Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy
Encyclopedia
Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy is the 1970 album from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
that contains the hit song "Mr. Bojangles
". The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (aka The Dirt Band) is notable for having many charting albums and singles. The album reached #66 on US charts. Three singles charted: "Mr. Bojangles" reached #9, "House On Pooh Corner" reached #53, and "Some Of Shelly's Blues" reached #64.
Contributing Musicians (credited on original LP)
Not credited on LP or CD
2003 CD Reissue with two additional tracks and new liner notes
, best known as a member of The Monkees
. Jimmy Ibbotson and Jeff Hanna share the vocals. It features harmonica break by Jimmie Fadden. It was released as a single twice. Because the title doesn't appear in the lyrics, fans were confused about what song to request on the radio or buy.
Prodigal's Return (Kenny Loggins
/Dann Lottermoser)
Cure (Jeff Hanna)
Travelin' Mood was written and first recorded by R&B artist James "We Willie" Waynes in 1955. It is sung on this album by Jimmy Fadden.
Chicken Reel (Traditional) is an instrumental track.
Yukon Railroad (Kenny Loggins/Dann Lottermoser)
Livin' Without You (Randy Newman
)
On Clinch Mountain Backstep John plays banjo, Les plays mandolin, Jimmie plays one string washtub bass, and jeff plays the washboard and cymbals. The is credited to Ruby Rakes. Ruby Rakes Eubanks it the half sister of Ralph and Carter Stanley (The Stanley Brothers). She was assigned the rights to many of their songs for personal financial reasons.
Rave On is the Buddy Holly
song. Jimmy and Jeff share the lead vocal.
Billy in the Low Ground is an instrumental written and played by Les Thompson on mandolin. It is a short song that fades in and then out.
Jesse James is a 1963 recording of Uncle Charlie, who was a relative of Bill McEuen's wife. It is a folk song that datas back to at least to 1924. Uncle Charlie stops mid-song saying "That's about all I can think of".
The Uncle Charlie Interview is from the same 1963 recording. He first gives some biographical information. He was born in Kaufman County, Texas on September 11, 1886. Moved to California in 1906 (20 years old). Did not serve in either world war. He was the youngest in the family and took care of his parents in their old age. He then gets his dog Teddy to sing (howl) along with his harmonica. This leads directly into Mr. Bojangles, associating the real man with the song character, thereby making the song character more real.
Mr. Bojangles
was written and recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker
. Jeff Hanna heard the song on the radio one night and mentioned to Jimmy Ibbotson. Ibbotson knew the song and actually had been carrying the single (a gift) around in his trunk for months. They cleaned it off and transcribe the song as best they could. This story is told in more colorful detail on the 2003 Cd Reissue.
Opus 36 was written by English classical composer Muzio Clementi
in 1797. Its full title is "Sonatina in C major, op.36, no.1". It was arranged and adapted by Walter McEuen and played on banjo by John McEuen. On the original album cover and label the title appears as "Opus 36, Clementi (John)", but as just "Opus 36 on the inner sleeve. On the 2003 CD reissue it is listed as just "Opus 36".
Santa Rosa (Kenny Loggins)
Propinquity (Michael Nesmith)
Uncle Charlie is a harmonica and guitar instrumental.
On Randy Lynn Rag producer Bill McEuen brought the all the studio personnel into the studio as an audience to inspire to band to cook on the tune. At the end of the track the crowd applauds and cheers. Finally someone says "Thank you for the clap", then two more claps lead seamlessly into the next song.
When House at Pooh Corner
was played for him by a its songwriter Kenny Loggins, Jimmy Ibbotson wanted to record it. When Ibbotson was in second grade he was struck with polio. While he was at home that year he read a lot of A. A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh stories, so the characters had warm place in his heart.
Swanee River (Stephen Foster
) is a instrumental play by Jimmie Fadden on harmonica.
Uncle Charlie Interview #2 / Spanish Fandango (Traditional)
Mississippi Rain (Lottermoser)
What Goes On is a Beatles song, and one of the few songs sung by Les Thompson.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
that contains the hit song "Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles (song)
Mr. Bojangles is the title of a song originally written and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title...
". The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (aka The Dirt Band) is notable for having many charting albums and singles. The album reached #66 on US charts. Three singles charted: "Mr. Bojangles" reached #9, "House On Pooh Corner" reached #53, and "Some Of Shelly's Blues" reached #64.
