More Seldom Scene

This is a follow-up to my recent post The Seldom Scene — An Appreciation applauding the bluegrass group The Seldom Scene.

Here's the group doing "The Small Exception of Me," one of their greats:



The song was made popular by Dean Martin (yes, that Dean Martin, of Rat Pack fame) who liked to dip into countrified pop and was (believe it or not) one of Elvis' early role models. So here we have the "newgrass" Seldom Scene doing what all newgrass groups did: "stealing" from other genres. Bluegrass purists hated it.

Purists also hated the presence of Mike Auldridge in the group — or, rather, his dobro, since what a bluegrass band ought to have was a fiddle, not the next closest thing to an electric guitar. Notice that during this song, Auldridge (in the middle of the front threesome on vocals) alternates between holding his instrument like a regular guitar and turning it face up to flat-pick it.

Enjoy, in particular, the banjo introduction by original Scene member Ben Eldridge.

Here, the lead vocal is the tenor vocal of John Duffey, on mandolin. Tenor leads were perhaps the norm, or at least not uncommon, in early bluegrass music.

The other harmony vocalist, besides Auldridge, is guitarist Phil Rosenthal, who took over the role from founding member John Starling in 1977, just six years after the band's birth in 1971 and its early flush of success. Here's a video of Starling rejoining the band for a rendition of "Out Among the Stars":



This appears to be a guest re-appearance during the Rosenthal era, as Rosenthal is also on stage. Here, Starling takes the vocal lead — not Duffey's high tenor.

You can also see a bit of Tom Gray, on bass, there in the background. Gray was the Seldom Scene's bassist from the band's inception until 1986.

Here's the group doing the gospel tune "Travelin' On and On," with Gray getting a rare opportunity at the microphone, doing bass-harmony fills:



Here's the group, vintage 1979, doing what had become nearly a signature tune for them, "I Know You Rider":



Dig the workout Duffey gives his mandolin! That's guitarist Rosenthal taking the lead vocal. Eldridge shines as usual on banjo and helps with the vocals. Mike Auldridge's dobro work is inspired, as is Gray on bass.

This last one looks to be another clip from the guest re-appearance by original guitarist/lead vocalist John Starling at the Berkshire Mountain Bluegrass Festival, possibly in 1985, during the Rosenthal era. The song is "The Fields Have Turned Brown," a bluegrass standard: