Host Larry Groce and the Mountain Stage team culled together this episode of songs by some of music’s greatest songwriters, performed by various artists over the years on Mountain Stage.
We touch on the songs of Bob Dylan, with performances by The Band, Chris Smither, Jimmy LaFave, and The Derek Trucks Band. Songs of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter are done by Joan Osborne, Catherine Russell, and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams. Brandi Carlile does Leonard Cohen and Mary Black covers Joni Mitchell.
You’ll hear a touching Bruce Springsteen deep-cut interpreted by David Lindley, who also does Warren Zevon’s ”Vast Indifference of Heaven.”And we couldn’t have an episode like this without some songs of the Beatles, done by the likes of John Pizzarelli, Judith Owen, Curtis Stigers, and The Mutual Admiration Society.
In case you haven’t been tuning in (or, “logging on”, rather) to the ‘Songs From the Doc’ series, the music presented in these posts is pulled from an hour-long radio documentary I produced for the 30 year anniversary of our live performance radio show, Mountain Stage.
As I’ve mentioned before, the songs used in the documentary represent only a fraction (about 1/700, by my rough math) of the show’s “Smithsonian grade” archives. While Mountain Stage is looking to digitize their entire catalog, they need some help in making that possible. And YOU can help. But, until the entire archive becomes available, their podcast archive and the ‘Songs From the Doc’ series will have to suffice.
Todd Snider – “Alright Guy”
Take a listen to any of Todd Snider’s songs and it won’t take long to realize why he’s a been a favorite of Mountain Stage host Larry Groce since he first came to play on the show in February 1995. Snider’s smart, witty, and has a keen ability to criticize American culture and politics that’s unapologetic and nearly impossible to argue with.
Because I knew Snider would headline the 30th Anniversary show in December (and also because I’m a big fan) I wanted to somehow incorporate him into the documentary. He wasn’t available for an interview that I could use for broadcast (phone line quality wasn’t going to cut it for a documentary), so using a tune of his was the next best thing.
If you listen closely to the opening of ‘Mountain Stage at 30: A Radio Retrospective’ (the part immediately following the “teaser sound bites”) you can hear the first few bars of Snider’s “Alright Guy”–but, it’s quickly faded down. What I’m trying to say is that if you liked the documentary and wanted to learn more about the music, this one is a real treat.
Bottle Rockets – “Welfare Music”
Credit Josh Saul / Mountain Stage
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Mountain Stage
Brian Henneman is arguably one of the most underrated songwriters and guitar players in American music. From his days in alt-country (whatever that’s supposed to mean) forerunners Uncle Tupelo and Chicken Truck to forming the incomparable Bottle Rockets, Henneman has established himself as a mainstay in blue collar, roots-driven rock music.
Songs like “Thousand Dollar Car”, “Radar Gun”, “I’ll be Comin’ Around” off their second full-length release The Brooklyn Side prove the Rockets’ ability to craft songs for the everyman without being too simple or too complicated, either. Rightfully so, their song “Welfare Music” is one of Larry Groce’s–and the entire Mountain Stage family’s–favorites.
TheBottleRocketsWelfareMusic.mp3
Bottle Rockets – "Welfare Music"
The Band – “The Weight”
The first time The Band played the show technical issues almost kept the show from happening.
However, Levon Helm and the boys returned to Mountain Stage in April 1996 and chief engineer Francis Fisher was back at the helm of mixing the show for broadcast. Performing songs like “Rag Mama Rag” and Bob Dylan’s “Blind Willie McTell”, The Band came and did what they always did: hit right to the heart and soul of Americana.
TheBand_TheWeight.mp3
The Band – "The Weight"
Ricky Skaggs – “How Mountain Girls Can Love”
Credit Dave Mistich
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Ricky Skaggs stopped by our Charleston studios in August for an interview for ‘Mountain Stage at 30: A Radio Retrospective’. He cheersed us after he was finished and, don’t worry, that’s a cup of coffee (thanks to Mountain Stage assistant producer Vasilia Scouras).
