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Orange Blossom Special
Old-Time Bluegrass Breakdown/Song composed by Ervin Rouse (Chubby Wise)
ARTIST: Johnny Cash
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: 1938
RECORDING INFO: Mercury SRM 1-1058, Vasser Clements- "Superbow." Mercury SRW 16261, The Stanley Brothers- "Instrumentals Country Styfle." United Artists 9801, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" (various artists). Stoneway 104, Chubby Wise- "Chubby Wise and His Fiddle." Gusto 104, Scotty Stoneman- "30 Fiddler's Greatest Hits." Starday SLP 268, Curly Fox (1963). Caney Mountain Records CLP 228, Lonnie Robertson (Mo.) - "Fiddle Favorites," c. 1971-72; All Florida Bluegrass Band. 2nd Florida Bluegrass and Old Time Music Championships, Sunny Mountain EB 1003, LP (1975?), trk# B.01; Baker, Billy. Dobro and Fiddle, Zap ML 103, LP (197?), trk# A.05; Barrier Brothers. Pickin' and Singin', Old Homestead OHCS 108, LP (1977), trk# 4 [1957ca] Bird, Elmer. Elmer's Greatest Licks, Bird, Cas (1980), trk# 12; Bryson, Wally; and the Blaylock Brothers. Bluegrass, Davis Unlimited DU 33011, LP (197?), trk# B.05; Bulla Family. Family Fiddlin', Family Vision Ministries, Cas (1989), trk# B.05; Bulla Family. Bullas, Live, Family Vision Ministries, Cas (1993), trk# B.05 Burke, John. Fancy Pickin' and Plain Singing, Kicking Mule KM 202, LP (1977), trk# B.07b; Campbell, Larry; & the Country Playboys. Old Time Fiddling at Union Grove. The 38th Annual Old-Time Fi..., Prestige 14039, LP (1964), trk# B.08; Carroll County Ramblers. Carroll County Ramblers, Adelphi AD 2006, LP (1976), trk# A.06 (Orange Blossom); Cherny, Al. Best of the Country Fiddlers, RCA Camden CL-50027, LP (196?), trk# 10 Clements, Vassar. Will the Circle Be Unbroken, United Artists UAS 9801, LP (1972), trk# 24 Cline, Curly Ray. Curly Ray Cline and His Lonesome Pine Fiddle, Melody MLP-17, LP (1970?), trk# B.04 Country Gentlemen. Country Express, Nashvile NLP 2006, LP (196?), trk# 1 Crowe, J.D.; & the Kentucky Mountain Boys. Bluegrass Holiday, King Bluegrass KB-524, LP (197?), trk# B.03 David, Merle. Fiddler Magazine, Fiddler Mag., Ser, 6/4, p32(1999) [1970s] Dr. Corn's Bluegrass Remedy. It'll Tickle Your Innards, Grassroots GR 004, LP (1977), trk# B.08 Dr. Corn's Bluegrass Remedy. Oregon Territory, Grassroots GR-001, LP (1974), trk# B.07 [1973/11] Duffy, Chris; and Friends. Keep on Pickin', Larrikin LRF 040, LP (1979), trk# 6 Fairchild, Raymond. Raymond Fairchild Plays "Little Zane", Skyline SR 003, LP (1981), trk# A.04 Francis, John. National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Folk Music Festival. 1972, Century, LP (1972), trk# A.08 Herdman, Curly; and his West Virginia Boys. Old Time Fiddle Tunes, Arcade CRLP-1002, LP (196?), trk# A.06 Houle, Lawrence "Teddy Boy". Wood That Sings, Smithsonian/Folkways SF 40472, CD (1997), trk# 19e Jackson, Carl. Carl Jackson / Banjo Player, Capitol ST-11166, LP (1973), trk# B.01; Jackson, Carl. Trischka, Tony / Banjo Songbook, Oak, Sof (1978), p133; Jacoby, J'Anna. J'Anna Blossoms, Paradise Arts, LP (1978), trk# A.01 Jerry and Sky. Early Days of Bluegrass, Vol. 3, Rounder 1015, LP (1977), trk# 11 [1945]; King, Wayne. Old Time Fiddle Hits, Vol. 2, Banff CM4-735 Tape 2, Cas (198?), trk# 8; Limited Edition. Limited Edition Presents the Limited Edition, Limited Edition, LP (1975), trk# A.06; Linenkugel, Wes; Quartet. American Hammered Dulcimer, Vol. 2. 25 Years with the O.D.P.C., L-Three 8x510, LP (1988), trk# 16; Long, Bill. Live at Polson, Montana Fiddlers LP 4675, LP (1973), trk# A.09; Lowinger, Gene. Lowinger, Gene / Bluegrass Fiddle, Oak, fol (1974), p60 Monroe, Bill; and his Bluegrass Boys. Father of Bluegrass, Camden ACL-7059, LP (1977), trk# 6 [1941/10/02?] Mother Logo. Branching Out, Legend SG 5005, LP (1986), trk# A.06b; New Virginia Grass. 38th Annual Galax Old Fiddlers Convention, 1973, Gazette 38, LP (1973), trk# 26; Pendleton, Buddy. Union Grove 50. Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Union Grove SS-9, LP (1974), trk# B.08; Sprouse, Blaine. Brody, David (ed.) / Fiddler's Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1983), p210; Stoneking, Lee R.. Rainbow of Fiddle Tunes, Stoneking, LP (197?), trk# A.05; Stoneman, Scotty/Scott. 