JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS

US DISCOGRAPHY & SESSIONOGRAPHY

Part 2 : LPs & CDs

an This is an updated reprint of a piece I compiled in 1985 & 1986, with help from the Country Music Foundation (Nashville).
It was first published in the November 1986 issue of the French mag - LATCH ON - then run by Jean-Guy Meunier.
Many thanks to Steve Wisner, Walt Rogers, Scott Adamson and the late Harry Shields for their additions.

JOE MAPHIS 'FIRE ON THE STRINGS' COLUMBIA CL 1005 RHCO 33564 Fire On The Strings RHCO 33731 Guitar Rock And Roll RHCO 33732 Floggin' The Banjo RHCO 33733 Tennessee Two Step RHCO 33734 Bully Of The Town RHCO 33943 Town Hall Shuffle RHCO 33944 Flying Fingers RHCO 33945 Twin Banjo Special RHCO 33946 Sweet Fern RHCO 40149 Randy Lynn Rag RHCO 40150 Lorrie Ann RHCO 40159 Katy Warren Breakdown All the above titles were reissued on CD by Epic (CK 62148) and Bear Family (BFX 15106 & BCD 16103). VARIOUS ARTISTS 'TOWN HALL PARTY' COLUMBIA CL 1072 Featuring : The Collins Kids, Freddie Hart, Dortha Wright, Johnny Bond, Tex Ritter, Les 'Carrot Top' Anderson, Tex Carman, Bobby Charles and Joe & Rose Lee Maphis who perform : RHCO 33733 Tennesse Two Step RHCO 33943 Town Hall Shuffle RHCO 40293 Sweeter Than The Flowers They also appear on the final track, 'Wait For The Light To Shine', performed by the whole cast. JOE MAPHIS 'HI-FI HOLIDAY FOR BANJO' HARMONY HL 7180 RHCO 46066 Oh, Susanna RHCO 46067 Bye, Bye, Blues RHCO 46068 Little Liza Jane RHCO 46069 Over The Waves RHCO 46070 Barbara Polka RHCO 46071 The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise RHCO 46072 Marching To Pretoria RHCO 46073 Camptown Races RHCO 46074 Missouri Waltz RHCO 46075 When You And I Were Young, Maggie RHCO 46076 Under The Double Eagle RHCO 46077 You Are My Sunshine ROSE LEE MAPHIS 'ROSE LEE MAPHIS' COLUMBIA CL 1598 / CS 8398 CO 65581 Signed, Sealed And Delivered CO 65582 Pins And Needles (In My Heart) CO 65583 Greenback Dollar CO 65584 I Won't Stand In Your Way CO 65585 Nobody Answered Me CO 65586 Nobody's Darlin' But Mine CO 65587 My Curly Headed Baby CO 65588 Bury Me Beneath The Willow CO 65589 You Can't Divorce My Heart CO 65590 Release Me CO 65591 The Wind And The Tree CO 65592 The Keeper Of The Key -> The Columbia sessions were cut as follows : * RHCO 33564 : October 3, 1955 * RHCO 33731 to 33734 : February 28, 1956 * RHCO 33943 to 33946 : August 23, 1956 * RHCO 40147 to 40150 : March 12, 1957 * RHCO 40159 : probably March 13, 1957 * RHCO 40293 : August 20, 1957 * RHCO 40372 to 40375 : September 25, 1957 * RHCO 45777 to 45779 : January 30, 1959 * RHCO 46066 to 46077 : December 8, 1958 * RHCO 46423 to 46426 : January 5, 1960 * CO 65581 to 65592 : November 15, 1960. All RHCO recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. CO probably recorded in Nashville. JOE MAPHIS 'KING OF THE STRINGS' MAC GREGOR MGR 1205 Seeing Nellie Home Square Dance Rock 8th Of January New Wildwood Flower Home, Sweet Home Bill Cheatum Georgia Camp Meeting Green River Rag Kansas City Special Cotton Eyed Joe Cumberland Gap Crazy Pickin' Liner notes by Merle Travis. The Mac Gregor stuff dates back probably to 1960 or 1961. Joe played most instruments, using overdubbing extensively. JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS With The Blue Ridge Mountain Boys CAPITOL T 1778 / ST 1778 Flowers On The Sunny Side Why Do You Weep, Dear Willow There'll Come A Time Maple On The Hill Teardrops Falling In The Snow Put My Little Shoes Away Lonesome Train Little Rosewood Casket Whiskey Is The Devil In Liquid Form Speak To Me, Little Darlin' Little Mother Of The Hills Picture On The Wall -> Liner notes by Merle Travis. VARIOUS ARTISTS 'COUNTRY MUSIC HOOTENANNY' CAPITOL T 2009 / ST 2009 Featuring : Merle Travis, Buck Owens, Glen Campbell, Rose Maddox, Roy Nichols, Glen Campbell, Johnny Bond & more. Recorded in Bakersfield on September 12, 1963. The back up band, The Trading Post Band, was led by Joe Maphis. Joe & Rose Lee Maphis perform : Paper Of Pins MERLE TRAVIS & JOE MAPHIS 'COUNTRY MUSIC'S TWO GUITAR GREATS' CAPITOL T 2102 / ST 2102 Corrine, Corrina Big Midnight Special Bayou Baby Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Guitar Rag Blast Off When It's Time For The Whippoorwill To Sing West Coast Blues Mainstreet Breakdown Picture On The Wall Kentucky Waltz Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar Liner notes by Chet Atkins. -> The Capitol sides were recorded between 1961 and 1963, and produced by Ken Nelson. JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS 'MR. & MRS COUNTRY MUSIC' STARDAY SLP 286 6954 Remember (I'm Just As Close As The Place) 6955 Love Don't Live Here Anymore 6956 I've Come To Take You Home 6958 Please Mr. Mailman 6959 Time To Pray 6960 Hoot 'n' Annie 6961 I Don't Love Nobody But You 6962 Lonesome Jailhouse Blues 6966 Hot Time In Nashville Tonight 6967 Del Rio 6970 Sweet, Sweet Lips 6972 Separated From Each Other (By A Prison Wall) JOE MAPHIS 6965 The Weasel 6968 Hot Rod Lincoln -> These two Starday tracks seem to be unreleased. JOE MAPHIS 'THE AMAZING JOE MAPHIS' STARDAY SLP 316 6957 Fiddlin' On The Guitar 6963 Banjo Boogie Shuffle 6964 Kansas City Special 6969 Hot Rod Guitar 7180 Little Bit Of Travis 7181 Give Me Forty Acres 7182 Scalping The Indians 7183 Fire On The Strings 7184 Double Neck Boogie 7185 Invitation To The Blues 7186 Coffee Break (take #1) 7187 Sweet Rosie JOE MAPHIS 'GOLDEN GOSPEL GUITAR' STARDAY SLP 322 7188 When The Saints Go Marching In 7189 Rock Of Ages 7190 Old Time Religion 7191 When They Ring Those Golden Bells 7192 I'll Be Somewhere Listening 7193 Lonesome Valley 7194 I'll Fly Away 7195 In The Garden 7196 In The Sweet By And By 7197 When The Roll Is Called 7198 Jesus Loves Me 7199 Will The Circle Be Unbroken 7200 Satisfied Mind 7201 Time To Pray JOE MAPHIS 'COUNTRY GUITAR GOES TO THE JIMMY DEAN SHOW' STARDAY SLP 373 7933 Dixie Guitar 7934 Seasons Of My Heart 7935 Y' All Come 7936 Window Up Above 7937 Bonaparte's Retreat 7938 Tennessee Guitar Polka 7939 Cannon Ball Guitar 7940 Under The Double Eagle 7941 Bury Me Beneath The Willow 7942 Wildwood Flower 7943 Maybelle 7944 Columbus Stockade Blues VARIOUS ARTISTS 'LET'S HIT THE ROAD' STARDAY SLP 306 Featuring among others : Bob Wills & Tommy Duncan, Frankie Miller, The Willis Brothers & Joe Maphis. 6971 Riding Down Ole 99 6969 Big Rig Guitar (this is, in fact, 'Hot Rod Guitar') [exists in true stereo : see notes below] VARIOUS ARTISTS 'COUNTRY GUITAR HALL OF FAME' STARDAY SLP 326 7180 Little Bit Of Travis 7184 Double Neck Boogie 6969 Hot Rod Guitar 6957 Fiddlin' On The Guitar (other titles/artists unknown) VARIOUS ARTISTS 'HIT PARADE OF BLUEGRASS STARS' STARDAY SLP 343 Featuring among others : Reno & Smiley, Hylo Brown, Flatt & Scruggs, The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers & Joe Maphis. 