the album, however, the long-standing relationship between Farrar and Tweedy dissolved in bitter acrimony, and Uncle Tupelo disbanded; shortly thereafter, Tweedy recruited Coomer, Johnston and Stirratt to form the band Wilco, while Farrar reunited with Heidhorn in Son Volt. — Jason Ankeny1990 No Depression Rockville
1991 Still Feel Gone Rockville
1992 March 16-20, 1992 Rockville
1993 AnodyneSire
The House Carpenter - Clarence Ashley. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology.
The House Carpenter - The Handsome family. 1999. Down in the Valley.
Handsome Family. Chicago, Illinois. 1993- (Brett Sparks, from Texas, studied music, moved to Chicago mid 1990,s & met Rennie, a fiction writer from Long Island).
The runaway train - Vernon Dalhart. 1931. American roots.