> Folk Music > Records > The Watson Family: The Doc Watson Family
The Doc Watson Family
![]() |
The Watson Family Folkways Records FA 2366 (LP, USA, 1963) The Doc Watson Family Transatlantic Records XTRA (LP, UK, 1969) |
![]() |
Produced by Ralph Rinzler;
Recorded by Ralph Rinzler Eugene W. Earle, Archie Green, and Peter Siegel in 1960-65 and 1976;
Album notes compiled by Jeff Place, with assistance from Ralph Rinzler and Doc Watson;
Cover photo by Robert Yellin;
Cover design by Craig Mierop
Liner notes (PDF) at Smithsonian Folkways
Musicians
Doc Watson: vocals [1-2, 5-6, 8-10, 12, 23, 25-26],
autoharp [1],
guitar [2-3, 5-8, 10, 14, 23-26],
banjo [9, 19],
mandolin [11];
Arnold Watson: banjo [5],
banjo [1, 12],
harmonica [5];
Gaither Carlton: vocals [16-17, 20-21],
fiddle [1, 3-4, 9-10, 12, 14, 17, 19-21],
banjo [16];
Annie Watson: vocals [4];
Rosa Lee Watson: vocals [6];
Watson Family: vocals [7, 15];
Ralph Rinzler: guitar [11, 14];
Sophronie Miller Greer: vocals [13];
Dolly Greer: vocals [18];
Willard Watson: banjo [19];
Merle Watson: banjo [23-25],
lead guitar [23-25]
Tracks
Side 1
- Ground Hog (Roud 3125) (2.17)
- Every Day Dirt (Roud 432; Laws Q9; G/D 7:1461; Henry H682) (2.03)
- Bonaparte’s Retreat (instrumental) (1.28)
- The House Carpenter (Roud 14; Child 243; G/D 2:332) (4.26)
- I’m Troubled (Roud 414 / 12091) (2.38)
- Your Long Journey (Roud 11259) (2.31)
- When I Die (Roud 23069) (2.13)
- The Train That Carried My Girl from Town (Roud 7027) (2.15)
Side 2
- Down the Road (Roud 11585) (1.37)
- The Lone Pilgrim (Roud 2841) (3.02)
- Texas Gales / Blackberry Rag (instrumental) (1.53)
- Darling Corey (Roud 5723) (2.34)
- The Triplett Tragedy (Roud 23070) (5.25)
- Muddy Roads (instrumental) (1.20)
- The Lost Soul (Roud 19348) (2.51)
CD bonus tracks
- Keep to the Middle of the Road (Roud 23068) (1.14)
- The Old Man Below (Roud 11270) (1.35)
- Pretty Saro (Roud 417) (1.42)
- Cousin Sally Brown (instrumental) (2.20)
- Look Down That Lonesome Road (Roud 824) (2.06)
- Doodle Bug (1.02)
- Rambling Hobo (instrumental) (1.38)
- The Cuckoo Bird (Roud 413; G/D 6:1157; Henry H479) (3.03)
- Frosty Morn (instrumental) (1.41)
- Shady Grove (Roud 4456) (2.17)
- Southbound (Roud 11269) (2.40)
> Folk Music > Records > Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City
Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City
![]() |
Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City Folkways Records FA 2426 (LP, USA, 1963) |
![]() |
Recorded live by George Pickow at Gerde’s Folk City;
Mastered by Peter Bartok;
Notes by Jean Ritchie, quotes by Doc Watson;
Cover photo by George Pickow;
Cover design by Ronald Clyne
Liner notes (PDF) at Smithsonian Global Sound
Musicians
[The track numbers refer to the original 1963 album]
Jean Ritchie: vocals [1-2, 5-9, 11, 14-15],
dulcimer [5, 9, 11];
Doc Watson: vocals [1, 3, 7-8, 10, 13, 16],
chorus vocals [7],
guitar [1, 3-4, 7-8, 12-13],
banjo [2, 6, 10, 14],
harmonica [4, 13];
Roger Sprung: vocals [15],
chorus vocals [7],
fiddle [5, 11],
banjo [7, 12]
Tracks
1963 Album FA 2426
Side 1
- Storms Are on the Ocean (Roud 4628)
- Go Dig My Grave (Railroad Boy) (Roud 409; Laws P24)
- Spike-Driver Blues (Roud 4299)
- Soldier’s Joy instrumental
- Don’t Mind the Weather (Roud 22734)
- Hiram Hubbard (Roud 2208; Laws A20)
- Sugar on the Floor (Roud 5051)
Side 1
- Where Are You Goin’ (Roud 298; G/D 4:812)
