Clarence White and the Kentucky Colonels (Rounder 0098) was issued in 1980 and collects live recordings of the Kentucky Colonels, the band the White brothers formed in Burbank, California, in 1954. Joseph Robins produced the LP, and Russ Barenberg edited it and wrote the liner notes; the musician credits are noted as coming from Roland White.
Two lineups are heard. On one group of tracks, Clarence White on guitar and Roland White on mandolin are joined by Billy Ray Latham on banjo and Roger Bush on bass: “Alabama Jubilee,” “Billy in the Low Ground,” “Footprints in the Snow” and “Wildwood Flower.” Bush sings lead on “I Am a Pilgrim,” with Roland White on tenor and Clarence White on baritone, while Roland sings lead on “Footprints in the Snow.” Latham joined the band in 1957 and Bush in 1961, and both stayed until it disbanded in 1965.
The second side has a different rhythm section, with Bob Warford on banjo and Eric White on bass, the lineup that came together when the brothers reunited in 1966. It includes “Farewell Blues,” “Prisoner’s Song,” “Good Woman’s Love,” “Whitewashed Chimney” and “Teardrops in My Eyes,” with the White brothers sharing the vocals; “When You’re Smiling” features Clarence White on guitar alone.
Clarence White’s flatpicking is credited with helping make the acoustic guitar a lead instrument in bluegrass. He later joined the Byrds, and he died on July 15, 1973, in Palmdale, California, after a concert by the New Kentucky Colonels.
Tracklist
- 1 Alabama Jubilee alt version 2:52
- 2 I Am a Pilgrim alt version
- 3 Billy in the Low Ground alt version 2:43
- 4 Bury Me Beneath the Willow alt version 2:43
- 5 Footprints in the Snow alt version
- 6 Wildwood Flower alt version 4:26
- 7 Farewell Blues alt version 3:10
- 8 When you're smiling
- 9 Prisoner’s Song alt version 2:43
- 10 Good woman's love
- 11 Little White Washed Chimney alt version 2:27
- 12 Listen to the mocking bird
- 13 Teardrops in My Eyes alt version
