The Kerrville folk festival began as a 3-hour indoor concert June 1-3, 1972 in the Kerrville Municipal Auditorium, with a total attendance of 2800. The next year, midnight concerts were added on two of the days, with the attendance doubling. By 1974, the festival had grown to the point that it was moved outdoors to what is now known as the Quiet Valley Ranch. The Kerrville Folk Festival has steadily grown through the years and has expanded to an 18-day event with attendance in the 30,000 range. Given its longevity and popularity, it is a real treat that a portion of its musical heritage has been preserved in this box set.
The Early Years: Kerrville Folk Festival 1972-1981 is a 10-CD limited edition box set (only 500 were pressed), with one disc each for the ten years covered. 140 songs total by 90 artists, it contains some instantly recognizable names - like Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt and Nanci Griffith, just to name a few - as well as artists you may never have heard of, and they all turn in stellar performances.
Highlights include the exquisitely understated Pancho And Lefty, performed by its writer, Townes Van Zandt, the B. W. Stevenson rocker, Shambala, Allen Damron's humorous ditty, A Little Bit Late (even for the Pearly Gates!), and - well, I could keep going until I ended up naming every track here.
Though the slant of most of the music is obviously toward folk, there are notable forays into bluegrass (a totally unique version of the Jerry Lee Lewis tune Great Balls Of Fire, performed by the Bluegrass Revue), country (I'd Have To Be Crazy, by Steven Fromholz) and gospel (Jesus, My Rock by the Royal Light Singers). In short, there's something here that's sure to please just about any listener.
The only real drawback to this box is the fact that it was mastered from LPs. The good news is that it's hardly noticeable on most tracks; the bad news is that on some tracks it's positively annoying. For example, the sound quality on disc 2, from track 6 to the end is particularly painful to listen. Even so, Silverwolf Records is to be commended for its thoughtfulness and selection of material here. Folk music fans are sure to give these discs a spin often.
(Silverwolf catalog number 1009)
Disc 1
- This Will Be - Peter Yarrow/A Little Big Late - Allen Damron
- Summertime - Carolyn Hester
with Dick Goodwinn, bass - John A. Lomax, Jr. - Long John
- Drunken Lady of the Morning - Texas Fever
- Texas Blues - Mance Lipscomb
- Orange Blossom Special - Dicky Barrett
- Candy Creek Reunion and Picnic - Segle Fry
- Put Me in the Alley - Robert Shaw
- Birds and Wolverines - Steve Fromholz
with Travis Holland, guitar - Tennessee Green - Bill &Bonnie Hearne
- When Day Is Done - Peter Yarrow
with Dick Goodwinn, bass
Disc 2
- Call - Bobby Bridger
with John Inmond, guitar Layton Depenning, bass; Leonard Arnold, steel guitar; Donny Dolan, drums - Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound - Carolyn Hester
- Shambala - B.W. Stevenson
with Herb Steiner, steel guitar; Rodney Garrison, bass; Donny Dolan, drums - Jesus, My Rock - Royal Light Singers
- Party's Over - Willie Nelson
with Mickey Ralphael, harmonica; Bobbie Nelson, piano; Jackie Deaton, bass; Paul English, drums - Camille's Blues - Timberline Rose
Richard Dean and Jim Schulman, vocals and guitar - Dear Darcy - Steven Fromholz
- Peter's Song - Rev. Charlie Sumners
- Waitin' for a Train - Kenneth Threadgill
with Michael Descdeau, bass - Muddy Boggy Banjo Man - Bill Hearne
- Here I Come With My Dirthy Duckins On - Robert Shaw
- Deep in the West - Ewing Street Times
Shake Russell and John Vandiver, vocals and guitars; Michael Machkis, vocals and bass - Charlie Dunn - Jerry Jeff Walker
with Bob Livingston, bass; Craig Hillis, guitar, Gary Nunn, piano; Herb Steiner, pedal steel guitar; Michael McGarry, drums - Take Away - Sunny Schulman
with Jim Schulman, guitar; Bob Schulman, bass; Ed Page, congas - Tecumseh Valley - Townes Van Zandt
Disc 3
- West Texas Country Western Dance Band - Ray Wylie Hubbard
