Arthel “Doc” Watson was born in 1923 in Deep Gap, N.C. and emerged on the music scene in the early 1960s. His talented son, Merle, started appearing regularly with his father, and they won Grammies for traditional music in 1973 and 1974. Doc and Merle played wonderful music together for over 15 years until Merle died in a 1985 tractor accident on the farm. “Songs Doc Didn’t Sing,” produced and curated by Mitch Greenhill, captures the duo’s unpretentious authenticity and masterful guitar playing during the 1980-84 timeframe when these instrumental cuts were originally released by the Flying Fish label on album’s like Doc’s “Guitar Album” and others. While none of their banjo playing is included, the icing on this album’s cake is that the tunes feature sidekicks like T. Michael Coleman (bass, guitar), Pat McInerney (percussion) and Mark O'Connor (fiddle, mandolin). They offer a great selection of old-time tunes, reels, waltzes, a rag, a polka and more. Doc and Merle play in harmony on “Guitar Polka,” Merle features slide guitar on “Talking to Casey,” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” evolves from a waltz to an uptempo flatpicker’s delight. “Liza / Lady Be Good” gives us a pleasurable excursion into jazzy swing music.  Other tracks, “Carroll County Blues” include Sam Bush (fiddle), “Down Yonder” with Byron Berline (fiddle), and “Fisher’s Hornpipe / Devil’s Dream” with Hank “Bones” Kahn (bones). Tom Scott (clarinet) and Ron Tutt (drums) appear on “Below Freezing,” a composition by T. Michael Coleman. 

Kudos to FLi Records for releasing this music, the “first in a series.” Doc & Merle were song carriers who kept their mountain music vibrant, and always with excellent musicianship and taste. Albums like this will facilitate a rediscovery and sharing of their music with future generations.  Doc & Merle demonstrate the heartfelt charm and timeless gift of a father and son picking traditional music on an album full of warmth, sincerity and personality. These instrumentals have a lasting, immortal kind of effervescent quality. Watson went on to win eight Grammy Awards and a National Medal of Arts before he passed in 2012. I certainly look forward to future releases of Doc Watson's legendary music. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)