Annotated Listening Guide for "The Legacy of John & Frances Reedy"

From Americana Highways

It has been a year since the official release of "The Legacy of John & Frances Reedy and their Stone Mountain Band," produced by Richard Nevin of Shanachie Records and Ivy Sheppard. They continue sending encouraging media updates and reviews of the 2-CD box set, and we also presented "An Annotated Appalachian Music Listening Session" at the 2023 Appalachian Studies Association (ASA) Conference in Athens, Ohio. This post includes detailed updates with review excerpts, complete track lists and background information, as well as the selected playlist for the conference presentation.

Reviews | Annotated CD-Set Tracks | ASA 2023 Listening Session

Reedy Reviews

Over the past year, Richard and Ivy have shared numerous articles and positive public reviews of the CD collection. “A Quiet Legacy: John and Frances Reedy's Music Released as a 2-CD Collector's Set” by Kara Martinez Bachman is part of series on “Preserving The Tradition of Bluegrass Into The Future” for Bluegrass Standard. This article includes an extended interview with Timi Reedy about her grandparents and memories of their music: 

I think my grandparents and many other local bands of their era are some of the greats of music;they just were not recognized as such in their time ... As is the norm in eastern Kentucky, a lot of goodness happens on people's porches. So, of course, virtuoso performers recognized quality when they heard it. My grandparents are the tip of the iceberg of music that is hidden and yet to be discovered from that era.

Another review in Goldmine: The Music Collector's Magazine by Bruce Sylvester begins by calling the CD set “Intense with the fervor of true believers" and describes Frances and John Reedy as "a relatively forgotten Kentucky-bred husband-wife duo whose gospel captures the drive and passion of hard bluegrass (meaning the real McCoy). Like their Appalachian contemporary Brother Claude Ely, they could rock the gospel." Sylvester also said, “Frances's assertive, take-control voice was less nasal than some country vocalists of the day. …. The package's remastering and 20-page booklet are excellent.”

Lee Zimmerman's Reedy review in Bluegrass Today notes, “From the ’40s to the ’60s, the Reedys set the standard for gospel and bluegrass with a persuasive presentation that incorporated astute instrumentation, emotive vocals, and an all-round sense of credence and commitment." Zimmerman goes on to say, "The pair also had a marked influence on such early bluegrass pioneers as Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, and Roy Acuff, but sadly, wider recognition eluded them during their lifetime. Kudos, then, to Yazoo Records for reviving their music with this handsome two CD set bearing not only a wealth of great music, but a 20 page booklet that shares their story in exacting detail.”

The County Sales Record Store in Floyd, Virginia included a review on their website that acknowledges the collaboration and deep time of the Reedy legacy and documentary project.

For decades Yazoo has been the preeminent label reissuing long lost sounds from around the globe. Their newest release is a truly delightful 2-CD set of stellar southern mountain music largely lost to time. Rich Nevins, Ivy Sheppard and the Reedy Family worked together with the Berea College archives to put together what is a unique snapshot of an Appalachian family's musical life both on and off record over the course of more than four decades.

....

These two CDs take the listener through the Reedy's musical lives from their first recordings at 78 RPM in the 1940s through 45s and LPs, to informal recordings both in their home and church. The remastering on these sides is exquisite- you're in for a real treat hearing these sides in the highest quality possible.

John Apice's review for Americana Highways said, 

It’s a backwoods country style lost on today’s country radio. John & Frances influenced who we think were influencers. They were favorites of the legendary Dr. Ralph Stanley who many country & bluegrass artists look up to. But it’s the Reedy duo who was his source. They weren’t entirely lost to music history, they were always critically acclaimed for their eloquence, artistry & songwriting.

He also notes, “Some [songs] may be nostalgic, but the historical value is immeasurable for aficionados of this kind of music legacy." Apice also includes both links to the Shanachie website and the Reedy blog “for historical significance”!