with The Cowboy Twinkies - Terry Joe Ware, guitar; Clovis Roblane, mellotron; Jim Herbst, drums - Just Like Me - Jimmy Johnson
- La Paloma - Flaco Jimenez
with Manuel Pacheco, bajo sexto; Cookie Martinez, drums; Carlos Garza, bass; Fred Ojeda, vocals and guitar - Lardo Lady - Riley Osbourne
- Liberty - Terry Morris
with The Bluegrass Ramblers of LaPorte, Texas - Ruby - Southern Strangers
Rual Yarbrough, banjo; Harold Weeks, lead singer and rhythm guitar; Buddy Whitten, Dobro; James Whitten, bass - Mississippi Delta Blues - Kenneth Threadgill
with The Velvet Cow Pasture - Charlie Davis, bass; Buzz Dolim, guitar; Randy Melcancon, drums - Silent Souls - Bill Priest
- Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used to Do? - Asleep at the Wheel
with Leroy Preston and Chris O'Connell, vocals; Ray Benson, lead guitar; Richard Cassanova, fiddle; Floyd Domino, piano; Tony Garnier, bass; Lucky Oceans, peddle steel guitar; - Last Thing I Needed - Bill Hearne
Bill Hearne, guitar; Bonnie Hearne, vocals and piano; Jess Yaryan, bass; John Hill, drums - Tin Can Jamboree - Three Faces West
with Wayne Kidd, vocals and guitar; Rick Fowler and Steve Howell, vocals and guitars - Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Plum Nelly
Terry Jo Jones, vocals; Bill Stoner, guitar; Benny Thurman, fiddle; Ernie Gammage, bass; harmony vocals, all
Disc 4
- Gypsy Songman - John Vandiver
- Somewhere I Hear an Angel Singing the San Antonio Rose - Red River Dave
- Slow Movin' Outlaw - Dee Moeller
Dee Moeller, piano and vocals; Michael Stults, guitar; John Keller, bass; J. D. Kindrick, drums - I've Had the Blues - Juke Boy Bonner
- Seven Bridges Road - Wheatfield
Connie Mims, vocals and tamborine; Craig Calvert, vocals and guitar; Cris Idlet, vocals and banjo; Bob Russell, vocals and bass; Damion Hevia, percussion - Anyhow I Love You - Guy Clark
Mickey White, lead guitar; Mickey Raphael, harmonica; Steve Earl, backing vocals and bass - Poncho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt, vocals and guitar; Mickey White, lead guitar; Rex Bell, bass - Starmaker - Bobby Bridger
with John Inman, guitar - There's Nothin' I Can Do - Plum Nelly
Jerry Jo Jones, vocals; Bill Stoner, guitar; Johnny Richardson, electric guitar; Benny Thurman, fiddle; Ernie Gammage, bass - Wolverillo Rap - Steven Fromholz
with Travis Holland, guitar - Let Your Colors Fly - Denim
Bill Browder, vocals and guitar; David Moerbe, vocals and drums; Richard Mullen, vocals and guitar; Paul Clagette, vocals and guitar; Jerry Crow, bass - Don't Touch Me - Carolyn Hester
with Dave Blume, bass - Shorty George - Robert Shaw
- Great Balls of Fire - Bluegrass Revue
Bob Clark, vocals and mandolin; Bill Perry, Jr., vocal harmony and banjo; Vince Gill, guitar; Mike Perry, bass - New Freedom March - Mike Seeger
- Dear Darcy - Bill Hearne
Bill Hearne, vocals and guitar; Bonnie Hearne, piano and harmony vocals; Mickey Raphael, harmonica; Larry Nye, bass - Mississippi Moon - Kenneth Threadgill
Kenneth Threadgill, vocals; Rene Best, guitar; Charlie Davis, bass; David Atke, drums - Red Riding Hood - Terry Waldo
- Jazz Bo Dancer - Ray Wylie Hubbard
with The Cowboy Twinkies - Down to Mexico - Augie Meyer
and The Western Hat Band
Disc 5
- Torn Between Two Lovers - Peter Yarrow
- Lovin' You That's All - Milton Carroll
- Back on the Street - Mark McKinnon
Mark McKinnon, vocals and guitar; Rick Gordon, lead guitar - What a Way to Go - Dee Moeller
Dee Moeller, vocals and piano; Dennis Blain, guitar; Doug Harmon, cello; J. D. Kindrick, drums; Doug Sederholm, bass - Eight Miles - Kurt Van Sickle
- Chime Bells - Bill Staines
Bill Staines, vocals and guitar; Bill Cade, electric bass - Luckenbach Daybreak - Hondo Crouch
Hondo's backup: Joe Stuart, guitar; Brian Kanof, harmonica - From Me to You - Shane &Kitty
- Texas Traveling Song - Bill Neely
Bill Neely, vocals and guitar; Larry Kirbo, guitar - Love Is - Don Sanders
- You Made My Life a Song - Carolyn Hester
- Taking Leave of the Nest - Bill Haymes
