Vinyl Hunter 18: Making Up for a Missed Opportunity and Some Shellac

More than a decade ago, I stopped into a record store in Ravenna, Ohio, and bought a couple New Lost City Ramblers albums, one of which turned out to be signed by Mike Seeger. I wrote a little bit about that visit in a post titled "Vinyl Hunter: The Origins." 

What I didn't mention was a record that I passed up ... and it has haunted me ever since. 

While flipping through the folk/country/bluegrass/misc. of that store, I came across a copy of The Watson Family, originally released on Folkways Records in 1963. The album features Doc Watson and various family members, including most notably his father-in-law Gaither Carlton, son Merle Watson, brother Arnold Watson and wife Rosalee Watson. 

You might remember in 2020 that Smithsonian Folkways released a latter day companion album, Doc Watson and Gaither Carlton, featuring concert recordings from two Greenwich Village performances in 1962. 

The Watson Family was compiled from field recordings made by Ralph Rinzler, Eugene W. Earle, Archie Green and Peter K. Siegel (who produced the 2020 album mentioned above). When I found the album in that store back in 2011, I didn't know much about it at the time, nor did I have enough money to buy it. I always intended to go back to the store and pick it up, but sadly the store closed. 

Now, 12 years later, I finally have an original pressing, predating the issuance of a Library of Congress catalog number. The vinyl is in excellent shape, the cover has a few dings but no major damage, and the booklet is intact. A mistake of ignorance has finally been rectified! 

But now onto a more exciting acquisition ... 

Shellac Hunter?

I've only ever dabbled in collecting 78 rpm records. I have a turntable that plays them, but I don't have the proper cartridge/stylus setup to get the best sound. Until that happens, I try not to spend money on shellac. However, along with the purchase above, I came across a deal I couldn't pass up. 

Uncle Bunt Stephens has long been one of my favorite fiddlers. Ever since I heard his playing on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, I've sought to capture even the tiniest bit of his magic in my own playing. An endeavor that proves ever elusive the more I play. 

While learning his playing style may always be the unobtainable carrot on the stick, I'm happy to say one of his original records has found its way into my collection. 

I managed to find a great deal on Columbia 15071-D, featuring "Sail Away Lady" and "Louisburg Blues," originally released in 1926. What a cool piece of history to own! I'm still buzzing about it.

Music in the Valley Recap

Despite a busy weekend, I managed to stop by Music in the Valley for a couple hours on Sunday, July 9. I played a few tunes with friends on fiddle. Although I had trouble pulling tunes from the dark recesses of my brain, I had a good time. I also caught the first few minutes of the Ward Jarvis workshop, presented by Paul Kirk and his Ohio Arts Council apprentice Melanie Galizio. I wish I could have stayed longer, as they were teaching "Pretty Little Shoes," a tune that wasn't included in my own Year of Ward Jarvis project.