The Seldom Scene 1979 - Rider (Bluegrass)

[nanbyu]

We don't need suits n muttonchops.....

[zappadead13]

T Michael Duf big Mike !!!! they dont make mbands this great anywho

[StonethrowersMusic]

Love this! Can't wait to open for you guys!!

[mhriciso]

This band was THE bluegrass band when I was gigging with my dad's band. Played a LOT of their stuff. This is part of my childhood!

[jake103491]

I can relate!

[BaldKnobHunter]

I wish I could play like Auldridge and Eldridge!

[Dlrealife]

The Seldom Scene... in my opinion, the VERY BEST bluegrass band in the world during their time. They went beyond everyone and everybody. AND btw, John Duffy (the mandolin player) was a friend of mine

[SteelguitarLane]

@nmfarlow Mike played a 1936 Regal

[SteelguitarLane]

@banjoeagle I'd like to point out that when Starling was leaving, several auditioned, and the band reached unanimity on Phil. Your saying he sucks says that Gray, Auldridge, Eldridge and Duffey had lousy judgment. That's kinda ballsy, calling a band you allegedly respect a collective of dumbasses.

[SteelguitarLane]

PS: Buddy died years ago: Kitsy is Mrs. Pete Kuykendall

[SteelguitarLane]

@BigWhisnantFan

Who are you by name? You'd be about my age, I'm Tom's oldest

[zappadead13]

china cat is missing lol

[BigChiefBruce]

I used to see the Seldom Scene all around the D.C. area, they were the best! Watermelon Park in Berryville, Va. In the Shenandoah River while the band played........................­.... John Duffey R.I.P. Phil Rosenthal good to see you here too!

[skidmarksteven]

They should have ripped off more folk songs!

[Pasovineyard]

One of the really great groups.

[SteelguitarLane]

NMFarlow, until the MAS from Paul Beard, Mike's main guitar was a '36 Regal.

Not that it matters much. The tone's in his hands

[urabampot]

@ banjoeagle....quit harshing my buzZ....lol....bluegrass snob....leave that crap @ the door...keep pickin and grinnin' Phil....id pick with ya!!!.....any day brother!!!

[BUCKWHEAT639]

bill monroe is the bomb on that mandelin!!!



[2meKing]

hell yeah

[banjoeagle]

Phil rosenthal was never influential in my opinion...sorry he's just a replacement that sucked.

[TheGibbySG]

I saw Seldom Scene live when I was 12. My dad took me. It was a few years ago in Henrico, VA at Lewis Ginter Gardens.

Amazing, amazing, amazing show.

[banjar55]

Whaow !

I've just seen these great band in Toulouse Bluegrass Festival FRANCE, in 1982, it was an unforgetable TIME, A GREAT CONCERT.Peace to the soul of John Duffey.

[rbark66]

Duffey  the greatest ever

[dalebert911]

Pure unadulterated stank! Love it! What the hell happened to good music?

[buckzx12r]

The Seldom Scene-also one of the greatest EVER!"Live At The Cellar Door" was an awesome CD.

[empathic11]

@buckzx12r Agreed. One of the best renditions of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue."

[buckzx12r]

Ben Eldrege-one of the greatest EVER!

[BigWhisnantFan]

Wow...can't believe it's been 35 years. I used to play with all you guys when I was 10 years old at Indian Springs, Md. Bluegrass Festival. My dad is Mike Harnett and his friends Buddy and Kitzy O'marro. I remember Katy Dailey. We used to hear The Lewis Family on Sunday. Good times!!!! I'll bet Ben and Dave remember me.

[BigWhisnantFan]

Wow...can't believe it's been 35 years. I used to play with all you guys when I was 10 years old at Indian Springs, Md. Bluegrass Festival. My dad is Mike Harnett and his friends Buddy and Kitzy O'marro. I remember Katy Dailey. We used to hear The Lewis Family on Sunday. Good times!!!! I'll be Ben and Dave remember me.

[CagedTweetie]

Tom Gray is one of the best that ever stepped up beside a bass fiddle!

