Lowell Varney

*21-09-1936 Crum, WV

2nd version

By Praguefrank, Dick Grant, Walt Saunders, Mario Manciotti, Vaclav Zpatecka
SESSIONS
ca. March 1961 Starday Sound Studio, 3557 Dickerson Road, Nashville, TN- Lowell Varney and Rocky Mountain Pals (Producer: John Thomas)
001 ST-4789 PRETTY LULLABY unissued
002 NV4790A WHY I LOVE YOU Nashville NV-5005/SLP 169 Palace S 722
003 ST-4791 ATOMIC BABY unissued
004 NV4790B THE CORNER OF MY HEART Nashville NV-5005/Palace S 720

STARDAY SLP-169 BANJO IN THE HILLS (1962); BUCKINGHAM ST-720/CONTINENTAL MAPLE LEAF CML-1010/ CMS-1010/PALACE M-720/S-720 MOUNTAIN FOLK SONG CONCERT BLUEGRASS STYLE (January 1963); BUCKINGHAM P-ST-722/ CONTINENTAL MAPLE LEAF CML/CMS-1013/PALACE P-ST-722/PALACE M/S-722 SPECTACULAR BLUEGRASS FAVORITES WITH 5 STRING BANJO (January 1963)
August 1963 unknown - Lowell Varney with Trenton Marcum (Lowell Varney [banjo], Trenton Marcum [tnr vcl] + unknown musicians)
005 6538 WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME NV 5146
006 6539 TWELVE TOED JOHN NV 5146
007 6540 SWEET LOVE unissued
008 6541 JESSE JAMES unissued
January 1964 unknown - Lowell Varney  and Albert Paisley (Lowell Varney [banjo], Trenton Marcum [tnr vcl], Albert Parsley [] + unknown musicians)
009 6855/ZTSB-93617 T LEAVE¢DON NV-5165
010 6856/ZTSB-93618 FIVE STRING ROCK NV-5165
1964 Rem Recording Studio, 203 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY - Lowell Varney and The Rocky Mountain Boys (Producer: A. C. Varney, Robert E. Mooney)
011 R4KM-2212 USE ME LORD Rem 45-336 
012 R4KM-2213 A KING ON EARTH Rem 45-336 /LP 1019 OHS 70075

1965 Charleston, WV – Lowell Varney (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo] + unknown musicians. Producer: Bill Browning)

013 1088-45-92A REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE LORD B.E.S. 45-92

014 1088-45-92B I SURELY KNOW HE’S THERE B.E.S. 45-92

Fall 1965 Rem Recording Studio, 203 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY - Lowell Varney (Producer: Robert E. Mooney)
015 SK4M-2750 A CABIN BY THE RIVER 45-379
016 SK4M-2751 MY DADDY WAS A PREACHER Rem 45-379/LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
1966 Rem Recording Studio, 203 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY - Lowell Varney and Jim Horn (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Jim Horn [vcl/gt] with the Gospel Pioneers: Charlie Nixon [dobro], Paul Boswell [bass], Bill Owens [drums])
017 A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
018 THESE BONES ARE GONNA RISE AGAIN Rem 45-403/LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
019 GOODBYE MY FRIEND Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
020 LET'S WORK WHILE IT'S DAY Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
021 I'D LIKE TO WALK IN THE GARDEN Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
022 GOSPEL BANJO MEDLEY Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
023 I LEARNED ABOUT HEAVEN FOR MAMA Rem 45-403/LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
024 BORN AGAIN Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
025 GO DOWN PHAROH Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
026 LOWELL'S GOSPEL 5 Rem LP-1019 Old Homestead OHS-70075
1967 Rem Recording Studio, 203 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY - Lowell Varney and Jim Horn

(Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Jim Horn [vcl/gt] Charlie Nixon [dobro], Paul Boswell [bass], Bill Owens [drums]. Producer: Robert E. Mooney)
027 GOD'S HEAVENLY CAMERA Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
028 MOTHER Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
029 RICH MAN Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
030 GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE SKY Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
031 NEW ROBE Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
032 SOMEBODY ON YOUR BOND Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
033 HAMMER IN JERUSALEM Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
034 WAYFARING PILGRIM Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
035 WORKING FOR JESUS Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
036 THE BEGGAR AND THE LORD Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
037 GREAT JEHOVAH Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
038 AS THE LIFE OF A FLOWER Rem LP-1027 Old Homestead OHS-70076
Late December 1966 or early January 1967 Rem Recording Studio, 203 Liberty Road, Lexington, KY - Lowell Varney and Jim Horn (Producer: Robert E. Mooney)

