Off the Record, Vol. 1: Live Recordings 1956-1969

~ Release by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

Copyright: © 1993 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
℗ 1993 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Annotation last modified on 2025-11-19 16:28 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼Digital Media
#TitleRatingLength
1Watermelon Hanging on the Vine (version 1)
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live instrumental recording of:
Watermelon on the Vine (on 1956-05-13)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
0:38
2Roanoke
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Roanoke (on 1956-05-13)
writer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
1:20
3Brakeman's Blues
fiddle:
Clarence "Tater" Tate (on 1956-09-23)
guitar:
Edd Mayfield (on 1956-09-23)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-09-23)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-09-23)
live recording of:
The Brakeman’s Blues (on 1956-09-23)
writer:
Jimmie Rodgers (country music pioneer, died in 1933)
2:43
4Close By
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Close By (on 1956-05-13)
composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) and Robert Van Winkle
publisher:
Universal Cedarwood Publishing
2:27
5Kentucky Waltz
fiddle:
Clarence "Tater" Tate (on 1956-09-23)
guitar:
Edd Mayfield (on 1956-09-23)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-09-23)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-09-23)
live recording of:
Kentucky Waltz (on 1956-09-23)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (in 1945)
2:27
6Bluegrass Stomp
banjo:
Don Reno (bluegrass banjoist, Reno & Smiley member, father of Don Wayne Reno) (on 1956-09-23)
fiddle:
Clarence "Tater" Tate (on 1956-09-23)
guitar:
Edd Mayfield (on 1956-09-23)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-09-23)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-09-23)
live recording of:
Blue Grass Stomp (on 1956-09-23)
composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
publisher:
Bill Monroe Music and Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:17
7Blue Moon of Kentucky
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
lead vocals:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) and Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Blue Moon of Kentucky (on 1956-05-13)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (in 1946)
publisher:
APRS (American Performing Rights Society, Inc.(BMI)), Peer International Corporation (BMI), Southern Music Publishing ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic), Southern Music Publishing Company Limited and ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
2:02
8I'm Working on a Building
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
baritone vocals:
Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
bass vocals:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13)
lead vocals:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13) and Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
I’m Working on the Building (Carter version, verses begin "If I was...") (on 1956-05-13)
lyricist and composer:
A.P. Carter
publisher:
APRS (American Performing Rights Society, Inc.(BMI))
version of:
Working on the Building
1:56
9Angels Rock Me to Sleep
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
baritone vocals:
Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
bass vocals:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13)
lead vocals:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13) and Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Angels Rock Me to Sleep (on 1956-05-13)
writer:
Marion Easterling and Thomas Ramsey
1:56
10Wheel Hoss
banjo:
Rudy Lyle (on 1956-05-13)
double bass [bass]:
Chick Stripling or Bessie Lee Mauldin ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1956-05-13)
fiddle:
Bobby Hicks (American bluegrass fiddler) (on 1956-05-13) and Joe Stuart (US bluegrass musician) (on 1956-05-13)
guitar:
Yates Green (US bluegrass guitarist) (on 1956-05-13)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1956-05-13)
recorded at:
New River Ranch in Rising Sun, Maryland, United States (on 1956-05-13)
live recording of:
Wheel Hoss (on 1956-05-13)
composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
2:01
11Watermelon Hanging on the Vine (version 2)
banjo:
Lamar Grier (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
double bass [bass]:
James Monroe (US bluegrass singer, son of Bill Monroe) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
recorded at:
Gaslight Cafe in New York, New York, United States (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
live instrumental recording of:
Watermelon on the Vine (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
0:56
12Katy Hill
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Katy Hill (on 1964-10-31)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
2:46
13True Life Blues
banjo:
Bill Keith (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
double bass [bass]:
Bessie Lee Mauldin (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
fiddle:
Kenny Baker (US fiddler) (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Del McCoury (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
recorded at:
Ash Grove in West Hollywood, California, United States (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
live recording of:
True Life Blues (from 1963-04 until 1963-05)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
2:41
14I Live in the Past
banjo:
Lamar Grier (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
double bass [bass]:
James Monroe (US bluegrass singer, son of Bill Monroe) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
