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Thread: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

  1. #1
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
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    Default New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Interesting news for Monroe aficionados. This collection is just out. Should be of great interest to fans of the man's music.

    https://www.bear-family.com/monroe-b...-sessions.html

    For devotees of Bill Monroe's music, the CD box sets issued by BEAR FAMILY beginning in 1989 were the answer to a listener's dream: having the bluegrass originator's complete recordings tastefully collected in boxes, with informative books included. What we now have is something even more dreamlike: all the familiar Monroe recordings for DECCA in 1950-51, featuring lead singers Jimmy Martin, Carter Stanley, and Edd Mayfield, presented next to unbelievably all the outtakes (none previously issued) of all the tracks. Among other things, this means multiple takes of Raw Hide. For musicians and careful listeners who have studied that spectacular recording for years, it's as though a new set of Stone Tablets has been found. It also means the "tape blip" we've always tolerated in The First Whippoorwill is now corrected, as the previously issued take was from a faulty tape dub whereas the "new" 1951 version is from the original master. Accompanying this gold at the end of the rainbow is a revised discography by Neil Rosenberg, and notes by Dick Spottswood (edited by Rosenberg) with recollections by Monroe fiddler Charlie Smith. Bluegrass music at its finest!

    Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950-1951 - Complete Sessions

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  3. #2
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    "Among other things, this means multiple takes of Raw Hide."

    Considering that the released version has a huge clam in it, it would be interesting to see what was "wrong" with the other versions...

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  5. #3

    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    "Considering that the released version has a huge clam in it"

    Who's clam is it?

  6. #4
    Ursus Mandolinus Fretbear's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Too bad Bill looks like a zombie
    But Amsterdam was always good for grieving
    And London never fails to leave me blue
    And Paris never was my kinda town
    So I walked around with the Ft. Worth Blues

  7. #5
    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Just when I was thinking there was nothing much new coming out in the way of CD's to buy.... looks fascinating. The Bear Family sets are superbly done - I am sure there is plenty in here to interest any serious Monroe fan. A must have!
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    Northfield Big Mon #127
    Ellis F5 Special #288
    '39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.

  8. #6
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Quote Originally Posted by Fretbear View Post
    Too bad Bill looks like a zombie
    It's a recoloring and borrowing of parts from a famed old Hatch Show Print poster. Not wild about the colors as well, but going two-color typically reduces the print production costs.

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  9. #7

    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    On youtube, you can hear demos and multiple outtakes of Beatles songs, which gives a fascinating look into the production of their songs from inception to the final release. This release looks to be very similar, with multiple, unreleased takes of songs from this two year period, '50-51, we haven't heard before. Should be fascinating and a great look into the production Bill Monroe's work, during this period. Carter Stanley is with him, as well, which is a real plus. Carter Stanley was a great singer!

  10. #8
    Registered User mando_steve's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    This link says it is limited to just 1,000 copies. Is this true? Bear Family doesn't mention that. https://bluegrasstoday.com/bill-monr...outakes-on-cd/

  11. #9
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Ordered, will post review. I have the Bear sets so just for completist reasons I have to get this.
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    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    This just appeared on Amazon in the EU and I grabbed a copy immediately - only 67 Euros, which is very fair. Delivery scheduled for March 13 too.
    Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
    Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
    Northfield Big Mon #127
    Ellis F5 Special #288
    '39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.

  13. #11
    Registered User mandotool's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Been waiting on this one...
    Big box ...but a smaller book format for 1950-51..
    Who cares....great stuff inside

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  14. #12
    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
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    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    Excellent! The 'liner notes' are more of a real 'little book' with some gems of info... such as who wrote certain lines such as:

    "High in the hills of old Kentucky
    Stands the fondest spot in my memory
    I'm on my way back to the old home
    The light in the window I long to see"

    Also possible earlier inspirations for the idea.... fascinating.

    The packaging design is very neat, especially the actual CD sleeves. All-in-all, a nice production.

    Even more interesting is to hear the 'evolution' of a take. They had more problems on some songs than others... the aforesaid "Going Back to the Old Home", though was achieved effortlessly... two takes! Straight to acetate. No digital editing...no editing period... a salutatory lesson to many today! "Uncle Pen" was the same. Two takes. The second was the release.....
    Gibson F5 'Harvey' Fern, Gibson F5 'Derrington' Fern
    Distressed Silverangel F 'Esmerelda' aka 'Maxx'
    Northfield Big Mon #127
    Ellis F5 Special #288
    '39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.

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  16. #13

    Default Re: New: Bill Monroe - Castle Studio 1950/1951

    This is stunning. As with the "Blue Moon of Kentucky" set with its 2 CDs of previously unissued Columbia alternate takes, there are so many inspiring musical gems here. This is a musical find of immense magnitude that I wish Ralph Rinzler could have heard.
    It's a shame that these great historical recordings of American music were not released here. Thank you Bear Family!!!

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