Guitaration Gap CHS-1042 - (1971) Side 1: Guitaration Gap (Joe & Jody Maphis) Fire And Rain (James Taylor) If I Kiss You (Liz Anderson) Sippin', Pickin' And Flippin' (Vance Bulla) Celito Lindo (Joe & Jody Maphis) Side 2: Scruggin' It (Joe & Jody Maphis) Lookin' Out My Back Door (J. Fogerty) Ride, Ride, Ride (Liz Anderson) The Letter (W. C. Thompson) Billy In The Low Ground (Joe & Jody Maphis) Produced by: Slim Williamson

I was recently visiting in the home of Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, when Joe turned to me and said, "I have just recorded an album with Jody Lee, and I would like for you to write the liner notes." My reply was that I would like to but I didn't know if I could do it justice. My reason for this remark, if I might explain, was that I remembered the words of an artist who once said to me, "It is getting difficult for me to do paintings of you since I have learned to know you so well." And, I have known and admired Joe and Rose Lee and their family for a long time.     As I sat in Joe's home, listening to the tape of the album, I remembered the first time I had the privilege of meeting Joe and Rose Lee. And, I recalled a train ride with them in 1954, from Washington, D.C. to New York City. We were booked on a two week's engagement together for performances at the 48th Street Theatre in the first country music show to ever appear on Broadway. I remember that I was highly impressed with their performances and showmanship; I had never met a young couple with so much talent as these two possessed.     Joe and Rose Lee's young son, Jody Lee, was just a few weeks old at this time, and I never dreamed that sixteen years later, this young man would be picking and singing with me in my group. Jody Lee has been playing rhythm guitar in my show for the past year and he is a joy to have around. He's sincere, conscientious, well behaved, a bundle of energy, laughs a lot, he's always eager to work, and my sons and I also consider him a part of our family.     Several years ago, I had the privilege of recording a song written by Joe and Rose Lee entitled, "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And Loud, Loud Music." They also recorded one of my instrumentals entitled "Randy Lynn Rag." In observing the changes in music styles throughout the years, I think the young ideas and talent of Jody Lee, combined with that of his famous father, has provided for an excellent and exciting album. There is never any question of Joe and Rose Lee's performances, and on this album, I heard a sound that you hear in the young generation's sound of music.     When you listen to this album-Guitaration Gap-you will hear two generations of two great guitar virtuosos who have recorded some ex­cellent music. People all over the world from the United States to Japan,     The Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Taiwan, Germany and Canada have heard the Maphis' perform and they are living legends in their own time. Now, Joe introduces his talented young son, Jody Lee, in their first album together, combining the two generations of music, the old and the new, in great instrumental versions of such numbers as Billy In The Low Ground pop songs such as Ride Ride Ride, and If I Kiss You. I consider it an honor for Joe to have written and recorded the instrumental entitled "Scruggin' It," where he and Jody Lee laid down some excellent guitar licks. You will also hear Joe playing a unique 18-string guitar on one of the tracks.     In the society we live in today, with the so called generation gap, I think it is great that a father and his son have the mutual respect and admiration for each other's music. Perhaps if more fathers and sons sat down together and communicated through the world of music, or whatever they have in common, that gap would be a non-existing one, as is the case here by the combination of a togetherness of Joe and Jody Lee Maphis ... In this album titled Guitaration Gap . . . an absolute must for every record collector. EARL SCRUGGS