Rural Rhythm Records has announced the launch of the Heritage Collection Series, which features material taken from the label’s archives, re-packaged in CD format. These so-called “classic album reissues” will help to keep traditional roots music alive and preserved for future generations.
The new archival series will include authentic old-time country, bluegrass, folk, country waltzes, fiddle tunes, and gospel music performed by many legends and pioneers of their chosen art, with many albums never-before available on CD. All titles are mastered from the original master tapes and each release features the original cover artwork.
In May Rural Rhythm Records announced its Rural Roots Digital Series, which was originally created to release the label’s “classic album reissues” in digital format only. After the release of Red Smiley & the Blue Grass Cut-Ups, Red Smiley & the Blue Grass Cut-Ups, and Curly Fox, Champion Fiddler, Volume One, in the digital format, Rural Rhythm received a significant number of requests from bluegrass fans for the material to be made available in CD format.
These two albums were actually made available to program directors and DJs via AirPlayDirect, and both shot up the AirPlay Direct Monthly Bluegrass Chart. In addition, many media requests came in for the physical CD for airplay, articles and review purposes.
Rural Rhythm Records will continue releasing albums in the Rural Roots Digital Series, as well as releasing “classic albums” in the Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series thus making them available in both digital and physical formats.
The first two titles in the Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series will hit on September 24 with the CD release of Red Smiley & the Blue Grass Cut-Ups, Red Smiley & the Blue Grass Cut-Ups, originally released in 1967, and Curly Fox, Champion Fiddler, Volume One, originally released in 1972, being made available on the CD format for the first time.
During each ensuing month Rural Rhythm Records plans to release more titles in the Heritage Collection Series in both the physical CD and digital formats.
In October they will make available the self-titled Hylo Brown & the Timberliners, originally released in 1967, and Lee Moore’s Sings Radio Favorites of Country Music, originally released in 1966. Neither of these titles has ever been available in the CD album format.
Many bluegrass music legends and pioneers released albums for Rural Rhythm Records during this period. They include Mac Wiseman, Hylo Brown, Don Reno & Bill Harrell, Red Smiley, Jim Eanes, Vassar Clements, J.E. Mainer, Earl Taylor & Jim McCall, Raymond Fairchild, and many more.
The Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series will be available through eOne Distribution, and can be purchased wherever CDs are sold. Some outlets are among those who advertise here at Bluegrass Today.
Forthcoming titles to the Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series include ….
- Hylo Brown – Folk Songs of Rural America
- Jim Eanes with Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups
- Jim Greer & the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks – Stars of the WWVA Jamboree
- J.E. Mainer with Red Smiley & the Blue Grass Cut-Ups – Legendary J.E. Mainer, Volume 3
- Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers – Travelin’ Blues (Instrumentals)
- Dale Potter with Shot Jackson and Jim Murphy– Hoe Down, Volume 1 (Instrumentals)
More re-issue titles will be announced shortly.