[Be3tBe3t]

I saw the Seldom Scene at the Birchmere in the eighties. It was my indoctrination into bluegrass, and I will thank the lord forever for that. Go,Scene, and RIP for a great life in the hereafter for John Duffey, who was so sweet and made friends with my dad before he went. I mean, my dad was just a fan, and John reached out to him and made him a friend, and that is awesome.

[mandobanjoguitar]

it don't get no better than that.

[lovinSpoonful]

Love the syncopated dobro!

[nmfarlow]

Does anyone know what kind of Resophonic Mike Auldridge played back then?

[calpatty1808]

Man i used to drive an 18 wheeler out to shaky from Dallas every week and we would hammer down to this song. Pedal to the metal and black smoke blowing. Talking shit and passing all them slow trucks. That was back when you could run like a bat out of hell and make some dam good time. Had a new 93 Pete 379 extended hood with a 500 Detroit dragging a spread axle skateboard. Dam it Boy!

[ALFatal1]

Back in 1982-83, I got a cassette from a friend."Listen to this", he said. Never knew

the name of the band, but I have been listening that cassette till late nineties, when it finally broke.Few years ago, thanks to Internet, I found that it was Live at the cellar door by Seldom Scene,and bought CD. Whole thing happened in Croatia,EU. Thanks to Phil and Seldom Scene for really nice moments in past thirty years.

[hossmolly]

wow! i know you!

[blugrassgirl1]

Pickin' & Grinin' at it's best! Awesome!

[RandyTheBee]

In '74, the Beatles had dis-banded and Rock had kinda gone stale. I don't know how or why I got there, but I wound up in some crappy auditorium in Baltimore to see a group I'd never heard of: The Seldom Scene. Totally opened my musical vista! Later I lived in SW Colorado, and went to Telluride Bluegrass Festivals for the next 16 years! SS and NGR - awesome.

[HAFA74]

Bad ass! I'm 35 I saw these guys when I was a kid. My parents love Bluegrass and Country so it was often playing in our house. I love traditional country and some bluegrass but I'm pretty much a rocker. Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath, Danzig, Suicidal Tendencies, etc. I love this stuff though, love it

[chongchumein]

tks bean, how beautiful!!!

[Moose11d2]

The Seldom Scene's Music has been a good friend and companion to me through the years. Thanks to Phil and the rest of the scene members for being the soundtrack to many of my lifes up's and down's. Being a musician myself, I also want to say thanks for being a huge musical inspiration for me. God Bless you all. RIP John Duffy.

[itmightbetime2012]

There have been a lot of great mandolin players, but has there ever been anyone as fiery as John Duffey? Good God!

[chrisjames147]

HMM, the good old days. Nothing like The Seldom Scene and Brian Bowers at the Birchmere circa early 1970's. Fond memories.

[BaronVK1]

Great stuff!!!!

[rsundertakkerr]

I know Mike and his brother David auldridge. Dave Was my neigbor till he died and mike is still alive.

[dogsee1]

@BluegrassLibrary mr. agnostic man, you will just have to call to HELL is all i can tell you..you are a fool.

[twangbarfly]

@dogsee1 How very quaint - which century are you from, pray tell? The man is respectful and you have to come jumping all over him with your massive and ridiculous Christian clogs. The talk is about music as far as I can tell, not religion - get a life!

[murphy2034]

you were all great ! the new Scene cant come close to this. Mike, I will love the dobro forever.

[Ann1stoftwo]

Phil no doubt was the best singer this band ever had. All the artist have mega talent like Mike, John and Tom.  Phil put soul into their sounds. I love his voice!

[JimmyDeLocke]

@BluegrassLibrary No shit, brother. When I got that album, I played it so much you could hear the flip side coming through in the background. Mike's Dobro break on "Take Him In" is totally immortal. These guys RULE!

[BanjoEclipse]

This is dope.

[ronelvis]

One of the best songs on youtube.

[robertlaberge]

This folk song is also known as

"I know you rider", being covered by artists as diverse as The Grateful Dead and Hot Tuna in acoustic mode.

Fantastic version by The Seldom Scene!

