Ramblin' On

America is vast. So inevitably travel became and continues to be an American lyric tradition. Whether its fleeing town or just rambling on, travel is a theme that permeates through the folk music of the entire nation.

High and Lonesome Radio ep. 1 - Ramblin' On by High and Lonesome Radio



Excuse the roughness and technical hiccups in our first foray into the nerve-wracking world of live radio... The show starts about a minute or two in.





Gaither Carlton - Ramblin' Hobo

A stately, solemn banjo instrumental to start the show. Fiddle and banjo legend Gaither Carlton, father-in-law to bluegrass hero Doc Watson displaying his irrefutable talent on the five string banjo.

Doc and Merle Watson – The Train that Carried My Girl From Town


Flat-picking guitar hero Doc Watson and his son Merle playing this bluegrass classic, originally composed by the late Wade Mainer who died this September at the age of 104. The clip below shows him playing along with David Holt (slide guitar) in a recent performance from 2010, goes to show he is still king of bluegrass guitar. 

Here is Wade Mainer's version of Train 45.

Kossoy Sisters – Derby Ram

Sixties folk revival duo the Kossoy Sisters, best known for their performance of I'll Fly Away on the Cohen Brother's classic Oh Brother Where art Thou? singing a traditional English ballad with a catchy chorus and absurd imagery. Good vibes and sweet singing.

Alice Gerrard and Hazel Dickens – The One I Love is Gone

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Orange Blossom Special

A bluegrass standard performed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Orange Blossom Special was a passanger train that ran right from NYC to Miami. The fantastic Vassar Clements' fiddle playing takes centre stage as he mimics the rocking, rolling ride of the early steam locomotives. Some of the fastest, most eloquent bluegrass fiddling you're likely to hear on any record. 

Bill Monroe – It’s Mighty Dark to Travel

The father of bluegrass sings a melancholic ballad of lost love in his distinctive, haunting falsetto. Smooth fiddle playing from Kenny Baker set against the stomping back-up of Bill Monroe's 'Bluegrass Boys'.

Kermit Venables – Big Road Waltz

New Lost City Ramblers – I’ve Always Been a Rambler    
      

Mike Seeger, member of one of the most focal families in traditional music and folklore, leads the revivalist trio The New Lost City Ramblers in a mounrnful confessional of a roving gambler, driven by an airy fiddle line. Heavily based on the twenties recording by Grayson & Whitter (who also feature in this show).

Henry Thomas – Charmin’ Betsy 

Prewar Texan bluesman Henry Thomas (aka. Ragtime Thomas), in his unique good spirit, sings and plays the guitar and quills (a simple set of panpipes).  Such great energy and charm in this performance.

Grayson and Whitter – Goin’ Down the Lee Hiway

Blind filddler G.B. Grayson, a man who definitely knew what it meant to lead a rambling life, plays his own instrumental 'Goin' Down the Lee Hiway', a track that has now become a trick-fiddle standard. But there's no trick to his playing, however, as he reels through the track's ups and downs with a seeming effortlessness that would turn any fiddle player green.

Haywire Mac – Big Rock Candy Mountain

Woody Guthrie - Talkin’ Hard Work


A figure in American folk music so iconic he hardly needs any introduction, Woody Guthrie sings a delightfully tongue in cheek lament for the traveling, working man.  Below is an interview and performance with Woody from 1944 for a children's music show for the BBC. A man with a warm heart and a belly of fire.

Stanley Brothers – Midnight Rambler


Ralph Stanley takes the banjo lead on this furiously paced piece from the album Ridin' That Midnight Train. Here is a video of 9 year old banjo prodigy Jonny Mizzone, playing so astonishingly well it seems overdubbed.

The Watson Family – Down the Road

Jean Ritchie – Movin’ on Down the River

Fred McDowell – 61 Highway

AKA Mississippi Fred McDowell, plays a version of the much covered 61 Highway. Mournful blues with a kick, this track is one of McDowell's finest vocal recordings.

Duckin’ And Dodgin’ – Alan Lomax Recording

Wayfaring Stranger – Roscoe Holcomb

The man for whom the phrase 'the high and lonesome sound' was coined. This iconic mountain ballad allows Holcomb's eerie, otherworldly voice to take center stage. The banjo keeps the pace while the vocals cut to the bone.


Below is an interview with Holcomb conducted by Mike Seeger.

Mike Seeger – Rollin’ On