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| The Shade Tree Boys at the Jade Club, 1970 |
| Randy Jones: Lead vocal & mandolin
Henry Beebe: Tenor vocal & banjo
Zoomer Roberts: Baritone vocal & bass
Ted Wasser: Drums
Perry Harrison: Dobro (seen in photo but not present on this recording)
In 1970, Hal Smith took a leave of absence from the Shade Tree Boys. Randy Jones, recently excited about the Dillards' "Wheatstraw Suite" LP, flashed on the idea of hiring a drummer, rehearsing, and becoming a serious acoustic/electric outfit. It was short-lived ~ the band was too stuck in its ways to make such a drastic change ~ but we had some good stuff worked up. My one attempt at recording a gig produced a lot of noise and precious little signal, and I later recorded over it. However, 10 minutes survived at the end of the second side of the tape: the last chorus of "White Lightnin'," which consists almost entirely of Henry making retching noises; me singing "Hey Porter" a quarter-tone flat; and this little gem. I tried to boost the signal and remove the noise, but some print-through can be heard in the quieter passages. Because the bass and drums weren't miked, they are mostly inaudible, except for ~ inexplicably ~ the bass drum. What remains is the pickin', the singin', and my fond memories... |
