Extra! Extra! In Praise of Pack-Rats

We are overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation upon the discovery of three more boxes of Frances' Reedy's personal collection of records as well as another box of homemade reel-to-reels by the Reedys!  Yes, these materials are in addition to the comprehensive archives and discographies of the Reedy's commercial and home-made recordings and their personal collection of other artists' recordings. 

Timi spent the morning tenderly sorting through these boxes and wiping down records that have been in storage for so long.  In fact, she is still going through them and constantly exclaiming as she notes the significance of what we've found.  There are several extra copies of some of Frances and John's commercial recordings, plus there are some 45's recorded by John's brother Roger Reedy that we didn't know existed.  

Most of the 45's are recordings by other artists on a wide range of labels, some of which are on the existing discography, but there are also several new ones that are not on the list.  For example, there are Kentucky labels Janet (Manchester) and Pine Mountain and Ohio labels Chance (Cincinnati) and Echo (Middletown).  There are also a few 33's as well as a large stack of original 78 recordings by folks like the Carter Family and Bill Monroe.  We can only guess what treasures reside on the reel-to-reel tapes...

Eventually, we plan to add the vinyl recordings to the discography of the Reedy's personal collection, for which Dick Grant has already provided additional dates/corrections.  He has also expressed interest in helping document the recently discovered records, and we are ever grateful for his generosity with his time and his attentiveness to detail.  Meanwhile, we just couldn't wait to share the news of the treasure trove of music in our midst.

Throughout this project, Timi and I have been amazed by the deliberateness of Frances and John's documentation of not only their own musical careers but also those of their contemporaries.  I never thought I would hear Timi thank anyone for being a pack-rat, but I heard her say it more than once to her Mamaw today.  (And as a fellow pack-rat, I thank her for setting a precedent that validates my own collection of personal paperwork and memorabilia that might seem like random clutter upon first glance.)  

Timi misses her Mamaw with touching intensity, and this process continues to invoke the presence of Frances Reedy through our tangible engagement with what was most important to her.  I'm grateful to have known her later in her life, and I'm especially glad to be a part of a project that helps the legacy of her and her husband live on.

Discography of Personal Collection (V.2)

Earlier this year, we posted a discography of the music collected and kept by Frances Reedy.  We have received interesting and helpful feedback from several folks, and according to our blog analytics, it is one of the more frequently accessed pages by people all over the world.
 

One especially helpful contact we made through this discography was Dick Grant of London, England.  Dick is a vinyl aficionado from London, England who has collected records since 1957 and has written about various Country, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Rockabilly artists since 1975.  He is currently helping Bill Nowlin compile a boxset of the various artists who appeared on the Rounder Records "Early Days of Bluegrass" albums, the first volume of which included the Reedys performing John's song "Somebody Touched Me." 

Many thanks to Dick Grant for the numerous corrections he has shared as well as providing many dates that we didn't have for several records in Frances' personal collection.   

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Updated Discography of Reedy Personal Vinyl Collection

ARTIST REFERENCE	LABEL	SONG TITLE A SIDE / SONG TITLE B SIDE / or ALBUM TITLE	FORMAT	CITY, STATE	YEAR
Priscilla Mitchell	Mercury 72565	Sweet Talk / Almost Everything a Lonely Girl Needs	45
Cumberland River Boys	Rich-a-Tone 8072	Under the Pale Moonlight / Flowers from the Fields of Alabama	45	Johnson City, TN
June Black	Chart Records 1285	The Other Woman Is Your Wife / Postmark Vietnam	45	Nashville, TN	ca. 1966
Reverend Earl Caddell	Gospel Light GLD0345	House of Gold / Jesus is the One // Deliverance Will Come / The Blood That Stained That Old Rugged Cross	45	Knoxville, TN
Various Artists [Side A = Upchurch Brothers; Side B = Terry Upchurch and the Upchurch Brothers]	Jewel EP 401	Counting My Blessings  / When Jesus Calls  / There Are No Shortcuts // The Day My Daddy Prayed / I'm Gonna Walk With Jesus / Everybody Will Be Happy	EP		1961
Gospel Travelers	GT 325	I'd Like to Hear'm Preach It / Take Up Thy Cross	45	Dayton, OH
Calvary Duet Les & Joe	Ark EP-281	Great Gilded Hall / Forgive Me Lord // Soul Winner for Jesus / Born Again	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Leslie Durham & Joe Anderson the Calvary Duet	Ark 261	Now Is The Time to Pray / Mother's Bible / I'll Make It Through // Stranger on the Road / Wings of an Angel / Jesus Answers My Prayers	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Calvary Duet Les & Joe	Ark 10812	Travelin' On / God is Everywhere // Singing in the Promised Land / House of Gold	EP	Cincinnati, OH
Old Joe Clark	Ark EP 229	Old Age Won't Kill You / Willow Garden / Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy // Fly Around My Pretty Little Pink / Pig in the Pen / Mountain Dew	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1962
Earnest Carter and the Hymn Trio	Ark CP 7601	Path of Sin / The Gospel Train	45	Cincinnati, OH
Earnest Carter and the Hymn Trio	Ark EP-253	First Easter Day / Banks of Jordon / Mother Went Walking // Valley of Sin / Mountain Church / Jacob's Vision	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Various Artists	Ark 9868	I Long to Hear Hank Sing the Blues (Jimmy Murphy) / Swing Still Blues (Paul Smith	45	Cincinnati, OH
Jimmy Murphey	Ark 260	Wake Me Up Sweet Jesus / My Feet's On Solid Ground	45	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Country Gospel-Aires	Ark EP-232	Road to Glory / House of God / He Took Your Place // Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Give Me Flowers While I Live / Voice of My Savior	EP	Cincinnati, OH
Country Gospel-Aires	Sulkie 45-102	They Hung My Lord / Climbing the Stairway to Heaven	45		1961
Dave Dudley	Golden Ring 3030	Cowboy Boots / I Think I'll Cheat a Little Tonight	45	Minneapolis, MN
The New Georgia Crackers	Olympic 24	Yesterday's Memories (Are Heartaches Today) / Columbus Blues Stockade	45
The Real Pros	Cinema 7515	My Reason is Jesus / Down in the Valley	45	Hollywood, CA
Old Kentucky Ike	Log Cabin 951	Dark Calvary Friend / Two Little Orphan Boys	45
Glen Barber	Starday 676	If Anyone Can Show Cause / Stronger Than Dirt	45	Nashville, TN	1964
Chet Allen & the Lee Brothers	Jalyn 204	London Prison / Trail of Lonesome Pine	45	Dayton, OH
Wibby Lee	Jalyn 214	I'm Lost Without Your Love / Please Don't Run Me Off	45	Dayton, OH
Wibby Lee & Paul Allan	Jalyn 402	Might As Well Be No Moon At All / I'm Talkin' Not Walkin' the Blues	45	Dayton, OH
Blue Mountain Singers	B-Atlas 700	Climbing the Stairway to Heaven / No, No, Sinner He Won't Let you In // Andrew Jackson Fearless Fighter / I'm a Lovesick Stranger	EP
Country Gospel-Aires	Ark 209	Battle for Heaven / No Teardrops in Heaven / I Just Dropped By // I'll Be Happy in Heaven / God's Love Made Me Whole / We're Building a Mansion	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1962
Zirkle Brothers	Ark 215	Bugle Call From Heaven / Tell My Friends / Invisible Hands // Jesus Wept / His Robe / Where the Seasons Never Change	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1962
