New Boxed Set Doc Watson
NEW CAREER-SPANNING COLLECTION CELEBRATES THE MUSIC OF DOC WATSON
Out November 12 From Craft Recordings
Craft Recordings has announced the release of Life’s Work: A Retrospective—a new, career-spanning collection that celebrates the life, music and enduring influence of the iconic guitar virtuoso Doc Watson.
In stores and on digital platforms on November 12, the box set includes 101 tracks from the legendary roots artist, including collaborations with Alison Krauss, Chet Atkins, Bill Monroe and Ricky Skaggs. The collection also features Watson’s work with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, as well as his prolific musical partnership with his son, Merle.
Accompanying the four-CD set is an 88-page book, featuring extensive new liner notes by Grammy-nominated author and compilation co-producer Ted Olson.
Born and raised in Deep Gap, North Carolina, Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson (1923–2012) was born into an extended family of musicians who were masters of the traditional ballads, fiddle tunes and hymns of Appalachia. Watson, who lost his vision as a toddler, began playing the guitar as a child, earning the nickname “Doc” at a local talent competition.
In his 30s, he gained valuable experience in a country dance band, often performing the fast-paced, lead fiddle parts on guitar, a signature technique that he brought to his solo work. His incomparable fingerpicking and flat-picking skills influenced generations of artists, while his wide-open ears led him to incorporate jazz, blues, country and pop music influences, a sensibility that coalesced into what he called “traditional plus.” He was also renowned for his harmonica and banjo playing, and his soulful baritone voice (especially on an a cappella ballad such as “Talk About Suffering”).
Resonant and pitch-perfect vocals, his extensive repertoire of traditional and commercial music, and his comforting and lively stage presence [made him] a complete performer [who] proved himself proficient as the proverbial one-man-band.”
Ted Olson
Despite his talents, however, Watson didn’t gain wide acclaim until his 40s, following several pivotal events. The first was a genre-defining folk concert at Greenwich Village’s P.S. 41, followed by a pair of awe-inspiring performances at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival. A year later, he released his solo debut. The self-titled album was released on Vanguard Records, a New York-based label with classical roots which at the time was emerging as a force in folk music, its roster including Joan Baez, The Rooftop Singers and Buffy Sainte-Marie. The album found Watson interpreting a variety of folk, country and blues songs—many of which would become standards for the artist—including the Dorsey Dixon/Wade Mainer tune “Intoxicated Rat,” Dock Boggs’ “Country Blues” and the traditional “Black Mountain Rag.”
Watson would go on to release several classic albums with Vanguard in the beginning of his career, which would help to establish him as one of the most influential folk artists of his time. These early years of fame found Watson inspiring a wide range of artists, including Baez, Jerry Garcia, Ry Cooder, Stephen Stills and Peter, Paul and Mary.
Although the folk revival began to wane by the end of the 1960s, Watson found a new fanbase through his participation on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 1972 album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The highly influential title paired the country rockers with an older generation of bluegrass and country artists, including Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Maybelle Carter and Merle Travis. Watson’s rendition of Jimmy Driftwood’s “Tennessee Stud” became a breakout hit.
Watson’s career cannot be summed up without the mention of his son and longtime collaborator, Merle. Born Eddy Merle Watson (and named for Merle Travis), the younger artist not only shared his father’s uncanny talents on the guitar but was also integral in helping Doc build a wider following. The duo—who later performed in a trio setting with bassist T. Michael Coleman—began their musical partnership when Merle was just a teenager and went on to record more than a dozen albums together. Tragically, their incredible run ended in 1985 when a 36-year-old Merle lost his life in a tractor accident. (Watson honored his son’s memory by founding MerleFest, an influential music festival in Wilkesboro, North Carolina that attracts about 75,000 fans from around the world). In his later years, Watson continued the family musical tradition by touring with Merle’s son, Richard, with whom he recorded the Grammy -nominated album Third Generation Blues.
While Watson died in 2012 at the age of 89, he lived to see the incredible impact of his work. Among his many honors are
- the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts
- the National Medal of Arts
- an inductee in the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame
- eight Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement.
