Sold Date: January 29, 2023
Start Date: January 19, 2023
Final Price: $28.50 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 2591
Buyer Feedback: 0

This was Doc Watson’s FIRST recording. “Old Time Music At Clarence Ashley’s” was released in 1961 by Folkways Records (#FA-2355). It is still in the original shrink wrap but opened because I have played the record. I am the original owner. (The price tag is still on the front from when I purchased it for $4.57 at Discount Record Center.) The LP is in the original paper sleeve. Inside is the original 12” square of thin cardboard. Also the original 12 page illustrated insert “edited and annotated by Ralph & Richard Rinzler with a discography by Eugene Earle.” The insert (about 11” x 8 ½”) has a foreword, bios of the musicians (Gaither Wiley Carlton, William Clinton Howard, Samuel Johnson, “Fiddlin’ ” Fred Price, and Arthel “Doc” L. Watson. No bio for “Little Tommy Moore” but he sings on several songs.) An amazingly rich write up on each song; bibliography and discography; and finally, the lyrics to the songs. IT’S ALL HERE!!! (See photos and scans.) If you love old time (traditional, roots, etc.) music and don’t have this record, now is your chance. The photo on the cover shows what the music sounds like!!!!  

BACKGROUND: In 1960, Smithsonian historian Ralph Rinzler convinced the virtually unknown Clarence “Tom” Ashley, Doc Watson, Gather Carlton, Jack Johnson, Fred Price and Clint Howard to walk into the studio and record their mountain heritage music. Ralph Rinzler met Clarence at an Old Time Fiddler’s Convention. Ashley hadn’t played banjo for many years, but Ralph convinced him to pick it back up again and record it. Doc Watson didn’t own an acoustic guitar at the time. He had been playing in a rockabilly band playing square dances and the like. Doc honed his instrumental skills playing fiddle tunes on the guitar. Doc told me that the square dance bands he played in did not have a fiddle player so he played the tune as the fiddle would. This combination of Clarence on banjo and Doc on guitar and banjo, along with Fred Price and Gaither Carlton on fiddle, make an old-time band that is authentic and powerful.

Seventeen songs make up this collection, of which T. Clarence Ashley wrote nine. It seems odd that he would credit the song as being by T.C. Ashley. He would credit his singing as Tom Ashley. Doc would credit him as Clarence throughout Doc’s long career. I’ve heard Doc mention Clarence on many

occasions.

These are the original tracks to this classic “Old Time” recording. It was recorded in Shouns, Tennessee; Saltville, Virginia; and Deep Gap, North Carolina. There was a second project released of the same title with 20 additional tracks. The importance of this original volume is that these are the

tracks that the musicians wanted included and thought most important.

The track list and players:

A1 “Sally Ann”--Clint Howard, Doc Watson, Fred Price, Jack Johnson, Tommy Moore

A2 “Old Ruben”--Doc Watson, Gaither Carlton

A3 “East Tennessee Blues”--Fred Price, Clint Howard (Written by T.C. Ashley)

A4 “Claude Allen”--Tom Ashley, Doc Watson (Written by T.C. Ashley)

A5 “Richmond Blues”--Clint Howard, Fred Price (Written by T. C. Ashley)

A6 “Skillet Good and Greasy”--Doc Watson, Ralph Rinzler

A7 “The Old Man At The Mill”--Clint Howard, Fred Price, Doc Watson (Written by T.C. Ashley)

A8 “The Haunted Woods”--Eva Ashley Moore (Written by T. C. Ashley)

A9 “Footprints in The Snow”--Clint Howard, Fred Price, Doc Watson, Jack Johnson (Written by Carlisle)

B1 “I'm Going Back to Jericho”--Doc Watson, Gaither Carlton, Ralph Rinzler

B2 “Maggie Walker Blues”--Clint Howard, Fred Price, Doc Watson (Written by T.C. Ashley)

B3 “God's Gonna Ease My Troublin' Mind”--Tom Ashley, Doc Watson (Written by T.C. Ashley)

B4 “Handsome Molly”--Doc Watson, Gaither Carlton

B5 “The Louisiana Earthquake”--Stella Gilbert (Written by T.C. Ashley)

B6 “Honey Babe Blues”--Clarence Ashley, Doc Watson, Clint Howard, Fred Price, Jack Johnson (Written by T.C. Ashley)

B7 “True Lovers”--Tommy Moore, Doc Watson, Clint Howard, Fred Price

B8 “Pretty Little Pink”--Clint Howard, Doc Watson, Fred Price, Jack Johnson, Tommy Moore

GENERAL:  Please ask any questions and know what you are buying before you bid. I am very happy to send additional information or photographs to potential bidders.  All items are sold "As Is". If you are satisfied with our transaction, please take a moment to leave Positive Feedback. Thanks!