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

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

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. 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

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