- Second Time Around - Hardin &Russell
Patricia Hardin, vocals and piano; Tom Russell, vocals and guitar - Free My Spirit - Bobby Bridger
Bobby Bridger, vocals and guitar; John Inman, lead guitar; Doug Harmon, piano; John Garza and Mike Williams, backing vocals; David Amran, French horn and Pakistani flute; Donny Dolen, drums; Gary P. Nunn, bass
Disc 6
- It's So Hard to Find a Smile - Bill &Bonnie Hearne
Bill Hearne, vocals and guitar; Bonnie Hearne, vocals and piano - I'd Have to Be Crazy - Steven Fromholz
Steven Fromholz, vocals and guitar - We Got the Make the Change - Milton Carroll
Milton Carroll, vocals and piano - One Man's Hands - Carolyn Hester
Carolyn Hester, vocals and guitar - If I Needed You - Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt, vocals and guitar; Mickey White, guitar - Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound - Tom Paxton
Tom Paxton, vocals and guitar - Joshua Tree - Hardin &Russell
Patricia Hardin, vocals and piano; Tom Russell, vocals and guitar - Painting Son - Mike Williams
Mike Williams, vocals and guitar - Weaving Is the Property of Few These Days - Dan McCrimmon
Dan McCrimmon, vocals, harmonica, and guitar - Fools Fall in Love - Butch Hancock
Butch Hancock, vocals, harmonica, and guitar; Dee White, guitar; Richard Bowden, fiddle; Leon Grizzard, bass - Temper, Temper - John Vandiver
B. W. Stevenson, vocals and guitar; Dan McCrimmon, harmonica; John Vandiver, vocal harmony
Disc 7
- Sweet Melissa - Mother of Pearl
Ernie Gammage, vocals and bass; Jerry Jo Jones, backing vocals; Johnny Richardson and Layton DePenning, guitars; Don Fischer, drums and backing vocals - Livin' on a Dry Land Farm - Joe Ely
Joe Ely, vocals and guitar, with Butch Hancock, vocals; Joe Ely Band - Sweet Virginia Lace - Rick Beresford
Rick Beresford, vocals and guitar - Stuck in New York City - Frummox
Steven Fromholz, vocals and guitar; Dan McCrimmon, vocals and guitar - Take Me Back to Tulsa/Milk Cow Blues - Alvin Crow
Alvin Crow, vocals and fiddle; Rick Crow, guitar; Roger Crabtree, harmonica; Johnny Holly, drums; Gary Roller, bass; Bobby Earl Smith, rhythm guitar; Herb Steiner, pedal steel guitar - Chime Bells - Kevin Hatcher &Ken Brothers
Kevin Hatcher, vocals and autoharp; Ken Brothers, vocals; and The Mountain Vagabonds - Queen of the Rodeo (Cheryl Doreen) - Rusty Wier
Rusty Wier, vocals and guitar; Chuck Flood, harmonica - Crawdad Song - Buck White &Guy Clark
Buck White, vocals and mandolin; Guy Clark, vocals; Bob Black, banjo; Sharon Hicks, guitar and harmony vocals; Cheryl White, bass and harmony vocals - Dollar Matinee - Eric Taylor &Nanci Griffith
Eric Taylor, vocals and guitar; Nanci Griffith, vocals; Bill Cade, bass and harmony vocals - Alfred the Hog - David Amram
David Amran, vocals and guitar, percussion, flutes; Lindsay Haisley, autoharp and backing vocals; Donny Dolen, drums; Bobby Bridger and Gary P. Nunn, backing vocals, questions and laughs; Kerrvillaires
Disc 8
- Well Well Well - Gibson &Camp
Bob Gibson and Hamilton Camp, vocals and guitar - Getaway - Gary P. Nunn
Gary P. Nunn, vocals and guitar; David Amran, flute, cowbell, guiro; B. W. Stevenson and Bobby Bridger, backing vocals - Little Buutterfly - Louis Real &Cactus Rose
Louis Real, vocals and guitar; Cactus Rose Band - Light Beyond These Woods - Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, vocals and guitar; Eric Taylor, guitar; John Hage, cello - Hello Early Morning - Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard, vocals and guitar; John Inman, guitar; Bob Livingston, piano and bass; Donny Dolen, drums - Don't Let the Devil Turn You Around - Lindsay Haisley
Lindsay Haisley, vocals and autoharp - Deep in the West - Shake Russell - Dana Cooper Band
Shake Russell, vocals and guitar; Dana Cooper, harmony vocals, guitar and harmonica; Steven Fromholz and John Vandiver, harmony vocals; Michael Mashkes, bass; John Alderman, piano; Peter Gorisch, drums - Cattle Call - Ken Brothers
Ken Brothers, vocals and guitar - Battle of New Orleans - Jimmy Driftwood
