2017 - This set of exquisitely recorded live concerts of Doc & Merle Watson at The Boarding House in San Francisco is from 4 live shows recorded in 1974 by the legendary soundman Owsley Stanley. It contains 94 tracks on 7 CDs, including several rare tracks and songs played for the first/only time by Doc & Merle. This is the first box set of live concert recordings of Doc & Merle Watson and is the first release created by the Owsley Stanley Foundation, a non-profit established to preserve and steward Owsley’s legendary recordings, which are renowned for their quality and clarity. These performances have not been heard since the nights they were played more than 40 years ago and have been preserved and restored to the highest audiophile standards. Each night is distinctly brilliant and equally captivating – reflecting differences in the playing, sound recording techniques, and the energy in the room. This 7 CD set is packaged in a 5.5 inch wide x 5 inch high x 1.75 inch deep box, featuring 94 tracks, including extraordinary flatpicking of a broad range of music, from bluegrass to swing jazz to rockabilly to gut-bucket blues, and contemporary folk. The included 16 page booklet contains contemporaneous photographs of Doc & Merle as well as of “Old Hoss,” Doc’s first Gallagher guitar which he played from 1968-1974. Old Hoss was retired after this tour and is also featured in the cover art – an original poster by frequent Grateful Dead artist, Mike DuBois, based on a design by Bear’s son, Starfinder. Also included is a new in-depth interview with bassist T. Michael Coleman, who performs with Doc and Merle on these recordings, and an original essay by David Holt, 4-time GRAMMY winner and a longtime Doc Watson collaborator.
94 Songs
- CHAPTER 1: MAY 1, 1974 (REELS 038-040) - ONE DISC
- SALTY DOG BLUES
- DOC’S TALKING BLUES
- BLUE YODEL NO. 1 (T FOR TEXAS)
- MISS THE MISSISSIPPI & YOU
- WABASH CANNONBALL
- NANCY ROWLAND
- SOLID GONE
- TENNESSEE STUD
- FROSTY MORN
- MATCHBOX BLUES
- MAMA DON’T ALLOW NO MUSIC
- DEEP ELEM BLUES
- CHAPTER 2: MAY 2, 1974 (REELS 028-032) – TWO DISCS
- INTRODUCTION
- GOOD OLE MOUNTAIN DEW
- TRAVELLIN’ MAN
- MISS THE MISSISSIPPI & YOU
- WABASH CANNONBALL
- LEATHER BRITCHES/COTTON EYED JOE
- A ROVIN’ ON A WINTER’S NIGHT
- TENNESSEE STUD
- BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
- ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
- LOVE ME
- BLUE SUEDE SHOES
- SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
- LONESOME MOAN
- THE CLOUDS GWINE ROLL AWAY
- THREE TIMES SEVEN
- PEACH PICKIN’ TIME IN GEORGIA
- POOR BOY BLUES
- NANCY ROWLAND/SALT CREEK
- ALBERTA
- MOVIN’ ON
- SMOKE! SMOKE! SMOKE!
- WALK ON BOY
- NOTHIN’ TO IT
- BLUE RAILROAD TRAIN
- BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
- BEAUMONT RAG
- CHAPTER 3: MAY 3, 1974 (REELS 033-037) – TWO DISCS
- NEW RIVER TRAIN
- DOGGONE MY TIME
- PEACH PICKIN’ TIME IN GEORGIA
- POOR BOY BLUES
- NANCY ROWLAND/SALT CREEK
- ALBERTA
- NATURAL BORN GAMBLIN’ MAN
- DOC’S GUITAR
- MATCHBOX BLUES
- STREAMLINED CANNONBALL
- SUMMERTIME
- LOVE ME
- BLUE SUEDE SHOES
- MAMA DON’T ALLOW NO MUSIC
- FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE
- LIFE GETS TEEJUS DON’T IT
- MISS THE MISSISSIPPI & YOU
- WABASH CANNONBALL
- LEATHER BRITCHES/COTTON-EYED JOE
- BYE BYE BLUEBELL
- TENNESSEE STUD
- SOUTH COAST
- SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
- ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
- STEP IT UP & GO
- JAILHOUSE ROCK
- CHAPTER 4: MAY 4, 1974 (REELS 041-046) – TWO DISCS
- INTRODUCTION
- WAY DOWN TOWN
- BILLBOARD SONG
- BLUE YODEL NO. 1 (T FOR TEXAS)
- MISS THE MISSISSIPPI & YOU
- POOR BOY BLUES
- NANCY ROWLAND/OLD JOE CLARK
- CHICKEN ROAD
- THE LAST THING ON MY MIND
- SOLID GONE
- SOUTH COAST
- GOING DOWN THE ROAD FEELIN’ BAD
- SUMMERTIME
- LOVE ME
- JAILHOUSE ROCK
- HOUND DOG
- BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
- GAMBLER’S YODEL
- PEACH PICKIN’ TIME IN GEORGIA
- WABASH CANNONBALL
- BEAUMONT RAG
- IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW
- LOVESICK BLUES
- BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
- TENNESSEE STUD
- ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
- SHEIK OF ARABY
- STEP IT UP & GO
- MAMA DON’T ALLOW NO MUSIC
