JA-053A (METROPOLITAN ALL STARS Trying Times LP)

Description: The Metropolitan Blues All Stars started out in 1981 as a working band, traveling all over the country from 1983 to 1990 from Harrods in Lake Tahoe to The Kitchen in New York. When they were not on the road, the All Stars frequently performed at the Butchertown Pub in Louisville, KY. During the band's heyday, they played the Lonesome Pine Specials at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, the Waterside Festivals and Mountain Stage in West Virginia, which was broadcast over public radio. The band's first two LP recordings, Life of the Party (1986) and Trying Times (1988), were issued on the June Appal label in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Life of the Party was recorded live at Breeding's in Lexington and Trying Times introduced pianist Caroline Dahl. Later CD releases include Devil Get His Due and Hillbilly Nation plus three cuts on the Santa Is A Bluesman series. The song, "Devil Get His Due," was nominated for a Grammy.

Recordings for the release JA053, Trying Times, were recorded at Track 16 in Lexington, Kentucky; mixed by Nick Stump, Frank Schaap, and Doug Dorsug; and engineered by Tom Tandy and Roger Bon Durant. Musicians included Nick Stump (a.k.a. Michael Stamper) on vocals and lead electric guitar; Rodney Hatfield on vocals and harmonica; Frank Schaap on vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar; Caroline Dahl on piano; Rick Baldwin on bass; David White on drums; and Lee Carroll on organ.

This audio collection consists of ¼-inch production masters.