I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky #254

From October 1, 2010 through to the end of September 2011, we will, each day, celebrate the life of Bill Monroe by sharing information about him and those people who are associated with his life and music career. This information will include births and deaths; recording sessions; single, LP and CD release dates; and other interesting tidbits. Richard F. Thompson is responsible for the research and compilation of this information. We invite readers to share any tidbits, photos or memories you would like us to include.

  • June 11, 1962 LP released – Bill Monroe – Blue Grass Ramble (Decca DL 4266) *
  • June 11, 1980 Bill Monroe was presented with the Music City News award for Best Bluegrass Group of the Year.
  • June 11, 1996 CD released – Hats Off! A Tribute to Bill Monroe (CMH Records CD 8014) **
  • June 11, 2002 CD released – Bill Monroe – RCA Country Legends (RCA 07863 – 65120 – 2) ***

* Blue Grass Ramble, 13 tracks

Track listing – Blue Grass Ramble, Little Maggie, Bugle Call Rag, Toy Heart, I’m Going Back To Old Kentucky, Live And Let Live, Nine Pound Hammer, Cotton Fields, John Hardy, Shady Grove, Danny Boy, Journey’s End and Old Joe Clark.

(re-issued in 1973 on MCA-88)

** Hats Off! A Tribute to Bill Monroe. The album consists of 24 tracks featuring Vassar Clements, Mac Wiseman, Seldom Scene, Osborne Bros, Donna Stoneman, Lester Flatt, the Pinnacle Boys, Carl Story, Lester Flatt and Merle Travis.

Track listing – Katy Hill (Vassar Clements, Josh Graves), Muleskinner Blues (the Stonemans), Orange Blossom Special (Donna Stoneman), In The Pines (Mac Wiseman), Footprints in the Snow (the Smith Brothers), Kentucky Waltz (Osborne Brothers), True Life Blues (Carl Story), Blue Moon of Kentucky (Benny Martin), California Blues (Billy Troy, Josh Graves), Why Did You Wander? (Lester Flatt), I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling (Osborne Brothers), It’s Mighty Dark To Travel (Mac Wiseman), My Rose of Old Kentucky (the Osborne Brothers), Tenbrooks And Molly (Joe Maphis), Girl In The Blue Velvet Band (Mac Wiseman), Travelin’ This Lonesome Road (Mac Wiseman, the Osborne Brothers), Uncle Pen (Buddy Spicher), Little Georgia Rose (Seldom Scene), Cheyenne (Pinnacle Boys), Roanoke (Lester Flatt and Nashville Grass), White House Blues (Joe Maphis, Merle Travis), Sitting On Top Of The World (Pinnacle Boys), Scotland (the Pinnacle Boys) and Somebody Touched Me (Carl Story).

*** Bill Monroe – RCA Country Legends, 16 tracks

Track listing – Mule Skinner Blues, No Letter In The Mail, Cryin’ Holy Unto My Lord, Six White Horses, Dog House Blues, I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do, Katy Hill, Tennessee Blues, Shake My Mother’s Hand For Me, Were You There? Blue Yodel No. 7 (Anniversary Blue Yodel), The Coupon Song, Orange Blossom Special, Honky Tonk Swing, In The Pines and Back Up And Push.

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About the Author

Richard Thompson

Richard F. Thompson is a long-standing free-lance writer specialising in bluegrass music topics. A two-time Editor of British Bluegrass News, he has been seriously interested in bluegrass music since about 1970. As well as contributing to that magazine, he has, in the past 30 plus years, had articles published by Country Music World, International Country Music News, Country Music People, Bluegrass Unlimited, MoonShiner (the Japanese bluegrass music journal) and Bluegrass Europe. He wrote the annotated series I'm On My Way Back To Old Kentucky, a daily memorial to Bill Monroe that culminated with an acknowledgement of what would have been his 100th birthday, on September 13, 2011.