Today’s post was written by Paul.
The songs I’m sharing today from a cassette tape aren’t quite as practiced as the ones I found on reel-to-reel, and they’re a bit more melancholy.
I generally think of Pap always singing old songs, Granny too for that matter, so I was surprised when researching these songs to learn that several of the songs were only a few years old at the time Pap and Granny recorded them on cassette tape.
I assume that Pap learned some of these songs at singings he attended.
Look closely at the picture, taken in their house, newly built by Pap, and you can spot the case of the Dove sitting on the couch to the left, causing me to think this picture may have been taken just before or after a church singing.
As with the last upload of Pap and Granny, you can hear little me in the background and the bass strings of the Dove thundering throughout this recording. Pap told me that by the time I started playing, the top string didn’t sound with as much authority because he forgot the guitar in a hot car, and by the time he remembered it, the bridge had pulled up from the heat. He glued it back down with Elmer’s Wood Glue but accidentally spilled glue in the peg hole for the top string, deadening it slightly. It may not sound as good today but still sounds good.
“Forgive Me, Lord” is partly missing at the beginning, and I was unable to recover the missing part. Pap would have learned this song from The Webster Brothers (who you can hear on YouTube), probably on the Cas Walker Show or Mid-Day Merry Go ‘Round, but I don’t know the writer.
This upload features “I Looked All Over Heaven.” For comparison, you can find a video of me and Granny singing the same song here.
This upload also features “I’ve Got Jesus,” which I sang with Pap 11 years ago (also available to view here).
There’s a Louvin song included, “Oh Lord My God.” Pap and his brother Ray sang this song from time to time in concerts, and I always noticed the audience fall extra quiet. I believe they were struck by the song’s sincerity. When Pap sang it (with Ray or Granny), he sang “to erase these awful things that I’ve done.” Ira wrote the line as “to escape these awful things that I do.” That present tense reveals the tragic figure that Ira was, showing that he was still grappling with alcoholism. Pap and Ray sang the song in D or E flat. The Louvins (who normally sang everything as high as possible) recorded the song 2-3 frets lower in C. That key wasn’t even possible for Pap and Ray because neither of them could hit notes as low as Charlie.
Back when I understood less about singing, I wondered why the Louvins sang it there. I thought maybe they recorded the song before they fully learned it, and just didn’t realize how low the key was. Eventually, I noticed that they doubled the octave on the last line of the chorus, something Pap never did with Ray or Granny. Then it made sense to me: the Louvins had to pitch the song very low in order to make that last line possible. They were fond of making their singing dynamic and liked to show many different ways they could approach the harmony in one song, switching parts around and going progressively higher. Their recording of “I Love the Silver in Your Hair” is another Good example of this. Perhaps a more similar example to “Oh Lord, My God” is “Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine.” In it, they switch octaves and parts without changing keys (as in “Oh Lord, My God”). Anyway, I could write an essay on that one song.
Back to Pap and Granny: This upload ends with two original songs from Pap. It’s easy to tell that these songs were still being developed at the time he and Granny sang them. To hear the way the songs finally wound up, you can find me singing them as solos (recorded in a studio) at this link.
In the Coen Brothers film “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the main musician character says that you should never let anyone hear your practice stuff. I tend to agree, but our viewers seem to love hearing Granny & Pap so much, I figured I would let this rougher stuff see the light of day. Also, several people let me know how much they loved Pap’s prayer in “I’m Not the Servant I Should Be,” so I figured I would show those listeners where I pulled the audio from for the studio recording.
“The Bright Shinning Light” is one of the most difficult songs to sing, even though it has just four basic chords. I like Granny’s harmony in this recording. She hit a couple of strange harmony notes that I’ve only heard in one or two other songs.
In case anyone was wondering, Granny sang the harmony on all of the songs in this recording. As always, I hope you enjoyed some these songs.
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Paul, I really enjoyed listening to Pap and Granny singing. These songs will be cherished by the grandchildren to come in the future. The songs are so very clear. Thank you, Paul for uploading them to the BP&A blog. I will listen to them over and over again. Paul, hope that you will be able to put these selections on a cd. May the Lord God keep you and Granny, and your entire family blessed always and forever.
These recordings are such treasures. Thank you for sharing them, Paul. And Granny, I hope you are feeling well and will have a sparkling day.
I really enjoyed pap and granny singing these old songs. Reminds me of my mom and dad singing. Praying for all of you thanks.