Zirkle Brothers	Ark 263	They're Expecting Me Home / The Highest Mount	45	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Zirkle Brothers	Ark 9269	Now is the Time to Be Saved / Each Step I Take / King of Kings // Sweet Bye and Bye / Thankful / The Lord is Counting on You	EP	Cincinnati, OH
Sons of the Bluegrass	Ark EP-249	Preach Pray Sing and Shout / I'll Find Him There // Uncle John Who Didn't Shout / Lord Keep Your Hand on Me	EP	Cincinnati, OH
JD Jarvis & Son Lucky & Rocky Mountain Boys	Ark 276	A Few More Seasons / Nights in Low Lights / The Hands of God // Remember the Cross / Tell Them What You Want To / He is Mine	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Herman Bruce & the Cumberland County Trio	Ark EP-203	Prophesy of the Lord / Jesus Stopped By One Day // I Found a Way / From the Garden to the Cross	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1961
Various Artists	Ark EP-205	Ain't No Grave / My Soul's Been Satisfied / He'll Set You Free // Song of Songs / Someone Will Love Me / I Remember How Mother Prayed	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1962
Leon Turner	Ark 9001	That's What It Takes / That's the Reason	EP	Cincinnati, OH
Dave Woolum & the Laurel County Partners	Ark 301	The Great Beyond / Holding On // Childhood Memories / Life Eternal	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1963
JD Jarvis	Ark 304	River of Death / Nights in Low Lights // I Don't Want to Miss Heaven / When the Angels Carry Me Home	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1963
JD Jarvis & the White Water Valley Boys	Ark 214	That Lonely River / Are You Walking to the Light	45	Cincinnati, OH
Johnny Blue & the Pelfrey Brothers	Ark 244	Lonesome Mountain / New Angel in Heaven	45	Cincinnati, OH	1962
Pelfrey Brothers	Jalyn 12092	The Fields Have Turned Brown / My Lord Will Lead Me Home // Get on Your Knees and Pray / He Will Set Your Fields on Fire	EP	Dayton, OH
Pelfrey Brothers	Jalyn 12331	Joy Bells / I Just Dropped By // When the Angels Carry Me Home / Mother's Not Dead (She's Only Sleeping)	EP	Dayton, OH
Howard Davis	Ark 251	Lightning / Oh My Love	45	Cincinnati, OH	1963
Elizabeth Attkisson	Viola 760428	Harlan County Mines / I Dreamt About Daddy Last Night	45	Barbourville, KY
Curly Coldiron & the Circle C Boys	Sullivan U5992	Come on Get Up / Two Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians	45	Serona, WI
Wayne Rainey & the Rainey Family	Starday SEP-139	Over the Rolling Sea / He is Both God and Man / Family Circle // The Garden Where Mother Prayed / Wayward Drunk / I Want to Know	EP	Nashville, TN
Jim Harden & the Bluegrass Statesmen	Artist Recording 800418	Old Fashioned Altar / Pathway to Heaven	45	Cincinnati, OH
Eddie Ray Sosby & His Circle 3 Ranch Hands	Sullivan U-1979	The Cow Song (O! Why Did I Ever Milk Cows) / Little More Music	45	Serona, WI
Jack Lynch & the Lee Brothers	Jalyn 12921	Little Birdie / All the Love I Had is Gone	45	Dayton, OH
Janice and Paul Collins	Jalyn 16025	I'll Not Be a Stranger / Higher Power // Mother Left Me Her Bible / Shut-in's Prayer	EP	Dayton, OH
Delores Bond	Jalyn 20077	You'd Better Stop and Think About Me / Who Do You Think You're Fooling	45	Dayton, OH
The Kentuckians	Jalyn 19327	Little Darlin Pal of Mine / On the Banks of the Ohio	45	Dayton, OH
Ada Larck	Jalyn 17933	There's Gonna Be Heartbreak / Will I Ever Learn	45	Dayton, OH
Stanley Brothers & the Clinch Mountain Boys	Jalyn 323	Long Journey Home / Going Downtown	45	Dayton, OH
Wayne Rainey & the Rainey Family	New American NA-EP-104	A Little Pine Log Cabin / Hand in Hand with Jesus / I Found It in Mother's Bible // Where No Cabins Fall / The Uncloudy Day / An Empty Mansion	EP	Oxford, OH	1960
Big Fred & the Ovations	Lemco 10410	Everybody Sing / I'm Gonna Love You	45	Lexington, KY
Arlie Petree	Rays of Hope CP-4699	You've Got to Have Heaven / Waiting Outside	45
