Grateful Dead Family Discography: Uncle Pen

Uncle Pen

Composer: Bill Monroe

Uncle Pen was performed by Old & In The Way in 1973.

Uncle Pen was named for Bill Monroe's uncle, Pendleton Vandiver who Monroe described as; ".... one of Kentucky's old-time fiddlers, and he had the best shuffle with the bow that I'd ever seen, and kept the best time. That's one reason people asked him to play for the dances around Rosine, Kentucky. In his later years he was a crippled man. He had been thrown by a mule and had to use crutches the rest of his life. My last years in Kentucky were spent with him."

And on another occasion Monroe said; "You take somebody like Uncle Pen. I think it's a wonderful thing to write a song about him and sing it. I don't think I would have done right if I didn't write a song about him. I think it's a wonderful thing."

Merle Red Taylor, Vassar Clements and Bobby Hicks have all claimed that they had some part in the composition of the song.

Uncle Pen was number one hit in the country charts for Ricky Skaggs in 1984.

Old & In The Way

That High Lonesome Sound, Old & In The Way, 1996
10/8/73 The Boarding House, San Francisco, Old & In The Way, 2008
Live At The Boarding House: The Complete Shows, Old & In The Way, 2013

Robert Hunter

Sacramento, CA: June 27, 2004, Robert Hunter, 2004

Other recordings

no info Single (Uncle Pen / When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall), Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, 1950
no info Single (We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Uncle Pen), Osborne Brothers, 1953
no info EP (New Mule Skinner Blues/Uncle Pen/Blue Moon Of Kentucky/Pike County Breakdown), Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1956
no info EP (Molly And Ten Brook / Uncle Pen / Rose Of Old Kentucky / Cabin Home On The Hill / We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Mule Skinner Blues), Sonny Osborne, 1960
My All Time Country Favorites, Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1962
Rose Maddox Sings Bluegrass, Rose Maddox, 1962
Bluegrass, Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, 1962
Greatest Bluegrass Hits, Tommy Jackson, 1962
Blue Grass Taylor Made, Earl Taylor & the Stoney Mountain Boys, 1964
Blue Grass Get Together, The Charles River Valley Boys with Tex Logan, 1964
no info Greatest Fiddlers of Our Time, Various Artists (Lonesome Pine Fiddlers), 1964
The Bluegrass Story, Porter Wagoner & The Wagonmasters, 1965
no info Best of Porter Wagoner, Porter Wagoner, 1966
no info Bluegrass If You Please, Ernie & Mack & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups, 1966
no info Roy Acuff Sings Famous Country Favorites, Roy Acuff, 1967
no info Bluegrass Favorites, Log Cabin Boys, 1967
Bill Monroe's Greatest Hits, Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, 1968
no info Hills of Indiana, Lonnie Mack, 1971
Ruby, Buck Owens, 1971
no info Cimarron Bluegrass, Frank Necessary & The Stone Mountain Boys, 1972
no info Goldie, Goldie Hawn, 1972
Bean Blossom, Bill Monroe, 1973
Rural Free Delivery, Eric Weissberg and Deliverance, 1973
no info Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash, Michael Nesmith, 1973
no info Welcome to Goose Creek, Goose Creek Symphony, 1973
Hank Wilson's Back, Leon Russell, 1973
no info America, Arbuckle Mountain Boys, 1973
no info Single, Gordon Terry, 1973
The Best Of Bill Monroe, Bill Monroe, 1975
no info Water Glass of Whiskey, Johnny Darrell, 1975
no info Best Way I Know How, Mel Tillis, 1975
National Folk Festival: Good Time Music, Various Artists (Pinnacle Boys), 1975
no info Alive and Pickin', Doug Kershaw, 1975
no info Any Old Wind that Blows, Jim Ringer, 1975
Mirth And Merriment, Three on a String, 1975
no info Keys to the Country, Barefoot Jerry, 1976
no info Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Festival, Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, 1976
no info Buddies, Buddy Emmons with Buddy Spicher, 1977
no info Pickin' and Singin', Barrier Brothers, 1977
no info The New South, Hank Williams, Jr., 1977
Greatest Bluegrass Hits, Jimmy Martin, 1978
no info Ballads & Instrumentals, Currence Brothers, 1978
Ramblin', Richard Greene, 1979
no info Daisy a Day, Wilma Lee Cooper and the Clinch Mountain Clan, 197?
Byron Berline & the L.A. Fiddle Band, Byron Berline & the L.A. Fiddle Band, 1980
no info Live And On Stage, The Bluegrass Cardinals, 1980
no info An American Heritage: A Tribute To The Pioneers Of Bluegrass Music, Boys from Indiana, 1980
no info Orange Blossom Special, Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, 1981
no info Greatest Country Music Recordings Of All Time: Bluegrass. Vol. 1, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 1981
Don't Cheat in Our Hometown, Ricky Skaggs, 1983
no info On Radio, Vol. 2, Stanley Brothers, 1984
no info Blue Grass Classics, Harold Morrison & the Maple Hill Boys, 1984
no info Fifty Years of Bluegrass Hits, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Rose Lee Maphis), 1985
no info 19 Hot Country Requests, Vol. 2, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1985
Live in London, Ricky Skaggs, 1985
Cabin Fever, Flying Burrito Brothers, 1985
Down Home, Volume 2, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 1986
Stanley Series, Vol. 2 #4, Stanley Brothers, 1987
no info 20 Greatest Hits, Jimmy Martin, 1988
Rounder Fiddle, Various Artists (Richard Greene), 1988
no info Bill Monroe at His Best, Bill Monroe, 1989
The Thin Man from the West Plains: The RCA Sessions 1952-1962, Porter Wagoner & the Wagonmasters, 1989
no info Bluegrass Favorites, Wood Brothers, 1989
Bluegrass 1950-1958, Bill Monroe, 1990
no info Radio Special, Ricky Skaggs, 1990
Columbia Country Classics, Vol 5: New Tradition, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1990
no info Once Again, from the Top, Vol. 1, The Bluegrass Band, 1990
The Legendary Down Home Recordings, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 1990
no info Country Music Hall of Fame, Bill Monroe, 1991
On The Radio, Stanley Brothers, 1991
no info Bluegrass Favorites, Wood Brothers, 1991
no info 50 Years of Bluegrass Hits, Various Artists (Rosa Lee Maphis), 1992
no info California Traveler, California Traveler, 1992
The One Rose: The Capitol Years, Rose Maddox, 1993
no info Super Hits, Ricky Skaggs, 1993
In The Pines, Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, 1993
no info On And On, Curtis Blackwell & the Dixie Bluegrass Boys, 1993
The Music Of Bill Monroe, Bill Monroe, 1994
no info From the Vaults: Decca Country Classics, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 1994
Prestige/Folklore Years, Vol. 3: Roots and Branches, Various Artists (Charles River Valley Boys w/ Tex Logan), 1994
Bluegrass 1970-1979, Bill Monroe, 1995
no info New South, Vol. 2, Hank Williams Jr., 1995
Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 1995
no info Prestige Folklore Years: Vol. 3, Various Artists (The Charles River Valley Boys/Tex Logan), 1995
Hats Off! A Tribute to Bill Monroe, Various Artists (Buddy Spicher), 1996
no info Bluegrass Super Hits, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1996
no info Bill Monroe Tribute, Billy and Terry Smith, 1996
no info Country Music Hall Of Fame, Bill Monroe, 1996
Stanley Series, Vol. 3 #4, Stanley Brothers, 1996
no info No. 1 Country Stars, Vol. 4, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1996
no info Best of Bluegrass, Vol. 2, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1996
Tribute to Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, 1997
Live in Japan, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, 1997
no info America's Country: Country Legends, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1997
Live From Amsterdam, Flying Burrito Brothers, 1997
Country Gentleman: The Best of Ricky Skaggs, Ricky Skaggs, 1998
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bill Monroe, 1999
The Best Of Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, 1999
Live from Mountain Stage, Bill Monroe, 1999
Flatt On Victor Plus More, Lester Flatt, 1999
Retrograss, David Grisman, John Hartford and Mike Seeger, 1999
no info Bluegrass: The Gold Collection, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 1999
The Early Recordings Of Sonny Osborne, 1952-1953, Vol. 1, Sonny Osborne, 1999
no info Dismembered Tennesseans, Dismembered Tennesseans, 1999
no info The Sound of Blue Grass, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 1999
no info 21 Old Time Favorites, Various Artists (Ernie & Mack & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups), 199?
24 Bluegrass Favorites: Vintage 60's, Various Artists (Log Cabin Boys), 2000
no info As Good As It Gets: Bluegrass, Various Artists (Rose Maddox), 2000
Time-Life's Treasury of Bluegrass (30 tracks), Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2000
American Roots Music, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2001
no info Movin' on Up!, Hickory Project, 2000
no info Rare Slice of Country, Porter Wagoner, 2000
no info 16 Biggest Hits, Ricky Skaggs, 2000
no info Grand Ole Opry 75th Anniversary, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2000
no info Country Party, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2000
no info And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'/Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash, Michael Nesmith , 2000
Live, Vol. 1, Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys, 2001
no info Red, White and Bluegrass: An American Celebration, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2001
Bluegrass Bonanza, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2001
no info Still Cajun After All These Years, Doug Kershaw, 2001
no info Live at Gilley's, Leon Russell, 2001
no info The Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, 2001
no info Greatest Hits, Bill Monroe, 2001
The Definitive Bluegrass Collection, Various Artists (Buddy Spicher), 2001
American Roots Music, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2001
no info Country Pioneers, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2001
no info Orange Blossom Special, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2001
no info Country Legends, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2001
The Very Best of Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, 2002
Uncle Pen, Ricky Skaggs, 2002
Sing the Songs of Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs & Friends, 2002
Live at Vanderbilt, Lester Flatt & Bill Monroe, 2002
Big Mon: The Songs Of Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs & Friends, 2002 (CD bonus track)
