Skip to main content

Virginia Mountain Boys: Old Time Bluegrass from Grayson and Carroll Counties, Virginia: Vol. 3

Virginia Mountain Boys
Virginia Mountain Boys: Old Time Bluegrass from Grayson and Carroll Counties, Virginia: Vol. 3

In the 1940s, fiddler and guitarist Glen Neaves formed the Virginia Mountain Boys, and the band performed in varying lineups through the next three decades. In many cases, the members of the band were the first in their families to play bluegrass rather than the older Appalachian string band styles they grew up with. However, this older music strongly influenced their choice of instrumentation and songs; for example, this album includes modern renditions of "Let That Circle Be Unbroken" and "John Henry," both of which originated before the advent of bluegrass. The album also includes "Conversation with Neaves," an excerpt of Neaves reminiscing about his early career and the musicians who influenced him.

*Content Advisory: The title and lyrics on 204 contain derogatory language. While it is offensive to us, we have chosen for the song titles to remain as published and interpreted in the time period in which they were written. We believe that to do otherwise would be to change a historical document. The “n word” was commonplace for a time in history, especially during the era of Jim Crow. Its circulation and popularization through blackface minstrelsy became associated with the identity of Black people in a white supremacist society. Please click here for additional context.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Charming Betsy (Charmin' Betsy) Virginia Mountain Boys 03:06
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Philadelphia Lawyer Virginia Mountain Boys 03:32
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Conversation with Neaves Virginia Mountain Boys 01:47
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Fire on the Mountain Virginia Mountain Boys 01:39
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Old Prisoner's Song - Prisoner's Song Virginia Mountain Boys 02:47
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Where Are You Going, Alice? Virginia Mountain Boys 02:46
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Wednesday Night Waltz Virginia Mountain Boys 02:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Pig in a Pen Virginia Mountain Boys 03:09
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
201
John Henry Virginia Mountain Boys 03:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
202
Tragic Romance Virginia Mountain Boys 03:35
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
203
Bill Cheatham Virginia Mountain Boys 02:45
204
Run Nigger Run* Virginia Mountain Boys 02:28  
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
205
Lily Shaw Virginia Mountain Boys 04:41
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
206
I'm Goin' To Walk with My Lord Virginia Mountain Boys 01:56
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
207
Let That Circle Be Unbroken Virginia Mountain Boys 03:13