The Low-Tech Times

Music Mondays: Men Singing Highly

I think I can perhaps understand one reason why bluegrass music isn’t more popular. The high tenor lead vocals may be an acquired taste. Then again, there are plenty of Rush fans and Geddy Lee certainly pitches it high.

This week, I’m featuring two good bluegrass vocal performance, both with a bluesy high tenor lead.

With Body and Soul

First, With Body and Soul by Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys is a hard vocal number to beat. Highly recommended.

See that train coming round the bend,
carrying the one that I love.
Her beautiful body is still here on earth,
but her soul has been called up above

Body and soul, body and soul;
That’s how she loved me, with body and soul…

I Feel The Blues Moving In

Secondly, I recently was listening to Ray Davis’s show on 105.5 fm (bluegrasscountry.org) and he played a nice Del McCoury number entitled I Feel The Blues Movin’ In . Highly recommended.

The last letter that you wrote was
on a blue piece of paper.
That old feelin’s back;
the clouds are movin’ in.

The beginning of the end is near;
I feel your love has faded into darkness.
It seems I have no friend;
I feel the blues movin’ in

Somehow, Del McCoury appears to be appealing to a younger audience with his unique tenor and a traditional sound. I really like the fact that groups don’t have to go newgrass to get an audience.

See Also: High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music

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