Prairie Bluegrass [Live]

Prairie Bluegrass [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
By 1960, bluegrass had grown far beyond its roots as a regional phenomenon of the South, and younger musicians from all parts of the United States were anxious to join the fun. Hailing from Champaign, the Bray-Cravens ensemble represented the cream of Illinois's crop of bluegrass bands. Though they'd been honing their act throughout the 1950s, they reached a turning point in 1960, when Cravens separated from his wife and moved into the Bray apartment at 419 West Main in Urbana. There they practiced day and night, jammed with whoever was passing through, and began to emerge with a distinctive sound. Finally, they landed a spot on WHOW's Cornbelt Country Style, out of Clinton, Illinois, and rather than travel back and forth to Clinton each week, they started to send "live" tapes recorded at the Urbana apartment. This wonderful disc is the second volume of WHOW tracks--the first was the aptly named 419 West Main--and it further enhances their reputation as a key member of the original "progressive" bluegrass movement. Like contemporaries the Country Gentlemen, their repertoire included both bluegrass favorites and traditionals revived by the folk boom. Harley Bray (banjo), Nate Bray (mandolin), and Red Cravens (guitar) were all terrific pickers, but what set the band apart was its gorgeous harmonies: rather than go for the piercing, lonesome harmony style of classic bluegrass, the trio had a warmer and gentler style, due in part to the makeshift one-mic home-recording setup. This collection also adds four cuts culled from two singles from the period, including the exquisite "When First unto This Country." --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

Tishomingo Blues
Garrison Keillor Introduction
Down Yonder
Whatever
SFX (School)
BR549 - Ain't Got Time
Lives of the Cowboys
Give a Dog a Bone
Powdermilk Biscuits
My Minnesota Home
Heart of the Heartland
Elim Lutheran's 150th Anniversary
Mouse House
News from Lake Wobegon
BR549 - No Train to Memphis
Catchup
Credits
Lighthouse

Album Description

Every Saturday, just before 5 p.m., the crowd in the Fitzgerald Theater settles down and the ON AIR light flashes red and "A Prairie Home Companion" goes out live coast-to-coast on the radio airwaves into the homes and cares of its countless fans, including the signature "News from Lake Wobegon" monologue, a Guy Noir Private Eye thriller, a western episode with Dusty and Lefty, and much more - gospel star Jearlyn Steele, jazz sweetheart Inga Swearingen, killer country band BR549, the distinguished Guy's All Star Shoe Band with piano wizard Richard Dworsky, plus the timeless Tim Russell, insouciant Sue Scott, and sound-effects genii Tom Keith and Fred Newman, and hosted by Garrison Keillor.

Customer Reviews:

Mish.......2007-01-19

This is a hilarious album with all the favourite aspects of the Prairie Home Companion show. Garrison Keillor could read the phone book and it would be funny.

Classic "Down to Earth" Humor and Entertainment.......2006-11-03

If you desire to relive or "experience for the first time" what real, every man/woman humor and life experience is about you must order this. Garrison and 'Company' are masters at storytelling, 'folksinging' and presenting the wonderful traits that made this country what it is today.

Thank God and Buttermilk Biscuits we have them.

Average customer rating:

Blue Plate Special
Prairie Oyster
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Different Kind of Fire
What Is This Country?
Everybody Knows

ASIN: B000024RLY
Release Date: 1998-08-17

Tracks:

She Won't Be Lonely Long
What'cha Gonna Do?
Water's Deep
If My Broken Heart Would Ever Mend
Tonight There's a Blue Moon
Long Gone Daddy
In the Summertime (You Don't Want My Love)
Unbelievable Love
Sunday Drivers
There She Goes
One Way Track
Into the Blue

Average customer rating:

What Is This Country?
Prairie Oyster
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Everybody Knows
Blue Plate Special
Different Kind of Fire
One Kiss
Blue Plate Special

ASIN: B0000240Q3
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Tracks:

Canadian Sunrise
Why Are We Holding Onto Nothing
Baby Don't Come 'Round Here Anymore
No Love Have I
Blue Melody
Barroom Girls
Heaven Or Bust
One Of Those Nights
Keep On Dreaming
Vine Is Doing Better Than The Tree
Change With Time
Mean Streak
Canadian Sunset

Average customer rating:

What Might Have Been

Prairie Bluegrass
Red Cravens & The Bray Brothers
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Bluegrass | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004GOYM
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Tracks:

Opening Theme (Buckin' Mule)
Blue Eyed Darling
Girl In The Blue Velvet Band
Harley's Breakdown
Thinking About You
Station Break
Toy Heart
Billy In The Low Ground
Little Birdie
Red Rocking Chair
Stoney Point
Station Break
In Despair
High Cost Of Living
I Am A Pilgrim
Home Sweet Home
Closing Theme
When First Unto This Country
Barbara Allen
Walk On Boy
John Henry
Harbor Of Love

Amazon.com

By 1960, bluegrass had grown far beyond its roots as a regional phenomenon of the South, and younger musicians from all parts of the United States were anxious to join the fun. Hailing from Champaign, the Bray-Cravens ensemble represented the cream of Illinois's crop of bluegrass bands. Though they'd been honing their act throughout the 1950s, they reached a turning point in 1960, when Cravens separated from his wife and moved into the Bray apartment at 419 West Main in Urbana. There they practiced day and night, jammed with whoever was passing through, and began to emerge with a distinctive sound. Finally, they landed a spot on WHOW's Cornbelt Country Style, out of Clinton, Illinois, and rather than travel back and forth to Clinton each week, they started to send "live" tapes recorded at the Urbana apartment. This wonderful disc is the second volume of WHOW tracks--the first was the aptly named 419 West Main--and it further enhances their reputation as a key member of the original "progressive" bluegrass movement. Like contemporaries the Country Gentlemen, their repertoire included both bluegrass favorites and traditionals revived by the folk boom. Harley Bray (banjo), Nate Bray (mandolin), and Red Cravens (guitar) were all terrific pickers, but what set the band apart was its gorgeous harmonies: rather than go for the piercing, lonesome harmony style of classic bluegrass, the trio had a warmer and gentler style, due in part to the makeshift one-mic home-recording setup. This collection also adds four cuts culled from two singles from the period, including the exquisite "When First unto This Country." --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

What Might Have Been.......2000-03-12

Nearly 40 years ago Red Cravens and the Bray Brothers almost set the bluegrass world on fire. Like other "progressive" bands of the time--the Country Gentlemen, the Dillards, the Greenbriar Boys, the Knoblick Upper 10,000--this talented central Illinois-based group forged an exciting synthesis of traditional country and urban "folk" music. They produced one legendary album (as yet unreissued) for the Liberty label, then succumbed to economic hard times and ultimately the tragic death of their brilliant lead singer and mandolinist, Nate Bray. Assembled largely from old radio tapes made ca. 1961-62, this and a companion CD ("419 West Main," also on Rounder) tend to highlight the group's bread-and-butter repertoire of bluegrass and folk standards. Fortunately, the producers have also included four sides from a pair of self-produced 45s, which the boys used to sell to college audiences in Champaign/Urbana. The latter cuts--notably the band's highly-original versions of "When First Unto This Country," "Barbara Allen," and "Harbor of Love"--to my mind stand among the greatest recorded performances in all of bluegrass.

Average customer rating:

little-known gem
Old time country album
Old time country album
Canadian country

Different Kind of Fire
Prairie Oyster
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Country | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Everybody Knows
What Is This Country?
Only One Moon
Blue Plate Special
Blue Plate Special

ASIN: B000008JJX
Release Date: 1990-04-10

Tracks:

Wild About Me
Something to Remember
Lonely You, Lonely Me
Meet Me on the Corner
Goodbye, So Long, Hello
But You Said
I Don't Hurt Anymore
You Changed Your Mind
Different Kind of Fire
If I Could Take My Own Advice

Customer Reviews:

little-known gem.......2005-10-09

Prairie Oyster is off the radar in the States--which is too bad for the band, and what could be a large fan base here. One listen to this group and you can tell that they would list "Don't Worry" by Marty Robbins as one of their favorite songs. I first heard P.O. because I picked up this cassette from the free bin at my local used record store, which I now consider one of the more profound serendipitous acts of my life. Well written, sung and played, this is a record which will make you want to both hoe-down and cry in your beer.

Old time country album.......2002-02-25

This group is a wonderful blend of different influences that come together in an old time country/rock sound. Each song can motivate you to get up and dance or pickup that old guitar that's been collecting dust in the corner and play along. It's just one of those albums where everything comes together for an enjoyable experience. If you like country and want to dance or just play along, this one has everything you need. Although this is the only album I have of this group, I'll be looking for others and can only hope the next few are as good or Lord help me, even better.

