Norman Blake - unreleased album circa 1973-1974

[@leeblake3989]

I was there when this was recorded. I am almost positive this was prior to the release of Fields of November making this 1973. "Doc" Cullis was my orthodontist. This was recorded in Tut Taylor's downstairs "family" room. I think Dad still has the reel to reel recorder.

[@missouriboy66]

Lee, I recorded the tribute album to your father, I’d love to visit with you. I have a KZbin channel as well as Facebook and Instagram. Send me you info on a private message and I’ll respond. Btw I’m starting a new solo album soon and I’ll be doing a version of Coming Down To Rising Fawn, I have some ideas to discuss…

[@leeblake3989]

@@missouriboy66 I am subscribed to your KZbin channel. I will send you an e-mail. While I use the internet, I am somewhat technically challenged like Dad. Oh, he finally put in electricity when he turned 60 in 1998.

[@mississippijohnfahey7175]

Y'all come back and post here when that album drops aight? It's so cool to hear about how these sorts of recordings get done. I love the sound of music in a house or outdoors. It doesn't always sound as crystal clear as the studio, but after about 5 minutes the sound of the space creeps into you and you can imagine the vibe there. The best music I ever heard in my life was in a living room and on a porch no doubt

[@billieg826]

It was an awesome piece of work ! What an incredible talent !

[@leeblake3989]

Both Dad and I thought a lot of Red Rector. He died tragically of a heart attack while mowing his yard on May 31 1990.@@ourreality1034

[@robertshorthill6836]

The '70s and '80s were the era where Norman was at the peak of his picking best. He recorded a phenomenal amount of music. We had no internet in those days to find tunes. All we had available was to buy his records, of which I did. I did my level best to teach myself guitar from listening to these recording, and I am grateful for each one of them, and the ones I didn't get to buy. A treasure for sure.

[@johnl3777]

At that time up in NYC and Long Island, Tower Records was a great source for this genre of music. I felt like I struck gold when I first saw their inventory.

[@nancychace8619]

Me too, from Calif., but traveled through parts of the country to learn bluegrass.

[@chuckskarsaune3149]

This is great - thanks for sharing.

[@jamesrenz9475]

This is similar to material he played in his late 1972 and 1973 shows. I recall his first full concert, which was held in St Louis with Ed Cullis accompanying, in March, 1972, in Graham Chapel at Washington University. Coming Down From Rising Fawn, Poor Valley, Ridge Road Gravel, and Indian Creek, on this recording, were not included in that show, but he was performing them by his next show there in September, 1972, and at the first Winfield festival, also in September, 1972. He continued to feature them again in concerts in Graham Chapel and at Winfield the following September, 1973. Uncle was also from late '72-73. He did not include Nine Years Waltz in any of those early concerts however, although I do remember him playing it once on stage at Winfield in September, 1974, accompanied by Roger Bellow. I have some of those first concerts on tape, which I later transferred to disc, and enjoy listening to them from time to time.

[@steveturner5519]

I'm so glad real music exists

[@mississippijohnfahey7175]

But what "exists", really? 👀

[@ringmaster5252]

What a great treasure!

[@hunterjohnson6240]

Some bangers on this one!! Thanks for posting!

[@bertdaniel1449]

This is priceless. Norman’s prowess as a guitarist and singer were at peak during this time but fortunately he has continued to make great music well into his eighties. I have almost all of his records and I noticed he tended to gravitate to the Dobro in later life. Possibly because it is easier on the hand and wrist joints. I note that Doc Cullis however continued to play banjo (!) into his eighties. I’d like to know all of the personnel on this recording.

[@michaelmenet2712]

Fantastic!! Thanks so much for sharing this treasure.

[@brendanivey7814]

This is norman in his prime! Thank you for sharing.

[@michaeldaves635]

Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing. This is the only recording I've ever heard of Norman singing Ridge Road Gravel. Intriguing how different the feel and chord changes are so different from the Blake & Rice version, 13 years or so later

[@bertdaniel1449]

Indeed I have never heard Norman sing better.

[@edwardofhuncote5367]

That's the best Ridge Road Gravel ever. Woah!

[@seanparker4746]

Wow fantastic! Thanks!

[@nancychace8619]

Wow - thanks so much for sharing. Have appreciated his picking for many years now. This is a treasure.

[@jasonodell79er]

Wow. So awesome.

[@iklimhunianrumahbordil9375]

great

[@spinecat]

quite a few of these tunes made it on to the releases around that time--Home In Sulpher Springs and Fields of November, if I'm not mistaken.

[@robertomenabo7063]

Wow, fantastic. Norman is always legendary. So much beatiful music. Thanks you

[@Dulcimerea]

This is a real treasure, thank you.

[@Malagrass]

Thanks for posting. This will in heavy rotation for me. Great find!

[@trapperworldwide]

Any way to find this on a cd?

[@BURGRKNG]

@@trapperworldwide i mean it's 'unreleased' so probably not. The lack of mastering is really shown off on this recording tho, but even without that done properly you can still hear every note that Norman plays really clearly even above the banjo