Search - Uncle Earl :: She Went Upstairs

New-time mtn. songbirds keeping old-time in the forefront

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 06/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Uncle Earl is a band that includes guitarists/singers K.C. Groves and Jo Serrapere, two women who have performed together in Michigan for over five years. While both are award-winning songwriters, this project emphasizes the duo singing a traditional "collection of gospel tunes, sad love songs and good, old-time farm kitchen music." Together, they remind me of a couple hillbilly warblers that one might've heard on the Victrola in the late 1930s or 40s.Most of their material is drawn from an old-time Appalachian repertoire, with songs like Charlie He's A Good Ol' Man, The Blackest Crow, Rubber Dolly, Lost Child, Over in the Glory Land, The Fox, and Snow White Dove. They also cover Where the Soul of Man Never Dies (from Wayne Raney), Orphan Train (from Utah Phillips), and Freight Train (from Elizabeth Cotton). Two originals are also offered. Jo Serrapere's "Dream My Girl" is a woman's tragic ballad about a bad relationship that spans twelve years. K.C. Groves' "Baby" is a slow plea for marriage and togetherness through bad times and good.K.C. and Jo are joined by guests Laurie Lewis (fiddle), Sally Van Meter (banjo, bass, slide guitar, resonator guitar), Pooh Stevenson (mandolin on two tracks), Jean Ballhorn (fiddle on two tracks), and Tahmineh Gueramy (harmony on one track). When the band tours, I'm told that Uncle Earl includes K.C., Jo, Tahmineh Gueramy, as well as Casey Henry (banjo) and Amanda Kowalski (bass).For an album of raw-boned and unadulterated traditional music on a high-quality contemporary recording, I encourage you to check out "She Went Upstairs." These new-time mountain songbirds are helping to keep the old-time tradition and folklore in the forefront of the music industry. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)Total Playing Time - 36:38"

Great cd

dulcimergirl | Slidell Louisiana | 05/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the vocal harmonies and musicality of this c.d. will make you want to tap your foot and sing along at the same time, I love this c.d. - beautiful to listen to, and lots of fun."