Clinch Mountain Echo

Curly Ray Cline - They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

(Rebel SLP 1509) 1971


They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree
Rear Cover Side One Side Two

Average Album Rating: 4
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This album was recorded on the 11-12th December 1971, after the band had finished recording The Old County Church, at Roy Homer's basement studio.

I reckon many will consider this one of Curly's best releases.

Consisting largely of a mix of fiddle tunes, it features just two Curly Ray vocal numbers: a version of The Delmore Brothers' Farmer's Girl; and the title track They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree. The latter is a catchy number recalling the sad tale of how they cut done the old pine tree to make a coffin for his sweetheart, who would never be alone 'in the grave tonight' because his heart would always be with her...

The album also has two breakdowns. Curly had previously recorded the excellent Lonesome Pine Breakdown with The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers for RCA Victor in 1953.[1] Then there's a version of Bill Monroe's Pike County Breakdown, which the Stanley Brothers had also performed but never recorded.[2] This version features Curly, Ricky, Keith and Ralph taking breaks. Great stuff!

Each LP side concludes neatly with a instrumental Gospel tune.

Curly had previously cut a version of Lost Girl on The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers LP 'More Bluegrass' (Starday SLP-222) 1963.

Track:
Title:
Side One:
(13:48)
1
They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree

Curly Ray Cline
2
Mississippi Sawyer

P.D.
3
Sweet Thing

Buddy Starcher
4
Lonesome Pine Breakdown

Curly Ray Cline
5
Lost Girl

Curly Ray Cline
6
Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Saviour

Fanny Jane Crosby
Side Two:
(13:42)
1
Farmer's Girl

Alton Delmore / Rabon Delmore
2
Sally Goodin

P.D.
3
Tennessee Waltz

Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart
4
Big Daddy Blues

Curly Ray Cline
5
Pike County Breakdown

Rupert Jones (Bill Monroe)
6
Precious Memories

Johnnie Wright

 


Go To Top Of Page [1] Liner notes to The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers - Windy Mountain CD (Bear BCD-16351-AH) 1992.
[2] Versions of Pike County Breakdown by The Stanley Brothers can be found on Stanley Series Vol. 3 No. 4; and V/A - Radio Series Vol. 4.