R.L.'s Blues

*Cover Photo by my brother Cody *Cover design by R. Ray Lankford

*Produced by R. Ray Lankford *Liner notes gathered from notes and conversations with Ray by W.P. Buick*

dedicated to the dirt, the struggle, & the blues along the way

Personal thanks to my wife, my few close friends, my father, and my dog. Dark Sky, Bright Stars.

To thank some artists whose music fueled the engine of my mind on this albums journey: Tommy Johnson, Bo Carter, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Ishmon Bracey, Sylvester Weaver, Rev. E.W. Clayborn, FAHEY, WAITS, & PATTON... & so many more. We shall never let the flame die out.

THE MONTE ROOT RECORDS CATALOGUE

-Ray Lankford * Of Many Rivers * MRR001 -Feb. 29, 2024

-Ray Lankford * Pine & Trauma* MRR002 * June 30, 2024

-Ray Lankford * R.L.'s BluesMRR003 * May 1st, 2025

Notes On The Songs

(Quotes from Mr. Lankford gathered and arranged by W,P. Buick)

1. The Old Rugged Cross (for Roy Gowey) - INFORMATION: Written in 1912 by George Bennard, first recorded by Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher in 1921. RELATION TO R.L.'S BLUES: "Roy requested this song be played at his funeral service. My father and I honored this request, with my dad playing rhythm on one of Roy's guitars and doing vocals, and myself playing dobro accompaniment. I play it here with a slide in open D. No particular style or version is attempted here. Personally my favorite is the 1921 version, but I also love the attempts of Johnny Cash and Ernest Tubb. It's a beautiful song." 

2. Requiem For Roy Gowey - "Roy Allen Gowey was a dear friend of my father and he was like an uncle to me. He had an amazing giving spirit, an otherworldly knowledge of music as well as MANY other things, and he had a way of being all his own. It was with great sadness and grief that I composed this requiem for him, and it is with great respect to him that I record and publish it. Roy had a very deep and smooth voice, but his guitar playing skill never quite got to such a smooth place; this resulted in a very unique mix when he did both together; the slow, reoccuring bass string part is my way of interpreting that. I hope you've found peace and comfort beyond the horizon Roy, thank you for all the conversations, memories, and love. Roy Allen Gowey was born December 15th, 1953 and passed on July 17th, 2024; peace be to his ashes. W.P.'S NOTE: Charlie Patton's "I'm Goin' Home" can be heard at one point in the song, I asked Ray about this to which he explained that at the time of Roy's passing he was listening to the song heavily as well as "You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Come To Die" and "Some Happy Day," both by Patton.

3. M.L.'s Blues - "Written not necessarily for, but about my father. A man who continues to be a shining light in human kindness despite life throwing its weight at him time and time again. His perseverance is unmatched, his arms always open for those in need. Like his father before him, he works harder than anyone and I've never heard someone speak a bad word about him. The amount of gratitude I have for the way I was raised is beyond explanation, and my roots in music have him to thank. This odd year of '24 has brought many passings very close to us, my father being closer to all than I; he's handled things so well, and I hope me continues to AS FOR THE INFLUENCES: "The minor section just came out of improvisation upon the idea; the section in C came much the same way, but as I messed around with variations, it started to sound slightly "Doc Watson-esque, " which ended up working out perfectly as my dad's favorite artist is Doc. I do all the variations at some point in the recording, I love playing the song. It's also worth note that I was listening to "Dad's Blues" by Sylvester Weaver a LOT at the time of composition so to me the two are inseparable." 

4. Monte Rag : Part 1 - "Originally somewhat written in May of '23, but shelved until August when I remembered it and it bloomed quickly. It was titled the second time I picked it up, and it was named such for my little old man dog Monte. The whines and general feel made me think of him immediately. The coincidence of his name being "Monte" and the "Monte Root" of my prior experiences and note is shocking, mystifying, and some would even say suspicious... The 5th shall be plead once again in our questioning." 

5. Monte Rag : Part 2 - INFORMATION: Based on "Cuban Two Step Rag" which appears to be traditional, first recorded by Smith's Garage Fiddle Band in 1928 and released 1929. RELATION TO R.L.'S BLUES: "Titled such as Monte is a havanese, the national dog of Cuba. I simply love the original song, as well as the version by "The Old 78's." The tuning and capo remain the same from the previous part as I want to play the two parts together live and it just happened to work well. It feels great to get the sound of the song out of just one instrument, but I'll be the first to say that it's a rough interpretation."

6. All The Blackberries That Never Ripen - "Improvised, listened to, and improvised upon much, much more. Channeling Basho to the best of my ability at points. The fun of getting lost in the angelic sounds of a 12-string is like that of walking through the blackberries of Oregon. It's a song of varying temperatures and landscapes, different ideas and failures, and certainly multiple paths to completion." W.P.'S NOTE: The classic tune "Blackberry Blossom" can be heard in one section, Ray says his favorite version is by "Burnett & Rutherford." It's worth note to us that the tune has a very interesting history for those curious about such things. This next quote/piece is from a pile of notes Ray gave to me for use in the notes for the album, it's always surprising the stuff I find that he seems to have forgotten ever writing; this small chunk struck me especially..

"Oregon coast, cold fall, frost. The lush blackberries begin their natural cycle of decay. All those little green dreams rot away and contribute what they have to the future. All the blackberries that never ripen, all the dreams that never happen."

7. To Athol Via Knott's Berry Farm (She's A Real Corkscrew) - INFORMATION: Based on "Run, Mollie, Run" by Henry Thomas; recorded 1927, released 1928. This song ALSO has an interesting history and therefore ends up being a relative to multiple other old songs. RELATION TO R.L.'S BLUES: "Henry Thomas remains influential to generations and it's more than deserved. The song is about the “Corkscrew," a rollercoaster in the theme park of my childhood. It was the first rollercoaster in modern time to successfully go upside down and debuted in 1975 at Knott's Berry Farm; multiple clones were made and shipped around the country, the original making its way to Athol, Idaho in 1989, where it has been since. I'd say "Henry Thomas ringing through your head as you're sick & drunk on a rollercoaster" is a good way to describe the song."

8. R.L.'s Blues - "A mess really. I wanted to compose something that sounded like dry dirt. Like sage grass and brush. Like cave water. Like sand between your fingers. It's a pretty good look into my mind and what the world sounds like to me. This year of '24 has been one filled with times of deep self reflection. I find my mind asking many odd questions to no one but myself. "How many unfamiliar nights must I occupy this empty canvas of self perpetuating dementia?" "How crazy would I go if I was stranded in the desert with nothing but a guitar?"-" I find hope to be unimaginable lately, but who knows I suppose. I may be destined to slip in the slush of winter forever. I feel a great sense of loss. All sorts of it. To tell ya the truth W.P.. I'm not sure where I'll be very soon; I could be in the land of cactus and sage brush the next time you try to contact me for comments. Would that matter to you? If I was off on a meaningless romp in the kudzu vines of Missouri? Would you find it meaningless? I doubt that very highly. I imagine myself reading an article you've written for our damn executives about how I'm out and about flipping over the rocks of my soul, when in reality I haven't a solitary goddamn clue of what I'm doing. Sometimes I wish you'd let my words and mind (or the fantastical picture of my mind that you've built in your own) be... But sometimes I also find light in your overly analytical nature, so I'm left powerless to myself AND to you..

I pray the words of the Mississippi Sheiks come true, "But after all of my hard travelin', things about comin' my way!"

9. Medley:Stovepipe Blues/I Wonder To Myself - INFORMATION: (Stovepipe Blues)Recorded May 10th, 1924 by Daddy Stovepipe. (I Wonder To Myself) Recorded December 1929 by Tommy Johnson. RELATION TO R.L.'S BLUES: "Two of my favorite old blues tunes that made me feel a sense of melancholia in the same way. The idea has actually been in my mind for quite a while, but only recently have I liked the way it came out. Let us admire how well these tunes hold up after 100 years & 95 years respectfully. It's a testament to not only the talent these guys had, but to the transcendent nature of music. Good melody carries past the crackle & years and delivers. It is positioned here on the album to provide mental relief from the previous song before the upcoming horrors..."

10. K (The Bees That Took My Baby An' Brought Me Back An Ol' Guitar) - "Written in an attempt to relieve an overwhelming sense of impending doom that is glooming over me. Pieces were first improvised in the cab of my 1980 Chevy LUV, great sound in there. It's been continuously worked on for a few months, many practice sessions intended for work on other songs have been taken over by coming back to its world; it's very special to me. During and after the time of initial improvisation, I was having vivid dreams. Failed salmon fishing, recurring ringing payphones, bartering bees, & deep longing. I'm either bound to get hit by a comet, or destined to disintegrate to dust; neither of which thrills me particularly. I'm curious to see if anyone even likes the song... probably just the really out-there hippies, maybe classical music freaks." 

11. Medley: Bicycle Built For Two/Amazing Grace - INFORMATION: (Bicycle Built For Two) Written in 1892 by Harry Dacre, first recorded in 1893 by Dan W. Quinn. (Amazing Grace)Written in 1772 by John Newton, first recorded in 1922 by the Sacred Harp Choir. RELATION TO R.L.'S BLUES: "Makes me laugh to put 'em together, they're great old songs. I suppose I don't really have a strong connection to either, they both just happen to be playable in C and I think the shift between them is fun. The title I've given it in my head is "The Tricycle Of The Holy Trinity."

