The New Tradition - Live

(Red Clay RC 105) 1978

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This album by the short-lived New Tradition, captures an excellent live performance in June 1973 from the Shamrock bar in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

The band were formed in Sept 1972 by Jimmy Gaudreau and Keith Whitley.^[1] Jimmy had previously played mandolin for the II Generation (and before that, the Country Gents), and Keith Whitley I think left the CMB's shortly after Ricky Skaggs in 1972.

The initial Sept 1972 line-up was known as Country Store, and included Carl Jackson on banjo & Bill Rawlings on bass.^[2] Carl Jackson's tenure was brief however, as he soon was got the opportunity to work for Glen Campbell.

In October 1972, the band changed names to The New Tradition, with Pat Cloud on banjo and Jim Lanners on bass, both from Town & Country Boys (with Tom Mullen and Darryl Boom).

A practice recording of Paradise with this line up from 31 Oct 1972 can be found on youtube. This recording places the band in Marina del Rey, CA. and the gives their first show date as a Banjo & Fiddle contest in Santa Barbara, CA in Jan. 1973.

Around January 1973, Jimmy Arnold left Cliff Waldron & The New Shades of Grass. He may have briefly worked with Charlie Moore's Dixie Partners but was soon with The New Tradition. Bill Rawlings also returned on bass.^[3]

Initially based in the Columbus, OH area ^[1], they relocated to Washington, DC after a few months.^[4] Jimmy Arnold reportedly left briefly in May-June 1973, being replaced by Tommy Hunter, but rejoined again later in June, when this live set was recorded at the Shamrock.

Although the club sounds quite empty with rather muted applause, there is consequently little background audience noise. The recordings do however have gaps between tracks, indicating that this is an edited, rather than one continuous performance. The music itself is sublime, with Keith Whitley lead vocals suiting the Tom T. Hall and other country/folk tracks, and the bands harmonies being magnificent. The song arrangements all work well with Jimmy Gaudreau's mandolin & Jimmy Arnold's progressive banjo, being tastefully restrained.

Three songs on the album were also included in the Aug 1973 set captured at Hugo Grant's Salt Creek Park festival and released as Country Store - Live! (Paradise, Mr. Bojangles and Nine Pound Hammer). Both albums have their merits, but I think this Shamrock set has the edge.

• Keith Whitley: guitar, lead vocals
• Jimmy Arnold: banjo, vocals
• Jimmy Gaudreau: mandolin, fiddle, vocals
• Bill Rawlings: bass, vocals

Other artwork / related images:

[1] The 'General Store' section of 'Bluegrass Unlimited' Oct 1972 edition noted: "Jimmy Gaudreau and Keith Whitley have left their respective groups, the II Generation and Clinch Mountain Boys to form their own group to be know as the Country Store. They will be based around the Columbus, Ohio area."
[2] The insert to the Japanese "Country Store - Live!" LP (Trio PA-6302) includes a chronology of the band's different line-ups.
[3] The Feb 1973 'General Store' section of 'Bluegrass Unlimited', noted that Jimmy Arnold had left New Shades Of Grass to join Charlie Moore's Dixie Partners, but the subsequent Mar 1973 included a note that by the time the Feb Magazine was published, he'd joined Jimmy Gaudreau & Keith Whitley in The New Tradition. The line-ups in [2] show Jimmy joining in Jan 1973.
[4] "When Jimmy and I first started playin' together, we lived in Columbus for about three or four months before we moved to Washington." Kathleen Stanton's August 1974 interview in Pickin' managine (Nov. 1975)