Off the Record, Volume 1: Live Recordings, 1956–1969

~ Release by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

These previously unreleased recordings from the 1950s and '60s present Bill Monroe as many have never heard him: at live performances, jam sessions, and festival workshops with the Bluegrass Boys and brothers Charlie and Birch.

Annotation last modified on 2017-08-15 19:33 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Watermelon Hanging on the Vine
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live instrumental recording of:
Watermelon on the Vine (on 1956-05-13)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys0:37
2Roanoke
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Roanoke (on 1956-05-13)
writer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys1:20
3Brakeman’s Blues
fiddle:
Clarence "Tater" Tate (on 1956-09-23)
guitar:
Edd Mayfield (on 1956-09-23)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-09-23)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-09-23)
live recording of:
The Brakeman’s Blues (on 1956-09-23)
writer:
Jimmie Rodgers (country music pioneer, died in 1933)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:43
4Close By
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Close By (on 1956-05-13)
composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") and Robert Van Winkle
publisher:
Universal Cedarwood Publishing
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:27
5Kentucky Waltz
fiddle:
Clarence "Tater" Tate (on 1956-09-23)
guitar:
Edd Mayfield (on 1956-09-23)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-09-23)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-09-23)
live recording of:
Kentucky Waltz (on 1956-09-23)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (in 1945)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:27
6Blue Grass Stomp
banjo:
Don Reno (bluegrass banjoist, Reno & Smiley member, father of Don Wayne Reno) (on 1956-09-23)
fiddle:
Clarence "Tater" Tate (on 1956-09-23)
guitar:
Edd Mayfield (on 1956-09-23)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-09-23)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-09-23)
live recording of:
Blue Grass Stomp (on 1956-09-23)
composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
publisher:
Bill Monroe Music and Unichappell Music, Inc.
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:17
7Blue Moon of Kentucky
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
lead vocals:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) and Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Blue Moon of Kentucky (on 1956-05-13)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (in 1946)
publisher:
APRS (American Performing Rights Society, Inc.(BMI)), Peer International Corporation (BMI), Southern Music Publishing ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic), Southern Music Publishing Company Limited and ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:03
8I’m Working on a Building
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
baritone vocals:
Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
bass vocals:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13)
lead vocals:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13) and Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
I’m Working on the Building (Carter version, verses begin "If I was...") (on 1956-05-13)
lyricist and composer:
A.P. Carter
publisher:
APRS (American Performing Rights Society, Inc.(BMI))
version of:
Working on the Building
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys1:56
9Angels Rock Me to Sleep
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
baritone vocals:
Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
bass vocals:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13)
lead vocals:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13) and Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Angels Rock Me to Sleep (on 1956-05-13)
writer:
Marion Easterling and Thomas Ramsey
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys1:56
10Wheel Hoss
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Wheel Hoss (on 1956-05-13)
composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:01
11Watermelon Hanging on the Vine
banjo:
Lamar Grier (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
double bass [bass]:
James Monroe (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
recorded at:
Gaslight Cafe in New York, New York, United States (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
live instrumental recording of:
Watermelon on the Vine (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys0:56
12Katy Hill
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Katy Hill (on 1964-10-31)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:46
13True Life Blues
banjo:
Bill Keith (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
double bass [bass]:
Bessie Lee Mauldin (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
fiddle:
Kenny Baker (US fiddler) (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Del McCoury (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
recorded at:
Ash Grove in West Hollywood, California, United States (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
live recording of:
True Life Blues (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:41
14I Live in the Past
banjo:
Lamar Grier (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
double bass [bass]:
James Monroe (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
recorded at:
Gaslight Cafe in New York, New York, United States (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
live recording of:
I Live in the Past (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
writer:
Virginia Stauffer
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:45
15Wayfaring Stranger
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1966-06-20)
recording engineer:
Ralph Rinzler (in 1966)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (in 1966, on 1966-06-20)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (in 1966, on 1966-06-20)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (in 1966, on 1966-06-20)
lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1966-06-20) and Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1966-06-20)
tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1966-06-20)
vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (in 1966) and Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (in 1966)
recording of:
Wayfaring Stranger (on 1966-06-20)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 3339)
live recording of:
Wayfaring Stranger (in 1966)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 3339)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys4:31
16Fire on the Mountain
banjo:
Lamar Grier (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
double bass [bass]:
James Monroe (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06) and Tex Logan (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
recorded at:
Gaslight Cafe in New York, New York, United States (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
live recording of:
Fire on the Mountain (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys3:46
17Blue Grass Breakdown
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Blue Grass Breakdown (on 1964-10-31)
composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys3:19
18Raw Hide
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Rawhide (mandolin instrumental) (on 1964-10-31)
composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:47
19Y’all Come
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Y’all Come (on 1964-10-31)
lyricist and composer:
Arlie Duff
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys0:53
20Cotton‐Eyed Joe
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1965-06-17)
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1965-06-17)
double bass [bass]:
David Grisman (on 1965-06-17)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1965-06-17)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-06-17)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1965-06-17)
lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1965-06-17) and Tex Logan (on 1965-06-17)
live recording of:
Cotton‐Eyed Joe (traditional song) (on 1965-06-17)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 942)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys3:26
21Get Up John
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
live recording of:
Get Up John (on 1965-09-05)
composer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass")
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:39
22White House Blues
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1966-06-20)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (on 1966-06-20) and Tex Logan (on 1966-06-20)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1966-06-20)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1966-06-20)
live recording of:
White House Blues (on 1966-06-20)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 787)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:05
23Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1966-06-20)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1966-06-20)
tenor vocals:
Hazel Dickens (on 1966-06-20)
live recording of:
Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (on 1966-06-20)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:38
24Kansas City Railroad Blues
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys3:02
25The Walls of Time
guitar and lead vocals:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
live recording of:
The Walls of Time (on 1965-09-05)
writer:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") and Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer)
Bill Monroe and Peter Rowan4:11
26When He Reached Down His Hand for Me
banjo and baritone vocals:
Don Reno (bluegrass banjoist, Reno & Smiley member, father of Don Wayne Reno) (on 1965-09-05)
fiddle and bass vocals:
Benny Martin (bluegrass fiddler and guitar player) (on 1965-09-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Mac Wiseman (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys2:48
27Monroe Family Segment
fiddle:
Birch Monroe (on 1969-07-03)
guitar:
Charlie Monroe (on 1969-07-03)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe ("The Father of Bluegrass") (on 1969-07-03)
recorded at:
Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, 1969 (1969-07-01 – 1969-07-06)
live partial recording of:
He Will Set Your Fields Afire (on 1969-07-03)
composer:
Wilbur Jones ("The Father of Bluegrass")
live partial recording of:
Paddy on the Turnpike (on 1969-07-03)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
Bill Monroe, Birch Monroe and Charlie Monroe9:46

Credits

Release

photography:David Gahr (photographer)
liner notes:Ralph Rinzler
miscellaneous support:Anthony Seeger (Smithsonian/Folkways director) (task: Production supervised by)
Matt Walters (Smithsonian Folkways affiliate) (task: Production supervised by)
executive producer:Ralph Rinzler
mastering:Alan Yoshida
compiler:Ralph Rinzler
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/4211409 [info]
ASIN:US: B000001DJ3 [info]
purchase for mail-order:https://folkways.si.edu/bill-monroe-the-blue-grass-boys/live-recordings-1956-1969-off-the-record-volume-1/american-folk-bluegrass/music/album/smithsonian [info]