039 423A THE SILVER BRIDGE 45-423
040 423B IT'S TOO SOON FOR ME TO DIE 45-423
ca 1968 Cabut Records Studio, 29 Second St., Shelby, OH - Lowell Varney (Producer: Jim Horn)
041 BLACK MARK Cabut 45-107
042 USE ME LORD Cabut 45-107
1971 unknown - Lowell Varney and The Rocky Mountain Pals (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Jim Horn [gt], Thurman Endicott [mandolin],Trenton Marcum [bass])
043 WICKED POLLY Irma ILP-1001
044 IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE Irma ILP-1001
045 WHERE THE ROSES NEVER FADE Irma ILP-1001
046 WHERE COULD I GO Irma ILP-1001
047 GOSPEL PLOW Irma ILP-1001
048 LITTLE GIRL AND THE DREADFUL SNAKE Irma ILP-1001
049 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SOLDIER Irma ILP-1001
050 FIELDS HAVE TURNED BROWN Irma ILP-1001
051 LITTLE ORPHAN GIRL Irma ILP-1001
052 SEA OF GLASS Irma ILP-1001
053 I RECOMMEND MY LORD TO YOU Irma ILP-1001

ca 1971 Nashville, TN – Lowell Varney and Hylo Brown
unknown tracks for Newland 10090

1972 Jessup Recording Studios, 3150  Francis St., Jackson, MI - Lowell Varney
064 2139A BANJO PICKIN' BOY FROM WEST VIRGINIA Jessup MB-118/MB-114
065 YONDERS COUNTRY Jessup MB-114
066 HUM PRETTY LULA-BYE Jessup MB-114
067 I'LL NEVER GET OVER YOU Jessup MB-114
068 FARE YE WELL PRETTY LITTLE MISS Jessup MB-114
069 LOWELLA JOAN Jessup MB-114
070 TROUBLE IS BACK AGAIN Jessup MB-114
071 UNCLE JOHNNY Jessup MB-114
072 2139B WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS LETTER Jessup MB-118/MB-114
073 LORD DANIEL Jessup MB-1014
074 DENISE RIDE Jessup MB-114
075 DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND Jessup MB-114
ca 1972 Jessup Recording Studios, 3150  Francis St., Jackson, MI - Lowell Varney and The West Virginia Boys (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Dan Blankenship [gt], Lundy Fields [mandolin], Roy McGinnis/Sonny Nelson [bass], Steve Whaylen [fiddle], Patti Jackson, Connie Sullivan [bck vcl])

076 ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER Jessup MB-131 

077 SWEET MISERY Jessup MB-131 

078 HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT Jessup MB-131

079 TELL ME WHAT TO DO Jessup MB-131  

080 LAST NIGHT Jessup MB-131  

081 IS THERE A LOVE LEFT FOR ME Jessup MB-131  

082 MONEY IS A MAN'S BEST FRIEND Jessup MB-131 

083 GOIN' BACK TO WEST VIRGINIA Jessup MB-131  

084 LET BY-GONES BE BY-GONES Jessup MB-131 

085 I LIVED IN HER WORLD Jessup MB-131  

086 IF THERE WAS NO JESUS Jessup MB-131  

087 KNEEL AT KING JESUS' FEET Jessup MB-131

Album may have been recorded during MB 114 sessions
1974 Jessup Recording Studios, 3150  Francis St., Jackson, MI - Lowell Varney (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Dan Blankenship [gt], Lundy Fields [mandolin], Roy McGinnis/Sonny Nelson [bass], Steve Whaylen [fiddle])
088 WEST VIRGINIA RAG Jessup MB-150
089 VARNEY'S DRIVE Jessup MB-150
090 SMOKE SIGNALS Jessup MB-150
091 EARL'S BREAKDOWN Jessup MB-150
092 THE COUNTRY MILE Jessup MB-150
093 BACK ROAD PICKIN' Jessup MB-150
094 FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN Jessup MB-150
095 FATHER JOE Jessup MB-150
096 FLYIN' HOME Jessup MB-150
097 MAIDEN'S PRAYER Jessup MB-150
098 LOWELLA JOAN Jessup MB-150
099 DENISE RIDE Jessup MB-150
ca 1982 Riverside Studios, Ashland, KY - Lowell Varney, London Messier and Riverside Grass (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Landon Messier [vcl/gt], Lundy Fields [vcl/mandolin], Jim McCowan [vcl/dobro], Ernie Maynard [bass], Tommy Cordell [fiddle])

100 GOING TO A CITY Old Homesetead OHS-70052
101 I'LL BE READY Old Homesetead OHS-70052
102 LITTLE GRAVEYARD Old Homesetead OHS-70052
103 WISH YOU HAD LIVED HOLY Old Homesetead OHS-70052
104 LITTLE BOY ON MOTHER'S KNEE Old Homesetead OHS-70052
105 I OVER-TOOK A PILGRIM Old Homesetead OHS-70052
106 LAND OF BEULAH Old Homesetead OHS-70052
107 KING OF THE JEWS Old Homesetead OHS-70052
108 ONE LOAF OF BREAD Old Homesetead OHS-70052
109 IS THERE ROOM FOR ME Old Homesetead OHS-70052
1984 Riverside Studios, Ashland, KY - Lowell Varney, London Messier and Riverside Grass (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Landon Messier [vcl/gt], Duke Hall [vcl/dobro], Jim Rigsby [bass], Tommy Cordell [vcl/fiddle])

110 TOO MUCH TO STAND Charm CH-1001
111 HEMLOCKS AND PRIMROSES Charm CH-1001
112 BIG BLACK TRAIN Charm CH-1001
113 PAPA (RECITATION) Charm CH-1001
114 HENRY LEE Charm CH-1001
115 FADED LOVE Charm CH-1001
116 WHY I LOVE YOU Charm CH-1001
117 WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS LETTER TO ME? Charm CH-1001
118 WORKING ON A ROAD Charm CH-1001
119 WEARY HEART Charm CH-1001
120 I LIVED IN HER WORLD Charm CH-1001
121 NASHVILLE BLUES Charm CH-1001

1986 Riverside Sound Studio, Kermit, WV- Lowell Varney, London Messier and The Riverside Grass (Lowell Varney [vcl/banjo], Landon Messer [vcl/gt], Ralph Stanley [vcl], Harold Brewer [ld gt/harmonica],Albun Clevenger [mandolin], Jim Horn [vcl/bass], Curly Ray Cline [fiddle])

122 SIXTEEN YEARS Mountain MR-1001
123 WILLY ROY Mountain MR-1001
124 HOW MOUNTAIN GIRLS CAN LOVE Mountain MR-1001
125 LET ME WALK LORD BY YOUR SIDE Mountain MR-1001
126 SALLY GOODEN Mountain MR-1001
127 LOVING YOU TOO WELL Mountain MR-1001
128 TO SWEET TO LAST Mountain MR-1001
129 HOW WOULD YOU LIKE BEING LONESOME Mountain MR-1001
130 CRYING MY HEART OUT Mountain MR-1001
131 WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT Mountain MR-1001
132 MIGTY DARK TO TRAVEL Mountain MR-1001
133 SOLDIER'S JOY Mountain MR-1001

