The Goins Brothers - In The Head Of The Holler
(Jessup MB-121) Feb 1973
Average Album Rating: 4
(Total votes 1)
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The third LP by the Goins Brothers was recorded in Jackson, Michigan in November 1971, and released in Feb 1973.
The 'Bluegrass Unlimited' review in April 1973 hit the nail on the head:-
Good Goins grass, straight from the hills and proud of it. They wrote practically all the songs here and there isn't a bad one in the bunch. But the standout feature is the beautiful fiddling of Art Stamper who regrettably didn't make the appointment for the cover photo. Melody keeps flowing from his instrument at a rate that would make even Kenny Baker take notice. His intonation is just as straight and true as any classical fiddler, but with a blues touch that never misses. He's a veteran of bluegrass and it's good to have him back. The songs are a nice mixture of themes, all of them country. Renfro is a longish ballad describing a boy's loss and an old man's help. Poor Man is a sort of serious version of Charming Bestsy: "Rich man worries how to spend his money, poor man has none to lose" etc.
It's tempting to quote from other songs too since there are several really nice ones. They are all redolent of the legendary Lonesome Pine Fiddlers whose ranks the Goins' enlivened considerably in the 'Fiddlers later years. Suffice it to say that if that kind of good, solid 50s country bluegrass is your thing the Goins Brothers have it here and all ready for you.
For me highlights of Side One include the catchy Head Of The Holler; a plum pitifull song/murder ballad Over Yonder Hills; and Art Stamper's hypnotic old-time fiddle instrumental Glory To The Meeting House. On Side Two, City That Lies Four Square is a gospel vocal harmony song with neat mandolin break, whilst Stampers Blues is a sweet sounding fiddle instrumental with overtones of Jerusalem Ridge.
The Goins Brothers later re-recorded City That Lies Four Square on At Their Best 1981 and Run Satan Run CD 1997. The latter version also includes lead vocal by Ralph Stanley.
Head Of The Holler is also included on the Ralph Stanley DVD The Legacy Continues, from an appearance by the Goins Brothers at Ralph's 1998 Memorial Bluegrass Festival in McClure.
Like Melvin, Art Stamper was another CMB, having played on the majority of three of the Stanley Brothers LPs, the first Mercury session and a later Rich-R-Tone session. He would go on to rejoin Ralph c1992/93 when Curly Ray's health was failing.
- Melvin Goins: guitar, vocals
- Ray Goins: banjo, vocals
- Bill Rawlings: bass
- Art Stamper: fiddle
- Leslie Sturgill: mandolin
| Track: |
Title: |
|---|---|
| Side One: |
(15:13) |
| 1 |
Head Of The Holler |
| Melvin Goins / Mike Paxton |
|
| 2 |
I Have No Mother Now |
| Melvin Goins / Ray Goins |
|
| 3 |
Sweet Face Girl |
| Melvin Goins / Ray Goins |
|
| 4 |
Over Yonder Hills |
| Melvin Goins / Mike Paxton |
|
| 5 |
Maybe Then I'll Understand |
| Mike Paxton / Melvin Goins |
|
| 6 |
Glory To The Meeting House |
| Art Stamper |
|
| Side Two: |
(17:58) |
| 1 |
Shindig In The Hills |
| Melvin Goins / Ray Goins |
|
| 2 |
City That Lies Four Square |
| Ray Goins arr. Melvin Goins |
|
| 3 |
Story Of The Poor Man |
| Ray Goins / Melvin Goins |
|
| 4 |
Renfro Valley |
| Mike Paxton / Melvin Goins |
|
| 5 |
Stampers Blues |
| Art Stamper |
|
| 6 |
Music City Waltz |
| Mike Paxton / Melvin Goins |
