Ridin’ in an Old Model T

Ridin’ in an Old Model T is one of six sides recorded by the Dixie Ramblers at a March, 1937 session in Birmingham, Alabama. Russell’s Country Music Records actually lists four unrelated groups that recorded under the name The Dixie Ramblers. Unusually for 1930s string bands, this group appears to have been racially integrated. Ridin’…

Green Mountain

Earl Johnson recorded Green Mountain at a November 22nd, 1929, session in Atlanta, Georgia. It was paired with Rocky Palace, and released as Victor # V-40304. Green Mountain is Flop-Eared Mule in all but name. His is the only recording listed in Tony Russell’s Country Music Records under that title. The tune is a simple AABB fiddle tune with the A strain in…

Liberty for two mandolins, with tablature

Here’s a simple two-mandolin arrangement of the warhorse fiddle tune Liberty. With the exception of the pickup to the ‘A’ strain, both the melody and harmony parts can be played entirely in first position. You can hear the arrangement via the embedded audio player at the bottom of this post.    

Walking in the Parlor

The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded Walking in the Parlor at a New York session on October 22nd, 1926. It is one of three recordings listed in Tony Russell’s Country Music Records under that title, the others being by Dr. D.D. Hollis and The Pickard Family. The tune is a simple AABB fiddle…

Blue Eyed Girl

Blue Eyed Girl is, for all intents and purposes, Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss. The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded it at an October 22nd, 1926, session for Vocalion. It was released as Vocalion # 5017, paired with Fisher’s Hornpipe. As with several other of the group’s recordings, the fidelity of the…

Sally Ann

The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded Sally Ann at their first-ever recording date, a January 1925 session for the OKeh label. They would re-record the the following year for release on Brunswick and Vocalion. Though this performance is in C major, Sally Ann is often played in other keys, more commonly…

East Tennessee Blues

This transcription is based on a performance of East Tennessee Blues recorded by the dual-monikered group Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters/ The Hill Billies. It was recorded in New York City on October 21st, 1926, and released as Vocalion # 5016 (credited to The Hill Billies) and Brunswick # 103 (credited to Al Hopkins…

New Money

Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded New Money at an August 24th, 1928, session in Richmond, Indiana. It was paired with Shoot That Turkey Buzzard, and released as Gennett # 6775. It also saw a release on the Supertone label (# 9355), credited to his oft-used pseudonym, Fiddlin’ Jim Burke. This is the only commercial recording of New Money under that title…