Sunset Waltz is one of a handful of tunes recorded by members of the seminal African-American string band the Mississippi Sheiks under the name the Mississippi Mud Steppers. There are six known sides attributed to the group, and, curiously in an era of strict racial segregation, they were released in OKeh’s 45000 ‘Hillbilly’ series. Whether…
Good Night Waltz
Good Night Waltz is a lovely waltz in the keys of C and F that was recorded by early string band performers such as the Kessinger Brothers, the Blue Ridge Entertainers, and the Leake County Revelers. This transcription is based on a Leake County Revelers performance recorded in New Orleans on April 13th, 1927, and…
Don’t You Remember the Time
Don’t You Remember the Time is a beautiful waltz in G major that sounds surprisingly modern due to two simple surprises in the chord progression: going from the V7 to the IV chord in bar 5, and doing the same in bar 16. This transcription is based on a performance by Freeny’s Barn Dance Band,…
Alabama Jubilee
Alabama Jubilee is a fun circle of fifths tune that has been performed by such luminaries as Chet Atkins and the Kentucky Colnels, and has remained in the bluegrass and old-timey repertoire for decades. This transcription is based on a performance by The McClung Brothers and Cleve Chaffin, recorded in Chicago in 1929. It was…
Mississippi Echoes
The Ray Brothers recorded Mississippi Echoes at their second and final recording session, November 21, 1930, in Memphis Tennessee. The group was comprised of Will Ray on fiddle and Vardaman Ray on guitar. The tune was paired with Tuscaloosa Waltz, and released as Victor # 23552. The tune is comprised of two eight-bar strains in C, played…
Lazy Kate
The Leake County Revelers recorded Lazy Kate at their final session, December 18, 1930, in Jackson Mississippi. It was paired with a side recorded two years earlier, Memories, and released as Columbia # 15767. Theirs is the only recording of this tune under this title. The tune is comprised of two eight-bar strains played in the standard…
Avalon Quickstep
Narmour and Smith recorded Avalon Quickstep at a June 7, 1930, session in San Antonio. It was released on OKeh’s country 45000 series as OKeh #45469. It was also released on OKeh’s Mexican 16000 series as #16732. The Mexican series issue was titled Tiempo Alegre, and, per Tony Russell’s discography, may have been credited to ‘Duo Instrumental.’ Avalon…
Bill Cheatham
The Red Headed Fiddlers recorded Bill Cheatham as Cheat `Em at an October 27, 1929, session in Dallas. Bill Cheatham remains a standard in old-time and bluegrass repertoires. There are several recordings under various spellings listed in Tony Russell’s comprehensive discography: Bill Cheatam: Blind Joe Mangum/ Fred Shriber Bill Cheatham: Arthur Smith Bill Cheatum: The Light…
Run Smoke Run
Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded Run Smoke Run at an August 24th, 1928 session in Richmond, Indiana. The recording was released as Gennett # 6689. The tune is comprised of two short four-bar strains, played AABBB. There is substantial variation between some of the repeats, so they are written in full.
Bull at the Wagon
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…