[emersonarts007]

I live in Portland, OR. Several years ago I met a couple who must moved here from D.C. I surprised them when they introduced their dog named Rider....and, of course, I said, named after Ben's break in the Bluegrass song, no doubt!!!!

[dellinger1000]

Phil is good but I prefer the latter jeryy G

[Judplay]

It's great to hear this music and to read the comments above. My wife and I lived in northern VA in the mid-and-later 70's, often went to the Birchmere, which began as a small bar not far from our house. "The Birch'" became our favorite place, beer and "The Seldom Scene." In those days the Seldom Scene played high school auditoriums. We never missed a show of theirs in Maryland or VA!

[mrgreer51]

Great!

[moorebluegrass]

Classic!!!!!! The Moore Brothers, Jacob & Isaac

[numetalci]

i loved this

[Mendon87]

The Scene didn't rule or anything...

[FLHTP07]

I dont care who you are, thats damn fine music. I want it played at my funeral.

[4theluvofpete]

An 8 minute 24 second video of a "Seldom Scene" song...SHUT UP!!!! Have I died and gone to heaven? "Hello John Duffey, let's jam!"

[4theluvofpete]

I'm still in love with John Duffey...okay, his beautiful high tenor...that is. RIP John, what a gift he left to the world....and this incredible band...The Seldom Scene. I never got to see you. But, I can only imagine what excitement it would have been....Lucky people who saw it for real! Count it as a blessing.

[eightstring]

It doesn't get much better that this...Thanks for posting

RC

[flatpick650]

HOT DAMN!

[splinterboat]

Fantastic, Always.

[bayloft]

The lick Mike Auldridge plays at 7:25 just about sums it up...Whoa!

No wonder you were the Seldom Scene, You have to travel a long way from Interstellar Space just to get here occasionally ;^)

[AppalachianPrime]

Thanks Phil! I love y'alls music!

[AOXOMOXO]

Phil: Great great stuff! I can't tell you how many hours I've driven that long road on the outer banks of NC, playing this, White Line and other nice tunes from the Live at the Cellar Door album. Legends, man.

[philrosenthal]

This brings back memories. Playing in this band was so easy, such solid rhythm, great playing, and singing with John Duffey - that required all you had to offer. He could hold a note longer than anyone I ever sang with. Hope more of this surfaces.

Phil R.

[sanfranapple]

Phil ..howdy..can i ask u a question..i work at the fillmore in sanfrancisco..how come u guys never came out here?

[philrosenthal]

I don't know. We played at the Great American Music Hall once or twice. John Duffey was handling the booking most of the time I was in the group, and he rarely looked for work - he pretty much just answered the phone. But I think he did get some help or at least

suggestions when we were in CA, since it was going to be a longer trip. We were there for about 10 days, which was long for us. I'm not sure how we ended up where we did.

Phil

[sanfranapple]

gotta ask phil ..waht are u doing these days...loved that line up...i m from philly originally...got to be friendly with jerry garcia from the dead who by the way loved ur music...being a fokie at heart that he was...let me know if ur still gigging ..

[sanfranapple]

forgot to ad that i didnt know u played the music hall out her i ll have to ask my friends out here if they taped u guys...what year around was it..i ve only been here since the late 80 s...

[bill3354]

Phil, this sure brings back memories. I saw you many times at the Birchmere,(The original BIrchmere.) I was there the night Bill Monroe showed up unnanounced. I think it was around 1979 or 1980.

[4theluvofpete]

Get outta town!!! Lucky dog! Wish I could have seen them...never saw them but I still have their albums.

[4theluvofpete]

Thanks for the music Phil...you all rocked my world! Still, the best band ever.

[emersonarts007]

@4theluvofpete

Yes, I agree, Phil was a great friendl,y folksie, warm, sound...never to be heard again in the Scene. He only got better as he got older. I loved all the versions of the Scene, just think Phil was a degree to the warmer and never hugged the spotlight.

[jeffreydes]

Hi Phil. Yeah, I saw you guys at the Great American Music Hall in SF, must have been about 1980. Thanks for all the great music! The Seldom Scene will live forever.

