Ten Favorite Hills and Mountains Songs: Maple on the Hill (#4)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (78570)
United States
October 23, 2017 9:09pm CST
Before I run off to dreamland I’ll climb another mountain. Here’s another song on my list of favorites that have “mountain” or “hill” in the title. Today’s song is one of only two that have “hill” in the title, so if you were waiting for “Blueberry Hill,” you’ll have to wait until the fruits and vegetables countdown.
#4: Maple on the Hill - Whitstein Brothers
I picked the Whitstein Brothers’ version of this old (written in 1880) classic because they’re friends of mine, sure, but also because those harmonies are just out of this world. Robert (1944-2001) and Charles (born 1945) grew up idolizing the Louvin Brothers, and it shows in their delivery. Of course, you can’t mimic a great tenor voice, you have to be born with it, and Charles indeed was. He worked with Charlie Louvin on the Opry (that’s where I first met him), and Charlie himself said that Charles “sounds so much like Ira it’s scary.” And that is an accolade, because nobody sounded like Ira Louvin!
As for this beautiful song, it’s a traditional country, bluegrass, old-timey standard. As I mentioned, it was written in 1880...by a black man.
Enjoy a classic song and some classic harmonies.
Maple on the Hill
Written by Gussie Davis
Recorded by the Whitstein Brothers
From Old Time Duets, 1988
Don’t forget me little darling:
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group North America Maple on the Hill · Whitstein Brothers Old Time Duets ? 1989 Rounder Records Manufactured and dist...
3 people like this
3 responses
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Oct 17
I must be behind the times because I never heard this one before.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (78570)
• United States
24 Oct 17
You're saying you're going back to 1879 (as this was written in 1880)? Wow, you are behind the times! 
Remember, I grew up steeped in country music, so these old songs have "always" been around for me. It reminds me of that story Rosanne Cash told about recording "Tennessee Flat Top Box": she said that she had no idea her dad wrote it until she went to record it, because there was always music in the house, and as a child she couldn't tell what was a "standard" and what was an original!
Remember, I grew up steeped in country music, so these old songs have "always" been around for me. It reminds me of that story Rosanne Cash told about recording "Tennessee Flat Top Box": she said that she had no idea her dad wrote it until she went to record it, because there was always music in the house, and as a child she couldn't tell what was a "standard" and what was an original!2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Oct 17
@FourWalls We youngsters aren't always up to date like you old timers.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (78570)
• United States
24 Oct 17
@JohnRoberts -- that's okay, sonny boy. ::guzzling Geritol::
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Oct 17
I am soooo far behind. That is a great traditional song!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (78570)
• United States
26 Oct 17
I highly recommend this album. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1989 and received a Library of Congress award.
1 person likes this
