Pete Seeger’s Rainbow Quest – Johnny Cash with June Carter and Roscoe Holcomb with Jean Redpath + The Stanley Brothers with The Clinch Mountain Boys (with Cousin Emmy) and Doc Watson with Clint Howard and Fred Price (1965/66 Season)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C     Extras: D     Episodes: B each

 

 

Pete Seeger hosted a television show and that show, Rainbow Quest, is a surprisingly fine program that is exceptionally laid back and takes its time focusing on music.  In some profound way, it is like no show you have ever seen before or since.  Shanachie has issued some double-episode DVDs of the hour-long time-slotted shows.  He makes a great host and his guests are most impressive, none more so than Johnny Cash and June Carter.

 

We have covered Cash in action on DVD before, but this is both much earlier and more obscure.  The songs are by Cash as follows, except where noted:

 

I Am A Pilgrim

Worried Man Blues (Carter)

There’s Always A Mother Waiting

Five Feet High & Rising

Pickin’ Time

Ki-Yo-Ti (Seeger)

Al Long As The Grass Shall Grow

Little Birdy/Cripple Creek (Seeger)

I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes (Carter)

 

This all becomes very personal and candid unlike anything you will see from just about any star at any time.   With Cash gone, it has a sadness to it that comes with a reminder of what an amazing figure in music he really was.  As for the Roscoe Holcomb segment, it is stunning to see the skill this man could play banjo and guitar with, and he was older here.  As well, Scotsman Gene Redpath delivers some great traditionals himself.  Holcomb offers:

 

Little Birdie

Graveyard Blues

Little Gray Mule

Rocky Mountain

 

Redpath offers:

 

The Beggar Laddie

Skye Fisher’s Song

I Lost Ma Love

 

And to think that is just the first DVD.  The second set includes The Stanley Brothers, one of the great bluegrass bands, who are joined by fellow bluegrass band The Clinch Mountain Boys and Cousin Emmy.  Emmy is an amazing, daring, bold performer with energy to spare and real heart.  The songs from this set are as follows, by The Stanley Brothers and Clinch Mountain Boys, unless otherwise noted:

 

It Takes A Worried Man

Clinch Mountain Backstep

Chicken Reel

Jacob’s Vision

Goin’ Down That Road Feelin’ Bad (Emmy, followed by medley)

Ten Brook (Emmy)

I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes (all)

I Will Never Marry (Seeger)

Single Girl

Knick Knack Song (Emmy)

Down In The Valley (all)

 

That is a show filled with quite a bit of personality and entertaining all the way.  Clint Howard & Fred Price are present with Seeger for all the songs in their program as follows:

 

Late Last Night When Willie

Rude & Rambling Man

Daniel Pray

Lee Highway Blues

Sweet Heaven When I Die

St. James Infirmary

Cackling Hen

Fly Around

Careless Love

 

It should also be said that Seeger begins each show with his own talk and music medley, but he is particularly integrated into this show and the results are good.  Though the Country genre and its subgenres may not be your cup of tea, the quality of the showmanship and presentation also deserve note.  Rainbow Quest is just another key pre-MTV music show from television long forgotten.  It’s nice to have it on DVD.  Hope they issue more.

 

The full frame monochrome show was shot on early videotape and will remind one of early public television, all holding up well here.  The tape has some streaks on occasion, but it’s not bad.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also shows its age, but is clear enough to enjoy the music.  Maybe some kind of remastering could be done down the line, but that depends on the condition of the masters.  There is text on the back of each DVD, but the discs are completely void of extras.  Maybe something on Seeger would be nice next time.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo