Blind Dog Radio

Roots Music, An American Journey by Various Artists

Label: Rounder Records.
Release Date: October 9, 2001.
Recording Time: 235 minutes.
Release Info: Studio Recording.
Recording Date: 1962 - September, 2000.

Styles: Americana, Black Gospel, Bluegrass, Cajun, Contemporary Bluegrass, Contemporary Country, Contemporary Folk, Gospel, Mexican Traditions, North American Traditions, Singer/Songwriter, Tex-Mex, Traditional Bluegrass, Traditional Country, Traditional Folk, Folk Blues.

Over the course of their 30-year career, Boston's Rounder Records has amassed an amazing catalog of recordings drawing on just about every American musical tradition you can think of. Known primarily as a bluegrass and folk label, Rounder has also released (both under their own imprint and through subsidiary labels like Heartbeat, Bullseye Blues, and Philo) numerous albums by Cajun, old-time, reggae, contemporary folk, zydeco, and blues artists. Roots Music is culled from the catalog of the Rounder imprint itself, and its four discs veer wildly from the hardcore fiddle tunes of Norman Blake and the old-timey singing of Suzanne Thomas to the raucous Cajun two-steps of the Balfa Brothers and D.L. Menard, and from there to the elegant conjunto stylings of Los Pregoneros del Puerto and the Texas country-rock of Jimmie Dale Gilmore. It's a pretty unusual compilation that has the old-time string band the Freight Hoppers rubbing right up against legendary New Orleans pianist James Booker, but then, that's the kind of label Rounder has always been. Roots Music is a fitting and aptly titled tribute to this American treasure. - Review by Rick Anderson.