recorded at:
Gaslight Cafe in New York, New York, United States (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
live recording of:
I Live in the Past (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
writer:
Virginia Stauffer
2:45
15Wayfaring Stranger
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1966-06-20)
recording engineer:
Ralph Rinzler (in 1966)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (in 1966, on 1966-06-20)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (in 1966, on 1966-06-20)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (in 1966, on 1966-06-20)
lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1966-06-20) and Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1966-06-20)
tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1966-06-20)
vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (in 1966) and Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (in 1966)
recording of:
Wayfaring Stranger (on 1966-06-20)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 3339)
live recording of:
Wayfaring Stranger (in 1966)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 3339)
4:31
16Fire on the Mountain
banjo:
Lamar Grier (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
double bass [bass]:
James Monroe (US bluegrass singer, son of Bill Monroe) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06) and Tex Logan (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
recorded at:
Gaslight Cafe in New York, New York, United States (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
live recording of:
Fire on the Mountain (from 1966-05-04 until 1966-05-06)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
3:46
17Bluegrass Breakdown
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Blue Grass Breakdown (on 1964-10-31)
composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
3:19
18Raw Hide
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Rawhide (mandolin instrumental) (on 1964-10-31)
composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
2:47
19Y'all Come
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1964-10-31)
double bass [bass]:
Everett Allen Lilly (US bluegrass guitarist/bassist, son of Everett Lilly) (on 1964-10-31)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1964-10-31)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1964-10-31)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1964-10-31)
recorded at:
Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, United States (on 1964-10-31)
live recording of:
Y’all Come (on 1964-10-31)
lyricist and composer:
Arlie Duff
0:53
20Cotton-Eyed Joe
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1965-06-17)
banjo:
Bill Keith (on 1965-06-17)
double bass [bass]:
David Grisman (on 1965-06-17)
fiddle:
Tex Logan (on 1965-06-17)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-06-17)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1965-06-17)
lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1965-06-17) and Tex Logan (on 1965-06-17)
live recording of:
Cotton‐Eyed Joe (traditional song) (on 1965-06-17)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 942)
3:26
21Get Up John
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
live recording of:
Get Up John (on 1965-09-05)
composer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:39
22White House Blues
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1966-06-20)
fiddle:
Richard Greene (US fiddler) (on 1966-06-20) and Tex Logan (on 1966-06-20)
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1966-06-20)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1966-06-20)
live recording of:
White House Blues (on 1966-06-20)
lyricist:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist) and Wilbur Jones (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 787)
2:06
23Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
recorded in:
New Jersey, United States (on 1966-06-20)
mandolin and lead vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1966-06-20)
tenor vocals:
Hazel Dickens (on 1966-06-20)
live recording of:
Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (on 1966-06-20)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
2:38
24Kansas City Railroad Blues
guitar:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
3:02
25The Walls of Time
guitar and lead vocals:
Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer) (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
live recording of:
The Walls of Time (on 1965-09-05)
writer:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) and Peter Rowan (US bluegrass musician & composer)
4:11
26When He Reached Down His Hand for Me
banjo and baritone vocals:
Don Reno (bluegrass banjoist, Reno & Smiley member, father of Don Wayne Reno) (on 1965-09-05)
fiddle and bass vocals:
Benny Martin (bluegrass fiddler and guitar player) (on 1965-09-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Mac Wiseman (on 1965-09-05)
mandolin and tenor vocals:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1965-09-05)
recorded at:
Fincastle Bluegrass Festival 1965 (1965-09-03 – 1965-09-05)
2:49
27Monroe Family Segment: Paddy on the Turnpike / How Old Are You Pretty Little Miss? / He Will Set Your Fields on Fire / Durang's Hornpipe / I Know My Lord's Gonna Lead Me Out
fiddle:
Birch Monroe (on 1969-07-03)
guitar:
Charlie Monroe (on 1969-07-03)
mandolin:
Bill Monroe (“The Father of Bluegrass”) (on 1969-07-03)
recorded at:
Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, 1969 (1969-07-01 – 1969-07-06)
live partial recording of:
He Will Set Your Fields Afire (on 1969-07-03)
composer:
Wilbur Jones (“The Father of Bluegrass”)
live partial recording of:
Paddy on the Turnpike (on 1969-07-03)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
9:47