Listening to this now. The Scene in their absolute prime, with the original line-up. This was right before Act II came out and they do several tunes that made it to the album - Hello Marylou, the great Paul Craft tune Keep Me From Blowing Away. They end with What Am I Doing Hanging Round.
I recall a NY Times music critic calling them the 'Best Bluegrass Band in the country'. At that time, they were.
The Seldom Scene was one of my favorite bluegrass bands. As much as I like Dudley Connell and Lou Reid, the Scene isn't what it was (and I was a fan of that mid 80's Scene w/ Reid and T Michael Coleman). I don't think they had a dud album for a good decade and a 1/2. Talking albums, Act III or Old Train are the cream of the crop. Man, they were a well oiled machine and probably, at that time, the best band in bluegrass. Really, any band w/ John Duffy (as w/ the Gents earlier) would be the best.
Jim
AMEN!!!... Moose.
where can I find that show?!
I saw the Scene dozens of times, but since I was busy being born in '73, I think I missed most shows that year.
I think I downloaded that show a few years ago. I'll check and see if I have the URL saved.
Sorry it was this one Seldom-Scene_Santa-Cruz_1-31-89_2_24... and I couldnt find the URL.
Seldom Scene
1/31/89
OT Price's
Santa Cruz, CA
Source: SBD > ?? > DAT @ 44.1Hz
Transfer: Tascam DA-20 > Sek'd Prodif Plus > SFv6.0 > CDWav > Flac Frontend @ 44.1Hz
Lineup:
John Duffy - mandolin, vocals
Mike Auldridge - dobro
Ben Eldridge - banjo, vocals
T. Michael Coleman - bass, vocals
Lou Reid - guitar, vocals
1.// Breaking New Ground
2.How Mountain Girls Can Love
3.Wait A Minute
4.Old Train
5.Satan's Choir
6.Big Train from Memphis
7.Train 45
8.Small Exception Of Me
9.West Texas Wind
10.Blue Ridge
11.In Despair
12.I'll Be Know Stranger There
13.Only A Hobo
14.Darlin Cory
15.This Morning At Nine
16.Muddy Water
17.Lil' Georgia Rose
18.And On Bass
19.Sunshine
20.Hit Parade of Love
21.House of the Rising Sun > Walk Don't Run
22.After Midnight
23.E: Lay Down Sally
24.Walk Thru This World With Me
Tracks 23 and 24 could not be found at the time of the transfer
Scot
Bloomington, IN
http://www.thebloomingtones.com/ (The Bloomingtones Website)
The Bloomingtones MySpace Site (The Bloomingtones Website)
I just got Act II on CD. If you don't have it, get it!!! My pick is "Reason for Being." Duffey and Starling sound like teenagers. Ben's banjo is flawless and "musical." It is very tasteful music, excellent arrangements.
"The sunshine of life is shining in your eyes and gives my soul a reason for being"
What a group!! -
I took my teenage son to a "Seldom Seniors" show. #He's not into bluegrass, plays electric bass in his rock band. #They play "Grandfather's Clock" with the three bass solos. #They played a 12 minute version of "House of the Rising Son". #He was blown away but then...
On the way home he asked "You said the Seldom Scene was the best bluegrass band ever, right?". #"Yes". #"Well, I've seen the best, no reason to go to any others."
I didn't convert him to the bluegrass side but still had a terrific time with him.
<Insert witty saying here>
John Starling...well..what can you say..the man has one of th best voices in the biz..it may not be the High-Lonesome sound but the man can pull you in with his tone, phrasing and emotion. I absolutley love his 2 solo projects he had out....Long Time Gone...and the other title escapes me now....but it had New Dehli Freight Train on it....out standing.
That's "DR." John Starling. John Duffy once said - on stage! - that they had to leave right after the show because "...John has to be back early tomorrow morning, ...to see how many of his patients have died." hee... hee... Moose.
He also introduced Starling as specializing in "ear, nose and wallet".
hee... hee... John Duffy - the "consummate" entertainer.
It would be great if there were a set of CDs with the original members from all the albums they did.
John A. Karsemeyer
Probably the best choice in that regard (a compilation) would be the Live at the Cellar Door live double album. I believe that is the original lineup and has most of the well-known classic songs.
Jim
I agree! - Those "anniversary" albums are excellent - but - are punctuated with (too)MANY "guests" (i.e.: Emmy Lou, Ricky, Rondstadt, et al) - NOT to take away from their "appearences" , but if'n ya' want "pure"/only Scene music the "guests" need to be edited-out ; they ALL give steallar perform(ers)ances but..... IMHO. Moose.
You folks make me realize how lucky I am/was to be living in an area where I could go see them any weekend that I wanted to and had the pleasure of knowing Duffey and being one of his friends...As far as the "new Scene" goes when they did their first festival they did all of the old stuff and had the original sound for the most part, Lou even copied Duffy`s mandolin style, which ain`t no easy chore....But like most bands they want their own sound and all of them are great pickers....Good post....Willie
I can't get that CD out of the player. Even Dueling Banjos is good...
One good Duffey quip is, when there's a heckling fan shouting out requests, John says "I thought I told you to wait in the truck"...classic
I once saw the Scene at a small/intimate "venue" someplace in Va. that I can't seem to "recall"(!??##) - Duffey came out for the second set/show, got to the mike and said "well, is everybody liqoured-up?" - ...and the show went on! -
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