Credits: Johnny Adams - primary artist, vocals; Terry Adams - producer; Tom Adams - banjo; Richard Adler - engineer, mixing; Chris Andersen - mixing; Glen Andrews - trumpet; Darol Anger - fiddle; Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin - composer; Chris Ardoin - arranger, button accordion; Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin' - performer, primary artist; Sean Ardoin - arranger, drums, vocals; Wilbert "Junkyard Dog" Arnold - composer, drums, percussion; Larry Atamanuik - drums; Art Avalos - handclapping, percussion; Etta Baker - composer, guitar, primary artist; Barry Bales - bass (acoustic); The Balfa Brothers - performer, primary artist; Dewey Balfa - fiddle; Harry Balfa - triangle; Nelda Balfa - triangle; Rodney Balfa - fiddle; Will Balfa - fiddle; Earl Poole Ball - piano; Marcia Ball - composer, piano, primary artist, producer, vocals; Classie Ballou, Jr. - bass; Miguel "Menique" Barcasnegras - vocals; Russ Barenberg - guitar; Ysaye Barnwell - composer; Eugene Bartlett - composer; Jim Bateman - producer; Beausoleil - performer, primary artist; Carey Bell - composer, harmonica, primary artist; Don Bennett - bass; Richard Bennett - guitar, vocals; Wayne Benson - vocals; Glenn Berger - engineer, mixing, producer; John Berthelot - producer; Scott Billington - art direction, essay, liner notes, mixing, producer, song notes; Brian Bisesi - guitar; Nancy Blake - fiddle; Norman Blake - performer, primary artist; The Blazers - primary artist; Ron Block - banjo, composer, vocals; Gary Bohan - cornet; James Booker - piano, primary artist, vocals; Edmond Boudreau - bass; Monk Boudreaux - tambourine, vocals (background); Andy Breslau - producer; Paul Brewster - vocals; Kate Brislin - arranger, banjo, primary artist, vocals; Alison Brown - banjo; Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Ivan Browne - bass (upright); Bob Brozman - arranger, guitar, producer; James Bryan - fiddle; Buckwheat Zydeco - performer, primary artist; Kim Bullard - keyboards; Chuck Bush - bass; Los Cachorros - performer, primary artist; Bob Carlin - banjo, mixing, producer; Pete Carlson - engineer, mixing; Liz Carroll - fiddle, primary artist; Larry Carter - trumpet; Alex U. Case - assistant engineer; The Cash Brothers - performer, primary artist; Andrew Cash - composer, guitar, vocals; Peter Cash - composer, guitar, vocals; Alberto "Tito" Cepeda - bombo, guiro, pandereta; Sam Chammas - vocals; Steve Chandler - engineer, mixing; Curt Chapman - bass; Tyrus Chapman - trombone; Steve "Skeeta" Charlot - drums, vocals; Boozoo Chavis - accordion, primary artist, vocals; Charles Chavis - rubboard; Rellis Chavis - drums; Wilson Chavis - composer; Jon Cleary - piano; Slaid Cleaves - composer, guitar (acoustic), primary artist, vocals; Kevin Clock - engineer; Michael Cogan - engineer; Albert Collins - composer; Tommy Comeaux - guitar, mandolin; Steve Conn - producer; Dudley Connell - guitar, vocals; Jesse Cook - guitar, handclapping; Charlie Cooley - drums, handclapping; Joe Warren Cormier - arranger, fiddle, primary artist; Rodney Craig - drums; J.D. Crowe - banjo, producer, vocals; J.D. Crowe & the New South - performer, primary artist; Jack Cruz - bass, composer; Elijah Cudges - rubboard; Tony Daigle - engineer; Gary D. Davis - guitar; Pamela Davis - bass; Stanton Davis, Jr. - trumpet; John Dawson - composer; Norman Dayron - engineer, producer; Ray Deaton - vocals; Darcie Deaville - vocals (background); Geno Delafose - accordion, primary artist; John Delafose - arranger, frottoir, primary artist, vocals; Hazel Dickens - primary artist, producer, vocals; Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard - performer; Steve Dilling - vocals; Bruce Dixon - bass; Popsy Dixon - drums, vocals; Chip Dolan - organ (hammond); Theodore "Bo" Dollis - arranger, primary artist, tambourine, vocals; David Doucet - arranger, guitar; M. Doucet - composer; Michael Doucet - arranger, composer, fiddle, producer; Jerry Douglas - dobro; Myron Dove - bass; Dry Branch Fire Squad - performer, primary artist; Kevin Dugas - drums; Stanley Dural - accordion, composer, piano, vocals; Marvin Denton Dykhuis - guitar (electric), mandolin, producer, vocals (background); Joe Ely - composer, guitar (acoustic), harmonica, primary artist, vocals; David Farrell - editing, engineer, mixing; David Fender - guitar, organ (hammond); Frank Ferrel - producer; Fiddle Fever - primary artist, producer; Carl Finch - mixing, producer; Tom Fitzpatrick - composer; Bela Fleck - banjo, composer, primary artist, producer; D.J. Fontana - drums; Hadley Fontenot - accordion; Nathaniel Fontenot - guitar; Brownie Ford - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Blackie Forestier - accordion, vocals; Nick Forster - guitar; Stephen Foster - composer; J.P. Fraley - fiddle; Keith "Bass Drum Shorty" Frazier - cymbals, drums (bass); Philip Frazier - leader, tuba; Luca Fredericksen - composer, organ; Josh Freese - drums; The Freight Hoppers - performer, primary artist; Cary Fridley - guitar, vocals; Tony Furtado - banjo, primary artist, producer; Jay Gallagher - engineer; Jerry Garcia - composer; Richard Gates - bass; Geechee - drums (bass), vocals (background); Geenie - congas, vocals (background); Alice Gerrard - banjo, primary artist, producer, vocals; Jimmie Dale Gilmore - composer, primary artist, producer, vocals; Nancy Given - art direction; Rob Gjersoe - guitar (electric); Matt Glaser - fiddle; Greg Goldman - engineer, mixing; Manuel Gonzales - guitar (electric), vocals; Ruben C. Gonzalez - congas, drums, percussion; Ed Goodreau - assistant engineer; David Greely - fiddle, vocals; Mitch Greenhill - producer; Derek Greenwood - bass; David Grier - guitar; Lamar Grier - banjo; David Grisman - mandolin; Ruben Guaderamma - guitar (electric), vocals; Jake Guralnick - mixing; Jose Gutierrez - assistant director, jarana, requinto, vocals; Juan Jose Gutierrez-Rodriguez - bombo, leader, musical direction, pandereta, percussion, vocals; James Guttmann - bass; Joel Jose Guzman - accordion; Mark Hamilton - trombone; David Hammond - composer; Larry Hanks - vocals; Jeff Hannusch - producer; Sarah Harmer - composer, guitar, primary artist, producer, vocals; Emmylou Harris - vocals; Evelyn Harris - vocals; Steve Harris - photography; Mike Hartgrove - vocals; Jimmy Hayes - vocals; Rex Hebert - engineer; Don Heffington - drums; Jesse Henderson - engineer; Gary Herman - bass, vocals (background); Lloyd Herrman - drums; Chris Hertzler - engineer; George B. Hicks - editing, engineer, mixing, producer; Steve Himelfarb - assistant engineer; Steve Hindalong - percussion; Tish Hinojosa - composer, guitar, primary artist, producer, vocals; Chuck Holcomb - vocals (background); Andy Hollinger - engineer; The Holmes Brothers - performer, primary artist; Sherman Holmes - bass, vocals; Wendell Holmes - guitar, vocals; Henry Horenstein - photography; Byron House - bass; Ray Wylie Hubbard - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Louisa Hufstader - compilation producer, editing, producer, song notes; Robert Hunter - composer; J.B. Hutto - composer, guitar, vocals; J.B. Hutto & the Hawks - performer, primary artist; Eddie Irwin - piano; Ken Irwin - mixing, producer; Germaine Jack - drums; Tom Jackson - banjo; Santiago Jimenez, Jr. - accordion, composer, primary artist, producer; Beau Jocque - accordion, composer, vocals; Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers - performer, primary artist; John & Geno Delafose - primary artist; The Johnson Mountain Boys - mixing, primary artist, producer; The Johnston Mountain Boys - primary artist; Nathaniel Jolivette - drums; B.J. Jones - vocals; Bessie Jones - primary artist, vocals; George Jones - composer; Aisha Kahlil - vocals; Bruce Kaplan - engineer; Ellen Karas - producer; Glenn Kawamoto - bass; James Keane - accordion, piano; James Keane Jr. - primary artist; Keith Keller - engineer, producer; Paul Kelly & the Stormwater Boys - composer; Johnny Kenton - vocals; James King - primary artist, vocals; Terry Kitchen - manuscript coordinator, tape research; Craig Klein - trombone; Klezmer Conservatory Band - arranger, primary artist; Alison Krauss - fiddle, primary artist, producer, vocals; Alison Krauss & Union Station - performer; Kenny Krumbholz - bass; Sleepy LaBeef - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Wes Lachot - engineer, mixing; Maury LaFoy - bass (upright); Sonny Landreth - dobro, producer; Calvin Landry - trumpet; Red Lane - bass; Jose Lantigua - keyboards, musical direction, piano; Oliverio Lara - jarana, requinto, vocals; Jerry Lawson - producer, vocals; Phil Leadbetter - dobro; Tammy Ledet - rubboard, vocals; Frank Lee - banjo, vocals; Eddie LeJeune - accordion; Iry LeJeune - composer; David Lescoe - engineer; Ron Levy - producer; Gene Libbea - bass; Ronnie Light - engineer, mixing, producer; Keith Little - banjo, vocals; Michael Lockett - keyboards, organ (hammond); Gregg Lunsford - engineer, mixing; Claire Lynch - composer, primary artist, vocals; Larry Lynch - mandolin; Natalie MacMaster - fiddle, primary artist; Andrew MacNaughton - photography; Lloyd Maines - guitar (steel), vocals (background); Ajay Mallory - cymbals, drums (snare); Deadric Malone - composer; Mamou Playboys - arranger; Tom Mark - engineer, mixing; Wayne Martin - producer; Aris Martinez - vocals; Molly Mason - bass; Gonzalo Mata - harp, vocals; Hector "Tito" Matos - guiro, maracas, pandereta, vocals; Dave Matthew - engineer; Gordon McCann - guitar; Mississippi Fred McDowell - composer, performer, primary artist; Bill McElroy - mixing; Catherine McEvoy - composer; Jim McGuire - photography; Deni McIntyre - photography; Will McIntyre - photography; Ian McLagan - organ (hammond); David McLaughlin - guitar, mandolin, vocals; Jim McMillen - trombone; D.L. Menard - guitar, primary artist, producer, vocals; Doran Moe - guitar, vocals; Lani Moe - ukulele, vocals; Rose Moe - vocals; Tau Moe - guitar, vocals; The Tau Moe Family - arranger, primary artist; Russell Moore - vocals; Gurf Morlix - engineer, guitar, mixing, producer, vocals; Bill Morrissey - composer, guitar, primary artist, vocals; Paul Mufson - mixing; John Nagy - engineer, mixing; Ed Neff - fiddle; Bruce Nemerov - engineer; Hankus Netsky - arranger, music direction, producer, sax (alto); Robert Nighthawk - guitar, primary artist; Bill Nowlin - vocals; Tim O'Brien - fiddle, mandolin, primary artist; Mark O'Connor - fiddle, guitar; Glen Ohrlin - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Glenn Ohrlin - primary artist; Rick Olivier - photography; Will Van Overbeek - photography; Richie Owens - producer; Cliff Parker - guitar; John Parsons - producer; Roderick Paulin - sax (tenor); Tom Paxton - composer; Herb Pedersen - banjo; John Pennell - composer; Penney - tambourine, vocals (background); Javier Perez-Saco - piano; Gabriel Pandy Perrodin, Jr. - guitar; Oscar Perry - composer; The Persuasions - performer, primary artist; Greg Piccolo - sax (tenor); Rod Picott - composer; John Pierce - bass; Leroy Pina - drums; Jeff Plankenhorn - dobro; Los Pleneros de La 21 - performer, primary artist; George Porter, Jr. - bass; Preacher Jack - piano, primary artist; Los Pregoneros del Puerto - performer, primary artist; Pretty Queen - tambourine, vocals (background); Pete Prilesnik - dobro, engineer, producer; Terry Promane - trumpet; Marc Pruett - banjo; Charles Ray - engineer; Julian Raymond - producer; Bernice Johnson Reagon - producer, vocals; Rebirth Brass Band - performer, primary artist; Jimmy Reed Jr. - guitar; Pete Reiniger - engineer, mixing; Fred Remmert - engineer, mixing; Valente Reyes - guitar, vocals; Steve Reynolds - assistant engineer; Larry Rice - mandolin, vocals; Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen - performer, primary artist; Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pederson - primary artist; Tony Rice - guitar; Rick Richards - drums, percussion; Don Rigsby - mandolin, vocals; Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys - performer, primary artist; Ralph Rinzler - producer; Chris Rival - engineer, producer; Jose Rivera - bombo, pandereta, percussion, vocals; Barbara Roberds - photography; Kelli Roberts - triangle; Jim Robeson - mixing; Cesar Rosas - engineer, producer; Kermit Ruffins - trumpet; Joe Russell - vocals; Gordie Sampson - handclapping, producer; Bill "Foots" Samuel - sax (alto), sax (tenor); Chase Sanborn - trumpet; Mark Schatz - bass; Peter Schwarz - bass, vocals; Tracy Schwarz - fiddle; Johnny Sciascia - bass fiddle, vocals; Darrell Scott - guitar (acoustic); Mike Seeger - banjo; Will Sexton - composer; Dan Sheehy - producer; Jerry Shook - engineer; Eddie Shuler - composer; Bob Shumaker - engineer, mixing; Lawrence Sieberth - piano; Peter K. Siegel - producer; Rickie Simpkins - fiddle; Ronnie Simpkins - bass; Grant Smith - drums, percussion; Kenny Smith - fiddle, vocals (background); Tim Smith - fiddle; Jim Spake - sax (baritone), sax (tenor); Donnell Spencer - drums; Richard K. Spottswood - engineer; Pamela Springsteen - photography; Tim Stafford - guitar; Ilene Stahl - clarinet; Jody Stecher - arranger, guitar, primary artist, producer, vocals; Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin - performer; Adam Steffey - mandolin; Jody Stetcher - primary artist; Stevens Sisters - performer, primary artist; April Stevens - vocals (background); Beth Stevens - vocals; Reg Stewart - trombone; Ron Stewart - fiddle; Evan Stover - fiddle, viola; Henry Strzelecki - bass; Lee Stuart - bass (electric), vocals; Eddie Stubbs - fiddle, vocals; Joe Sunseri - sax (baritone); Bryan Sutton - guitar; Sweet Honey in the Rock - performer, primary artist; J Sylvester - design; Rick Tait - trumpet; Nellie Tanco - vocals; Tarbox Ramblers - arranger, primary artist; Barry Tashian - composer; Holly Tashian - composer; Jesse Taylor - guitar (electric); Kennety Terry - trumpet; Teye - Flamenco guitar, vocals (background); IIIrd Tyme Out - arranger, primary artist, producer; Guitar Thomas - guitar; Suzanne Thomas - claw hammer banjo, primary artist, vocals; Joe Thompson - arranger, fiddle, primary artist, vocals; Kevin Thompson - bass (acoustic); Scott Thompson - trumpet; Michael Toles - guitar; David Torkanowsky - keyboards; Toby Torres - bajo sexto, mixing; Jack Tottle - composer; Traditional - composer, performer; Fred Travers - dobro; Sally Truitt - bass; Alvin "Red" Tyler - sax (tenor); Jay Ungar - composer, fiddle; Union Station - primary artist, producer; Dave Van Ronk - guitar, primary artist, vocals; Errol Verret - accordion; Juan Viesca - tololoche; Darrin Vincent - bass, vocals; Rhonda Vincent - mandolin, primary artist, producer, vocals; Bil VornDick - engineer, mixing, producer; Jayotis Washington - vocals; Tuts Washington - arranger, piano, primary artist, vocals; Walter "Wolfman" Washington - performer, primary artist; Mark Wessel - engineer, mixing; Gib Wharton - pedal steel; Robert Whitehead - drums; Marshall Wilborn - bass, vocals; The Wild Magnolias - primary artist; Miles Wilkinson - engineer, mixing, producer; Delbert Williams - guitar, vocals; Lesley Williams - producer; Steve Williams - guitar; Vern Williams - mandolin, primary artist, vocals; Joe "Flip" Wilson - producer; Ken Winokur - photography; Jeff Wolpert - engineer, mixing; Jonathan Wyner - masteringJimmy Yancey - composer; Yasmeen - vocals; Irene Young - photography; Lee Allen Zeno - bass.

