Across the Blue Ridge #72- Lightnin’ Wells, one-man band

Mike “Lightnin'” Wells brings traditions together in his entertaining, informative and down-home one-man shows.  His latest album, titled “O Lightnin' Where Art Thou?”, displays his range as never before, as he plays and sings his way through songs from early country and bluegrass to blues, gospel and old time mountain music.  Born in West Virginia and largely raised in North Carolina, Lightnin' was smitten early by the famed WWVA Jamboree radio show out of Wheeling, West Virginia. When his family moved to the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area, he discovered a rich vein of piedmont blues and old time music as well.  On this episode of Across the Blue Ridge, we hear selections from the new album, plus an interview and songs from his 2016 appearance at Muddy Creek Music Hall in Winston-Salem, NC.  Also on the show, a selection of classic cuts from the three most significant bands in the early history of bluegrass music: Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys; The Stanley Brothers; and Flatt & Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys.  There's some great old time string band music as well from The Reed Island Rounders and The Camp Creek Boys.

Playlist

1. Stone's Rag
   Leftwich & Higginbotham
   The Lost Child
    
2. My Cabin In Caroline
   Flatt & Scruggs
   1947-59 Vol 1
    
3. The Rambler's Blues
   Stanley Brothers
   Earliest Recordings
    
4. I Wonder If You Feel The Way I Do
   Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys
   Mule Skinner Blues
    
5. Old Cow Crossing The Road
   Reed Island Rounders
   Wild Goose Chase
    
6. Cotton Eyed Joe
   Camp Creek Boys
   Old Time String Band
    
7. Break 1
   Cripple Creek
   Junie Scruggs
   American Banjo 3-Finger & Scruggs Style
    
8. Try Me One More Time
   Lightnin' Wells
   O Lightnin' Where Art Thou?
    
9. Sugar Baby
   Lightnin' Wells
   O Lightnin' Where Art Thou?
    
10. Me And My Dog Blues
    Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
11. How You Want Your Rolling Done
    Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
12. Waiting For The Evening Mail
    Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
13. Guitar Rag
    Lightnin' Wells
    O Lightnin' Where Art Thou?
     
14. Break 2
    Rambling Hobo
    Gaither Carlton
    High Atmosphere
     
15. Oh How She Could Play A Ukelele
    Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
16. Hurry Home Sweet Mama Or I'll Be Gone
    Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
17. Interview: Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
18. Love In Vain
    Lightnin' Wells
    ATBR Recording
     
19. Freight Train Boogie
    Lightnin' Wells
    O Lightnin' Where Art Thou?