7183 Fire On The Strings VARIOUS ARTISTS 'THAT'S TRUCK DRIVIN' STARDAY SLP 357 Featuring among others : Red Sovine, Johnny Bond, Tommy Hill's String Band & Joe Maphis. 7626 Ten Days Out, Two Days In [exists in true stereo : see notes below] VARIOUS ARTISTS 'THE FABULOUS SOUNDS OF THOSE NASHVILLE CATS' STARDAY SLP 399 Featuring among others : Joe Maphis, Pete Drake, Jimmy Richardson, Boots Randolph & Hank Garland. 6969 Hot Rod Guitar VARIOUS ARTISTS 'TRUCK STOP' NASHVILLE NLP 2052 Features : Tom O'Neal, Frankie Miller, Benny Martin, The Willis bros, Red Sovine, Johnny Bond, Lonnie Irving, George Morgan and Joe Maphis who plays : 6969 Big Rig Guitar (this is, in fact, 'Hot Rod Guitar', in stereo) VARIOUS ARTISTS 'TRUCK DRIVIN' SON OF A GUN' NASHVILLE NLP 2082 Features : George Morgan, The Willis bros, Red Sovine, Johnny Bond, Slim Jacobs and Joe Maphis who plays : 7626 Ten Days Out, Two Days In (in stereo) VARIOUS ARTISTS 'NASHVILLE GUITARS' NASHVILLE NLP 2091 One side by Joe Maphis : 7180 Little Bit Of Travis 7937 Bonaparte's Retreat 7942 Wildwood Flower 7183 Fire On The Strings 6969 Hot Rod Guitar The other by Jackie Phelps : Guitar Cannonball Sugarfoot Guitar Milk Cow Blues Cottonfield Blues Y'All Come Amazingly, all of Jackie Phelps' cuts are in true Stereo but only Joe's 'Wildwood Flower' has that honor. -> The Starday sides are all from the 1964-1966 period ; they were cut in Nashville at the Starday Sound Studios, produced by Tommy Hill and engineered by Jack Linneman. From the early '60s on, most Starday recordings were cut in true Stereo (2 or 3-track) and were then mixed down to Mono. While the singles were released in Mono, some albums were released in Stereo though, or re-released that way. Such was the case of SLP 306 and SLP 357 (despite several songs in annoying rechanneled stereo). There was a 'Little LP' version of SLP 357 in Stereo but Joe wasn't featured (only Red Sovine , Slim Jacobs, Johnny Bond and Minnie Pearl whose 'Answer To Giddy-Up, Go' wasn't on the 12" album). The budget Nashville label was an offshoot of Starday. JOE MAPHIS 'THE NEW SOUND OF JOE MAPHIS' MOSRITE MA 400 Yakety Axe Green Valley Waltz Durango Ole Jobro (with Rose Lee Maphis) Limehouse Blues Pickin' And A Guitin' Buckaroo Spanish Dobro One More Time Around Thunder Road Liberty On The Guitar Alabama Jubilee Released in Canada on DOMINION (LPS 48500) minus 'One More Time Around' and with a totally different front cover. Although shown as Stereo, it's a MONO release. JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS 'STRINGIN' ALONG WITH JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS' MOSRITE MA 401 Ole Jobro Spanish Dobro One More Time Around Country Girl Courtship I Guess You're Finally Satisfied Down By The Railroad Tracks I'm Willing To Try Second Fiddle To An Old Guitar Maple On The Hill Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (& Loud, Loud Music) There Goes My Everything Preview Released in Canada on DOMINION (LPS 48501) minus 'Ole Jobro' and 'Spanish Dobro' but with 