TRACK LISTING
CD Box Set
Disc 1
1. The Precious Jewel*
2. Pharaoh – The Jack Williams Band with Doc Watson
3. I Saw A Man At The Close Of Day
4. Rambling Hobo
5. Darling Corey
6. Your Long Journey
7. The Cuckoo Bird
8. Everyday Dirt
9. Doc’s Guitar (Tickling The Strings)/Black Mountain Rag
10. Storms Are On The Ocean – Jean Ritchie & Doc Watson
11. What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul – Bill Monroe & Doc Watson
12. And Am I Born To Die
13. My Little Woman, You’re So Sweet
14. Little Orphan Girl
15. Wanted Man
16. Sitting On Top Of The World
17. Intoxicated Rat
18. Country Blues
19. Talk About Suffering
20. Little Omie Wise
21. St. James Hospital
22. Tom Dooley
23. Beaumont Rag – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
24. Muskrat – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
25. Weary Blues – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
26. We Shall All Be Reunited – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
Disc 2
1. Southbound
2. Blue Railroad Train
3. Walk On Boy
4. Sweet Georgia Brown
5. Alberta
6. That Was The Last Thing On My Mind
7. Windy And Warm
8. Riddle Song
9. Georgie
10. Rain Crow Bill
11. Winter’s Night
12. Matty Groves
13. Dill Pickle Rag
14. Willie Moore – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
15. Peach Picking Time In Georgia
16. Memphis Blues
17. The Train That Carried My Girl From Town
18. Lost John – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
19. Brown’s Ferry Blues – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
20. The Clouds Are Gwine To Roll Away – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
21. Life Gits Teejus Don’t It – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
22. Banks Of The Ohio – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
23. Spikedriver Blues – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
24. Deep River Blues – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
Disc 3
1. Nothing To It – Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with Doc Watson
2. Streamlined Cannonball – Earl Scruggs with Doc Watson
3. Tennessee Stud – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4. Way Downtown – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5. Freight Train Boogie