I agree with papaw, I don’t care for the staged performances when everything is supposed to be perfect. I love listening to BP&A members sing the old gospel hymns while sitting around in the kitchen or den and Pap sometimes leaning back in his chair. It reminds me of my father in law and some of his friend sitting in his den singing. Even some of the picture frames in the background are identical. Two of my favorite songs to listen to are “Precious Memories” and “Until Then.” I would dare say most of us don’t know one key from another, shoot, the only keys I know about are used to open locks.
Listen at Granny sing! Wow! And I loved hearing pap talk the words near the end it’s nice to hear what he sounds like. I sure enjoyed this, thanks for sharing it, as always prayers for granny’s continued better health and for the girls and those sweet babies!❤️
How beautiful! Paul, thanks so much for sharing all these wonderful songs and the history that go with them. They are priceless! Love the picture also! You and your family are so blessed. Have a wonderful Sunday!!
I really enjoyed listening to Granny and Pap this sunny and promising Sunday! They just sound good together! It’s apparent they were a match made in heaven. I like the photograph of the living room. It’s like a look back in time and how nice it is! Had I known how sweet a time it was, I’d have savored it much more than I did….God bless us all and praise the Lord. He’s got this!!! Learnin’ to Lean on Jesus brought this house down!!! Just beautiful!!! Thanks Wilson clan. Would you believe in prayer the Lord showed me a bunch of bananas concerning my family? He’s got a sense of humor for sure!
I listened to this last night and enjoyed it thoroughly. You all are so fortunate to have these recordings and blessed to have Paul’s knowledge on how to preserve them. My mother had a beautiful voice and often sang solos in church back in the 50s and early 60s. We had no means of recording her then, and my sister and I would give almost anything to hear her voice again.
Unlike Paul (and maybe most people) I would rather listen to people practice than to hear them sing in a staged performance. To me the restarts, the dropped notes, the interruptions, the forgotten words, the children playing and crying babies are reality.
Some people listen to music to escape reality but I’m not one of those people. Those people demand perfection. I find perfection in imperfection! After all nothing, in this life, will ever be perfect and no amount of practice will make it that way.
I like to sing along with those old recordings of Pap and Granny. Sure I hear the missteps but they happen in cadence with my own. It’s music that comes from the heart not a studio.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful harmony in song…I’m singing right along with them getting ready for Sunday School and church. Love the bronze baby shoes on the shelf..I did the same thing for my two!
Blessings to all.
Paul that was wonderful! So glad you were able to upload all those songs. What a family history to be able to pass on to the young ones coming up. I really enjoy hearing Granny singing with Pap but you and Granny sounded wonderful too sometime back when you sang “I Looked All Over Heaven for You.” I gotta get to church but thanks again for some good ole gospel songs! God Bless and have a great week!
Happy Sunday Morning! ❤️
Simply glorious. I love these videos more than I can say. God bless you, Paul and Granny. Thank you God for Pap’s voice that lives on bringing glory to your name.
Good morning friends of Appalachia, we are praying for granny, God bless you and your family in Jesus name
Wow! What beautiful harmony! I so enjoyed this! The home furnishings really took me back, too! My parent’s house was so similar! What an attractive couple your parents were!
Thank you for sharing your family’s music. A joy to listen to all the songs. Prayers for Granny’s continued healing. Have a blessed day!
ph my Tipper you look just like Granny. Beautiful
Forgot to say, I was slightly acquainted with Charlie. Am so fortunate to have arrived in Nashville while most of the old timers were still living. God blessed me.
Great ! And thanks for the info on the Louvin Btothers. Wasn’t their real name Loudermilk? Seems they were related to the Cherokee County Loudermilks.
Don-it was Loudermilk 🙂 I hope you are feeling better! I’ve been praying for you!!
Am better!! Thanks for the prayers!!!That works!!
Hi, Don.
Yes and yes. Charlie and Ira’s father (CM Loudermilk) was born in Murphy. Sorry to hear that you haven’t been well, and I pray that things get much better soon.
Many thanks Paul for all the work you do to preserve all the music within your reach of the family. I love the results!
These are priceless and some to return to whenever you need a good song. I will file this as well in my Blind Pig under ‘music’ and be able to return when I need a good ‘un. Thanks for sharing. Prayers for Granny and God’s Blessing for you all.