- Pretty Polly (Roud 15; Laws P36B)
- Willie Moore (Roud 4816)
- What’ll I Do With the Baby-O? (Roud 826)
- Cripple Creek instrumental
- Wabash Cannonball (Roud 4228)
- The House Carpenter (Roud 14; Child 243; G/D 2:332)
- Amazing Grace (Roud 5430)
All tracks trad. except
Track 15 John Newton
1990 Album SF 40005
Side 1
- Storms Are on the Ocean (Roud 4628) (3.26)
- Go Dig My Grave (Railroad Boy) (Roud 409; Laws P24) (3.50)
- Spike-Driver Blues (Roud 4299) (2.40)
- Over the River Charlie (Roud 729; G/D 1:135) (1.14)
- Soldier’s Joy instrumental (1.23)
- Swing and Turn Jubilee (Roud 7403) (2.12)
- East Virginia (Roud 3396) (2.36)
- Hiram Hubbard (Roud 2208; Laws A20) (3.50)
- Where Are You Goin’ (Roud 298; G/D 4:812) (2.00)
Side 2
- Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (Roud 11758) (2.52)
- Pretty Polly (Roud 15; Laws P36B) (2.25)
- Willie Moore (Roud 4816) (3.24)
- What’ll I Do With the Baby-O? (Roud 826) (2.09)
- Pretty Saro (Roud 417) (1.49)
- Wabash Cannonball (Roud 4228) (3.18)
- The House Carpenter (Roud 14; Child 243; G/D 2:332) (4.29)
- Amazing Grace (Roud 5430) (3.48)
> Folk Music > Records > The Watson Family: The Watson Family Tradition
The Watson Family Tradition
![]() |
The Watson Family Tradition Rounder Records 0129 (LP, USA, 1977) |
![]() |
Recorded by Ralph Rinzler and Daniel Seeger in September 1964
[4, 6-12, 19-20]
and May 1965
[1-3, 5, 13-18, 21];
Spoken passages by Doc Watson recorded by A.L. Lloyd in 1976;
Edited by Peter Siegel, A.L. Lloyd and Ralph Rinzler;
Produced by A.L. Lloyd and Ralph Rinzler;
Front sleeve photograph by Daniel Seeger;
Sleeve design by Tony Russell
Musicians
Gaither Carlton (1901-1972):
fiddle [1-2, 5-10, 15],
vocal [13, 15, 21],
banjo [13, 17, 21];
Dolly Greer:
vocal [3, 11, 16, 20];
Tina Greer:
vocal [14, 18];
Annie Watson:
vocal [19];
Arnold Watson:
banjo [5-6, 12],
vocal [19];
Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson (1923-2012):
vocal [4-6, 9, 19],
guitar [2, 4, 6-7, 10, 12],
banjo [5, 8];
Merle Watson (1949-1985):
guitar [8, 10];
Rosa Lee Watson (1931-):
vocal [4]
(Rosa Lee Watson is Gaither Carlton’s daughter and Doc Watson’s wife;
Merle Watson was Doc and Rosa Lee Watson’s son)
Tracks
Side 1
- [Gaither] Georgie (Roud 90; Child 209; G/D 2:249) (1.05)
- [Gaither, Doc] Fish in the Mill-Pond (1.40)
- [Dolly] Children’s Songs: Julie Jenkins (Roud 731) / Hushabye (Roud 6705) / Baa Nanny Black Sheep (Roud 18267) / Sheepy and the Goat (Roud 15661) (2.28)
- [Rosa Lee, Doc] I Heard My Mother Weeping (3.02)
- [Gaither, Arnold, Doc] Reuben’s Train (Roud 3423) (2.40)
- [Gaither, Arnold, Doc] Biscuits (Roud 7876) (3.14)
- [Gaither, Doc] Tucker’s Barn (3.00)
- [Gaither, Doc, Merle] Give the Flddler a Dram (1.50)
- [Doc, Gaither] And Am I Born to Die? (Roud 6678) (4.08)
Side 2
- [Gaither, Doc, Merle] Marthy, Won’t You Have Some Good Old Cider? (2.06)
- [Dolly] A-Roving on a Winter’s Night (Roud 3601; G/D 8:1540) (1.58)
- [Arnold, Doc] Arnold’s Tune (0.45)
- [Gaither] Pretty Saro (Roud 417) (2.12)
- [Tina] Early, Early in the Spring (Roud 152; Laws M1; G/D 1:51) (2.03)
- [Gaither] Little Maggie (Roud 5723) (2.35)
- [Dolly] Bill Banks (2.28)
- [Gaither] Rambling Hobo (1.10)
- [Tina] One Morning in May (Roud 140; Laws P14; TYG 34) (1.42)
- [Doc, Arnold, Annie] The Faithful Soldier (Roud 15077) (4.02)
- [Dolly] Omie Wise (Roud 447; Laws F4) (2.43)
- [Gaither] Jimmy Sutton (Roud 7878) (1.12)