The White Oak Mountain Boys [w/Leon Jackson & Johnny Bryant]/The Sunny Mountain Boys [w/Jimmy Martin & Bob Osborne] (1961 Blue Grass Special EP)

Today is the first day of September, which means we North Americans are now officially in autumn! Early autumn happens to be my favorite season, when it is still warm enough to do outdoor activities yet cool enough that the worst of the mosquitoes are gone, the tourists have left and, most importantly, the bluegrass and folk music festivals begin! (At least they do here in the Twin Cities metro area, I don't know about the rest of Hicksville Minnesota...)

This EP is one of many kick-ass country music finds that I uncovered at Hymie's Vintage Records during this year's Record Store Day. While the vinyl itself has seen better days (and better styli!), it still plays loud and clear enough to display the unbelievable talent of The White Oak Mountain Boys and The Sunny Mountain Boys, both studio bands contracted to King Records in the mid-to-late 1950s. This EP happens to be a compilation or "sampler" of sorts, likely for promotional and broadcast use by King Records, which at the time was starting to wind down production of its Country & Western division.

Side A showcases the talents of banjoist Leon Jackson and the regrettably-forgotten fiddler Johnny Bryant, with all three tracks composed by Jackson. Side B showcases the talents of guitarist Jimmy Martin (1927-2005) and mandolinist Bob(by) Osborne (1931-), with all three tracks composed by the pair. Considering that Martin and Osborne went on to much greater fame than Bryant and Jackson ever did, it is curious that they were relegated to Side B on this record. Regardless of the reason why, this is a great EP that is certain to be a favorite of any bluegrass fan!

Check out these clips from YouTube to hear it for yourself!

The tracks on this EP are as follows:

1. "White Oak Mountain Breakdown"*
2. "Love, Please Come Home"*
3. "Leon's Breakdown (Buttahatchee)"*
4. "My Lonely Heart"#
5. "She's Just a Cute Thing"#
6. "You'll Never be the Same"#

*Performed by The White Oak Mountain Boys [w/Leon Jackson & Johnny Bryant]
#Performed by The Sunny Mountain Boys [w/Jimmy Martin & Bob Osborne]

Download (12.5 MB, 128 kpbs)