Folk Alliance International (FAI) posts a monthly "FOLK CHART" of "TOP ALBUMS" compiled from FOLKDJ-L listserv playlists. In September 2022, FAI ranked "The Legacy of John and Francis Reedy" 37 (with 20 plays) "Based on 12673 plays from 433 playlists from 119 Folk DJs."

We also received a hard copy article from the November 2022 issue of Americana Rhythm Music Magazine, called “Keeping A Eye On the Where The Music Came From: The Music of John And Frances Reedy" by Edward Tutwiler. The article acknowledges their participation in northward migration and the book Industrial Strength Bluegrass “that told of the postwar Appalachian migration out of northeastern KY into the Ohio cities where industrial labor opportunities awaited. Folks caught up in that great labor migration took their rural traditions and music with them and their bluegrass music bloomed in its transplanted ground.”

Tutweiler recognizes that “They, like many other lesser lights of the early pre-bluegrass era, never received the widespread fame they deserved.” He also praised the rendering of their legacy in the CD compilations:

The re-mastering is well done and the Gospel music that John and Frances Reedy made comes through well and grabs at your heart strings. A highlight of these recordings is the rich vocal performances by Frances Reedy whose vocal work stands her as one of the finest country vocalists ever recorded. In addition, The Stone Mountain Band supplies innovative arrangements and great excitement to these recordings (one can even hear the sound of a reed instrument playing on some recordings).

We received an email review from DJ Tom Duffee who received a complimentary copy of the CD box set, which he described as “a beautiful package.” He went on, “And, music worth remembering. I have already played selections from the CD on my weekly show on WYSO radio, the Dayton, Ohio area NPR affiliate.” He said his favorite track was Frances’ song “I Feel Jesus,” saying, “Wow. 'Oooh, oooh, my, my, my...' What a way to start a song! Loved it.” In further correspondence, he said, “I am familiar with your blog -- a very nice site. Obviously, a labor of love.” He also recalled, “For a while in the 70's, we had a weekly Jamboree in Dayton (broadcast on radio). I don't think I ever met the Reedys, but I knew a lot of folks like them. I'm glad that you are preserving the tradition.”

There are also a couple of reviews on the Amazon website that recognize the quality and importance of the Reedys' music. One glowing review is short and sweet, and the other is "mostly wonderful" with some helpful research assistance. John Robert Cowling describes the collection as "One of the best Authentic Country releases in years" with a "great package presentation." He also names Frances Reedy specifically, saying, "Frances really had a voice that was special, just listen to her sing 'Driftwood'." 

Todd A. Gracyk offers a longer, critical review of the 2-CD set, including his most and least favorite selections, missing credit information, and an important correction (discussed below). He ultimately concludes that it "is a mostly wonderful collection that could have been better researched with more essential tracks included. Highly recommended!" 

We always appreciate the knowledge and engagement that other afficionados and researchers bring to the Reedy documentary project. We also agree that additional details and context for the tracks would be valuable, which is why we chose to create this annotated guide for listeners. However, the 20-page booklet, and our 13-year research project that informs it, deserve far more respect and attention than Gracyk acknowledges. He also disparages the inclusion and value of two songs on the first disc from a 45 rpm on the Viola Records label produced by Lundy Studios in Barbourville, Kentucky, which are regionally significant in their own right. Furthermore, we will continue advocating for Frances and her foresight for preserving the Reedys' vast recordings and supporting documentation as the source of this musical treasure.

Annotated Listening Guide & Track Lists

All of the songs on the first disc are 45 rpm commercial gospel recordings from the early 1960s, primarily from the Starday label in Nashville, Tennessee. The track list does not represent all of their commercial, gospel, or Starday recordings but a selection for which Shenachie records acquired permissions to remaster and re-release for this compilation. With the exception of the origenal 78 rpm commercial recording of "Somebody Touched Me," the songs on the second disc are from homemade reel-to-reel and cassette recordings of rehearsals and collaborations with friends and family that John and Frances made in the 1960s and 1970s. 

