Oklahoma twang traditionalists Delia Bell (1935-2018) and Bill Grant (1929-2019) formed a partnership over a decade before they began to make records... Their music is the hallmark of country/bluegrass authenticity, an unendingly rich repertoire of sweet, simple heartsongs sung in a straightforward, soulful, unaffected style. Every record of theirs that I've heard has been a gem. Here's a quick look at their work...
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Classic Bluegrass Today And Yesterday" (Old Homestead Records, 1996)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "My Kiamichi Mountain Home" (Kiamichi Records, 1972)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Kiamichi Country" (Kiamichi Records, 1974) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "There Is A Fountain" (Kiamichi Records, 1975)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Fourteen Memories" (Kiamichi Records, 1976)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "The Last Christmas Tree" (Kiamichi Records, 1977) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "My Pathway Leads To Oklahoma" (Kiamichi Records, 1978) (LP)
Delia Bell "Bluer Than Midnight" (County Records, 1978) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Blues, Mountain Style" (Kiamichi Records, 1979)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "The Man In The Middle" (Kiamichi Records, 1979) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Bill Grant And Delia Bell" (Rebel Records, 1980) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Rollin' " (Rebel Records, 1981)
A classic set of heartsongs and weepers from this well-loved, but little remembered folk/country/bluegrass duo. If you like the sweet, traditionally-oriented stuff Emmylou Harris did early in her career, you might want to check this out as well. Part of Rebel's ambitious program to make old records available for download... Yeah, I wish they'd put 'em out on CD, too, but well... welcome to the brave new world!
Delia Bell "Delia Bell" (Warner Brothers, 1983)
(Produced by Emmylou Harris)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "The Cheer Of The Home Fires" (Rounder Records, 1984) (LP)
(Produced by Bill Grant & Ken Irwin)
Digging deep once again into the world of sentimental, pre-honkytonk and early honkytonk twang, Bell and Grant deliver another great set of roots-oriented, old-fashioned gems, with simple back-to-basics arrangements and raw-boned vocal harmonies. Among the covers of classics by Bill Clifton, Hank Cochran and Hank Williams come a Bell/Grant original, the title track, "The Cheer Of The Home Fires" which sort of sums up their approach to country music. The backing band includes Eddie Stubbs on fiddle, Richard Underwood playing banjo, Roger Williams on dobro and Larry Robbins playing bass. Big-timer Dudley Connell sings harmony and plays guitar on one track, a nice rendition of "Sad Situation," and David McLaughlin plays fiddle and mandolin on a couple of tracks as well. As always, a nice one from this super-sincere duo.
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "A Few Dollars More" (Rounder Records, 1985) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Following A Feeling" (Rounder Records, 1988) (LP)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Dreaming Of The Times" (Old Homestead Records, 1992)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Good Day For Bluegrass" (Old Homestead Records, 1993)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Sacred Collection" (Old Homestead Records, 1994)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Again For The First Time" (Old Homestead Records, 1996)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Kiamichi Moon" (Old Homestead Records, 1997)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Dreaming" (Rounder Records, 1997)
Traditionalist bluegrass with a country tinge, carrying the torch of the 'Fifties commercial bluegrass heyday. This is a swell collection of this duo's work, originally recorded in the 1970s and '80s. It's great stuff -- one sweet melodic heartsong after another, with solid, sometimes pleasantly ragged picking and soulful, old-school vocals. Recommended!
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Sacred Favorites Through The Years" (Old Homestead Records, 1997)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "I'll Get By" (Old Homestead Records, 1998)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "40 Years Of Memories" (Old Homestead Records, 1999)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "Good Woman Blues" (Old Homestead Records, 2000)
Delia Bell & Bill Grant "We’re Not The Jet Set" (Old Homestead Records, 2003)