Jimmy Driftwood, vocals and guitar; Allen Damron, harmony vocals - Tennessee Bottle - Jim Ritchey &Be Jae Fleming
Jim Ritchey, vocals and guitar; Be Jae Fleming, mandolin and harmony vocals - Safely in the Arms of Jesus - Mercy River Boys
Wayne Christian, lead vocals - Midnight Moonlight - Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan, vocals and guitar; Jimmy Fuller, pedal steel guitar; Roger Mason, bass; Ed Hughes, drums
Disc 9
- Austin Pickers - Gary P. Nunn
Gary P. Nunn, vocals and guitar; Mike Hardwick, steel guitar; Paul Gold, bass; David Amran, flute &French horn; Billy Sink, drums - Twilight Serendade - Tish Hinojosa
Rish Hinojosa, vocals and guitar; Dave McGill, piano; Craig Barker, bass - Don't You Feel It Too? - Uncle Walt's Band
David Ball, vocals and bass; Champ Hood &Walter Hyatt, vocals and guitars - Bramble and The Rose - Mary McCaslin
Mary McCaslin &Jim Ringer, vocals and guitars - I Want My Mama - Lonnie Glosson
Lonnie Glosson, harmonica, vocals and guitar - I Came Here to Stay - Masters Four
David J. D. Kapp, bass, and the Masters Four Quartet; Terry Laird, piano - Dulcimer Meldey - Eaglebone Whistle
Graham Hall, fiddle; Jane Gillman, guitar; Greg Raskin, hammered dulcimer; Stephanie Beardsley, bass; John Hagen, cello - Touch of New Orleans - Michael Marcoulier
Michael Marcoulier, vocals and guitar; Jim Racraft, guitar and harmony vocals; Bill Strawn, bass and harmony vocals; Bubba Robin, tenor sax; Carson Graham, drums - Blue Skies - Terry Waldo
Terry Waldo, vocals and piano - One Night Stand - Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams, guitar and vocals; Mickey White, guitar; Rex Bell, harmony vocals and bass - Baby Boy - Shady Grove Ramblers
Tom Uhr, vocals and guitar; Lloyd Hinch, mandolin and harmony vocals; Kevin Kirkpatrick, banjo; George Buzzy Stevens, bass and harmony vocals - I Love Trash - Don Sanders
Don Sanders, vocals and guitar - Nina's Nocturne - Jon Ims
John Ims, vocals and guitar - Midnight Special - Spider John Koerner
Spider John Koerner, vocals, harmonica and guitar
Disc 10
- Heartbroke - Guy Clark
Guy Clark, vocals and guitar with band - Looking for You - Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson, vocals and banjo - Ascending Woman - Carolyn Hester
Carolyn Hester, vocals and guitar - Piggly Wiggly Blues - Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw, vocals and piano - River of Stone - Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan, vocals and guitar - Maria Consuela - Tim Henderson
with Allen Damron, vocals - Jimmie the Kid - Kenneth Threadgill
Kenneth Threadgill, vocals; Bill Neely, guitar; Fletcher Clark, mandolin - Pecos Bill - Riders in the Sky
Ranger Doug Green, vocals and guitar; Too Slim, vocals and bass; Woody Paul, vocals and fiddle - Take My Hand - Odetta
Odetta, vocals and guitar - Steven Bridges Road - Steve Young
- Armelia Earhart's Last Flight - Red River Dave McHenry
Red River Dave, vocals and guitar - Esta Solida del Sol - Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson, guitar and vocals; Christine Albert, harmony vocals; John Egnes, accordion; Alan Hand, organ; Peter Rowan, mandolin; Robbie Robertson, guitar; Steve Lindsay, bass; Beard Banner, drums - Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow, vocals and guitar; Dick Goodwin, bass - Dulcimer Medley No. 2 - Eaglebone Whistle
Greg Raskin, hammered dulcimer; Graham Hall, fiddle; Jane Gillman, guitar; Stephanie Beardsley, bass; John Hagen, cello - Sixth Level - Gatemouth Brown
Gatemouth Brown, fiddle and guitar with band - Kentucky Waltz - Buck White
Sharon White, guitar; Jerry Douglas, Dobro; Cheryl White, bass - Dallas - Jimmie Gilmore and Butch Hancock
Jimmie Gilmore, vocals and guitar; Butch Hancock, vocals and harmonica; David Halley, lead guitar; John Reed, rhythm guitar; Bobby Earl Smith, bass; Dee White, drums - If I Had a Hammer - Bob Gibson, Odetta, Peter Yarrow Peter Yarrow, vocals; Bob Gibson, vocals and guitar; Odetta, vocals