Ray Pennington	King 5783	The First Step Down is the Longest / Your Diary	45	Cincinnati, OH
Bob Withers	Nugget NR-254	Going Back to Nashville / You're My Favorite Song	45	Goodlettsville, TN	1965
Dayton Harvesters Quartet	Self 781	Journey of No Return / I Witness for Jesus	45
Robert Kolen [Harmonica by John Reedy; Side B Accompanied by John Reedy]	Jalyn 338	Vietnam / Somebody Touched Me	45	Dayton, OH
Jim Kandy	K-Ark 647	I'm the Man / Angelville/Sky	45		1965
Teenie Chenault	Alear 655	Where Happiness Ends and Heartbreak Begins / You're No Inspiration, Gracie for a Hit Song	45
Earl and Betty Christian	E and B 900	River of Jordon / You'll Be Rewarded Over There	45
Orville Couch	VJ 706	Color Me Gone / You're a Little Heartache	45		1965
Johnny Morre Trio & Marrie Jones	Blaze 110	Did You Stop to Pray This Morning / Run Sinner Run	45
Ray Yeager	Tiara 33421	Our Little Girl / Old Junk Drawer	45	Hollywood, FL
The Mark II	WYE 5-1001	Confusion / Night Theme	45
Ralph Emery	Mercury 72295	Sit Down and Write a Letter Won't You Baby / I Cry at Ballgames	45
Sandy Brooks	Great 1070	I Didn't Have the Heart / Gold Wedding Ring	45	Nashville, TN
Chuck and Lottie Sivley	Old Timer 806	Have You Ever Been Confused / My World Ended Today	45
Rusty York & and the Kentucky Mountain Boys	Bluegrass Special 600	Little Rosewood Casket / Pretty Polly / Roving Gambler // Girl in Sunny Tennessee / Little Maggie / East Virginia Blues	EP	Cincinnati, OH	1960
Lloyd Henson and His Electric Guitar	Laurel Leaf #	Savior of the Old Rugged Cross / Almost Home	45	London, KY	1968
Luke Gibbons Rhythm Rangers	Dess 7010	Prisoner's Promise / Queen of Skid Row	45	Dayton, OH
Johnny Foster	Capa 122	My Own / Take Back My Heart	45	Nashville, TN
Bob Withers	Nugget NR-251	Don't Fiddle With My Bow / That's Me	45		1965
Norville Dollar	Nugget NR-248	Lonely Man / My Hurt's Too Deep for Tears	45		1964
Leon Turner	King 2810	What It Takes / That's the Reason	45	Cincinnati, OH
L.B. Siler and the Round Mountain Boys	Jalyn 33724	The Good Sounds of Bluegrass	LP	Dayton, OH
The Jimmy Murphy Family	Artist Recording	Poor People	LP	Cincinnati, OH
Johnny Dacus, The Tennessee Mountain Fiddler	Old Homestead 90042	John's Mule	LP
Various Artists	Hilltop 6140	Bluegrass Banjo's	LP
Byard Ray & Obray Ramsey	ABC 690	White Lightnin'	LP
The Osborne Brothers	MGM 4018	The Black Sheep Return to the Fold	LP
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys	Jalyn JLP-120	Bluegrass Sound	LP		1968
Stanley Brothers	Gusto 273	Stanley Brothers In Person	LP	Nashville, TN
Bill Monroe	MCA 426	Road of Life	LP
Charlie Monroe & His Kentucky Partners	RCA	Who's Calling You Sweetheart Tonight	LP
Chubby Wise & the Rainbow Ranch Boys	Starday 154	Self-Titled	LP
Carl Story & His Ramblin' Mountaineers	Mercury 20323	Family Reunion	LP
Wade Mainer & the Sons of the Mountaineers	Old Homestead 90014	Rock of My Soul	LP	Brighton, MI
C.A. Williams	Trail Records 1983	Magnificent Jesus	LP	London, KY
Bluegrass Drifters	Jewel 35151	Bluegrass Covered with Snow	LP	Cincinnati, OH
Calvary Trio	REM 5410	Calvary Trio Sings and Plays Your Favorite Gospel Tunes	LP	Lexington, KY
Bluegrass Meditations	Bradley's Barn	Remember the Cross	LP	Nashville, TN
Paul Mullins and the Backwoods Boys Quartet	Jalyn 18847	Hymns from the Hills	LP
Kenny Felts with the Starlighters	Jewel 80527	Robe of Calvary and Other Gospel Favorites	LP
Dave Woolum and the Laurel County Partners	Pine Tree Records 845	Done Gone and Done It	LP	Hamilton, OH
Blue Grass Gospel Aires	Gospel Gems 5945	Family Bible	LP	Vandalia, OH
Thurston and Jawanda Hensley	Jordan Records	The King's Highway	LP	Covington, KY
The Melody-ettes	Rose Recording	Amazing Grace Has to Be My Favorite Song	LP	Vandalia, OH
Bluegrass Meditations	Bradley's Barn NRP 5412	Were You There?	LP	Nashville, TN
Pine Mountain Gospel Singers	Ranger 449	Heaven	LP	Cllo, MI
Roy Acuff	Hickory 162	Why is Roy Acuff	LP