Track listing
- "Some of Shelly's Blues" (Michael NesmithMichael NesmithRobert Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name...
) – 2:51 - "Prodigal's Return" (Kenny LogginsKenny LogginsDuring the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
, Dann Lottermoser) – 3:11 - "Cure" (Jeff Hanna) – 2:11
- "Travelin' Mood" (James Waynes) – 2:39
- "Chicken Reel" (Traditional) – 0:55
- "Yukon Railroad" (Kenny Loggins, Dann Lottermoser) – 2:16
- "Livin' Without You" (Randy NewmanRandy NewmanRandall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
) – 2:00 - "Clinch Mountain Backstep" (Ruby Rakes) – 2:31
- "Rave OnRave On"Rave On" is a 1958 song written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty, first recorded by Sonny West . It was also recorded by Buddy Holly, and was one of his last hits during his lifetime...
" (Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
, Bill Tilghman, Sonny WestSonny WestSonny West is a rock and roll-musician. West wrote and recorded both "Oh, Boy!" and "Rave On" on the Atlantic label in the late 1950s...
) – 2:56 - "Billy in the Low Ground" (Les Thompson) – 1:13
- "Jesse James" (Traditional) – 0:50
- "Uncle Charlie Interview" (Uncle Charlie) – 1:38
- "Mr. BojanglesMr. Bojangles (song)Mr. Bojangles is the title of a song originally written and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title...
" (Jerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
) – 3:37 - "Opus 36" (Muzio Clementi) – 1:42
- "Santa Rosa" (Kenny Loggins) – 2:24
- "Propinquity" (Michael Nesmith) – 2:20
- "Uncle Charlie" (Jimmie Fadden) – 1:49
- "Randy Lynn Rag" (Earl ScruggsEarl ScruggsEarl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
) – 1:46 - "House at Pooh CornerHouse at Pooh Corner (song)"House at Pooh Corner" is the title of a song that was written by Kenny Loggins, based on the popular children's book of the same name. The song was first performed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1970 album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and then performed by Loggins and Messina on their...
" (Kenny Loggins) – 2:39 - "Swanee River" (Stephen FosterStephen FosterStephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
) – 0:36 - "Uncle Charlie Interview #2 / Spanish Fandango" (Traditional) – 2:36
- "Mississippi Rain" (Lottermoser) - 3:06 (2003 CD Reissue with extra tracks)
- "What Goes On" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) - 2:12 (2003 CD Reissue with extra tracks)
Personnel
The Band- Les Thompson - electric bass, mandolin, electric guitar, vocals
- Jimmie Fadden - lead acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica, washtub bass, vocals (drums not credited on LP)
- Jeff Hanna - rhythm acoustic and electric guitar, drums, washboard, percussion, vocals
- Jimmy Ibbotson - rhythm acoustic guitar, lead electric guitar, electric piano, drums, conga, accordion, vocals (keyboards not credited on LP)
- John McEuenJohn McEuenJohn McEuen , is an American folk musician and entertainer. He was one of the earliest members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He played with the band from 1966 to 1986, and returned in 2001.The group prior to that 'dissolved' a few times briefly, but none as long as in 1968, right after spending 4...
- banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, accordion (vocals, guitar, steel guitar not credited on LP)
Contributing Musicians (credited on original LP)
- Bill Cunningham
- Maurice Manceau - guitar, keyboards, vocals (instrument not credited on LP)
- Jim GordonJim Gordon (musician)James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
- horns, keyboards (instrument not credited on LP) - Mike Rubine
- John LondonJohn LondonJohn Carl Kuehne , better known as John London, was an American musician and songwriter, and was involved in several Hollywood television and movie productions...
- bass (instrument not credited on LP) - Byron BerlineByron BerlineByron Berline is an American fiddle player.-Biography:Berline started playing the fiddle at age five and quickly developed a talent for it. In 1965, he recorded the album Pickin' and Fiddlin with the Dillards...
- violin (instrument not credited on LP) - Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
- drums (instrument not credited on LP)
Not credited on LP or CD
- Chris Darrow - guitar, violin, vocals
- Ralph Barr - guitar, vocals
Production
- Producer: William McEuen
- Recording Engineer: Woody Woodward
- Mixing: John McEuen/Jimmy Hoyson
- Art Direction: Dean Torrence / Kittyhawk Graphics
- Photography: William McEuen
2003 CD Reissue with two additional tracks and new liner notes
- Interview and Liner Notes : Robyn Flans
About The Tracks
Some of Shelly's Blues was written by Michael NesmithMichael Nesmith
Robert Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name...
