Bluegrass pioneers Hylo Brown, J.E. Mainer and Mac Martin are the subjects of four new reissues in the Heritage Collection Series from Rural Rhythm Records. Since launching this line of archival recordings in 2013, the label has now brought nearly two dozen vintage LPs back in a digital format, with the original cover art and liner notes.
First up is Legends & Tall Tales from Hylo Brown, with 20 country, bluegrass, and mountain favorites. Originally released in 1967, it was the third of seven albums he had cut with Rural Rhythm after his very successful stint with Flatt & Scruggs which had led to a contract with Capitol Records.
From 1968 comes the fourth Rural Rhythm album from noted North Carolina fiddler J.E. Mainer and his Mountaineers. Titled Legendary J.E. Mainer, Volume 4, it contains 20 popular fiddle tunes from its time, recorded with Morris Herbert, Bill Deaton, Earl Cheek and Jerry Cheek.
Completing this batch of four reprints are a pair of records from Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers. Mac, born William Colleran, the son of Irish immigrants, was a native of the Pittsburg area where he lived his entire life other than serving in the Pacific theater during WWII. He formed The Dixie Travelers in 1957 with Mike Carson and Billy Bryant.
With The Travelin’ Blues was their first Rural Rhythm release in 1968, and features 20 classic bluegrass instrumentals. Goin’ Down The Country came a year later, with 20 familiar old time, bluegrass, and folk songs with the same band.
All of these new reissues are available digitally from the usual sources, and on CD directly from the label. You can get more details on all the Heritage reprints online.
Due up next in the Heritage Collection are reissues from Earl Taylor & Jim McCall with The Stoney Mountain Boys, Jim Eanes with Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups, and Hylo Brown & The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys.
