Just received the pair of Monroe instructional DVD's from Homespun tapes. 90 minutes each, one with Joh Hartford, and one with Sam Bush disecting the tunes. Excellent. Entertaining, and good instruction. Highly recommended. Recorded in 1992 with Monroe. And on sale for just $30.00 for the pair! Just thought I'd let you know.
We had a thread on this one a little while back. It is a GREAT video.
I'll throw it in probably once a week and listen to a few songs. Haven't really sat down with Sam Bush part of it yet.
You made a good choice by getting this DVD set.
Thanks for the recommendation. I saw the Homespun sale catalog, and the Monroe 2 DVD set looks very tempting indeed.
I just checked the site and the price is $39.95....?
I stepped up on the platform, the man gave me the news;
He said: "You must be joking son, where did you get those shoes...."
"Your man doesn't sound so good!!"
Miles Davis to his drummer (ignoring guitarist John Scofield, who he had just brought in for an audition)
http://scottlearmonth.tripod.com
where they on sale for that price??? I have the tapes & want to upgrade...
The web site does say 39.95, but it's on sale for 29.95. Call them.
Is it just me, or does Bill's mandolin not sound up to the quality of his recordings on this DVD? Maybe he was trying to play quietly in the intimate setting, but I was disappointed in the tone of the most famous mandolin in the world.
Jim Yates
Blep, the Monroe dvd was definitely an early Homespun production, so the sound quality is certainly not pristine. Not sure of Mr. Monroe's age at the time of filming, but obviously, he's not in his prime. Regardless, his playing in the video is still magical to me and is the ultimate resource for bluegrass mandolin on dvd,imo.
Just watched parts of it again last night - Dusty Miller is amazing and the bonus stuff w/ Doc Watson at the White House is incredible. Question: Anyone know the Bluegrass Boys lineup at the time of the bonus footage (1980)? Is that Butch Robbins on banjo? Just curious.
I believe it's Dana Cupp on the banjer
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
Bill is 80 yrs old on the video. He's playing a lot of notes on some of those tunes, and not as clear as he use to.
Looks like Kenny Baker on fiddle - not sure of the other Bluegrass Boys, circa 1980.
Not Dana Cupp on banjo in the White House clip (circa 1980). #Dana's there playing banjo during the instructional stuff w/ Hartford
The 1980 line up would be:
Butch Robins--banjo
Wayne Lewis--guitar, vocals
Kenny Baker--fiddle
probably Mark Hembree--bass
What I enjoy about that first video isn't so much WSM on his own, but watching Hartford and Jimmy Campbell (fiddle). #It gets a bit lonesome to watch them and think about what a void each of them left. #Jimmy Campbell was one of the best fiddlers Monroe had, in my opinion. #He would have had quite a future.
Jim
I thought that was Butch during the White House segment. Much obliged, Jim.
Just got off the phone with Homespun. The website says the price of this 2 DVD set is on sale for $39.95 plus shipping, and whoever I talked to on the phone said that is the sale price - he knows nothng about the price being $29.95.
Anyone have some information I don't have??
banging on an Epi MM-20 since 1983
I'll check my receipt when I get home.
I will Amen this video. I have been working through the Sam Bush disecting side of this set for about two months and it has been a challenge as well as a lot of fun. I find that I can't wait to finish learning one song to move on to the next.
Well worth the admission price...I paid the original price of $60 (I think) and it is worth every penny....An even better deal at $39.95!
2004 Weber Yellowstone Custom Mandolin
1976 Alvarez "The Alvarez" F Style Mandolin
1998 Guild D-40AB Westerly
1997 Martin D-35
1982 Takamine EF-400SC 12 String
1976 Takamine F-360SD Sunburst
1977 Fender F-65
That would be Tom Ewing playing guitar in the video.
Gotta love Tom Ewing playing the round-back Ovation - a rare sight in bluegrass.
I checked the receipt. It was 39.95. I apologize for the wrong info. It is worth every penny, though. I'm a Monroe-aholic. And there are some really cool things about this project.
Monroe is 80, and he plays some licks differently than he did when he was 45. But he has found ways to play that are easier, or more convenient. But he is still very tasteful, very musical, has the drive, and knows how to deliver a song that has the right feeling. The Monroe feeling!
Also, I'm really impressed with Sam Bush, as always. Have you noticed the fingers on his left hand are positioned and move exactly like Monroe's.
Bill really OWNS the mandolin. I don't mean just his. I know he didn't invent it, but the Monroelin seems to fit. I mean this 80 year old is like the mandolin is a part of him, and he's a part of it. If this is too much, I don't apologize. Big Mon had his faults, but the man revolutionized the instrument and music, taught Lester the G-run, Chubby the long bow, and Earl how to pick banjo!!! Whoops! Oh well, this is MANDOLIN Cafe!
Yep, that project was a long time in planning..... Rinzler had wanted to do a docmuentary piece on Monroe for a long time. And there is certainly enough historical content, in addition to musical content, to justify having the set for that alone.
For a very long time, Bill would answer anyone asking him about Blue Grass music to 'Go ask Louise Scruggs". Rinzler worked for years to bring Monroe's music and Monroe's importance in the development of it to the general audience. It (Blue Grass music) didn't start on the Beverly Hillbilly show.
Wow - I've had this item on my wish list for about 2 years now. #I'm all over it at this price - just ordered and can't wait to finally see it. #Sometimes you gotta love the internet. Thanks for starting this thread.
Clark B.
Clark Beavans
"And the beat goes on." - Thanks for the great music and memories, Bill...
It is $42 and change at Elderly. I had to buy some other stuff from them and tacked that onto the order as well, even tho I have the old VHS set. It would cost me more to have the tapes copied to DVD and there would be the skips and dropped notes.
Hope it's not too late to chime in -- I've posted about this set before -- it is ESSENTIAL for the Monroe acolyte. Yes he's older but that bit about being one with his mando -- so true! John Hartford really brings him out, it's a wonderful warm interview. And the BG boys are pretty good despite that piece of plastic that Tom Ewing is playing :-)
I just wish we had similar materials for Charlie Poole, Jimmie Rodgers etc. -- the first generation of country musicians, who died before anyone had the idea of instructional videos.
Then the 2nd CD -- Sam is great, and really helps by pointing out the difficult parts. I love where he says "No one can really play like Bill, because if we could we would, but we can't, because only Bill is Bill" or some such.
The White House sessions are pure dynamite. It's worth the price of the whole set just to see a President who appreciates real folk performers introduce the duo, and then the version of Paddy on the Turnpike --- !!!! As Dick Spottswood said on his WAMU show some time back, Bill never played mandolin better than when backed by Doc.
Not sure if this will get flamed or not, but there are several sellers via Amazon who list the set at about $30.70, plus shipping, so you'll save $8-9 this way if you are interested.
I will probably order a copy - sounds like a great set.
banging on an Epi MM-20 since 1983
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