Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

The most famous abolitionist anti slavery song of 19th century America, published in 1853 by Stephen Foster and made famous by Christy's Minstrels in the same year. Likely inspired by the narrative of popular anti-slavery novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," while likely referencing imagery witnessed on his visits to the Bardstown, Kentucky farm called Federal Hill. In Foster's sketchbook, the song was originally entitled "Poor Uncle Tom, Good-Night!," but was altered by Foster as "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night." Abolitionist Frederick Douglass thought the song stimulated "the sympathies for the slave, in which anti-slavery principles take root and flourish.

Tony on fiddle and vocals, Rich on guitar, me on banjo.

Tony on fiddle and vocals, Rich on guitar, me on banjo.

While exploring the Slippery Hill site I came across four versions of Wolves A-Howling. Two were Bruce Molsky's source, too. I used the one by John A. Brown. His photo is a classic one for the LP Great Big Yam Potatoes. See it in the Sound Off thread, as well as the complete liner notes for this rare album from Mississippi. Do you think the wolves are literal or figurative? I was thinking they could be creditors or the bank wanting their money you don't have....

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 7/10/15. The sad story of this tune fits the somber, slower pace presented by greenbrooms (Kevin) in the TOTW discussion. I'm reminded of a version of Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie, as played by Todd Phillips and friends, which I've sandwiched in-between Elk River Blues. Both have a melancholy theme. If you haven't looked and listened to the TOTW, here's a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/306217

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 7/3/15, here are three versions. The first is Big Liza Jane from the banjo playing of Kyle Creed. Next is a similar tune via West Virginian fiddler Franklin George and his banjo-playing partner, Katie Johnson. Then comes my arrangement of Going Down to Cairo (sometimes called Goodbye Liza Jane).

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 7/3/15, here are five versions of Liza Jane. The first is from a 1917 recording of Little Liza Jane by Earl Fuller's Famous Jazz Band. Second is J.P. Fraley's Little Liza Jane. Third is Mountaineer's Love Song via Al Hopkins and the Hillbillies (1926). Fourth is from Clyde Davenport and fifth is Bob Thornburg's Liza Jane, learned from Dwight Diller.

Learned this week from Missouri gentleman and musical extraordinaire Joe Newberry at the annual music camp in Grass Valley sponsored by the California Bluegrass Association. He turned up the fun meter! He learned this from listening to field recordings of Fred Cockerham, a musical hero he never got to meet.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, this version comes from Illinois fiddler Jim Reed on the Dear Old Illinois CD set, ready to be re-released soon. Cora Dye was the name of a musician who taught Mr. Reed, but the original name may have been Old Sage Friend. See the TOTW: http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/305004. Hope you enjoy this delicate first effort to learn the tune.

A G tune from the playing of fiddler Jim Reed. Played on my Menzies tackhead in standard tuning, but tuned down to C.

Learned from Bob Carlin's album Banging and Sawing

Based on the playing of Dwight Diller and Bob Thornburg

Based on the playing of Dwight Diller and Bob Thornburg

A recent old-time Tune of the Week (http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/291864) included one of the two tunes recorded in the 1920's for Okeh records by Dudley Vance (1880 - 1962) and his Tennessee Breakdowners. Here's the other tune, encouraged for me to learn in one of my Skype lessons with Adam Hurt. This tune was recorded along with a square dance caller. You can hear my banjo picking up on the fiddler's role in this tune to provide lots of dance rhythm.

A recent old-time Tune of the Week (http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/291864) included one of the two tunes recorded in the 1920's for Okeh records by Dudley Vance (1880 - 1962) and his Tennessee Breakdowners. Here's the other tune, encouraged for me to learn in one of my Skype lessons with Adam Hurt. This tune was recorded along with a square dance caller. You can hear my banjo picking up on the fiddler's role in this tune to provide lots of dance rhythm.