Country Boogie [Fremeaux]

Adapter: Joyce Waterhouse.
Personnel: Curt Massey, Dusty Taylor, Slim Harbert, Lester Buchanan, Jack Guthrie, Johnny Tyler, Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore, Merle Travis, Johnny Barfield (vocals, guitar); Cecil Campbell (vocals, steel guitar); Chester Buchanan, Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton (vocals, mandolin); Moon Mullican (vocals, piano); Leon Huff , Louise Massey (vocals); Jimmie Widener (guitar, banjo); Al Dexter, Allen Massey, Eddie Kirk, Eb Gray, Matt Collins, Jack Rivers, John Weis, Dickie McBride, Cal Maddox, Lester Barnard, Jr., Big Jim DeNoone, Red Greenhaw, Tex Swaim, Curly Rhodes, Sam Pruett, Jack Rhodes, Tex Martin, Jimmy Winkle, Jerry Irby, Johnny Bond, Red Murrell, Rose Maddox, Roy Lanham, Arthur Smith Trio , Smokey Rogers, T. Texas Tyler, Stan Walker (guitar); Don Helms, Harris Dodd, Tommy Sargent, Frankie Marvin, Herb Remington, Richard Hamilton, Alberta Petty, Joaquin Murphy, Noel Boggs, Vaughn Horton, Bob Dunn, Charles Mitchell (steel guitar); Johnny Thames, Johnnie Lee Wills (banjo); Cliff Maddox, Tiny Moore (mandolin); Link Davis (fiddle, tenor saxophone); Cliff Bruner, Cotton Thompson, Curly Fox, Smoky Fields, Marvin Richard "Dickie" Jones, Cactus Soldi, Henry Boatman, Don Maddox, Gerald Wolfe, Red Egner, Grady Hester, Joe Holley, Jesse Ashlock, Johnny Gimble, James Boyd, Spade Cooley, Tex Atchison, Bob Wills, Buddy Ray (fiddle); Wayne Raney (harmonica); Paul Sells, Larry Wellington, Pedro DePaul, Pee Wee King, Billy Liebert (accordion); Wayne Johnson (clarinet); Don Harlan (tenor saxophone); Jim Hewlett, Virginia Cushman, Bob Booth (trumpet); Eddie Bennett, Clarence Cagle, Vic Davis, Millard Kelso, Mancel Tierney, Robert Armstrong (piano); Chuck Adams, Henry Glover, Richard Pryne, Warren Penniman, G. Randall Wright, Johnny Cuviello (drums).
Recording information: Charlotte, NC (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); Chicago, IL (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); Cincinnati, OH (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); Dallas, TX (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); Hollywood, CA (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); Houston, TX (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); Los Angeles, CA (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); New York, NY (04/26/1939-12/??/1947); San Francisco, CA (04/26/1939-12/??/1947).
Unknown Contributor Role: Modern Mountaineers.
Country Boogie focuses on a period of country music that does not catch the spotlight as often as its own entity: boogie-woogie-styled country. It is influenced mostly by the Western swing movement, which happened about the same time, but incorporates straighter rhythms more commonly associated with jump blues, which gives this boogie-woogie some footing as a precursor to rockabilly. Names normally tied to other forms of country music, such as Hank Williams and Bob Wills, appear here, but the inclusion of these artists along with the most notable country boogie guitarist, Arthur Smith, and the fine pedal-steel player, Al Petty, make for an informative listen and, almost by accident, focuses on how each of these players constantly influenced each other's styles. Frémeaux & Associés have, with Country Boogie, put together a fun and much needed look at the crossroads of country which defined the style of country boogie. ~ Gregory McIntosh