THE FOLKWAYS YEARS 1964-1983
Red Allen
(Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
Born in Kentucky at a time that allowed him to be considered one of the first generation of bluegrass artists, Harley "Red" Allen was actually a singer and rhythm guitar player, key in carrying the high lonesome sound that stayed in traditional country for so long and remains in bluegrass to this day.
Not surprisingly, he loved Hank Williams and was part of the whole wave of copycats that drove Bill Monroe so insane. Allen's album, a slice of his whole career, diverges slightly from regular bluegrass structurally, and while he sings a lot of duets, he strikes out on his own enough to be memorable.
He covers the Louvin Brothers, Flatt and Scruggs and Williams with equal energy, but his own songs, like the charming Ground Hog, set him apart from the usual Jesus and family tunes.
Frank Wakefield accompanies him in song and his mandolin playing is spectacular. Sadly, the Beatles were what got the teens dancing at the time, even though Allen played songs with titles as evocative as The Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake.
No double entendre there, I'm sure.
A very non-mainstream bluegrass album, worth picking up, symbolic snakes and all.
Track Listing
1. Little Maggie
2. Somebody Loves You, Darling
3. New Camptown Races
4. Are You Afraid To Die?
5. Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong
6. Are You Washed In The Blood?
7. Deep Elem Blues
8. Ground Hog
9. Catnip
10. The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake
11. I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
12. Shake Hands With Mother Again
13. All The Good Times Are Passed And Gone
14. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
15. Can You Forgive?
16. Old Joe Clark
17. Knocking At Your Door
18. Green Apples
19. Hello City Limits
20. Victim To The Tomb
21. Are You Teasing Me?
22. My Sweet Love Ain't Around
23. Dig A Hole In The Meadow
24. I'm Waiting To Hear You Call Me Darling
25. Stone Wall
26. Troubles Around My Door
27. I Guess I'll Go On Dreaming
28. Christian Life