no info The Barbed Wire Cutters, The Barbed Wire Cutters, 2002
no info Bluegrass Originals, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2002
no info Golden Treasure: Bluegrass Legends, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2002
no info I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2002
no info Kentucky Bluegrass Classics, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2002
Time-Life's Treasury of Bluegrass (24 tracks), Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2002
Gotta Travel On: An Introduction To Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys, Bill Monroe, 2003
Anthology, Bill Monroe, 2003
Bluegrass and Old Timey Music, The Charles River Valley Boys, 2003
Live at the Charleston Music Hall, Ricky Skaggs, 2003
no info Louisiana Man: The Very Best of Doug Kershaw Live, Doug Kershaw, 2003
July 1963: Two Days at Newport, Bill Monroe, 2003
no info Essential Collection, Bill Monroe, 2003
no info World's Greatest Bluegrass Live, Various Artists (Buddy Spicher), 2003
no info Winning Combinations, Flatt and Scruggs/Bill Monroe, 2003
no info Bluegrass Festival, Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys, 2003
The Fiddle Bluegrass and Me, Derek Deakins, 2004
Live Phish, Vol. 20, Phish, 2003
no info Bluegrass Legends, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2003
no info The Legend Lives On: A Tribute to Bill Monroe, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2003
no info 100 Greatest Bluegrass Hits, Various Artists (Rose Lee Maphis), 2003
no info Definition of Music: Bluegrass, The Bluegrass Boys, 2003
no info Take This Road, John Bowman, 2003
no info Going Back to Old Kentucky: A Bluegrass Anthology, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2003
Can't You Hear Me Callin': Bluegrass: 80 Years of American Music, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2004
Live At Mechanics Hall, Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys, 2004
The King and the Father, Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys Featuring Jimmy Martin, 2004
Far Across the Blue Water, Bill Monroe, 2004
All-Star Bluegrass Celebration, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs/Travis Tritt/Patty Loveless), 2004
On the Road, Monroe Crossing, 2004
no info Legends of Bluegrass, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2004
no info I Like Good Bluegrass, Various Artists (Rose Maddox), 2004
Soiled Souls, Slow Children Playing, 2004
The Definitive Collection, Bill Monroe, 2005
Black Highway, Puddletown Ramblers, 2005
no info The Best Of You Can't Hear Me Callin' Bluegrass: 80 Years Of American Music, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2004
no info Alive & Pickin'/Louisiana Man, Doug Kershaw, 2005
no info Nine Pound Hammer, Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, 2005
no info Uphill Climb, Above the Town, 2005
no info Legend Lives On, Bill Monroe, 2005
no info I Don't Sound Like Nobody, The Taildraggers, 2005
Thank God For Kentucky, Various Artists, 2005
no info Best of Bluegrass, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2005
36 Bluegrass Hits, Various Artists (Rosa Lee Maphis), 2006
no info Shady Grove, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2006
no info Country Hit Parade: Live, Bill Monroe, 2006
no info Greatest Bluegrass Hits, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2006
no info Nine Pound Hammer, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2006
no info Vintage Bluegrass Masters, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2006
no info Superstars of Country: Live, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2006
no info Barefootin'/Keys to the Country, Barefoot Jerry, 2006
no info Greatest Hits, Roy Acuff, 2007
no info Bill Monroe: Platinum Artist Series, Bill Monroe, 2007
no info The Roots of Elvis, Vol. 2, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2007
no info Ultimate Collection: Bluegrass, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2007
no info Bluegrass: The Essential Collection, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2007
The Essential Guide To Bluegrass, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2007
no info Pure, Bill Monroe, 2007
no info Country Music Legends, Bill Monroe, 2007
no info Famous Country Music Makers, Porter Wagoner, 2007
Classic Bluegrass Collection, Vols. 1-4, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2007
Classic Bluegrass Collection, Vols. 1-4, Various Artists (Ricky Skaggs), 2007
Bluegrass in the Smokies, Various Artists (Log Cabin Boys), 2007
At The Roxy, Phish, 2008
1950-1958 (JSP box set), Bill Monroe And His Bluegrass Boys, 2009
With Body And Soul: A Bluegrass Tribute to Bill Monroe, Various Artists (Jim & Jesse Reynolds), 2011
Happy Birthday Bill Monroe: Dawg Plays Big Mon, David Grisman and various artists, 2011
Beginner's Guide To Hoedown, Various Artists (Bill Monroe), 2011
Cluck Ol' Hen, Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby, 2013
Retrograss Deluxe Edition, Grisman / Hartford / Seeger, 2013?
12/5/14� Fort Collins, CO, The Infamous Stringdusters, 2014
3/6/15� Seattle, WA, The Infamous Stringdusters, 2015
3/15/15� San Louis Obispo, CA, The Infamous Stringdusters, 2015