Bluegrass Breakdown: Rattlin’, Part Two

They’re a rapid succession of short, sharp, and hard sounds that can be created by mechanical objects, musical instruments, chains, animals, boxcars and snakes, to name just a few. We covered the creepy snake part last week—this week, thanks to the Stanley Brothers; Tom, Brad & Alice; Crary, Evans & Barnick; and County Ham–we’ll be homing in on what’s left.

PROGRAM PLAYLIST

• The Stanley Brothers: “Old Rattler” from 1958-1961(King)
• Grandpa Jones: “Old Rattler’s Treed Again” from 16 Greatest Hits(Gusto)
• Country Ham: “Rattler’s Pup” from When the Mountain Laurel Blooms(Vetco)
• Tom, Brad, & Alice: “Rattler Treed a Possum” from We’ll Die In the Pigpen Fighting(Copper Creek)
• Crary, Evans, & Barnick: “Rattlin’ Roarin’ Willie” from Prime Time(Native and Fine)
• Arthur Smith: “Rattling Banjos Polka” from 50 Years of Dueling Banjos(CMH)
• Jim Wood & John Hartford: “Rattlesnake Bit the Baby” from Bullies Have All Gone to Rest(Whippoorwill)
• Carl Butler: “Shake, Rattle and Roll” from Early Classics(Golden Country)
• Bill Clifton: “Jumping Old Rattler” from Around the World to Poor Valley(Bear Family)
• Bruce Molsky: “Rattle Down the Acorns” from If It Ain’t Here When I Get Back(Tree Frog Music)
• Randy Barrett: “Shake, Rattle and Roar” from Shake, Rattle and Roar(Patuxent)
• Doc Watson: “Shake, Rattle and Roll” from Docabilly(Sugar Hill)
• Ben Holt: “Rattlesnake” from Got a Little Home To Go To(Rounder)
• The Konnorock Critters: “Rattletrap” from Rattletrap(Marimac)
• Swift Creek: “Rattle Them Bones” from Magnolia(Vital)
• Adam Steffey: Rattlin’ Bones” from Close Kin – Reunion of Bluegrass and Old Time Music(Mountain Roads)
• Dave Adkins: “Rattlin’ Chains” from Better Days(Mountain Fever)
• The Highwoods String Band: “Sheep Shell Corn By the Rattling of His Horn” from The Young Fogies(Rounder)
• Victor Furtado: “Rattletrap” from Dellorto’s Island(Patuxent)