THE FOSSILS: THE FOSSIL RECORD
VRCD 348
The Musicians:
Doug Bright - Lead and Harmony Vocals, Mandolin, Fiddle
Barry Brower - Lead and Harmony Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Belle Chenault - Lead and Harmony Vocals, Acoustic Bass
Bill Scott - Lead and Harmony Vocals, Banjo, Lead Guitar
Guest: Vivian Williams - Fiddle
The Fossil Evidence - In 1993 I was casting about to ut together
a bluegrass band based on principles of what I like to call the "Monroe Formula"
- relating to the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. It seemed as if many newer
bands were drifting away from his approach, and others said the music couldn't
remain vital within a purely traditional context. By contrast, I've always felt
that there was plenty of room to move and create within the framework pioneered
by Bill Monroe. I set about to do it with The Fossils. We're
mostly no southerners ('ceptin' Belle), but we have tried to stick closely to
the Monroe tradition while importing elements of 50s country as well as oldtime
music forms. We hope you appreciate and enjoy our efforts (by the way, it doesn't
take much to be a fossil, but once you are...you're history). - Barry Brower
The Fossil Record
1) Dreaming This classic duet was originally recorded by an obscure group, the Kentucky Travelers. We sped the piece up somewhat and added an instrumental call-and-response in the last break. Barry - lead; Belle - tenor
2) Bye Bye Love A 1957 classic from the Everly Brothers. I always felt this would make a good bluegrass song. Doug adds some perfect retro touches, such as the chordal mandolin fills in the chorus. Doug - lead; Belle - tenor; Barry - baritone
3) Lost In This World Without You An original song that lay fallow for many years. Then I played it for the group at a rehearsal and they liked it. I hop you do, too. The twin fiddles really bring this song out, I think. Barry - lead
4) Going Down A piece from the Rose Maddox repertoire. Belle and Doug do a bang-up job on the vocals, and Belle's bass playing is right on the money. We threw in a little instrumental curve ball just for the fun of it. Belle - lead; Doug - baritone
5) The Bells of St. Mary's Bill gets to honor his favorite banjo player, Don Reno, here. Bill's ability to recreate the tone, feeling, and spirit of the innovative Reno is uncanny. Listen for the "chimes" and tuner twists in the second banjo break.
6) Sweethearts in Heaven A classic from the repertoire of Reno & Smiley. We feel the original version stands on its own merit and so we have stuck to a basic re-creation of the song. Doug displays his amazing ability to play backup fiddle while he sings, and Don Reno lives again in Bill's banjo break. Doug - lead; Belle - tenor
7) Winter Blues This is the first piece I wrote, in 1977, and represents its debut recording. The term "winter blues" has since become associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), where the therapy often involves providing the patient more sunlight. This piece was written in California so I don't think that was the problem! Barry - lead; Belle - tenor; Doug - baritone
8) I'll Take a Chance on Loving You Doug does a great job of digging up obscure country material for The Fossils such as this piece which was recorded by Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens in the 1960s. Doug rises and shines on country vocals, as is evidenced here. Doug - lead; Belle - tenor
9) My Carolina Darlin' In Washington state there is a large contingent of Tarheels - settlers who came from North Carolina in the 1940s and 50s. Many of them live in the town of Darrington, which is also the site of an annual bluegrass festival. This song was written with them in mind, and dedicated to them. Barry - lead; Belle - high baritone; Doug - tenor
10) Roses in the Snow Most people think of Emmy Lou Harris when they hear this piece, but she learned it from the classic recording made by Delia Bell. We patterned our version after Delia's, with the addition of twin fiddles and harmony vocals. Belle - lead; Doug - baritone
11) Hickory Hollow An under-recorded Dillards instrumental that Bill suggested. Bill and Doug really rip and snort on this one.
12) Lamplighting Time in the Valley Doug checks in on this ancient standard. It's a good piece at about any pace, but we settled on a slightly upbeat version. One of Doug's strengths as a musician is his sensitivity to the individual requirements of a given sone. In this one, take note of his oldtime-flavored mandolin breaks. Doug - lead; Belle - tenor; Barry - baritone
13) Time Nor Tide Doug and I are both big fans of the late country and bluegrass singer Rose Maddox. As well, we wanted to get Belle some lesser-known material from early country music singers. Doug found this song in a collection the Maddox Brothers and Rose. He also provides the perfect country fiddle for this piece. Belle - lead; Doug - baritone
14) Country Boy Rock n' Roll When rock & roll burst on the scene in the 1950s many bluegrass groups struggled to adapt. Some tried recording rock-oriented songs, mostly without financial or artistic success. This is one piece that really worked - at least artistically. Bill does some superb flat-picking on the Reno & Smiley classic. Bill - vocals
15) Gone Home This Carlisle Brothers piece has always been a favorite of mine. I was singing it for a church audience at the very moment my mother started down the pathway to the other side. I could not have asked for a better mom and I dedicate this song to her. Bill's lovely finger-picked guitar makes this piece stand out. Barry - lead; Belle - tenor; Bill - baritone; Doug - bass
16) Can the Circle be Unbroken? Generally known as "will the
Circle be Unbroken," we have recorded a separate, distinct version I learned
from a 1936 Monroe Brothers recording. We decided to totle it as they did. I
think this is the original version, possibly written in the 1800s. I have also
heard it on a 1920s, non-country recording. Barry - lead; Belle - tenor; Doug
- baritone
Fossilologists
Recorded at Voyager Studios, Seattle, Washington, January - March, 1999. Producers: Harley Bray & Phil Williams. Engineer: Phil Williams. Mixing and mastering: Barry Brower. Artwork: Valerie Byram. B/W photo: "Images by Edy." Notes: Barry Brower.
The Fossils: fossil@wiredweb.com (425) 259-6984
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