1989 River Track Studio, Louisa, KY – Lowell Varney with Lost And Found
134 HURTS ALL GONE RTS 1299 

135 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO OUR THING RTS 1299

136 THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND RTS 1299 

137 MEMORIES IN MY MIND RTS 1299 

138 RALPH AND EARL ARE LEFT BEHIND RTS 1299

139 DOWN DEEP RTS 1299

140 I'LL PRAY FOR YOU HONEY RTS 1299

141 I'LL GO STEPPING TOO RTS 1299

142 WALKING IN THE SUNSHINE RTS 1299

143 LOAFERS GLORY RTS 1299 

144 HOW MANY TIMES RTS 1299

145 DIGGING UP BONES RTS 1299

ALBUMS
Rem LP-1019 A Place Called Heaven: A Place Called Heaven; These Bones Are Gonna Rise Again; Goodbye My Friend; Let's Work While It's Day; I'd Like To Walk In The Garden; Gospel Banjo Medley; I Learned About Heaven For Mama; My Daddy Was A Preacher; Born Again; A King On Earth; Go Down Pharoh; Lowell's Gospel 5 - 12-66 (Reissued on Old Homesetad OHS-70075 in 1989)
Rem LP-1027 Folk Sound Of Gospel Music: God's Heavenly Camera; Mother; Rich Man; God Put A Rainbow In The Sky; New Robe; Somebody On Your Bond; Hammer In Jerusalem; Wayfaring Pilgrim; Working For Jesus; The Beggar And The Lord; Great Jehovah; As The Life Of A Flower - 12-67 (Reissued on Old Homesetad OHS-70076 in 1989)
Irma ILP-101 Sound Of Bluegrass, Gospel Style: Wicked Polly; In My Father's House; Where The Roses Never Fade; Where Could I Go; Gospel Plow; Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake; Happy Birthday Dear Soldier; Fields Have Turned Brown; Little Orphan Girl; Sea Of Glass; I Recommend My Lord To You - 73
Newland 10090 Sound of Nashville: (tracks unknown) – ca 72 w. Hylo Brown
Jessup Michigan Bluegrass MB-114 Banjo Pickin' Boy From West Virginia: Banjo Pickin' Boy From West Virginia; Yonders Country; Hum Pretty Lula-Bye; I'll Never Get Over You; Fare Ye Well Pretty Little Miss; Lowella Joan; Trouble Is Back Again; Uncle Johnny; Why Did You Write This Letter; Lord Daniel; Denise Ride; Don't Leave Me Behind - 05-72

Jessup Michigan Bluegrass MB-131 Goin‘ Back To West Virginia: On The Banks Of The River;  Sweet Misery;  Help Me Make It Through The Night; Tell Me What To Do;  Last Night;  Is There A Love Left For Me;  Money Is A Man's Best Friend;  Goin' Back To West Virginia;  Let By-Gones Be By-Gones;  I Lived In Her World;  If There Was No Jesus;  Kneel At King Jesus' Feet - 73
Jessup Michigan Bluegrass MB-150 Instrumental Sounds Of The Banjo Pickin' Boy From West Virginia: West Virginia Rag;Varney's Drive; Smoke Signals; Earl's Breakdown; The Country Mile; Back Road Pickin'; Foggy Mountain Breakdown; Father Joe; Flyin' Home; Maiden's Prayer; Lowella Joan; Denise Ride - 74
Old Homestead OHS-70052 Going To A City: Going To A City; I'll Be Ready; Little Graveyard; Wish You Had Lived Holy; Little Boy On Mothers Knee; I Over-Took A Pilgrim; Land Of Beulah; King Of The Jews; One Loaf Of Bread; Is There Room For Me - 83
Charm CH-1001 Hemlock And Primroses:Too Much To Stand; Hemlocks And Primroses; Big Black Train; Papa (Recitation); Henry Lee; Faded Love;Why I Love You; Why Did You Write This Letter To Me?; Working On A Road; Weary Heart; I Lived In Her World; Nashville Blues - 08-84

Mountain MR-1001 Lowell Varney, Landon Messier and Riverside Grass with Ralph Stanley: Sixteen Years; Willy Roy; How Mountain Girls Can Love; Let Me Walk Lord By Your Side; Sally Gooden; Loving You Too Well; To Sweet T Last; How Would You Like Being Lonesome; Crying My Heart Out; Walking After Midnight; Migty Dark To Travel; Soldier's Joy - 87

RTS 1299 Hurts All Gone: Hurts All Gone; What Ever Happened To Our Thing; Thank You For Being My Friend; Memories In My Mind; Ralph And Earl Are Left Behind; Down Deep; I'll Pray For You Honey; I'll Go Stepping Too; Walking In The Sunshine; Loafers Glory; How Many Times; Digging Up Bones – 89 w. Lost and Found

SINGLES
Nashville (1961-64)
NV 5005 The Corner Of My Heart / Why I Love You – 06-61
NV 5146 Why Did You Leave Me / Twelve Toed John – 11-63 w. Trenton Marcum
NV 5165 Don't Leave / Five String Rock - 03-64 w. Albert Parsley
REM (1964-67)
45-336 King On Earth / Use Me Lord - 64
45-379 Cabin By The River / My Daddy Was A Preacher - 12-65
45-403 These Bones Are Gonna Rise Again / I Learned About Heaven From Mama - 66 w. Jim Horn
45-423 It's Too Soon For Me To Die / The Silver Bridge - 67 w. Jim Horn

B.E.S. (1965)

45-92 Reach Out And Touch The Lord / I Surely Know He’s There - 65
Cabut (1968)
45-107 Black Mark / Use Me Lord - 68
Jessup Michigan Bluegrass (1972-)
MB-118 Banjo Pickin' Boy From West Virginia / Why Did You Write This Letter - 72