Bluegrass has always been an important part of the identity of Mountain Stage for obvious reasons and, not surprisingly, the show has hosted a long line of greats from the genre, including Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Peter Rowan, and Tony Rice. Although Skaggs has only played Mountain Stage twice, I felt his status as a bluegrass legend and his ties to Appalachia made him a perfect interview subject for the project. He stopped by our Charleston studios in August to chat for a bit about the show’s roots in Appalachia and how that translates to a family feel. Here he is performing on Mountain Stage’s 400th episode in November 1996.
RickySkaggs_HowMountainGirlsCanLove.mp3
Ricky Skaggs – "How Mountain Girls Can Love"
Editor’s Note: Mountain Stage at 30: Songs From the Doc is a multi-part series that serves as a companion to a recent documentary that details the history of the show. Stay tuned to wvpublic.org as the series is rolled out over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Ask anyone who has worked on Mountain Stage or has been to the show more than a few times and they’ll tell you picking a favorite show or act would be like asking someone to choose their favorite child. There’s simply been too much incredible music to whittle it down to just one or two favorites.
That remains ever-so-true for me, too, but this post is my hands-down personal favorite of the ‘Songs From the Doc’ series I’ve put together. It’s not just because of the inclusion of R.E.M. and how great their crew has been to West Virginia Public Broadcasting and to me personally. I’m a rock and roll guy at heart (it’s fair to say the music of The Band has changed my life) but, I have really come to grasp the importance of Bob Thompson’s incredible playing.
The Mountain Stage archive is massive and this slice of it proves it with performances that are–to steal a phrase about the show widely used by others–of “Smithsonian grade.”
R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion”
When R.E.M. shared the Mountain Stage documentary on their website and social media channels, their fans have begged for the release of this entire set and for good reason. With the band only playing three shows in 1991 to promote the release of their chart-topping release Out of Time, their appearance on Mountain Stage has appropriately reached legendary status.
Billy Bragg – “Tank Park Salute”
The most fascinating part about music for me is its potential to be catalyst for personal discovery and its ability to articulate the way we feel in such a way that we couldn’t (or hadn’t been able to) express ourselves. Of all the songs included in ‘Mountain Stage at 30: A Radio Retrospective’ none more hits as close to home for one member of the Mountain Stage family as this tune does. I could tell the story myself but, I’ve only witnessed it second hand. It’s all best left up to Mountain Stage crew member Lance Schrader. Ask him sometime, and I’m sure he’ll have no problem telling you about the bond he’s forged with Bragg thanks to this song.
BillyBragg_TankParkSalute.mp3
Billy Bragg – "Tank Park Salute"
Bob Thompson – “Blues for America”
Credit Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
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Mountain Stage
Although Bob Thompson had been a frequent guest on Mountain Stage since the very beginning (he was even one of the acts on the March 1981 pilot show), it wasn’t until 1991 when he became a member of the Mountain Stage Band.
This tune, penned by Thompson himself is included on his Live On Mountain Stage release from 2007 and was recorded at the Paramount Theater Bristol, Tennessee in July 2006.
Thompson is true a treasure to Mountain Stage and West Virginia and we sure are glad to have him.
BobThompson_BluesforAmerica.mp3
Bob Thompson – "Blues for America"
The Band – “The Shape I’m In”
The only show Mountain Stage’s audio wizard Francis Fisher ever missed was when The Band was booked at the last minute in January 1994. Assistant engineer Dave McClanahan took the reigns and had to deal with some seemingly impossible technical issues but somehow found a way to make the show go on. The results are exactly what you’d expect.
TheBand_TheShapeImIn.mp3
The Band – "The Shape I'm In"
Editor’s Note: Mountain Stage at 30: Songs From the Doc is a multi-part series that serves as a companion to a recent documentary that details the history of the show. Stay tuned to wvpublic.org as the series is rolled out over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