, best known as a member of The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
. Jimmy Ibbotson and Jeff Hanna share the vocals. It features harmonica break by Jimmie Fadden. It was released as a single twice. Because the title doesn't appear in the lyrics, fans were confused about what song to request on the radio or buy.
Prodigal's Return (Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
/Dann Lottermoser)
Cure (Jeff Hanna)
Travelin' Mood was written and first recorded by R&B artist James "We Willie" Waynes in 1955. It is sung on this album by Jimmy Fadden.
Chicken Reel (Traditional) is an instrumental track.
Yukon Railroad (Kenny Loggins/Dann Lottermoser)
Livin' Without You (Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
)
On Clinch Mountain Backstep John plays banjo, Les plays mandolin, Jimmie plays one string washtub bass, and jeff plays the washboard and cymbals. The is credited to Ruby Rakes. Ruby Rakes Eubanks it the half sister of Ralph and Carter Stanley (The Stanley Brothers). She was assigned the rights to many of their songs for personal financial reasons.
Rave On is the Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
song. Jimmy and Jeff share the lead vocal.
Billy in the Low Ground is an instrumental written and played by Les Thompson on mandolin. It is a short song that fades in and then out.
Jesse James is a 1963 recording of Uncle Charlie, who was a relative of Bill McEuen's wife. It is a folk song that datas back to at least to 1924. Uncle Charlie stops mid-song saying "That's about all I can think of".
The Uncle Charlie Interview is from the same 1963 recording. He first gives some biographical information. He was born in Kaufman County, Texas on September 11, 1886. Moved to California in 1906 (20 years old). Did not serve in either world war. He was the youngest in the family and took care of his parents in their old age. He then gets his dog Teddy to sing (howl) along with his harmonica. This leads directly into Mr. Bojangles, associating the real man with the song character, thereby making the song character more real.
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles (song)
Mr. Bojangles is the title of a song originally written and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title...
was written and recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
. Jeff Hanna heard the song on the radio one night and mentioned to Jimmy Ibbotson. Ibbotson knew the song and actually had been carrying the single (a gift) around in his trunk for months. They cleaned it off and transcribe the song as best they could. This story is told in more colorful detail on the 2003 Cd Reissue.
Opus 36 was written by English classical composer Muzio Clementi
Muzio Clementi
Muzio Clementi was a celebrated composer, pianist, pedagogue, conductor, music publisher, editor, and piano manufacturer. Born in Italy, he spent most of his life in England. He is best known for his piano sonatas, and his collection of piano studies, Gradus ad Parnassum...
in 1797. Its full title is "Sonatina in C major, op.36, no.1". It was arranged and adapted by Walter McEuen and played on banjo by John McEuen. On the original album cover and label the title appears as "Opus 36, Clementi (John)", but as just "Opus 36 on the inner sleeve. On the 2003 CD reissue it is listed as just "Opus 36".
Santa Rosa (Kenny Loggins)
Propinquity (Michael Nesmith)
Uncle Charlie is a harmonica and guitar instrumental.
On Randy Lynn Rag producer Bill McEuen brought the all the studio personnel into the studio as an audience to inspire to band to cook on the tune. At the end of the track the crowd applauds and cheers. Finally someone says "Thank you for the clap", then two more claps lead seamlessly into the next song.
When House at Pooh Corner
House at Pooh Corner (song)
"House at Pooh Corner" is the title of a song that was written by Kenny Loggins, based on the popular children's book of the same name. The song was first performed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1970 album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and then performed by Loggins and Messina on their...
was played for him by a its songwriter Kenny Loggins, Jimmy Ibbotson wanted to record it. When Ibbotson was in second grade he was struck with polio. While he was at home that year he read a lot of A. A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh stories, so the characters had warm place in his heart.
Swanee River (Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
) is a instrumental play by Jimmie Fadden on harmonica.
Uncle Charlie Interview #2 / Spanish Fandango (Traditional)
Mississippi Rain (Lottermoser)
What Goes On is a Beatles song, and one of the few songs sung by Les Thompson.