[vantagestudios]

@philrosenthal Dude, you have a fantastic voice! Enjoyed all the playing too. Well done.

[csvjdyahoocom]

@philrosenthal

You dog--and a Yankee to boot! You have a great pair of pipes... Great song, and ensemble.

You guys were dynamite. "Wait a minute" is an equally great tune...

(from a fellow Yankee and appreciative Bluegrass fan)

[rbfour5]

@philrosenthal

I just found this video, and hope that we can all enjoy more. The Seldom Scene- "Live at the Cellar Door" was the first non Flatt & Scruggs album I ever bought. And it forever changed the way I listened to and eventually the way I approached playing the banjo. This line- up is the top band in my book. Thank you Phil for your contributions to bluegrass music. By the way, if I were stranded on a deserted island, the 1 album that would be with me would be Cellar Door.

Dean M.

[Quacko28]

@philrosenthal

THank you for all of the great music!!! It helped keep me sane while I was overseas!!!!

[OysterLava]

@philrosenthal For many, this era of the Seldom Scene was the heyday of modern bluegrass music.

[Gr8ful2588]

@philrosenthal - yes sir thats some fine musicianship. I miss Duffy those guys... good times and good music.

[skidmarksteven]

@philrosenthal wicked hair dude

[TheBurchett]

I have loved the scene from the first time i saw them in 1980 the last time i saw them was in bristol tn. in 2007 and thay are just as good as thay was the first time i saw them if not better keep up the good picking i love it you guys are the most

[TroxellPI]

Years earlier, when Duffy was with the Country Gentlemen, they had the opportunity to play The Tonight Show. The story goes that they were asked to kick back their fee to the producer or some such staffer. Duffy indignantly refused and the Gents never played the show. So, yeah, I think this gig was sweet revenge on a number of levels for the Duff-ster.

It's funny, during the Opry show, the camera pans across a lot of sour-puss folks that just weren't into this new-fangled music at all!

[jason11350]

Great video! Love the Seldom Scene.

Aside from that, what's with all the Duffey bashing in this thread? I understand not liking someone's playing, but being that disrespectful of a dead man just comes off as tasteless and crass.

[davidselite737]

Mr. Duffy has one of the most uniuque voices. I love this band, grew up listening to there records on my dad's old record player, im 26 by the way. And yes I play guitar (bluegrass style)

[TroxellPI]

OMG, I never knew these guys played the Opry! This was right when I was a real Scene groupie (mid- to late-70s). I used to determine which BG festivals I'd attend based on if the Scene was on the bill. No Scene, no good!

I even used to pattern my mando playing after Duffy. Even had a zippered v-neck golf shirt like his. Still have it as a memento 30 years later!

I basically stopped playing BG when Duffy and Monroe died in '96. The new Krauss and Nickel Creek stuff just leaves me cold.

[davidselite737]

hey man, it aint no time to quit, we need new superstars. Play, and get younger ones to play, Mr. Bill wasnt the end, he was just the start brother. Play, play play.

[carpools]

never get tired of these guys and this song

[PainMaster5]

To bad they coud not get along with Phil Rosenthal He was a major talent and song writer. I love his music and have all his stuff with the scene and solo. I love all these guys so much. Awesome talent......

[JackofRoses64]

Very cool; thanks for posting it.

[carolinabgrass]

Dear God, I was 2 years old when this was filmed and that is just as fresh and progressive now as ever! Ben & Tom playing the bass and Banjo break is un-freaking-believable!

[mattanaih]

Gotta really admire Duffy for his self-confidence and stage presence to reload and start his lick afresh in the middle of the song.

[lps45s8tracks]

(;BLUEGRASS RULES;)

[livinlargetube]

Incredible!  Goosebumps!

[Cobia75]

This is hot! Vintage bluegrass, & smokin' solo on the Dobro by Auldridge. This one gives me goosebumps. Incredible!

[curbshoppin]

these guys were like gods to me.....and this video shows why...what a treasure

[mdlorenz]

killer, absolutely killer

[willybass123]

Great stuff!!!

