The Lewis Brothers recorded Bull at the Wagon at a July 11, 1929 session in El Paso. Sadly that was the only known session for the duo. It’s a pity because Bull at the Wagon is a charming and energetic recording. The tune itself is fairly simple, composed of three strains in A Major, played…
Bug in the Taters
Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters recorded Bug in the Taters on May 14th, 1927 in New York City. It was paired with Boatin Up’ Sandy, and released as Brunswick #182. The tune is comprised of four short four-bar strains D Major, played AABBCCDD. Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters were the same group as The Hill…
Boatin’ Up Sandy
Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters recorded Boatin’ Up Sandy in New York City on May 14th, 1927. It was paired with Bug in the Taters, and released as Brunswick #182. The form is a standard AABB fiddle tune with two four-bar strains. The ‘A’ strain has some nice syncopations, including a tie across the bar line…
Bring Me a Bottle
The Leake County Revelers recorded Bring Me a Bottle in New Orleans on December 12th, 1928. It was paired with Molly Put the Kettle On, and released as Columbia 15380-D. The form is a standard AABB fiddle tune, with two eight-bar strains. There are lyrics that aren’t included in this transcription. If anyone wants to take a…
Birds in the Brook
The Leake County Revelers’ Birds in the Brook is unusual in two significant ways: It has an unusually long and complex form It has a short minor-key segment (at rehearsal mark ‘C’), played in unison The tonal relationships between the strains, starting in C major, and moving up to the subdominant F, is typical of marches,…
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…
Molly Put the Kettle On
The Leake County Revelers recorded Molly Put the Kettle On at a December 13th, 1928 session in New Orleans. It was released as Columbia # 15380-D. The tune is a simple AABB fiddle tune in D major, with short 4-bar strains. If anyone wants to take a crack at the lyrics go for it. Aside from,…
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…