'A Lifetime Of Love' and 'Tunin' Up For The Blues' in their place. Although shown as Stereo, it's also a MONO release. -> The Mosrite recordings were produced by Semie & Andy Moseley and cut in 1966-1967. VARIOUS ARTISTS 'ARTISTS OF THE 60's' MOSRITE 1284 Features Barbara Mandrell, Doyle Holly, Al Brumley, Eddie Dean, Gene Moles, Tommy Duncan, Leo Le Blanc, Louise Lovett and Joe & Rose Lee Maphis. Pickin' And A Guitin' Write Him A Letter Green Valley Waltz Alabama Jubilee A Lifetime Of Love -> Released in 1984. Executive producer : Andy Moseley. JOE MAPHIS 'GOSPEL GUITAR' SACRED LP 3014 / LPS 4014 Onward Christian Soldiers A Beautiful Life Stand Up For Jesus I'll Fly Away Softly And Tenderly The Church In The Wildwood Amazing Grace Old Time Religion Hear Dem Bells Jesus Hold My Hand Pass Me Not I Shall Not Be Moved Bringing In The Sheaves Precious Memories JOE MAPHIS 'GOSPEL GUITAR - Vol. 2' SACRED LPS 74055 Where The Soul Never Dies Battle Hymn Of The Republic Whispering Hope Where We'll Never Grow Old Since Jesus Came Into My Heart Dwelling In Beulah Land What A Friend We Have In Jesus Wait For The Light To Shine I Love To Tell The Story Leaning On The Everlasting Arms Just A Little Talk With Jesus JOE & JODY MAPHIS 'GUITARATION GAP' CHART CHS 1042 Guitaration Gap Fire And Rain If I Kiss You Sippin', Pickin' And Flippin' Celito Lindo Scruggin' It Lookin' Out My Back Door Ride, Ride, Ride The Letter Billy In The Low Ground Liner notes by Earl Scruggs. The Chart album was released in 1971. The track, 'Guitar Happy', is listed on the front cover but not on the back and doesn't appear on the LP. ROSE LEE & JOE MAPHIS 'LET YOUR LOVE SHOW' OUTREACH OR-1001 Let Your Love Show There Is A River Old Brush Arbor Crumbs From The Table Southern Belle Of Birmingham I'll Fly Away One Day At A Time Forgetting All Others The Legend Of The Robin Red Breast Peace In The Valley Produced by Eddie Miller, the Outreach album is a real rarity. Probably cut in Nashville, it was released in 1975. The musicians listed are : Ron Oates (piano), Harold Rugg (steel), Joe Zinkan (bass) & William Ackerman (drums) ; the background vocals are provided by Laverna Moore, Diane Moore & Pam Miller. Fred Carter Jr. is band leader. JOE MAPHIS & HIS SUPER PICKER PALS 'GRASS 'N' JAZZ' CMH 6215 Fire On The Strings Southern Nights Stumbling Ballad Of Thunder Road Theme From Bonanza Black & White Rag Flying Fingers Saturday Night Ramble Moonglow Theme From 'Picnic' Super Picker Jam Bonaparte's Retreat Orange Blossom Special JOE MAPHIS with ROSE LEE & DALE 'DIM LIGHTS, THICK SMOKE (& GOOD OLD COUNTRY MUSIC)' CMH 6224 Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) Mother Maybelle Eighteen Wheels Down At The Foot Of The Mountain Town Hall Rag Carter Country My Baby's Doin' Alright Hilltop Pickin' Rocky Mountain Special Yodeling Bird You Ain't Got The Sense (You Were Born With) Snowflakes JOE MAPHIS with ROSE LEE MAPHIS 'BOOGIE WOOGIE FLAT TOP GUITAR PICKIN' MAN' CMH 6239 Boogie Woogie Flat Top Guitar Pickin' Man Fiddle Pickin Joe Maphis' Blues Devil's Dream Old Fiddler Joe Somewhere Between Don't You Cry, Melinda Sweet Georgia Brown Your Sweet, Sweet Lips Six By Five JOE MAPHIS with ROSE LEE MAPHIS 'HONKY-TONK COWBOY' CMH 6251 Honky-Tonk Cowboy Old Black Mountain Saturday