[resopicker]

Hooo boy!!! This's gotta be one of the best video's of "THE" Seldom Scene ever! The individual instrumental breaks...are just outasight.....hands down! The grin on Mike's face after he "caught" the audience with his "spacey" dobro run is just precious! Thanks for this one.

[hausenharry]

pure good fire

burns no-one

good fire heals

you hot

but mostly warm

and mostly healing

always a

fan of the seldom scene!!!

[jeffreydes]

One of the most legendary collection of players and innovators in Bluegrass music EVER! Ben Eldridge is the must under-appreciated and unsung banjo pickers in history. I will always prefer the ensemble with John Starling on guitar, though.

[1996WHW]

Me too man.

[HouseOfThe8Strings]

Man, that mando break was wild. I dont think anyone pushed the limits more than John. Most other mandolin pickers of this time period played pretty simple stuff, but John was like some rock and roll guitar player or something! John Duffey will live forever!

[jayman4real]

where the hell is "blueridge" and "fox on the run"?!!!

[freshgreens2006]

Aha, that explains it! Thanks!

[freshgreens2006]

Does anyone recall if they sang,"Will my soul pass through the Southland?'or also known as "the Legend of the Rebel Soldier"

I had a couple of their albums back in the 70s, and I thought that was on there , but maybe not. I really used to enjoy them.They were a great Bluegrass group.

[MISTYMOMMY1]

You are thinking of Country Gentlemen of which John Duffy was a member (probably in the 70s). That is one of the songs they were well-known for.

[voyuerlover]

The Legend of the Rebel Soldier was a Country Gentlemen song not the Seldom Scene.

[cc9fingers]

Charlie Moore wrote and prefomed "The Reble Soldier" He was a close friend of my father. It is a chilling song...a classic!! Recorded by Charlie Moore and The Dixie Pardners-- I have it on vinal and signed!

[rhsnyderjr]

Tom Gray is a complete badass.

[dhstri]

I seem to remember Tom T. Hall and Grandpa Jones on this same show. Please post more of it if you can. Thanks!

[funability1]

John Duffy can make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, nuff said. Thanks for posting!

[flailingerman]

Duffy was the BEST tenor vocalist in bluegrass. Still miss him!

[mandotim]

I had forgotten how much fun John Duffy was....he sure is missed

[Schmitty45]

I don't get it, why is everyone bashing Duffy, is it becouse he screwed up the into at 2:50,

[Perri31]

GodsFavorite is obviously not a mandolin player. Brilliant? Try "sloppy" or "fly-by-night". Lots of strumming and hitting the same licks in boring repetition. It's about TASTE-not speed. Brilliant? Compare to Tyminski, Steffey, or some guy called Chris Thile.

[GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

Have to read it again - lol

My point was that it was ANYthing BUT brilliant.

[watermelonbeast]

I can't believe that I get a chance to see this again. I about fell over when they played this at the Opry in 1979. I think John knew this was his first and last shot at the Opry establishment and he stuck it in their eye with his most acid grass song in their repertoire. However, he was able to showcase the musical prowess of the band. Duffy was one of the most hilarious front man ever. Sorely missed.

[GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

Interesting -

I notice a few negative responses to my earlier comment. But not one has the guts to come out and say they thought that Mandolin break was a brilliant piece of work - So either they can't defend it or they're just upset that it's true.

And if they should happen to think that mandolin break was anything slightly above toxic - I mean, if that's their perspective then I will accept their negative commentary as a compliment.

[nate36bus]

HAHAHAHHA!!!

I only have 1 thing to say about this...FREAKING OWNED. GodsFavoriteBassPlyr is doing nothing more/less than speaking the truth. How can anyone hear this (mainly the mando "break"), and not vomit? I mean, I threw up repeatedly for an hour or so. My teeth actually have rotted out due to stomach acids. I can't chew solid foods anymore.

[nate36bus]

Thank God this computer has mute on it, because if I had to listen to that recording while I was typing this message, I'm fairly certain I'd be doing a nose dive out the window.

[Mar10Guitar]

Duffey was a heck of a singer and we should all appreciate what the scene has done, but he did have a reputation as a sloppy mandolin player and he is.

