(Pinecastle PRC-1157) 2006
Although Jack Cooke a spent about 39 years as a CMB, this was his sole 'solo' album.
Produced by Jim Lauderdale, it was recorded at Maggard Studios in Big Stone Gap, Va; Moondog Studio in Nashville, Tn; and the Jeff Sterling Studio in Pengrove, Ca. No recording dates are given, but as Todd Meade plays on some tracks and Dewey Brown took over on fiddle in the Summer of 2005, it seems likely to have been recorded around that time.
In Ralph's concerts, space was always given for 'Cookie' to belt out a classic traditional bluegrass or Bill Monroe number, and this collection contains many of the tunes he would often perform on stage with the band.
Jack would I guess have been about 68 years old when the album was cut, and his vocals show some 'wear and tear', but fans of the band will want to grab a copy regardless.
Backing is broadly split between the CMB's and Del McCoury's band, with a few guest vocalists.
Jim Lauderdale also wrote That's How The Cookie Crumbled especially for the project.[1]
The two bonus tracks are from an October 1963 session by Jack Cooke and The Virginia Mountain Boys at Ark Recording Studios in Cincinnati, Oh. Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey had originally been released as the 'A'-side of End Of My Journey/New Cripple Creek (Ark 299) c1964; and I've Always Been A Rambler the 'A'-side of I've Always Been A Rambler/Virginia (Mountain) Banjo (Gambler 1641) c1966. It's a shame that the two instrumental 'B'-sides weren't also included... The 'Ark' 45 was reissued by King Bluegrass in 1973 (King Bluegrass 407), and you can hear a sales pitch for it on the Live At The Smithsonian Institution Vol. 2 CD.
On bonus tracks: (14-15)
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
CD: |
(38:20) |
1 |
Gotta Travel On |
Paul Clayton / Larry Ehrlich / David Lazar / Tom Six |
|
2 |
I'm Walking The Dog |
Cliff Grimsley / Tex Grimsley |
|
3 |
That's How The Cookie Crumbles |
Jim Lauderdale |
|
4 |
Let's All Go Down To The River |
P.D. |
|
5 |
North To Alaska |
Johnny Horton / Tillman Franks |
|
6 |
Dark Hollow |
Bill Browning |
|
7 |
Long Black Veil |
Danny Dill / Marijohn Wilkin |
|
8 |
My Little Georgia Rose |
Bill Monroe |
|
9 |
On And On |
Bill Monroe |
|
10 |
Sittin' On Top Of The World |
Lonnie Chatmon / Walter Vinson |
|
11 |
Seven Year Blues |
Ira Louvin / Charlie Louvin |
|
12 |
There's A Higher Power |
Ira Louvin / Charlie Louvin |
|
13 |
Sugar Coated Love |
Audrey Butler |
|
14 |
Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey |
P.D. |
|
15 |
I've Always Been A Rambler |
P.D. |