Banjo Dan and the Mid-Nite Plowboys
Greener Pastures Records, Inc. (GPR 003) 1990

out of print, unavailable
You Left Me An You Went Away...
Honest, you don't really have to like every kind of music I do, but I'm not going to think much of you if you don't at least give bluegrass an honest ear. I'll certainly do the same for any music you particularly like.

I can understand why people might be put off by endless bluegrass songs about lost loves and errant wives, but is there anyone with ear so tin that he or she can't enjoy a fast bluegrass instrumental?

So, following my need to get as many people to enjoy things that I do. I've been watching for a bluegrass group which ought to be CDed. There's a little restaurant in Peterborough, NH, the Folkway, and for some reason it attracts many top name performers. That's where I heard Banjo Dan and his Mid-nite Plowboys. They had just the sound I was looking for.

Mind you, I had to sit through a lot of disappointing bluegrass groups before Dan came along. I'm patient. Then I had to try and work in the recording sessions between their gigs and trips to Russia. Would you believe it? Not only are there bluegrass fanatics in Russia, there are some darned good Russian bluegrass groups! I'll have to get over there some day and bring back some digital tapes so I can let you hear 'em. Dan brought me a cassette, so I know you'll like Russian bluegrass, too.

Give this group a listen and see why I'm excited. If you like it and want more, please let me know. If you don't like it, I don't want to hear about it, but I should anyway. Maybe I'll be able to analyze what went wrong in your life to leave you in such a deplorable condition. Tsk.

-Wayne Green

See also: Album notes by Banjo Dan with a great description of the group.

1. Katy Hill
   (Traditional)
   Rosin up the bow and away we go. David kicks out a lot of our concerts with this old favorite fiddle tune.
2. High on the Mountain
   (By Ola Belle Reed and Alex Campbell. Lead vocal - Pete; harmonies - Dan and David)
   Blues influences can be heard in several of our songs, and many bluegrass singers aspire to the "high lonesome" sound embodied in the music of Bill Monroe, Del McCoury and others. We think Pete does a great job on this mournful song.
3. Old Devil's Dream
   (By Thomas Goldsmith. Lead - Dan; tenor - Pete)
   There's an old fiddle tune called "Devil's Dream," but this ain't it. A clever writer came up with this title and wrote a great song about a former hell-raiser a bit past his prime. Dan and Pete sing it as a duet, but neither one has any idea what the lyrics are all about.
4. When We're Gone, Long Gone
   (By Jamie O'Hara and Kieran Kane. Lead - Al; harmonies - Dan and Pete)
   A modern love song from Nashville's O'Kanes, this one is a perfect vehicle for Big Al's smooth delivery, and is among our best-received songs at live shows.
5. Mighty Dark to Travel
   (By Bill Monroe. Lead and tenor - Pete; chorus lead - Dan; baritone - David)
   Like so many of Bill Monroe's songs, this is quintessential bluegrass. You got your driving banjo, mandolin and fiddle, your lead singer jumping up to a wailing tenor on the chorus, and your misery at 90 m.p.h. Gotta love it.
6. Some Broken Hearts Never Mend
   (By Wayland Holyfield. Lead - David; harmonies - Pete and Dan)
   The late Joe Val took this country song and turned it into a great bluegrass number. We do it our own way, but always dedicate it to the memory of New England's all-time bluegrass king.
7. Yukon Jack
   (By Dan Lindner)
   An original banjo tune that burst into BD's consciousness one day like flak in a marshmallow factory.
8. Montana Cowboy
   (By Ray Park. Vocal - Pete)
   Some of the greatest bluegrass has come from obscure or part-time bands. This minor classic is from the repertoire of Vern and Ray, a little-known band from years back that would totally blow away any of the slick latter-day outfits. Pete Riley, who was raised in Binghamton, New York, and has never been on a horse, breaks out his ten-gallon voice and does a number on this one.
9. So Far Alone
   (By Alan Davis. Lead - Al; tenor - Pete; baritone - David)
   A nice ballad by Al, in the good old country heartbreak tradition.
10. Hey Hey Hey
    (By Ralph and Carter Stanley. Lead - Dan; tenor - Pete)
    The lyric here is admittedly complex-the chorus actually goes "hey, hey, hey, hey," but why quibble? Banjo Dan always likes to pick and sing a Stanley Brothers song, and this one's a lot of fun.
11. Dusty Boxcar Wall
    (By Eric Andersen. Lead and tenor - Pete; chorus lead - Dan)
    The band took this haunting melody from a well-known folk singer, ran it through the Plowboy Processor, and came up with what we feel is a fine, moody bluegrass ballad.
12. Little Cabin Home in the Snow
    (By Alan Davis. Vocal - Al)
    A little-known passage in the U.S. Constitution proclaims that every bluegrass band must perform at least one "cabin" song. You know-"Blue Ridge Cabin Home," "Cabin of Love," "Little Cabin Home on the Hill." Violators risk the wrath of the Music Police. Big Al wrote this one, and he does a pretty good job of singing it around the bulge in his cheek. He doesn't chew tobacco, so could that be his tongue?
13. Karelia
    (By Dan Lindner)
    Take a break from the live wire proceedings and relax for a minute or two by a clear, cool lake in the far-northern land of Karelia. The muted banjo and lyrical fiddle lines will take you there.
14. Crossing the Caucasus
    (By Dan Lindner)
    Another original featuring the unpatented BD banjo mute, this one is designed to bring you back to the present reality-we're here to pick and sing and make the rafters ring.
15. Up on a Mountain
    (By David Gusakov. Lead - David; harmonies - Pete and Dan)
    This is David's first crack at songwriting, and you'd swear he had honed his craft for years. It was inspired by observation of some of the poor folks around Vermont, but could just as easily have been written about Appalachia.
16. Shine Hallelujah
    (By Bill Monroe, Lead - Dan; tenor - Pete; baritone - David; bass - Al)
    On every show the Plowboys sing at least one old-fashioned gospel song. This one was done by Monroe in his early days when Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs were in the band, though our version is influenced more by a Reno and Smiley recording featuring Don Reno's amazing guitar work.
17. Two O'Clock
    (Traditional)
    Fiddler Benny Martin used to feature this romper onstage with Flatt & Scruggs. David really tears into it with that old-time drive.
18. Night Rider's Lament
    (By Michael E. Burton. Lead vocal - Pete; backup vocals - Dan and David)
    A gentle song that sort of looks at the western scene from two perspectives. Beautifully sung and yodeled by Pete.
19. Say, Won't You Be Mine
    (By Carter Stanley. Lead - Dan; tenor - Pete)
    One of the finest examples of old-time bluegrass songwriting. The Stanley Brothers put it all in this one: the lonesome pine, the night birds crying, the mountain laurel, little darlin', and the childhood sweethearts.

Next album in discography: I'll Take the Hills (1987)

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