30 Fiddlers Greatest Hits, Gusto GT-104, LP (1978), trk# 1; Thackerson, Roy. Fingerless Fiddler. Vol. 2, Ovella 2, LP (197?), trk# A.01; Whitewater. Springtime in the White Clouds, American Heritage AHM 401-41D, LP (198?), trk# B.03; White Lightning. Fresh Air, Polydor 24-4047, LP (1970), trk# B.01; Wild Oats. Blue Grass Banjos - Flaming Banjos, Alshire 2-120-1/2, LP (197?), trk# 2A.01; Wise, Chubby (Robert R.). Chubby Wise and his Fiddle, Stoneway STY 104, LP (197?), trk# A.01; Wise, Chubby (Robert R.). Fiddlin' Country Style, Wyncote W-9077, LP (1964), trk# B.01
OTHER NAMES: Orange Blossom
SOURCES: Ceolas; Blaine Sprouse (Brody). Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 210. Rounder 0117, "Blaine Sprouse." RCA Camden CAL-719, Bill Monroe- "The Father of Bluegrass Music."
NOTES: From Ceolas: "One of the most popular fiddle tunes in modern history" (C. Wolfe, Devil's Box, Dec. 1982). Composed by Ervin T. Rouse (c. 1938), inspired by the railway train called the Orange Blossom Special's christening and inaugural run (from Miami to New York). Co-authorship is often credited to Florida fiddler Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise (1916-1996), although the copyright is in Rouse's name, supposedly due to Wise's assertion that 'there was no money in fiddle tunes and that Rouse could copyright it himself, for all the good it would do' (Wise drove a cab at the time). Wise himself maintained that he and Rouse were at the Jacksonville Seaboard Railroad Station when the train came through on its maiden run from Miami. Rouse suggested that they write a tune and Chubby agreed. The two went back to Wise's house and wrote the piece in forty-five minutes, while his wife cooked them breakfast. The tune was recorded by Ervin and his brother Gordon in New York in June, 1939, but the tune did not become a hit until Bill Monroe's recording of it in 1942 (with Art Wooten on fiddle). The first recording, however, appears to be that of Tommy Magness', who recorded "Orange Blossom Special" with Roy Hall's group in 1938. It was unissued at the time, says Jim Nelson, perhaps to avoid legal problems with Rouse and his record company, RCA Victor. He thinks Magness probably learned the tune directly from Rouse, but that he definately taught it to Wooten. Magness is credited with popularizing the melody and introducing the famous double-shuffle into the tune. There are persistent rumours that Wise or Magness lost their rights to "Orange Blossom Special" in a poker game.
A novelty fiddle instrumental originally known as "South Florida Blues," the song was re-titled in the mid-1930s by the manager of the Rouse Brothers in conjunction with the christening of the Seaboard Railroad's New York-to-Miami train called the "Orange Blossom Special." Ervin Rouse later added lyrics to the tune for a 1939 Rouse Brothers recording.
Long Steel Rail – The Railroad in American Folksong, Norm Cohen, University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1981, p.453-458. p. 454 "….In their now-classic bluegrass instrumental, "Orange Blossom Special" the Rouse Brothers change this couplet:
Look-a-yonder comin', comin' down the railroad track,
Look-a yonder comin', a comin' down the rail road track;
It's the Orange Blossom Special, it's a-bringin' my baby back."
P. 455 "Rouse Brothers, "Orange Blossom Special," recorded June 16, 1939 (RCA Victor master BS-037358), in New York City; released on RCA Bluebird B-8218; reissued on RCA Victor LPV-532; The Railraod in Folksong. For an account of how this piece was composed, based on the recollections of fiddler Chubby Wise, who was present at the time, see Ivan M. Tribe, "Chubby Wise: One of the Original Bluegrass Fiddlers," Bluegrass Unlimited, 11 (Feb., 1977), 10-12. Wise recalled that he and Ervin Rouse put together the instrumental part of the composition one evening after seeing the Seaboard Air Line's new streamliner, the Orange Blossom Special, Later, Ervin and his brother Jack added lyrics and copyrighted the song."
