Further to our recent report regarding the establishment of Rural Rhythm’s Heritage Collection Series, we have confirmation of the release of two more CDs in the series.
The first two titles were released last week (September 24); one by Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups – Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups, originally released in 1967, and the other Curly Fox – Champion Fiddler, Volume One, originally released in 1972. Both of these albums are available on the CD format for the first time.
Additionally, two more titles are scheduled for release on October 22, namely Hylo Brown & the Timberliners, originally released in 1967, and Lee Moore – Sings Radio Favorites of Country Music, originally released in 1966. Neither of these titles was ever available previously on the CD album format.
Each of the four albums will be available, coincidentally, for digital download.
Also all four titles are currently accessible by DJ’s on AirPlay Direct:
DJ’s should receive all four titles in the mail very shortly.
The Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series is offered through eOne Distribution, and available wherever digital and physical CD music is sold.
The masters for this series stem from recordings made during the label’s first two decades after Uncle Jim O’Neal started Rural Rhythm Records in 1955.
Many legends and pioneers released albums during this period including Mac Wiseman, Don Reno & Bill Harrell, Red Smiley, Jim Eanes, Vassar Clements, J.E. Mainer, Earl Taylor & Jim McCall, Raymond Fairchildand many more.
Rural Rhythm Records has announced the launch of theHeritage 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, withmany albumsnever-before available on CD. All titles are mastered from the original master tapes and each release featuresthe 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 ofRed 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 availablethe self-titledHylo 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 Eaneswith 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 Potterwith Shot Jackson and Jim Murphy– Hoe Down, Volume 1 (Instrumentals)
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 Onefirst 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.