12. Requiem For Gene Jacobs - "Gene Jacobs was an incredibly important person for many in my small town. He was the pastor of a very nice church in town, and his untimely passing devastated MANY people, MANY who did not even go church. He was SUCH a kind human being. Much has been said about Gene by many folks far more fit to speak about him than I, so I improvised this such to honor such a good man in a way I know how. He was born October 1964 & passed April 2024. Condolences to all those who felt this tremendously sad loss."

13. Poor Boy Long Ways From Home ("On Seeing Fahey's Grave") - "If 2024 had had a shining moment for me, it was the trip with DeAnna back to Oregon after a year away. What a joy to be back on the sand, flying under the hanging trees. I had a goal in mind. Go see Fahey. So as we traveled back home from the coast we sidetracked to Salem and wandered up the hill early in the morning to pay our respects. I sat alone with him, we talked a bit; about Patton of course, but he had talked that topic too much so we moved on to Barbecue Bob. I'll leave the other words there where they belong... It was an incredibly powerful experience. I wept, cleaned the beautiful headstone, left a finger pick, and finally left him alone (I apologize Fahey if I was annoying.) As we left, the sun glistened off the moist morning hills of outer Salem, and I thought deeply about the words on his headstone...

"The voice of the turtle is heard in our land"

14. Montana Over Yonder Mountain - "This is a toss in, a framework for future things. If you're hearing it early, it means you've purchased the album to some extent so I'll give an inside tip. I'm shifting directions a bit. After a learning break I'm coming back in full country blues form. Slick guitar! Belting vocals! Booze! Like Montana its just over yonder mountain. Be on the watch"

• Songs 1-5 & 8-10 recorded with my 1920s0r30s First Hawaiian Conservatory

• Songs 6 & 11-13 recorded with my Gibson Parlor 12-string

• Song 7 recorded with "Jack," my dearly cherished Recording King RPH-05

• Song 14 recorded with my Tacoma DM-10

SUMMONING CANNED & BOTTLED GHOSTS, LEARNIN & RAMBLIN, WALKING THROUGH A MIND

"What does a man do when overcome by an overwhelming sense of impending doom and intuition? I fear I May never know before I am Killed by none other than the Devil Himself..."

"In deep self reflective times I wonder to myself if the steel string acoustic guitar hath the power to conjure forces far beyond average mortal comprehension and if I, a simple folklorist, could have accidentally and unknowingly unleashed trapped spiritual goblins from days of yester."

"Then I'll go back to bed boy. I'll cover my head, I don't care if I never wake up" -Gus Cannon

Hellhounds start to chase me and I was a runnin' fool.

"Hellhounds start to chasin' me and I was a runnin' fool.

My ankles caught on fire couldn't keep my puppies cool."

-Sylvester Weaver

"Alcohol, alcohol, cryin' sure lord killin' me.

(Is that so boy?)

Alcohol mama, lord is killin' me.

(Ought to let it 'lone then!)

If alcohol don't kill me, Lord I'll never die.

-Tommy Johnson

"Today I went on a long & mystical journey. UP MIGHTY RIVER LONG & COLD...

I had to cross an ancient fallen log bridge on my way. Oh how it hissed and felt as if it would buckle under me. The River was full of curiosity inducing fish & creatures of all variation and splendor. At one point I came across a quite large frog. Flooded with oh so precious & pure memories of younghood, scooping up such type frogs with my Grandfather, I asked the amphibian if I could pick him up. To which he replied yes, obviously sensing my previous experience and love for animals. I had only one question for him. "Aren't your little bones cold in such a frigid river, whose icy waters claim at least one per year?" He replied in a way that only a frog could, his eyes going even farther apart (somehow) and croaking out a simple "I don't know"...

Genuinely satisfied with this answer, I released him onto a nearby rock and went about my travels, happy with the exchange. Down the trail long way I lit and smoked thoroughly a cigarette, enjoying the relaxation from an otherwise hard time in life. The journey continued ina flash, and quickly began to wrap up much to my grief, but not before another encounter with the local wildlife. As I walked along a particularly rocky and steep stretch of land I came across a deer. I unintentionally spooked the deer so badly that she bolted up a hillside far too steep, couldn't make it to the top, and fell terribly down the entire hill. But to my great surprise she got right up and ran away. It was a very prophetic and inspiring moment that couldn't have come at a better time...

The quest for nothing was over with another cigarette and a look to the future."

