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
House Of Gold
The Seldom Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for wealth and what, it will buy
but dont they know, on judgement day
that gold and silver, will melt away
i'd rather be, in a deep dark grave
and know that my, poor soul was saved
then to live in this world, in a house of gold
what good is gold, and silver too
if your hearts, not good and true
consider it when, i say
fall down on, your knees and pray
i'd rather be, in a deep dark rain
and know that my, poor soul was saved
than to live in this world, in a house of gold
and deny my god, and do my soul
The Seldom Scene's "House of Gold" is a song with a message about the value of faith and personal values over material wealth. The opening verses present the idea that people will go to great lengths to accumulate wealth, even when it means cheating and lying, but that this wealth will ultimately be meaningless on judgment day, when gold and silver will "melt away." The singer then contrasts this pursuit of wealth with the idea of being buried in a grave, but with the knowledge that their soul is saved, affirming the importance of faith and a clean conscience over material possessions. The refrain repeats this sentiment, rejecting the idea of living in a "house of gold" and denying one's faith.
The repetition of certain phrases underscores the song's message, highlighting the importance of sticking to one's values despite pressure to pursue wealth. The contrast between a life of material wealth and a life of faith and values is also made clear through the use of imagery, with the idea of a "house of gold" representing the former and a "deep dark grave" the latter.
Line by Line Meaning
People still they cheat and lie
Despite the consequences, people still deceive others for the sake of materialistic gain.
For wealth and what, it will buy
People deceive others for financial gain and the power it provides them.
But don't they know, on judgement day
Their actions will have consequences and they will be held accountable.
That gold and silver, will melt away
Material possessions hold no value in the afterlife and will ultimately disappear.
I'd rather be, in a deep dark grave
It is better to die knowing one's soul is saved than to have a life of wealth and denial of one's faith.
And know that my, poor soul was saved
Knowing that one's soul is saved is more valuable than any material possessions.
Then to live in this world, in a house of gold
Living in luxury means nothing if one is not faithful to their beliefs and values.
And deny my god, and do my soul
Choosing material possessions over faith and morals leads to the loss of one's soul.
What good is gold, and silver too
Material possessions hold no value if one's heart and intentions are not genuine.
If your heart's not good and true
Being a good person and having pure intentions is more valuable than any material possessions.
Consider it when, I say
Reflect upon the importance of faith and morals over material possessions.
Fall down on, your knees and pray
Surrender oneself to faith and pray for guidance and strength in choosing morality over materialism.
I'd rather be, in a deep dark rain
It is better to choose faith and morals over materialism even if it leads to a difficult or unpleasant life.
And know that my, poor soul was saved
Knowing one's soul is saved is more valuable than any material possessions.
Than to live in this world, in a house of gold
Living in luxury means nothing if one is not faithful to their beliefs and values.
And deny my god, and do my soul
Choosing material possessions over faith and morals leads to the loss of one's soul.
Contributed by Alexandra K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.