Duffey proposed some rules that the others agreed to including playing only one night a week at local clubs, doing occasional concerts and festivals on weekends, making records, and keeping their day jobs. Duffey repaired musical instruments, Eldridge was a mathematician, Starling a physician, Auldridge a graphic artist, and Gray a cartographer with National Geographic. The Scene's first home was the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland, where they spent six years before starting weekly performances at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Virginia.
Bluegrass reached a second peak in popularity in the early 1970s, and the progressive bluegrass style played by The Seldom Scene was particularly popular. Duffey's stratospheric tenor anchored the group, but the vocal blend of Duffey/Starling/Auldridge set a new standard that attracted new audiences to what had been a niche music. Their weekly shows included bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even classical pop. The band's popularity soon forced them to play more than once a week--but they continued to maintain their image as being seldom seen, and on several of their early album covers were photographed with the stage lights on only their feet, or with their backs to the camera.
Though the Scene remained a non-touring band, they were prolific recorders, producing seven albums in their first five years of existence, including two live albums (among the first live bluegrass albums). But the band's philosophy of not touring and maintaining their day jobs eventually caused some changes in membership.
In 1977, John Starling left the group to focus on his medical career, and was replaced by singer and songwriter Phil Rosenthal, whose song "Muddy Water" had been recorded by the Scene on two earlier albums. Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel Records to Sugar Hill; however, while Starling had been officially the band's frontman, these changes made little significant difference to the band's overall sound.
The band recorded several more albums in the 1980s and firmly established themselves as one of the most influential bluegrass bands. In 1986, Rosenthal and Tom Gray both left the band to focus on other pursuits, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively. Coleman proved to be very controversial, as many purists objected to his use of an electric bass in what is an acoustic genre, but the albums produced by the band after Coleman's arrival maintained the traditional appeal of any of the Scene's earlier albums.
Reid left the band in 1993, and Duffey convinced former member John Starling to return to the band for the next year. During that year the Scene recorded the album "Like We Used To Be," but Starling did not wish to stay with the band long term. He was replaced in 1994 by lead singer Moondi Klein.
Throughout these changes, John Duffey remained the group's spiritual center and greatest influence, and his initial ideas about keeping a light touring schedule and staying close to home continued to prevail. Though there had been disagreements about this philosophy before, it wasn't until after Starling left for the second time that it cost the band a majority of its members at once. During 1995 and 1996, Klein and Coleman, along with original member Mike Auldridge, left the group to form a new band called Chesapeake. This new band became a full-time project for its members, and for a time the Scene stopped recording.
Duffey and Ben Eldridge, the two remaining original members, recruited resophonic guitar player Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singer Dudley Connell to join the band, and the reconstituted group recorded an album in 1996 and resumed live appearances.
For 25 years The Seldom Scene remained extremely popular in bluegrass circles even with the near-constant personnel changes. But the band was dealt what seemed a crushing blow in late 1996, when founder and leader John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack. The band again stopped recording and made no live appearances for some years. Duffey had been widely regarded as one of the most powerful and entertaining stage performers in bluegrass, and there was no one who could replace him.
Nonetheless, the band was simply too popular to disappear for good. Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member and a significant force in banjo music in his own right, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the band on mandolin. Initially the new Scene concentrated on live performances, but in 2000 the group recorded a new album, "Scene it All." The Seldom Scene continues to tour, and remains on the Sugar Hill label for future recordings.
The band currently consists of Dudley Connell (guitar/lead vocals), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals), and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals).
John Starling died in May 2019.
