The Easterners - Echoes Of The Bonnie & Clyde Era

(Vetco LP-3003) 1968

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After the success of Warren Beatty's 'Bonnie and Clyde' film in 1967, which featured Flatt & Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Breakdown, there was a spate of 'cash-in' releases including Flatt & Scruggs' 'The Story of Bonnie & Clyde' LP; Jimmie Skinner's Story Of Bonnie & Clyde; and The Bluegrass Banjo Pickers 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown And Other Music From The Bonnie & Clyde Era'; even Ralph cut the clawhammer instrumental Bonnie And Clyde's Hop on his 1968 Old Time Music album.

The Easterner's release, features mostly shortened versions of standards in the public domain, and despite having Roy Lee featured on the rear sleeve it turns out that he doesn't actually play or sing on the album!

According to Jon Weisberger:- "(This)... is a Jim McCall and Vernon McIntyre Jr. album. Jim and Vernon had a falling out that resulted in Jim's name and photo being deleted and Roy Lee's name and photo substituted. Also, Liz McIntyre, credited with bass, didn't play on the album; the electric bass was recorded by the late Aubrey Holt of the Boys From Indiana. "A Heart That Was Broken" was also a Jim & Vernon record. In fact, I'm not convinced that the Easterners were ever an actual band, I think it was basically a name generated to cover for the erasure of Jim's name, although Vernon may have used it as a sort of generic band name until he resumed using Appalachian Grass later in the 70s."

In addition, the Easterners LP was later reissued in exact same form as by Jim McCall - "Pickin' And Singin'" (Vetco 3010) 1972, but without listing any personnel.

Given Roy Lee's supposed involvement, original copies of this album are nowadays quite expensive and difficult to find... although digital copies are out there on the internet.

Roy did however play with the personnel listed on the LP cover, as a band photograph from 4th July 1967 shows.

The Easterners single, which Jon refers to:- A Heart That Was Broken / A Good Woman's Love (Vetco 80909) 196?, features Jim McCall on lead vocal, with Vernon McIntyre and Fred Spencer. A Heart That Was Broken was also later re-recorded on the 1972 "Presenting Jim McCall, Vernon McIntyre And The Appalachian Grass" LP (Vetco LP-3012) 1972, credited to Jim McCall.

Vernon McIntyre also played banjo with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys, Jimmy Martin, and later recorded a few albums with Jim McCall and Appalachian Grass. Jim McCall, of course, also helped out on Ralph's Brand New Country Songs and Hills Of Home albums.

Thanks to Steve Wisner and Jon Weisberger for the additonal info / corrections. And to Urban Haglund for the 1967 photo.

(Incorrect) Personnel as listed on the LP sleeve:

• Roy Lee Centers: guitar
• Elizabeth McIntyre: electric bass
• Vernon McIntyre: banjo
• Fred Spencer: mandolin

Other artwork / related images: