We feature recent bluegrass at the beginning of the show, including a cut from the new album by the Grascals. Then, our Gems of Bluegrass segment treats the connection between ragtime and bluegrass music. Then, it’s happy – sounding sad songs. Many of the old songs about prison fit the description of a happy – sounding sad song. Then, we contrast that type of song with a current prison song, which features unhappy lyrics as well as music that is unhappy. We talk to progressive banjo stylist, Brian Ford of Duluth, MN. Brian plays with a group called the Fish Heads, and we hear some of Brian’s original compositions, and a recording of the Fish Heads doing a Beatles song.
| Label | Artist | CD | Song |
| Rounder | Grascals | The Famous Lefty Flynn’s | Everytime |
| Patuxent | Patuxent Partners | Seven or Eleven | South to Old Mexico |
| Yodel – Ay – Hee | Big Medicine | Fever in the South | The Love and Polly and Jack Monroe |
Gem of Bluegrass: The Bluegrass – Ragtime Connection
| Label | Artist | CD | Song |
| County | Eck Robertson | 1922-19301922-1930 | Ragtime Annie |
| Music for Little People | Ric Luchard | Ragtime Stomp | The Entertainer |
| Hilltop | Jesse McReynolds | Mandolin Workshop | Dill Pickle Rag |
| Epic lp | Jim & Jesse | Bluegrass Classics | Stony Creek |
| Bear Family | Flatt & Scruggs | 1948-1959 | Randy Lynn Rag |
Happy Sounding Sad Songs – Prison
| Label | Artist | CD | Song |
| Bear Family | Bill Monroe | 1950 – 1958 | Prisoner’s Song |
| Rural Rhythm | Hylo Brown | 20 Old Time Favorites | Prisoner’s Dream |
| Rounder | Del McCoury Band | Cold Hard Facts | Blackjack County Chains |
break
| Label | Artist | CD | Song |
| BMA lp | DW Griffiths | Workingman’s Banjo | Salt Creek |
Brian Ford interview
| Label | Artist | CD | Song |
| Brian Ford interview | Arachnophobia | ||
| Brian Ford interview | Steelhead Run | ||
| Brian Ford interview | Simplicity |
| Label | Artist | CD | Song |
| The Fish Heads | Come Together | ||
| SoundArt | Nashville Mandolin Ensemble | Bach Beatles Bluegrass | Here There Everywhere |
| Prestige | Lilly Bros | The Prestige / Folklore Years | Miller’s Cave |
| Prestige | Lilly Bros | The Prestige / Folklore Years | Bluegrass Breakdown |
Contact Phil Nusbaum: www.bluegrassreview.com
Contact Brian Ford at the Fish Heads site: www.myspace.com/fishheadsbluegrass
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