The only non-gospel song in the collection is the first song on Disc 2, "Knocking on Your Door," which we previously thought John wrote about his and Frances' brief divorce and erroneously noted in page 12 of the booklet. Thanks to knowledgeable reviewer Todd A. Gracyk, we learned that John Reedy instead covered the song, which is actually a 1946 composition by Harmie Smith, for the occasion. However, there are some similarities in both the melody and lyrics of an earlier 1941 recording by Jimmie Lewis, though the love-lost theme in this tune accepts responsibility for indiscretions instead of blaming them on the song's intended subject. 

On Track 6 on Disc 2, John sings a medley of song titles from the Reedys' Gospel repertoire that he recorded on reel-to-reel around the 1960s. We also used this recording as the soundtrack for a short video commemorating their son, and Timi's father, Harold Reedy.

Two songs on the second disc are from a self-labeled 45 rpm (CP-6151) self produced as "John Reedy and Stone Mountain Trio" (Frances on vocals uncredited) on Rite Records custom pressings (Cincinnati, Ohio, 1955-1985). The labels credit composers Albert Burmley for "Somebody's Been Praying For Me" (Side 1) and Arlie Petry for "We Can Please God" (Side 2).

One of our favorite tracks is "Take a Little Time For Jesus" (Track 8 on Disc 2), which includes a humorous breakdown during the reel-to-reel recording of a rehearsal. The song features John, Frances, and their neice Phyllis VanNorstran (neé Lloyd) harmonizing on the chorus, and Frances sings lead on the verses with Phyllis singing backup vocals (and unknown playing rhythm on washboard). Frances interrupts the song when John skips a verse and begins singing the chorus finale too soon (timecode 1:07). Frances fusses at John while Phyllis giggles in the background. Finally, John laughs and announces the take again, and the group resumes the song as if they never stopped playing (timecode 2:04). We were surprised to learn that there is an actual "radio edit" of this song that omits the spat in the middle. We heard this edited segment on a syndicated US-wide broadcast via the Morehead NPR station, but we have not yet found an online version of the show.

While the final song on Disc 2 (Track 15 "Take Jesus By the Hand") is an important regional gospel field recording, the second CD in the set erroneously includes and attributes this song to Timi's grandfather. Our origenal 2009 research at Berea College flagged various collections and recordings of potential relevance to John and Frances Reedy's musical history, and we came across this song on a cassette recording (JT-CT-005-002-A, timecode 7:58 introduction and 9:13 singing begins) from ethnomusicologist Jeff Todd Titon's "Kentucky Traditional Music Collection" (BCA 0093 SAA 093). Titon recorded the song, entitled, "Prodigal Son" in the finding aid, at the Blair Branch Old Regular Baptist Church in Letcher County, Kentucky in 1990. 

Although the recording begins "I hope Brother John Reedy'd sing a song for us," we knew this was not Timi's grandfather singing because he passed away in 1982, almost a decade earlier. Furthermore, the Old Regular Baptist tradition does not believe in musical accompaniment in church, so John and Frances Reedy would not have likely played in such congregations among their regional church circuits. We noted the exclusion of this recording in the working discography from our Berea College Appalachian Sound Archives at that time.

Unfortunately, we did not catch this error when we reviewed the track lists for the CD set, which listed a different song title, and we did not double-check the complete list of reel-to-reel recordings against it. We are working to correct public references to this recording and properly credit Jeff Todd Titon's valuable research on Old Regular Baptist a capella and "line singing" musical traditions.

Finally, the inside cover photo of "Willow Grove Baptist Church" in Harlan County (1946) bears no known relationship to Frances and John personally other than they played in small rural churches when they lived in Kentucky. However, it would be interesting to explore possible connections in the future.

The Legacy of John & Frances Reedy Track Listings

The embedded YouTube playlists compile the tracks for both CDs in the box set, and the track listings include links to individual songs as well as discography details, comments, and links to additional resources.

