January 29, 2021 Trivia Question

A 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
B Fox on the Run
C Graceland
D From a Distance
E I’m Walkin’
F Oh Atlanta

Additional Bowden Comments

I thought we might have more HVBA members/readers who come from “outside” the bluegrass world and would know these “imported” songs really quickly. Sorry but this question didn’t lend itself to multiple choice Jake.

Someday I’ll write an article about how Del McCoury got the song “52 Vincent Black Lightning”. Bottom line, Del made this song his own! He has told me it is the biggest selling song of his entire recorded catalog.

“Fox on the Run” sounds quite different in the original version. I really don’t know exactly how Bill Emerson arrived at his arrangement, which is THE bluegrass arrangement. You can hear a bluegrass version of the original Mannfred Mann arrangement on Tony Trischka’s Double Banjo Extravaganza CD (every cut features two banjoists). Tom Adams, of the Johnson Mountain Boys, plays second banjo with Tony.

I vaguely remember Paul Simon’s record “Graceland” from years ago. I was stunned when The Lonely Heartstrings Band released it (and impressed). Banjoist Gabe Hershfeld told me he “found a place to play Scruggs rolls” in the song! I was so proud for them when Sirius/XM Bluegrass Junction satellite radio used a clip of this song as a station ID “bumper”, illustrating the modern side of bluegrass.

Valerie Smith gives a warm and heartfelt rendition of “From a Distance” on radio over the last year. Very nice, without being overly “Broadway” or melodramatic. Not operatic. I remember when I first encountered Valerie’s music playing on a bluegrass music channel on cable tv in Nova Scotia when I was playing a festival up there — she was singing “Red Clay Halo” with gusto. Valerie has a degree in Theater!

Fats Domino’s “I’m Walking” is kind of a favorite of JD Crowe’s. I think I read recently in one of the many Tony Rice epitaphs that he might have presented the song to Crowe. The New South played it with a real “strut”, fitting the original arrangement.

“O Atlanta” might be Allison’s most recent big hit, and that’s been several years. She seems to have retired from active touring and recording; I guess she can afford it. Please excuse me if I’m not up to speed on what she’s up to. I feel that her music is often very far from bluegrass, excellent music though it may be.

Keep your ears open for other “imports” to bluegrass!