Old time country album.......2002-02-25

Canadian country.......2001-01-05

Prairie Oyster is a great Canadian country band. They are also great songwriters, having penned 7 of the 10 songs on this album. The group consists of 6 members, Russell deCarle on lead vocals and guitars, Keith Glass on guitars and vocals, Joan Besen on piano and vocals, Denis Delorme on pedal steel and dobro, John P. Allen on fiddle and mandolin, and Bruce Moffet on drums. They have a unique sound, ranging from traditional country to honky tonk, and Russell deCarle's smooth vocals shine.Highly recommended album for country fans. And 12 page booklet features photos of the band as well as all the lyrics.

Average customer rating:

County Big Band Sound
One of their best albums

Everybody Knows
Prairie Oyster
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

Country | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Different Kind of Fire
What Is This Country?
Only One Moon
Blue Plate Special
Blue Plate Special

ASIN: B000008JJY
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Tracks:

Will I Do (Till the Real Thing Comes Along)
One Precious Love
Can't Say Goodbye
Am I That Easy to Forget
Just for Old Times Sake
Everybody Knows
Here's to You
Did You Fall in Love with Me
I Think That We Did Something
Goodbye Lonesome (Hello, Baby Doll)

Customer Reviews:

County Big Band Sound.......2001-11-11

Prairie Oyster brings big band county music to life! Tight instrumetals, thoughtful lyrics and honest vocals combine to make for a truly unique style that fans of county and rock music will love. Not widely popular in the US, but award winning in Canada, P.O. should be appreciated by mainstream America as the talent that they are. Give them a try!

One of their best albums.......2001-07-05

This is a wonderful album from Canada's premier honky-tonking, rock-a-billy, country band. If you like the style of The Mavericks then you will like Prairie Oyster too. They are a truly talented band and this album has some great songs, ballads as well as up-tempo. And they do wonderfully on both styles...I love the instrumental solos throughout. And Russell deCarle has a wonderful voice. I highly recommend this album to all country lovers.

Average customer rating:

Their best album
"Only One Moon" is a classy, spirited CD from Prairie Oyster

Only One Moon
Prairie Oyster
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Different Kind of Fire
Everybody Knows
Blue Plate Special
What Is This Country?

ASIN: B000026MRZ
Release Date: 1995-05-29

Tracks:

Ancient History
Louisiette
Such a Lonely One
She Don't Get the Blues
Don't Cry Little Angel
Price to Pay
Only One Moon
Your Turn to Cry
Always Believing
Brand New Hard Time Blues
Black-Eyed Susan
All Fall Down

Customer Reviews:

Their best album.......2001-02-15

This, in my opinion, is Prairie Oyster's best album. Each and every song is a winner, and range from rock-a-billy to cajun, from up-tempo dance tracks to ballads. It's all here. Although this was they're 4th album, it was the one that was really their big break-through. A talented band of singers/songwriters/ musicians, this is a great album that should appeal to all lovers of traditional and contemporary country. 16 page booklet contains all lyrics and photos of the band. Recommended.

"Only One Moon" is a classy, spirited CD from Prairie Oyster.......2000-06-11

Prairie Oyster's fourth album "Only One Moon" is a fantastic voyage: a classy, spirited traditional and contemporary country album filled with several gems. The album is subdivided between original and cover material, but the original material really stands out. Russell deCarle's exquisite, 50s-styled love ballad "Such a Lonely One" is an Oyster classic and was the band's first #1 hit in Canada (should have been in the US, too): twinkly piano, swirling pedal steel, and heartfelt vocals. "You feel as cold as an October snow/but outside your window the sun's beating down./Time doesn't stop/for your broken heart....the world keeps turning around.") Keith Glass contributes some of his finest tunes here with the romping Cajun stomp "Louisiette," the country-rock title track "Only One Moon," and the mandolin/pedal steel tour-de-force "Don't Cry Little Angel." Joan Besen, another great songwriter in the band, contributes the Jimmie Rodgers' tribute tune "Brand New Hard Time Blues" and the soft, moving ballad "Black Eyed Susan" - a tune that deals with physical abuse in relationships. Artists successfully covered by Oyster on this album include Pam Tillis, Alan Jackson, and Lucinda Williams - nice choices and fine results. Super album with top-notch musicianship.

Average customer rating:

You can almost smell the mesquite...
passionate, understated, and sheerly pleasureful
If you like Ian Tyson, you'll like Skip Gorman too!