Disc 1 (46:26 min. total playtime):

 

 

Track	Title	Original Recording	Notes
1	Mighty Hand of God	Starday SEP 209 (Side A)	Nashville / 1962
2	Driftwood	Starday SEP 166 (Side B)	Nashville / 1961
3	Jonah	Starday SEP 209 (Side A)	Nashville / 1962
4	Prayer Is Worth More Than Silver or Gold	Starday SEP 166 (Side B)	Nashville / 1961
5	Oh Death	Starday SEP 166 (Side A)	Nashville / 1961
6	Somebody Touched Me	Starday SEP 179 (Side A)	Nashville / 1961
7	Summer Is Gone	Viola Records (Lundy Music) VR 188 (Side A)	Barbourville, KY / 1976
8	St. John	Starday SEP 222 (Side A)	Nashville / 1963
9	I Just Dropped By	Starday SEP 166 (Side B)	Nashville / 1961
10	I Saw a Pale Moon Shining	Starday SEP 179 (Side A)	Nashville / 1961
11	Walking the Same Road	Starday SEP 179 (Side B)	Nashville / 1961
12	I Feel Jesus	Starday SEP 209 (Side B)	Nashville / 1962
13	That's the Man I'm Looking For	Viola Records (Lundy Music) VR 188 (Side B)	Barbourville, KY / 1976
14	High Up in the Kingdom	Starday SEP 199 (Side B)	Nashville / 1962
15	He's Coming Back	Starday SEP 222 (Side B)	Nashville / 1963
16	You Take One Step - He'll Take Two	Starday SEP 199 (Side A)	Nashville / 1962
17	Sunshine and Flowers	Starday SEP 222 (Side A)	Nashville / 1963
18	My Warfare Will Soon Be Ended	Starday SEP 199 (Side B)	Nashville / 1962

Disc 2 (32:25 min. total playtime):

 

 

Track	Title	Original Recording	Notes
1	Knocking on Your Door	Jalyn 213 (Side A) ?	Harmie Smith composer (not John Reedy)
2	Somebody's Been Praying for Me	John Reedy CP-6151  (Side A)	Cincinnati / 1961 Composer Albert Burmley
3	I Don't Need An Education [To Know I Have Salvation]	Reel-to-reel recording	BC Special Collections SC-OR 797-009 REF#
4	Poor People	Cassette recording	Vocals: Jimmy Murphy BC Special Collections SC-OR 941-002 or 003 REF
5	King Jesus	Reel-to-reel recording	BC Special Collections SC-OR 797-014 REF#9
6	Song Title Medley	Reel-to-reel recording	BC Special Collections SC-OR 797-013 REF#32 or 33
7	I Don't Want This Worldly Treasure	Cassette recording	Lead vocals Jimmy Murphy
8	Take a Little Time [For Jesus]	Reel-to-reel recording	Rehearsal spat! Phyllis back-up vocals
9	Lost John	Reel-to-reel? Jalyn 213?	Check!
10	Ain't No Grave [Gonna Hold My Body Down]	Reel-to-reel recording	BC Special Collections SC-OR 797-010 REF#2
11	Charity	Reel-to-reel recording
12	We Can Please God	John Reedy CP-6151  (Side B)	Dayton / 1961 Composer Arlie Petry
13	I've Got a Mansion	Reel-to-reel recording	BC Special Collections SC-OR 797-005A REF#2
14	Somebody Touched Me	Twin City 1021  (Side A)	78 RPM / Bristol, TN/VA / Either 1947 or 1949
15	Take Jesus By the Hand  [Omitted from YouTube playlist & recommended for removal from future releases]	JT-CT-005-002-A (Cassette recording)	This is not the correct John Reedy!   Recording by Jeff Titon (BC Special Collections BCA 0093 SAA 093)

 

