Jack Cooke & The Virginia Mountain Boys - End Of My Journey / (New) Cripple Creek

(Ark 299) c1964

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This single was recorded at Ark's recording studio in Cincinnati, Ohio in October 1963 and (I think) released the following year.

End Of My Journey (aka Let Me Rest At The End Of My Journey) would become one of Jack's "go-to" songs for his lead vocal spot on live shows with the CMB's. This may have been a reason why the single was reissued in 1973 (King Bluegrass 407). The flipside meanwhile is a banjo/fiddle instrumental version of Cripple Creek.

Bobby Diamond also had a spell with Red Allen, where he played fiddle rather than banjo.^[1] Bill Sage played briefly with Bill Monroe circa June 1963^[2] and also worked with in Del McCoury's Dixie Pals circa 1969^[3] and circa 1972/73 playing on Del's excellent 'High On A Mountain' album (Rounder 0019) 1973. (Reissued on CD in 1995). Later still he worked with the Al Jones & Frank Necessary & The Spruce Mountain Boys,^[4] the White Mountain Bluegrass Band, David Davis & The Warrior River Boys and Ray Davis' Basement Band.^[5]

(Let Me Rest At) The End Of My Journey was later included as a bonus track on Jack's 2006 CD Sittin' On Top Of The World.

Thanks to Todd Gracyk for reminding me about this one.

PS: If anyone can provide better images of the labels (or the King Bluegrass reissue) please get in touch via the Contact page.

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