Charlie Moore & Bill Napier - 1968

Brand New Vocal Country And Western Songs

(King 1021) 1967

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This album was recorded at King on 5 Oct 1966^[1] and released sometime in 1967. The "1968" album title suggests it probably came out towards the end of the year.

Another splendid effort, the original songs: Girl Of The Night, You Make A Fool Of Me, and That Wasn't In The Deal are particularly strong, with the last two being catchy 'cheating' songs, and Girl Of The Night reflecting on the futility of seeking bar-room romance.

The album opens with a fine rendition of There Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me which had previously been recorded by Cowboy Copas for King in 1945. Moore & Napier's version just retains the two verses relating to the singers dog "ol' Rover", which adds to the humour. Side Two also opens with Darby's Ram which was likewise recorded on King in 1948 by Grandpa Jones with The Delmore Brothers. The vocals on this are unfortunately a little indistinct, and Side Two is generally quieter than Side One. It's likely that both of these songs were suggested at the recording session by the label.

Tragic Romance and Shenandoah Waltz are two more songs which Bill Napier had previously helped The Stanley Brothers record on their Sept 1959 sessions for Sing Everybody's Country Favorites. (In total Moore & Napier cut four songs from Sing Everybody's Country Favorites: Next Sunday Darling Is My Birthday on Country Music Goes To Vietnam; Sweeter Than The Flowers on Gospel And Sacred Songs; plus the two on this album). Both Tragic Romance and and Shenandoah Waltz had been cut for King by Cowboy Copas (1946) and Clyde Moody (1947) respectively.

It's noteworthy that the album's title "Brand New Vocal Country And Western Songs" is very similar to Ralph's Brand New Country Songs (King 1028) which came out in Jan 1968. King's other bluegrass LP at that time was Don Reno & Bill Harrell's 'A Variety of New Sacred Gospel Songs' (King-1029), so I presume the emphasis on 'new songs' in the titles was a marketing ploy by King. It's also worth mentioning that although this album's title emphasises "...New Vocal... Songs", the LP has two instrumentals: - the uptempo Slick Possum and Howlin' Moon Dog.

Bill Napier plays banjo on seven cuts on the album and lead guitar on five.

After this LP, their 5-year contract with King had ended. Bill Napier was tired of being on the road and needed to rest a while. Consequently, they dissolved their partnership but remained friends.^[2] Charlie Moore made his first (post-partnership) solo recording a little over a year later in Feb 1969.^[3]

Charlie later re-recorded Girl Of The Night on his 1974 LP 'The Traditional Sound Of Charlie Moore And The Dixie Partners' (Old Homestead OHS 90046).

• Charlie Moore: guitar, lead vocal
• Bill Napier: banjo
• Henry Dockery: bass, tenor vocal
• Benny Birchfield: bass (*)
• Jim McCall: mandolin
• Eb Collins: fiddle

NB: (*) Benny Birchfild bass and Henry Dockery sings tenor on There Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me

Other artwork / related images:

[1] Personnel and recording date given in the 'Thirty Years Ago This Month' section (p6) of the September 1996 edition of 'Bluegrass Unlimited'.
[2] Ivan M. Tribe & John W. Morris - "Bill Napier: Creative Instrumentalist", p23 Jan 1980 edition of 'Bluegrass Unlimited'.
[3] The recording session in Feb 1969 for Charlie Moore's "Charlie Bluegrass" (Country Jubilee CJ-70617) LP is detailed in the 'Thirty Years Ago This Month' section (p6) of the February 1999 edition of 'Bluegrass Unlimited'.