Lonesome Prairie Love
Skip Gorman
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Traditional Country | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cowboy's Wild Song to His Herd
A Greener Prairie
A Cowboy's Life
Cowboy Songs

ASIN: B0000002NU
Release Date: 1996-03-19

Tracks:

Colorado Trail
I'd Like To Be In Texas
Tough And Wild
Brazos River Song
Rye Whiskey/Grigsby's
Snag-Toothed Sal
Cross-Eyed Gal
Maid Of Argenta
The Lonely Cowboy
My Old Waddy Pal
Sally Goodin
The Night Guard
Mexicali Rose
Border Affair
Pretty Pauline
Longside The Santa Fe Trail
Kissing On The Sly
Pinedale/Black Hills (Waltzes)

Amazon.com

Skip Gorman's disposition and mission may be a bit too modest for grand proclamations. Still, based on Lonesome Prairie Love and its near-equal predecessor, A Greener Prairie, he may be the Great White-Hat Hope of cowboy music. This 18-tune strong collection manages to assuage the traditionalist and progressive impulses of Western music fans without straining in either direction. New Englander Gorman displays exemplary taste in his song selections, rounding up such sentimental standards as "The Night Guard," "The Lonely Cowboy," and "Mexicali Rose." A gifted instrumentalist and likable vocalist, the former fiddle champ brings something new to what, in less sensitive hands, could come across as hoary standbys. In fact, this set may be the perfect gateway for anyone interested in delving into a great (albeit underappreciated) American genre. Check it out and the likes of Sons of the Pioneers and Tex Ritter will feel much more accessible. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

You can almost smell the mesquite..........2000-08-05

If you've ever wondered how cowboy songs sounded in the old days, when it was just a bunch of cowpokes sitting around the campfire after a days work, then give this CD a listen. Skip Gorman has the heart and soul of the cowboy, and it comes through crystal clear in this recording. The songs range from the achingly beautiful ("Colorado Trail", "Brazos River Song") to the side-splittingly funny ("My Cross-Eyed Gal", a Gene Autry tune) to sprightly fiddle tunes ("Sally Goodin"). All are expertly performed, with excellent production values. The booklet which accompanies the CD is quite well done also - song lyrics, sources, liner notes, and so forth.

Should appeal to those who enjoy authentic tunes of the American West, or those who would like to grow up to be cowboys.

passionate, understated, and sheerly pleasureful.......1998-10-20

Skip Gorman is one of a new generation of cowboy-oriented folk singers -- Ian Tyson, Don Edwards, and Michael Martin Murphey are the best-known of the lot -- who have revived the art of Western song. Here multi-instrumentalist Gorman showcases the familiar ("Colorado Trail," "Border Affair," the late Gene Autry's "Mexicali Rose") and the not-so-familiar ("Maid of Argenta," "The Lonely Cowboy," "My Old Waddy Pal") and sets them to spare, lonesome-prairie arrangements. ("Brazos River Song" appears, incidentally, as "Texas River Song" on Lyle Lovett's current CD, Step Inside This House.) Gorman's singing is at once passionate and understated. The overall effect is sheer pleasure, the sort of record you'll listen to so often it'll begin to feel like an old friend.

If you like Ian Tyson, you'll like Skip Gorman too!.......1997-06-22

Great CD - fiddle-playing Texas cowboy singer! Songs include: Colorado Trail, I'd Like to Be in Texas (for the roundup in the spring), Tough and Wild, Brazos River Song, Rye Whiskey/Grigsby's, Snag-Toothed Sal, Cross-Eyed Gal, Maid of Argentina, The Lonely Cowboy, My Old Waddy Pal, Sally Goodin, The Night Guard, Mexicali Rose, Border Affair, Pretty Pauline, Longside the Santa Fe Trail, Kissing on the Sly, Pinedale/Black Hills.

Tracks:

Blue Mountain
Buffalo Hump
Here's To Texas Rangers
Orvetta/ Old Madera Waltzes
Where The Old Red River Flows
Platte Rever Pastoral/ Bonaparte's Retreat
Yellow Rose Of Texas
Emigrant's Lament For Oregon
Old Paint's A Pony
Night Herding Song
Fine Times At Our House
The Wandering Cowboy
Rake and Rambling Boy
The Last Longhorn
When The Work's All Done This Fall
Cattle Call
Dally Welters Waltz/The Clayhole Waltz

Customer Reviews:

More than just cowboy music... Great music!.......2002-10-31

This is a wonderful album. If you like American traditional music -- folk, bluegrass, country, fiddle tunes, old-timey -- you should check this out. Skip Gorman sings and plays straight from the heart. This particular CD has an excellent mix of songs, with rock-solid acoustic backing, and fiddle tunes. The latter include a few originals (e.g. "Buffalo Hump") that are just stunning.