* Some Words From W.P. *

 After an extended period of silence from Mr. Lankford, I received a letter informing me of his intention to release another album. Attached with the letter was a cassette copy of Tommy Johnson's catalogue, 3 particularly long cigarettes of which had zero branding, and 2 new rolls of typewriter ribbon. This came as swell news as its always a pleasure to hear from the kid. We corresponded for a couple weeks, before meeting in a location inconvenient for both of us(our standard gentlemens deal.) Unlike previous meetings, the kid seemed quite down, disconnected, and deep in unhealthy habits. He played me what had been recorded of the album, which struck me as different, even for him. He told me stories of recent excursions; giving frogs cigarettes and sailing drunk on the ever deep and dark Pondorae Sea. The liquor had become a friend of his. I informed him I thought dark forces had entered his music. He smirked his unhideable grin and moved onto a different topic. I felt I had struck a nerve. The ranting he was always capable of had now turned into hour long lectures om the blues, birds, moon, and on and on. Anytime I tried to ask him personal questions he got far more quiet than our previous, insightful conversations. When I asked him how he was REALLY doing, he said simply, "ok.". I knew from the tone he wasn't talking about the "OKEH" label. I pried deeper, but he quickly cut me off, exclaiming "I could have used ONE letter, K, but I gave you two because you're a friend; leave it." I stopped. He WAS, as always, very ready to talk inspiration for the songs and album. Thank goodness I got something out of him.

"Thank you to D&S Outdoors for providing a listening ear through many a hardship, as well as my hats for almost 6 years. It's a gift to find such kind & true friends."

-Ray

Songs Deemed "VITALLY IMPORTANT" To The Creation Of The album By Mr. Lankford.

 *FAHEY - "Impressions Of Susan" "Knotts Berry Farm Molly" "May this Be Love/ Casey Jones" "My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs" "Days Have Gone By" "On Doing An Evil Deed Blues" "The Voice Of The Turtle" "Gamelan Guitar"

*PATTON -"Highwater Everywhere 1&2" "Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues" "Troubled 'Bout My Mother" "Pea Vine Blues":

*TOMMY JOHNSON - "Alcohol & Jake Blues" "I Want Someone To Love Me" "Ridin' Horse" "Big Road Blues"

*ISHMON BRACEY - "Saturday Blues" "Woman, Woman, Blues"

*BO CARTER - "Some Day" "Lets Get Drunk Again" "Honey" "Old Devil" "Bo Carter's Advice" "Backache Blues" "Whos Been Here"

*TOM WAITS - "Hoist That Rag" (all of 2004 Real Gone) "Temptation" "Just The Right Bullets"

*GUS CANNON & THE JUG STOMPERS - "My Money Never Runs Out" "Last Chance Blues" "Bring It With You When You Come" "Springdale Blues" "Wolf River Blues" "Minglewood Blues"

*FURRY LEWIS - "Rock Island Blues" "I'll Turn Your Money Green" "Big Chief Blues" "Everybodys Blues" "Furrys Blues"

*SYLVESTER WEAVER - "Dads Blues" "Rock Pile Blues" "Devil Blues" "Poor Boy Blues" "Bottleneck Blues" "Soft Steel Piston" "St. Louis Blues"

*REV. EW CLAYBORN - "Death Is Only A Dream" "There'll Be Glory" "I Shall Not Be Moved"

*BOOKER WHITE - "I Am In That Heavenly Way" "Sleepy Man Blues" "Shake 'Em On Down" "When Can I Change My Clothes"

*BARBECUE BOB - "My Mistake Blues" "Me And My Whiskey" "Spider And The Fly" 

*SAM COLLINS - "Lead Me All The Way" "Hesitation Blues"

*DADDY STOVEPIPE - "Black Snake Blues" "Tuxedo Blues" "Sundown Blues" "35 Depression Blues" "Greensville Strut"

*TEXAS ALEXANDER - "Seen Better Days" "Peaceful Blues" "Tell me Woman Blues" 

*FRANK HUTCHISON - "Cumberland Gap" "Railroad Bill" "Johnny & Jane 1&2" "The Train That Carried The Girl From Town (8078)"

*THE INK SPOTS - "Maybe" "If I Didn't Care"

*FRANK SINATRA - "I'll Be Around" "Blue" "It Never Entered My Mind" 

*ROBBIE BASHO - "Roses And Snow" "Swamp Song" "Cathedrals et Fleur de Lis" 

*ANANDA SHANKAR - "Snow Flower" "Mamata (Affection)" 

*MILES DAVIS QUINTET - "It Never Entered My Mind" 

*THE SKILLET LICKERS - "Hand Me Down My Walkin' Cane"

*KID BAILEY - "Rowdy Blues" 

*ARTIE SHAW - "Nightmare"

*REESE DU PREE - "Norfolk Blues" 

*ELGARS CREOLE ORCHESTRA - "Nightmare"