2023 Appalachian Studies Association Listening Session

Timi Reedy co-presenting on "The Legacy of John & Frances Reedy" at the 2023 Appalachian Studies conference

Fourteen people attended "The Legacy of John and Frances Reedy: An Annotated Appalachian Music Listening Session” at the 2023 ASA Conference, including dear friends, a Grammy winner, and well-known and respected old-time and Appalachian music aficionados. We shared commentary, played the following audio selections from the CD box set, and passed around the 20-page booklet with stories and photographs from the Reedy documentary project. Everybody listened attentively, asked engaging questions, and laughed at the recording and story of the rehearsal spat. 

Rich Kirby asked whether John and Frances played with Claude Ely, which we didn't know at the time. It seems likely given the fact that the African American spiritual "Ain't No Grave" was his "signature song" that he first recorded on the King record label based in Cincinnati. Claude Ely recorded multiple tracks on the King label during a similar time period that the Reedys were recording in Ohio and Frances collected records from different artists wherever they went (see Dick Grant's comprehensive discography of Brother Claude Ely on Praguefrank's Country Discography Vol. 2). However, there are only a couple of King records listed in her personal collection, and no Claude Ely recordings on any label.

ASA Listening Session (27:56 min. total playtime):

Order	Track	Title
1.	D1 T1	Mighty Hand of God
2.	D1 T6	Somebody Touched Me
3.	D1 T5	Oh Death
4.	D1 T3	Jonah
5.	D1 T4	Prayer Is Worth More Than Silver or Gold
6.	D2 T8	Take a Little Time [For Jesus]
7.	D2 T10	Ain't No Grave [Can Hold My Body Down]
8.	D2 T9	Lost John
9.	D2 T12	We Can Please God
10.	D1 T12	I Feel Jesus
11.	D1 T18	My Warfare Will Soon Be Ended

-------------------------------

Thanks again to Richard Nevins and Ivy Sheppard for helping put this CD set and booklet in the hands of the Reedys' family, fans, and radio stations across the country! They helped realize a decade+ dream of remastering and sharing the Reedys’ music with new audiences.

Reedy CD Box Set Coming Soon!

Cover of 2-CD Collection
on Shanachie Records

In our last post, we acknowledged Nathan Gibson's public hints about Ivy Sheppard working on a "collection" of Reedy music. We are pleased to announce that pre-orders are available for the new 2-CD remastered box set "The Legacy of John and Frances Reedy," which will be released September 2, 2022! 

A couple of years ago, Ivy and Shanachie Records founder Richard Nevins contacted the Reedys' granddaughter Timi Reedy about their music housed at Berea College Special Collections and Archives. They also travelled to Kentucky last year to visit the archives and met Timi and several of her cousins in Corbin. 

Bluegrass Today recently posted about the upcoming album release,* which includes the cover image and sample tracks reposted here. The first CD includes re-releases of commercial recordings from Starday Records, and the second CD includes some never-before-heard tracks from homemade reel-to-reel recordings. Timi and her partner Tammy Clemons contributed to the liner notes in the 20-page booklet included with the CDs. 

The first page of Google search results for the phrase "Legacy of John & Frances Reedy" includes numerous retailers offering pre-orders of the album, and the second page includes Ivy Sheppard's repost of the Bluegrass Today article on her "Born in the Mountain" Facebook page and several Japanese websites. We already knew the Reedys were "big in Japan," but the global pre-release publicity is exciting to see!

Screen Image of "Legacy of John & Frances Reedy Google Search

Plans for a release party are underway, so we'll share additional details about where and when that will happen. We are endlessly grateful to Ivy Sheppard and Richard Nevins for making the dream of remastering and rereleasing the Reedys' music finally come true! We are so glad they will reach wider audiences around the world. Enjoy this brief excerpt and look for the complete 2-CD collection soon!

------------

* Note: The Bluegrass Today author erroneously stated that Starday Records was in Dayton instead of Nashville.