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The Goins Brothers - He Showed Me The Way

(Vetco LP-3043) 1988

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I think this album was recorded shortly after the Live In Concert cassette, as it features the same core line-up with additional guests Jim Huey on dobro & occasional second fiddle by producer Buddy Griffin.

Buddy had a long history with the Goins Brothers having played on On The Way Home, Take This Hammer, Wandering Soul and Curley Lambert's Blue Grass Evergreen album. Around the time of the recording he was working as Director of Culture and History of the state of West Virginia, and playing in Charlie Sizemore's band, appearing on his Gravel Road & Singing With The Angels albums. On this Goins Brothers LP he does an excellent production job.

I suspect that Melvin was making changes to the Goins Brothers show around this time, as the "General Store" section of 'Bluegrass Unlimited' from July 1988 notes: "The Goins Brothers" show now includes appearances by Big Wilbur and the Checkerboard Squares. Also making an occasional appearance are Effie Highheels, Moonshine Kate and Lady Plushbottom. You've got to see it to believe it." It's also noteworthy that towards the end of 1988, there's a couple of small adverts in 'Bluegrass Unlimited' for "The Goins Brothers Show", which makes a point of featuring "Big Wilbur and the Shed House Boys".

The inclusion in the line-up of Rick May, Bill Hamm and Gerald Evans (collectively nicknamed 'The Shed House Trio'), also meant the Goins now had exceptionally strong vocal harmony. This is quite evident on this LP, where on many tracks, the harmony vocals are prominent and instruments provide the occasional fill & subtle backing.

On Side One, Precious Memories segues nicely into an a cappella version of He Showed Me The Way (previously recorded by The Goins Brothers on God Bless Her She's My Mother and On The Way Home LPs). Death Came Creeping is another Goins perennial, having already been recorded for their Bluegrass Hits Old And New, God Bless Her She's My Mother and Wandering Soul albums. He Showed Me The Way and Death Came Creeping were both old Lonesome Pine Fiddlers numbers.

The only original song on the album, Down By The Riverside by Gerald Evans, sits well with the other golden-oldies which include material by Bill Monroe (Walking In Jerusalem); Flatt & Scruggs (Get In Line Brother, Cabin On The Hill); and Don Reno (Springtime In Heaven). The Shed House trio also cut Down By The Riverside on their rare Give Me Wings cassette.

The albums closing number consists of a recitation over Amazing Grace, with Melvin Goins paying tribute to Lester Flatt, Carter Stanley, Cousin Ezri Cline and Curley Lambert. (Curley played with the Goins in the mid-to-late '70s and died of complications from colon cancer 22nd October 1982).

The front for the album is also a bit peculiar, as there's no mention of the Goins Brothers or album title. On the rear it says "Front cover designed so it can be framed and used as a decorative picture."

This was the last Goins Brothers album to appear on vinyl. It was later reissued in a new sleeve (apparently not be framed as decorative picture) in 2000 (Crosscut CR-1036).

• Melvin Goins: guitar
• Ray Goins: banjo
• Gerald Evans Jr: fiddle
• Bill Hamm: bass
• Rick May: mandolin
• John McNeely: guitar
• (Jim Huey: dobro)
• (Buddy Griffin: 2nd fiddle)