ORANGE BLOSSOM BOYS - The Untold Story of Ervin T. Rouse, Chubby Wise and the World's Most Famous Fiddle Tune - by Randy Noles with forewords by Marty Stuart and John Hartford:
One of the most bizarre stories in all of popular music is the history of "Orange Blossom Special," arguably the century's best-known fiddle tune. The man credited with its ownership, Ervin T. Rouse, endured tragedy, alcoholism and mental illness. He spent his last years fiddling for tips in isolated taverns at the edge of the Florida Everglades, and died all but unknown. The man who claimed co-ownership, Chubby Wise, achieved fame as the seminal fiddler of the bluegrass genre, but struggled to overcome personal demons and to heal the scars of childhood abandonment and abuse. This fascinating book uncovers how their legacies are forever linked with the legendary diesel streamliner which inspired the tune six decades ago, as it roared through American history, bringing wonder and hope to every stop. Includes a Collector's CD of rare, unreleased original recordings of "Orange Blossom Special" by Bluegrass Etc., Byron Berline, Dennis Caplinger, Buddy Emmons, John Henry Gates, The Hellcasters, Gary Morse, Benny Martin and Mike Stevens. Also features the original Rouse Brothers recording from 1939, a live performance by Chubby Wise, and six vintage bonus tracks.
Randy Noles is a publisher of city/regional magazines in Florida. During his 25-year career, he has won awards for investigative reporting, feature writing and commentary. Born in Tuscaloosa, AL, he has lived in Orlando since 1967. He is married and has two children.
"If you go back and listen to Ervin and Gordon Rouse's original 1939 recording, it's easy to hear 'Orange Blossom Special''s beauty, elegance and power. It bonds the romance of rambling around on trains with the mystique of a far-away land known as Florida. It is pure country music; it is pure Americana." From the foreword by Marty Stuart
From a Life Magazine interview with Johnny Cash in 1994:
"I recorded 'Orange Blossom Special' in the mid '60s, and in those days everybody that recorded it claimed the "arrangement" because no one knew who wrote it. But Mother Maybelle Carter was at the session, and I asked her, "Do you know who really wrote 'Orange Blossom Special'?" She said, "Sure I do. Ervin Rouse and his brother Gordon." And I said, "Where are they? " She said, "Last time I heard, they were in Florida." It was the only clue I had. I called a disc jockey down there named Cracker Jim Brooker, and I asked Cracker Jim, "Did you ever hear of Ervin Rouse?" And he said, "Aw, I know Ervin. He lives with the Seminoles out in the swamp, and he makes swamp buggies for a living." I said, "You got any idea how I could talk to him?" And he said, "Sure. I'll announce it on the air: 'Ervin, call me and I'll give you Johnny Cash's number."' It wasn't an hour till Ervin Rouse called me from some little settlement in the swamps. I said, "Ervin, I happen to be coming to Miami on tour. Would you come to my show and do 'Orange Blossom Special' with me?" He and Gordon came in the clothes they worked in. I brought Ervin up to play the fiddle, and he absolutely killed them. At the end of the song, they were applauding and he literally got down on his knees. He was such a sweet, humble man. Gordon's still living. I still see him every time I'm down there."
Orange Blossom Documentary: Total running time 80 min. USA 2005.
DIR Bestor Cram, Mike Majoros
PROD Cram, Miguelangel Aponte-Rios, Zach Stauffer
CAM Aponte-Rios, Michelle Andrews, Cram,
Andrew Kukura, Jeremy Leach ED Majoros
One of the ten most-performed songs of the 20th century, she evokes both the sweetness of a familiar face and the power of a screaming engine. Like the familiar call of a train whistle, we recognize her in the first few notes. She is "Orange Blossom Special," the anthem of American bluegrass. The Special is a musical story of that song told by musicians and their music. Named after a seasonal train that ran down the East Coast to Florida, "Orange Blossom Special" was written in 1938 by fiddle virtuoso Ervin T. Rouse and made famous by Chubby Wise. The film explores this thread of musical tradition with some of that thread's participants, including Vassar Clements, Béla Fleck, Charlie Daniels, String Cheese Incident, The Del McCoury Band, Johnny Cash and others. Combining concert and backstage footage, interviews with musicians and fans, a rich and diverse collection of archival stills, vintage films and television broadcasts, The Special is a journey as memorable as the Orange Blossom Special itself, the fastest train on the line.
Here are the lyrics to Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash:
ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL: Johnny Cash
Look a-yonder comin'
Comin' down that railroad track
Hey, look a-yonder comin'
Comin' down that railroad track
It's the Orange Blossom Special
Bringin' my baby back
Well, I'm going down to Florida
And get some sand in my shoes
Or maybe Californy
And get some sand in my shoes
I'll ride that Orange Blossom Special
And lose these New York blues
"Say man, when you going back to Florida?"
"When am I goin' back to Florida? I don't know, don't reckon I ever will."
"Ain't you worried about getting your nourishment in New York?"
"Well, I don't care if I do-die-do-die-do-die-do-die."
Hey talk about a-ramblin'
She's the fastest train on the line
Talk about a-travellin'
She's the fastest train on the line
It's that Orange Blossom Special
Rollin' down the seaboard line
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