Charles River Valley Boys
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1959 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Bluegrass music albums |
The Charles River Valley Boys were an American ensemble specializing in bluegrass music during the 1960s, most notably recognized for their 1966 release, Beatle Country, which presented bluegrass interpretations of songs originally performed by the Beatles.
History
Originating in 1959 among students in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the band took its name from the Charles River that runs through Cambridge and Boston, simultaneously paying homage to the traditional bluegrass group Laurel River Valley Boys from North Carolina.
The initial lineup featured Eric Sackheim (guitar, mandolin), Bob Siggins (banjo, vocals), Clay Jackson (guitar, vocals)—all attending Harvard—and Ethan Signer (guitar, mandolin, autoharp, vocals), a graduate student at MIT. Their performances were frequent at Harvard venues and on WHRB, the university’s radio station. In 1961, they recorded Bringin' In The Georgia Mail, which was released in the United Kingdom under Doug Dobell's Folklore label.
In 1962, Paul Rothchild—a local Boston record distributor and acquaintance of the band—produced their second album on his Mount Auburn label. Following his association with Prestige Records, Rothchild reissued this album as Bluegrass And Old Timey Music (1962) and later produced Blue Grass Get Together (1964), featuring Tex Logan. By this period, the group included Siggins, Signer, John Cooke (guitar, vocals), and Fritz Richmond (washtub bass, vocals). Cooke replaced Sackheim after his return to Europe for further studies. Between 1963 and 1965, the band engaged in full-time touring.
By 1966, Signer, Cooke, and Richmond had departed; the ensemble consisted of Siggins, Joe Val (mandolin, vocals), Jim Field (guitar, vocals), and Everett Allen Lilly (bass). Val had previously collaborated with Bill Keith; Field was formerly part of the New York Ramblers alongside David Grisman; Lilly was the son of Everett Lilly from the distinguished Lilly Brothers bluegrass duo. Once Rothchild became a producer at Elektra Records, the group submitted a demo containing bluegrass versions of Beatles tracks "I've Just Seen a Face" and "What Goes On". Encouraged by Rothchild to record a full album of Beatles covers, they received approval from Elektra’s Jac Holzman who secured permission from the Beatles in London. The recording took place in Nashville with additional musicians Buddy Spicher (fiddle), Craig Wingfield (dobro), and Eric Thompson (lead guitar).
Bob Siggins explained their method as transforming Beatles compositions into country-style arrangements enriched with multi-layered bluegrass harmonies. Although Joe Val initially doubted how traditional bluegrass audiences would accept the project, it garnered favorable responses during live performances.
Issued by Elektra Records in 1966, Beatle Country targeted mainstream country listeners and was promoted using imagery of cowboys in London. While it achieved moderate success, Rothchild soon concentrated on producing rock bands such as The Doors, resulting in no subsequent albums from the group. The Charles River Valley Boys eventually disbanded in 1968.
Over time, Beatle Country became a sought-after collector’s item before being reissued on CD by Rounder Records in 1995.
Bob Siggins died on September 22, 2023, aged 85.
Discography
| Year | Album Title | Record Label | Catalog Number | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Bringin' In the Georgia Mail | Folklore (UK) / 77 Records | F-LEUT/3 | |
| 1962 | Bluegrass and Old Timey Music | Mount Auburn Records / Club 47 | MTA One | Issued in a limited run of 1,000 copies. Later re-released under Prestige International INT-13074 (1962), Prestige Folklore FL-14017 (circa 1964), and PRCD-24280-2 (2003) |
| 1964 | Blue Grass Get Together | Prestige Folklore | FL 14024 | Featuring Tex Logan; also reissued on PRCD-24280-2 (2003) |
| 1966 | Beatle Country | Elektra Records | EKL 4006 | Available as stereo LP EKS 74006 (1966); reissued as Rounder CD SS 41 (1995) |