Rural Rhythm Records is launching a new series of classic bluegrass reissues for online download which they are calling Rural Roots Digital. The first two re-releases include timeless albums from Red Smiley and The Bluegrass Cutups, and fiddler Curly Fox.
When Sam Pasamano purchased Rural Rhythm in 1987, he acquired a large back catalog of music recorded from 1955 into the 1980s. His initial focus was combining this treasure trove of bluegrass, old time, Gospel and early country music into a variety of compilations for a budget-minded line of products. In 2005, he took the company into newly-recorded projects, and has seen it become a prime player in the bluegrass market.
While continuing to pursue new music and new artists, Rural Rhythm is again turning an eye over its store of classic recordings via Rural Roots Digital, with two out this week.
Red Smiley and The Bluegrass Cutups was originally released on LP in 1967, the first of three albums he made for Rural Rhythm after splitting with Don Reno in 1964. He had a powerhouse band: John Palmer on bass, Billy Edwards on banjo, Tater tae on fiddle, and Gene Burrows on mandolin.
Among the 21 tracks are popular bluegrass hits like Take This Hammer, Roll On Buddy, Little Maggie, Working On A Building and many others.
Curly Fox – Champion Fiddler, Volume One first hit in 1972, with 18 tracks of fiddle favorites. Included are Listen to The Mockingbird, Alabama Jubilee, Black Mountain Rag, Paddy On The Turnpike, Bully Of The Town and 13 more.
This album was recorded towards the end of Curly’s more than 40 year career in music, during a time when he was working with a bluegrass outfit in Tennessee.
Both of these reissues are available from familiar download sites like iTunes, Amazon and Google. They are also offered to bluegrass radio programmers via Airplay Direct.