[steveb78]

I think the madolin break was a brilliant piece of work. It was John Duffey's style of playing. So what if he messed up at the beginning, he's human! How many times had Bill Monroe f'd up? Or Bobby Osborne? Or others? John Duffey played the mandolin different than others. Just like Earl Scruggs played the 5 string different than others before him. This was the sound of The Seldom Scene.

[GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

Amazing... this is a shining example of how far a band can go with virtually no competition. To hear the crowd scream after that utterly toxic mandolin break was beyond terrifying. I can, however, appreciate the groundwork they laid for the genre of bluegrass and other bands with actual talent who would follow. Rest in peace - Please.

[cathead77]

Brought back lots of memories! Thanks.

[nevatoo]

I didn't get homesick for DC until John died. No one in Texas understood. I can't believe how much i miss him simply being in the world. One night as he arrived at the Birchmere about 8 pm, I was helping out & greeted him, "Hi, John! How are you tonight?!" He looked at me for a moment, focused, and replied, "Too early to tell." Cracked me up.

[nate36bus]

Oh my gosh I'm so embarassed for Duffy's whole family. This was so awful I couldn't even laugh. That was nothing short of horrific, oh god.

[fitman10]

I have a video of the Scene at the Denton Festival, where John dressed up like Boy George. I bet there aren't many of those out there.

[basstenorman]

Hilarious! Please post this.

[fitman10]

The video is on a VHS tape. I can get it put onto a DVD, but it may take a little while to post.

[Schmitty45]

Have you posted it yet?

[fitman10]

Not yet, and I don't know for sure if I will or not. I have not transferred it to a dvd yet. I have it here in the house somewhere, but I have not watched it in years. Unless they video taped that entire festival, it is probably the only video of Duffy playing Boy George. I saw no one else taping that performance. I told my friend Ben Eldridge I had it, and he said he would love to see it sometime.

[randyflats]

Duffy, what a treasure, we miss You John thanks for posting this, love the song, love the band.................

[nate36bus]

Horrible mandolin player, VERY miserable person to know or associate with in real life. But they had a nice band, if that's what you mean.

[melbrooksisgod]

Great band, great song. I first discovered the Scene when their album BAPTISM came out. I THINK that was the late 70's or so. Got me interested in mandolin.

[rltjr2006]

Seldom Scene is no doubt a bluegrass band that will always stand out. John was very entertaining in Denton NC years ago at Quicksivers Festival

[34fitz]

Really good stuff! God bless The Seldom Scene. I'm still catching up on bluegrass after only being a fan of it since 1999. Now I do a bluegrass radio show. Who knew?

Fitz

[GoWulfpack]

I listened to this as a kid. Good stuff.

[buckzx12r]

Anyone who thinks that these guys werent one of the smoothest,tightest,most professional bluegrass bands of all time just doesnt have a clue about bluegrass!

[afdoc1969]

I knew John Duffy and there was no better person, rest his soul. The Scene has been a Wash., DC institution forever. They didn't ask for their renoun, but got it anyway , deservedly.

[weekendgrass]

our band has won 2 contests on this song. and this song would not mean anything without the seldom scene.

[steveb78]

That's the truth... even the early Dixie Chicks (pre-Natalie) sang Rider.

[steveb78]

Comparing JD Crowe and The New South to the Seldom Scene is comparing Apples to Oranges. The Seldom Scene inspired many of today's bluegrass musicians. I may love The Scene, and you may love JD Crowe, but to call the Scene idiots? The Scene ranks up there with Bill Monroe as people who helped bluegrass become what it is today.

[1scenefan]

Wonderful! Thank You for sharing.

[derby45]

SSB bluegrass hero's ride on.

[kds2779]

Now thats how you play bluegrass

[banjerdan]

Fantastic performance by my favorite bluegrass band of all time. Please note in the "About This Video" section, that John Duffey's last name is misspelled.

[steveb78]

I love this video! Always good to see classic Seldom Scene. I've always liked Phil Rosenthal, but he sang the wrong verse on this one. The first verse should of started with "I laid my head down last night lord..."