Tracks, Disc 1: 1) Tennessee Mountain Fox Chase - Norman Blake; 2) Banjo Picking Girl - Hazel Dickens/Alice Gerrard; 3) Old Corn Liquor - Joe Thompson; 4) Rain And Snow - Dry Branch Fire Squad; 5) The Orphan Child - Jody Stetcher/Kate Brislin; 6) Working On A Building - The Johnston Mountain Boys; 7) You Better Mind - Bessie Jones; 8) Dry Bones - The Persuasions; 9) Did You Hear John Hurt? - Dave Van Ronk; 10) One-Dime Blues - Etta Baker; 11) All The Way From East St. Louis - Mississippi Fred McDowell; 12) Juke Medley - Robert Nighthawk/Carey Bell; 13) Black's Ball - J.B. Hutto & The New Hawks; 14) Just A Little While To Stay Here - The Rebirth Brass Band; 15) Iko, Iko - Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias; 16) Mai Kai No Kauai - Tau Moe Family; 17) Texas Cowboy - Glenn Ohrlin; 18) Streets Of Laredo - Brownie Ford.

Tracks, Disc 2: 1) Lacassine Special - Balfa Brothers; 2) Ti Galop Pour Mamou - D.L. Menard; 3) Dimanche Apres-Midi - Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin'; 4) Pere Et Garcon Zydeco - John And Geno Delafose; 5) Oh Bye Mon Neg - Boozoo Chavis; 6) Zulema Waltz - Santiago Jimenez, Jr.; 7) El Ahualulco - Los Pregoneros Del Puerto; 8) Ven (Come To Me) - Los Cachorros; 9) Reels: Catherine McEvoy's-Arklow Mountains - Liz Carroll/James Keane, Jr.; 10) Silver Star Hornpipe / Karen's Reel / Temperance Reel - Joe Cormier; 11) Long Journey Home - J.D. Crowe & The New South; 12) Leavin' - James King; 13) Old Folks At Home - Vern Williams; 14) Nobody's Business - The Freight Hoppers; 15) All Around The World - James Booker; 16) Frankie And Johnny - Tuts Washington; 17) Yancey's Bugle Call - Preacher Jack; 18) Bottle Up And Go - Sleepy LaBeef.