6. Summertime
7. Peace In The Valley
8. That’s All – Doc & Merle Watson
9. Match Box Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
10. Bottle Of Wine – Doc & Merle Watson
11. Corrina, Corrina – Doc & Merle Watson
12. Doc’s Rag – Doc & Merle Watson
13. Poor Boy Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
14. Wake Up, Little Maggie
15. Peartree
16. Shady Grove
17. Miss The Mississippi And You
18. Steel Guitar Rag
19. Cypress Grove Blues
20. Wayfaring Stranger – Doc & Merle Watson
21. Look Up, Look Down That Lonesome Road – Doc & Merle Watson
22. Minglewood Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
23. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – Doc & Merle Watson
24. Let The Cocaine Be – Doc & Merle Watson
25. Don’t Monkey ’Round My Widder – Chet Atkins & Doc Watson
Disc 4
1. Red Rocking Chair – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
2. John Hurt – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
3. Below Freezing – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
4. Along The Road – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
5. Liza/Lady Be Good – Doc & Merle Watson
6. Going To Chicago Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
7. Guitar Polka – Doc & Merle Watson
8. Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar – Doc & Merle Watson
9. Bright Sunny South – Doc & Merle Watson
10. Twin Sisters – Doc & Merle Watson
11. How Long Blues – Doc & Merle Watson with James Cotton
12. Freight Train Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
13. Riding That Midnight Train
14. What Does The Deep Sea Say?
15. Tough Luck Man
16. George Gudger’s Overalls
17. Risin’ Sun Blues
18. Salt Creek – Norman Blake & Tony Rice
19. You Must Come In At The Door
20. Your Lone Journey
21. Grandfather’s Clock
22. Bird Dog
23. Turn The Lamps Down Low – Doc & Richard Watson
24. Nights In White Satin – Doc Watson with Frosty Morn
25. Down In The River To Pray – Doc Watson with Alison Krauss & Ricky Skaggs
26. Amazing Grace *Previously Unreleased
Digital
1. The Precious Jewel*
2. Pharaoh – The Jack Williams Band with Doc Watson
3. I Saw A Man At The Close Of Day
4. Rambling Hobo
5. Darling Corey
6. Your Long Journey
7. The Cuckoo Bird
8. Everyday Dirt
9. Doc’s Guitar (Tickling The Strings)/Black Mountain Rag
10. Storms Are On The Ocean – Jean Ritchie & Doc Watson
11. What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul – Bill Monroe & Doc Watson
12. And Am I Born To Die
13. My Little Woman, You’re So Sweet
14. Little Orphan Girl
15. Wanted Man
16. Sitting On Top Of The World
17. Intoxicated Rat
18. Country Blues
19. Talk About Suffering
20. Little Omie Wise
21. St. James Hospital
22. Tom Dooley
23. Beaumont Rag – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
24. Muskrat – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
25. Weary Blues – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
26. We Shall All Be Reunited – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
27. Southbound
28. Blue Railroad Train
29. Walk On Boy
30. Sweet Georgia Brown
31. Alberta
32. That Was The Last Thing On My Mind
33. Windy And Warm
34. Riddle Song
35. Georgie
36. Rain Crow Bill
37. Winter’s Night
38. Matty Groves
39. Dill Pickle Rag
40. Willie Moore – Doc Watson & Merle Watson
41. Peach Picking Time In Georgia
42. Memphis Blues
43. The Train That Carried My Girl From Town
44. Lost John – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
45. Brown’s Ferry Blues – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
46. The Clouds Are Gwine To Roll Away – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
47. Life Gits Teejus, Don’t It – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
48. Banks Of The Ohio – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
49. Spikedriver Blues – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
50. Deep River Blues – Doc Watson featuring Merle Watson
51. Nothing To It – Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with Doc Watson
52. Streamlined Cannonball – Earl Scruggs with Doc Watson
53. Tennessee Stud – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
54. Way Downtown – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
55. Freight Train Boogie
56. Summertime
57. Peace In The Valley
58. That’s All – Doc & Merle Watson
59. Match Box Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
60. Bottle Of Wine – Doc & Merle Watson
61. Corrina, Corrina – Doc & Merle Watson
62. Doc’s Rag – Doc & Merle Watson
63. Poor Boy Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
64. Wake Up, Little Maggie
65. Peartree
66. Shady Grove
67. Miss The Mississippi And You
68. Steel Guitar Rag
69. Cypress Grove Blues
70. Wayfaring Stranger – Doc & Merle Watson
71. Look Up, Look Down That Lonesome Road – Doc & Merle Watson
72. Minglewood Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
73. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – Doc & Merle Watson
74. Let The Cocaine Be – Doc & Merle Watson
75. Don’t Monkey ‘Round My Widder – Chet Atkins & Doc Watson
76. Red Rocking Chair – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
77. John Hurt – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
78. Below Freezing – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
79. Along The Road – Doc & Merle Watson with T. Michael Coleman
80. Liza/Lady Be Good – Doc & Merle Watson
81. Going To Chicago Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
82. Guitar Polka – Doc & Merle Watson
83. Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar – Doc & Merle Watson
84. Bright Sunny South – Doc & Merle Watson
85. Twin Sisters – Doc & Merle Watson
86. How Long Blues – Doc & Merle Watson with James Cotton
87. Freight Train Blues – Doc & Merle Watson
88. Riding That Midnight Train
89. What Does The Deep Sea Say?
90. Tough Luck Man
91. George Gudger’s Overalls
92. Risin’ Sun Blues
93. Salt Creek – Norman Blake & Tony Rice
94. You Must Come In At The Door
95. Your Lone Journey
96. Grandfather’s Clock
97. Bird Dog
98. Turn The Lamps Down Low – Doc & Richard Watson
99. Nights In White Satin – Doc Watson with Frosty Morn
100. Down In The River To Pray – Doc Watson with Alison Krauss & Ricky Skaggs
101. Amazing Grace
*Previously Unreleased
ADVERTISE WITH LISTENING THROUGH THE LENS
More Music Adventures Await!
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New Boxed Set Doc Watson
New Boxed Set Doc Watson
New Boxed Set Doc Watson
