The First Whippoorwill cover

The First Whippoorwill

Peter Rowan

Album · 1985 · Sugar Hill SH 3749

Peter Rowan joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1964, and The First Whippoorwill, released on Sugar Hill (SH 3749) in 1985, is his album of Monroe songs. Ten of its twelve songs carry a Monroe credit, among them “I’m on My Way Back to the Old Home,” “It’s Mighty Dark to Travel,” “Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong” and the title song; the exceptions are “When the Golden Leaves Begin to Fall,” credited to A. Price, and “Boat of Love,” credited to James W. Smith. Monroe contributed a quotation for the sleeve notes.

Rowan plays lead and rhythm guitar and sings lead. The band is Alan O’Bryant on guitar and tenor vocals, Bill Keith on banjo, Sam Bush on mandolin and baritone vocals, Richard Greene on lead fiddle (and bass vocals on “Boat of Love”), Buddy Spicher on harmony fiddle and Roy Huskey Jr. on bass. Jim Rooney and Rowan produced the album, which was recorded at Jack Clement’s Cowboy Arms Hotel and Recording Spa in Nashville.

Tracklist

  1. 1 On My Way Back to the Old Home alt version 2:30
  2. 2 I’m Just a Used to Be alt version 2:07
  3. 3 I Believed in You Darling alt version 2:30
  4. 4 Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong alt version 3:31
  5. 5 When the Golden Leaves Begin to Fall alt version 3:52
  6. 6 I Was Left On The Street 2:50
  7. 7 Goodbye Old Pal alt version 2:20
  8. 8 When You Are Lonely alt version 2:51
  9. 9 The First Whippoorwill alt version 4:21
  10. 10 Sitting Alone in the Moonlight alt version 3:04
  11. 11 Boat Of Love 2:40
  12. 12 It’s Mighty Dark to Travel alt version 2:17

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