Tracks, Disc 3: 1) Friend Of The Devil - Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pederson; 2) Every Time You Say Goodbye - Alison Kraus/Union Station; 3) Man Of Constant Sorrow - Tony Furtado/Tim O'Brien; 4) Crossfire - Bela Fleck; 5) You're In My Heart - Rhonda Vincent; 6) Second Wind - Claire Lynch; 7) Black Dog - Ray Wylie Hubbard; 8) Graveside Song - Stevens Sisters; 9) Oh Death - Tarbox Ramblers; 10) You Can't Hold On To A Love's That Gone - The Holmes Brothers; 11) This Time I'm Gone For Good - Johnny Adams; 12) Down The Road - Marcia Ball; 13) Think It Over One More Time - Buckwheat Zydeco; 14) Just One Kiss - Beau Jocque And The Zydeco Hi-Rollers; 15) La Danse De Mardi Gras - Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys; 16) Chez Seychelles - Beausoleil.

Tracks, Disc 4: 1) Frosty - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown; 2) Funkyard - Walter "Wolfman" Washington; 3) Doyne / Freylekhs - Klezmer Conservatory Band; 4) Somos Boricuas - Los Pleneros De La 21; 5) Hey Little Love - Tish Hinojosa; 6) El Ano Viejo - The Blazers; 7) All Just To Get To You - Joe Ely; 8) One Endless night - Jimmy Dale Gilmore; 9) Nebraska - The Cash Brothers; 10) Uniform Grey - Sarah Harmer; 11) Broke Down - Slaid Cleaves; 12) Birches - Bill Morrissey; 13) More Than A Paycheck - Sweet Honey In The Rock; 14) Swing Low Sweet Chariot - IIIrd Tyme Out; 15) Flamenco Fling - Natalie MacMaster; 16) Ashokan Farewell - Fiddle Fever.