Discography
Act I (Rebel, 1972)
Act II (Rebel, 1973)
Act III (Rebel, 1973)
Old Train (Rebel, 1973)
Live At The Cellar Door (Rebel, 1975)
The New Seldom Scene Album (Rebel, 1976)
Baptizing (Rebel, 1978)
Act IV (Sugar Hill, 1979)
After Midnight (Sugar Hill, 1981)
At The Scene (Sugar Hill, 1983)
Blue Ridge with Jonathan Edwards (Sugar Hill, 1985)
15th Anniversary Celebration (Sugar Hill, 1986)
A Change Of Scenery (Sugar Hill, 1988)
Scenic Roots (Sugar Hill, 1990)
Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert (Sugar Hill, 1992)
Like We Used To Be (Sugar Hill, 1994)
Dream Scene (Sugar Hill, 1996)
Scene It All (Sugar Hill, 2000)
External links
Official site
Hit Parade of Love
The Seldom Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You′ve got a lot of fellers on your lover's hit parade
If I can't be your number one I don′t know what I′ll do
Gonna be plumb up to the top I'm so in love with you
On the hit parade of love I know I′ll never stop
I've got a long long way to climb before I reach top
But if I do get there soon I′d really have it made
Now it's your heart I′m after ′cause it's so nice and kind
Another one to take your place would sure be hard to find
So put your arms around me dear and be my turtle dove
Then I′ll feel like I'm number one on your hit parade of love
Now if we work together like all good lovers should
We can make a go of it everything will turn out good
We will can so much fun we′ll really have it made
Then I'll know I′m number one on your lover's hit parade
The Seldom Scene’s song “Hit Parade of Love” is a classic Bluegrass tune that features lyrics of love and the desire to be someone’s number one on their “lover’s hit parade.” The song’s protagonist is expressing his desire to be with a woman who seemingly has many men vying for her affection. He pleads with her to choose him and promises to work hard to be her number one. He recognizes that he has a lot of competition, but he is willing to put in the effort to win her over.
The singer sings about his desire to climb the ranks of her lover’s hit parade, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for her heart. He acknowledges that he has a long way to climb before he can reach the top, but he is determined to do so. He tells her that she is his number one and he hopes to be hers as well. The song ends with a hopeful outlook for their relationship, with the promise of fun times and a successful future if they work together.
Overall, “Hit Parade of Love” is a heartfelt love song that captures the essence of Bluegrass music through its lyrics of love, longing, and hard work.
Line by Line Meaning
From what I've been a hearing dear you've really got it made
I have heard that you have many admirers and are very popular among the men.
You've got a lot of fellers on your lover's hit parade
Many men are interested in you and would like to be your lover or partner.
If I can't be your number one I don't know what I'll do
If I am not your top priority or your favorite, I do not know how to proceed in this relationship.
Gonna be plumb up to the top I'm so in love with you
I am deeply in love with you and will try my hardest to become your top choice.
On the hit parade of love I know I'll never stop
In the competition for your love and affection, I will never give up or give in.
I've got a long long way to climb before I reach top
It will be a difficult and long journey for me to become your top choice.
But if I do get there soon I'd really have it made
If I do become your top choice quickly, I would be very happy and content in this relationship.
Then I'll know I'm number one your lover's hit parade
If I am able to win your heart and become your top choice, I will be the most important person in your life.
Now it's your heart I'm after 'cause it's so nice and kind
I am pursuing your heart because I believe you have a kind and loving nature that I admire and desire.
Another one to take your place would sure be hard to find
It would be difficult to find someone who could replace you and the love you offer.
So put your arms around me dear and be my turtle dove
I am asking you to embrace me and become my partner in this relationship.
Then I'll feel like I'm number one on your hit parade of love
If you become my partner and show me affection, I will feel loved and valued in this relationship.
Now if we work together like all good lovers should
If we collaborate and support each other as good partners should, our relationship will be successful.
We can make a go of it everything will turn out good
If we put in the effort, our relationship will prosper and things will turn out well for us.
We will can so much fun we'll really have it made
If we enjoy each other's company and have fun together, we will have a successful and happy relationship.
Then I'll know I'm number one on your lover's hit parade
If we have a strong and happy relationship, I will be the most important person in your life and your top choice for a partner.
Writer(s): Wade Birchfield, Jimmy Martin
Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.