Night Where Honky-Tonk Angels Spread Their Wings Durango Another Man's Lady (Another Lady's Man) Sittin' On Top Of The World I Can't Get Her Sweet Love Off My Mind Man's Nature Joe's Double Eagle I'm Gonna Wear The Pants Maybe Someday Super Slab Blues MERLE TRAVIS & JOE MAPHIS 'COUNTRY GUITAR GIANTS' CMH 9017 Free Little Bird Mose Rager Blues Alabama Jubilee Hear Dem Bells Eight More Miles To Louisville Little Rosewood Casket John Henry Cannonball Rag Beer Barrel Polka My Adobe Hacienda Lover Snow Deer Ike Everly's Rag Sweet Bunch Of Daisies Somebody Stole My Gal San Antonio Rose Li'l Liza Jane Bury Me Beneath The Willow High Noon Down Among The Budded Roses Freight Train I Wonder Where You Are Tonight Wildwood Flower Back In The Saddle Again Memphis Blues Black Mountain Rag Say 'Si Si' Columbus Stockade Blues Right Or Wrong - Smiles I Saw The Light JOE MAPHIS 'THE JOE MAPHIS FLAT-PICKING SPECTACULAR' CMH 9030 Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar Cripple Creek South Lonesome Road Blues Zendel's Breakdown Town Hall Rag Whistling Blues Memories Of Maybelle El Rancho Grande Rocky Mountain Reel Silver Threads Among The Gold Grandma's Favorites Charlotte Breakdown Foggy Mountain Breakdown Lara's Theme (From Dr. Zhivago) Hilltop Pickin' Little Rock Getaway Sailor's Hornpipe Albuquerque Rag Liebestraum Duelin' Banjos Riders In The Sky Guitar Rag Irish Washerwoman Carter Country Liberty -> The CMH releases are from 1978-1985. Joe (often with Rose Lee) also played on the following albums : GRANDPA JONES CMH 9010 'OLD TIME COUNTRY MUSIC COLLECTION' CMH 9015 'FAMILY ALBUM' CMH 9026 'FAMILY GATHERING' CMH 9032 'MERLE & GRANDPA's FARM & HOME HOUR' (live) MERLE TRAVIS (with MAC WISEMAN, JACKSON D. KANE & FIDDLIN' RED HERRON) CMH 9028 'THE CLAYTON McMICHEN STORY' And he appeared on the following compilations : CMH 5900 'WORLD'S GREATEST BLUEGRASS' CMH 5901 'WORLD'S GREATEST BLUEGRASS - Volume 2' CMH 5902 'THE ORIGINAL BLUEGRASS & COUNTRY SWING SPECTACULAR' CMH 5903 'STARS OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC' CMH 6227 'SUPER PICKER SPECIAL'. -> More compilations featuring Joe Maphis , courtesy of the late Harry Shields : VARIOUS ARTISTS 'THE GUITAR GREATS' EVEREST RECORDS Archive Of Folk & Jazz Music FS-243 Features among others Glen Campbell, Tommy Tedesco and Joe Maphis : Old Joe Clark Big Sound (by Joe and James McGuinn) VARIOUS ARTISTS '25 BANJO & GUITAR FAVORITES' MOUNTAIN DEW RECORDS S 7038 Features among others Billy Strange, Tommy Tedesco, Roger McGuinn and Joe Maphis : Six By Twelve My Little Maggie Banjo Workout Joe's Breakdown VARIOUS ARTISTS 'INSTRUMENTAL COUNTRY STARS' MOUNTAIN DEW RECORDS S 7050 By arrangement with Chart Records Features Lloyd Green, Hargus Robbins, Del Wood and Joe & Jody Maphis : Ride, Ride, Ride Sippin', Pickin' & Flippin' -> According to my good friend and Joe Maphis specialist, Steve Wisner, Joe plays guitar and banjo on a late 1961/early 1962 Liberty album (LRP-3219, issued in mono only) entitled 'The Liberty Square Dance Club - Without Calls' featuring fiddler Gordon Terry. Now, does Joe also appear on on the companion album, 'The Liberty Square Dance Club - With Calls' (LRP-3218, mono only) ?

Pictured above - the commercial release, and the rarer promo issue of Joe's first album.