3 more Heritage Collection releases from Rural Rhythm

In keeping with their commitment to continue re-releasing quality recordings from their deep archives of classic bluegrass, Rural Rhythm Records has announced three more digital titles in its Heritage Collection. Included are resurrected titles from the late 1960s by Jim Eanes, Hylo Brown, and Earl Taylor & Jim McCall.

And just like the earlier editions in the Heritage Collection, these re-releases reproduce the original cover art from the original LPs in the CD packaging, offered on the Rural Rhythm site at discount pricing.

Kentuckian Frank Brown picked up the nickname Hylo because of his tremendous vocal range, and his ability to sing both high and low. He worked as a singer with a number of popular groups in the 1950s and ’60s, including Flatt & Scruggs.

His album, 20 Old-Time Favorites, was recorded in 1967 with the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys: Roy Ross on mandolin, Dale Brotheingon on banjo, Charlie Ross on bass, and Sid Campbell on reso-guitar. Hylo sings and plays guitar.

The songs chosen for this record were drawn from the many older folk and mountains songs becoming popular during the ’60s folk boom, like Frankie And Johnnie, The Intoxicated Rat, Darling Nelly Across The Sea, Trouble In Mind, and many others. Lee Sutton produced.

Similarly, Blue Grass Favorites from Earl Taylor & Jim McCall was recorded in 1967, and features 20 songs well-known to the bluegrass audience of the time. McCall played guitar with Taylor on mandolin, and Vernon McIntyre on banjo, Moon Mullins on fiddle, and “Boatwhistle” McIntyre on bass.

The songs are typically sung as duets between Taylor and McCall, and was produced by Lou Ukleson.

Selections consist of true favorites like Little Maggie, Cripple Creek, John Hary, Pretty Polly, Wondering Boy, Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms, and Old Joe Clark among others.

Singer and songwriter Jim Eanes also got his start performing as a featured vocalist with Flatt & Scruggs, and taking a job with Bill Monroe before launching a solo career in 1949.

By the time he cut Jim Eanes with Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups in 1968, he was well-established as a country and bluegrass artist, and a popular radio DJ in Virginia and West Virginia. The album was recorded with top Virginia pickers like Billy Edwards on banjo, Clarence “Tater” Tate on fiddle, Gene Burris on mandolin, John Palmer on bass, and Peggy Peterson on reso-guitar.

Getting to hear Eanes sing with Red Smiley is a real treat on another 20 numbers mixing new and classic songs. Jim includes Yum Yum Blues, I Ain’t Got Nobody, Time Changes Everything, Whistling’ Rufus, Sally Goodin, and several more.

These three re-issues are available on CD directly from Rural Rhythm, or wherever bluegrass discs are sold. You will also find them at top download sites like iTunes and Amazon.

Radio hosts can download the tracks at Airplay Direct.