California Blues (RCA Victor LSP 4431, 1971) is a studio album from the Stoneman Family, recorded during the group's RCA Victor contract period with a core lineup that emphasizes the siblings' collective vocal identity over the fiddle showmanship of their earlier records. Donna Stoneman plays mandolin and sings; Jimmy Stoneman holds the bass and sings; Patsy Stoneman plays autoharp and sings; and Van Stoneman plays guitar and sings. The album continues the Stonemans' strategy of mixing traditional country and bluegrass material with contemporary pieces, a deliberate effort to maintain commercial viability on RCA while preserving the family ensemble identity that had sustained their performing career since the folk revival's rediscovery of their tradition in the 1950s.
Tracklist
- 1 California blues (Blue yodel #4) 3:04
- 2 Looks like baby's gone 3:23
- 3 Doesn't anybody know my name 2:58
- 4 Best guitar picker 2:56
- 5 Jimmy's thing 2:22
- 6 Railroad Bill alt version 3:08
- 7 Little old log cabin in the lane 3:27
- 8 Shades of yesterday 2:21
- 9 I take a lot of pride in what I am 2:30
- 10 Turner's Turnpike 2:38
