Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

Searching for Sam Bayard's Hill Country Tune book on-line, I accidently printed out one of the nearly 100 tunes--#2, Sweet Ellen--and found it wasn't hard to learn. The credit for it is given to Irvin Yaugher of Pennsylvania, where Bayard collected all his tunes. Others have recorded it, included the Canote Brothers and Don Borchelt.

Written by Eric Merrill in honor of his grandmother Helen Grace. Appears on his CD "The Western Star". Played here on clawhammer banjo tuned aEAC#E.

Learned from a recording by Kentucky fiddler Buddy Thomas. I like to learn any of Buddy's tunes--he had a smooth, intricate style. And also to learn any of the possum tunes as my memory of one is quite fond.

Based on William Stepp's version and inspired by Rhys Jones, Rebels Raid is the current Tune of the Week. This is the slow and sweeter version. The aggressive soldiering of Morgan's Raiders inspired a slide show video, with the help of Tom Berghan's encouragement and movie-making talent.

This is West Virginian fiddler Tom Dillon's version from the MacCrae Sisters. I wish I knew more about him, though Gerry Milnes wrote a little bit in his book called Play of a Fiddle. I think it's got an interesting A part that does a sort of skip-gallop kind of rhythm that intrigued me. A grey eagle is actually a buzzard.

from the Digital Library of Appalachia website

Learned from the banjo playing of John Herrmann accompanying Art Stamper's fiddle. For the Tune of the Week, Oct. 11 2013.

I recorded this one with a Brooks Masten 12 inch fretless Spartan strung with Nylgut minstrel strings and tuned to a low D modal.

This version comes from Paul David Smith of Kentucky who learned it from his father. It's in the unusual tuning of fCGCD, though Paul played it in fDFAD. Mine's clawhammered, his was picked. I've wondered how many different Lost Indians there are. I know three distinct tunes called Lost Indian and have heard more than that.

For the TOTW, 10/4/13. Kind of makes one hungry for something that sounds so yummy. It's a sweet-sounding song and has the interesting history from having been recording by two Mississipian musicans--Narmour and Smith--by Okeh, the company who recorded the Carter Family during that era.

Ed Haley's version. It inspired John Hartford, too, and he played it for the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. I heard it on an Ed Haley CD I was able to download and it became one of those "gotta learn" tunes.

For the TOTW, Sept. 27, 2013. This was learned listening to Howard Sims recording by Gerry Harrison on the Dear Old Illinois set. I had such a dog growing up, and, boy, how he could wag that little tail!

From a session at Clifftop, Tuesday, 7/29/13. Adam Hurt - fiddle, Beth Hartness - guitar, Brendan Doyle - banjo Recorded by Adam and Beth's friend Paul DeBlois. This was a really fun session, and one which I'd like to make at least a yearly habit! Adam and Beth are both lovely people as well as being fabulous musicians, and I can't get enough of playing with them. Being a festival recording, this has the typical festival background noise of other sessions, hollered conversations, etc., but despite that, it came out pretty good, I think. I hope you enjoy it!

From a session at Clifftop, Tuesday, 7/29/13. Adam Hurt - fiddle, Beth Hartness - guitar, Brendan Doyle - banjo Recorded by Adam and Beth's friend Paul DeBlois. I believe Adam got this version of Fiddler's Reel from Benton Flippen. This was a really fun session, and one which I'd like to make at least a yearly habit! Adam and Beth are both lovely people as well as being fabulous musicians, and I can't get enough of playing with them. Being a festival recording, this has the typical festival background noise of other sessions, hollered conversations, etc., but despite that, it came out pretty good, I think. I hope you enjoy it!

J. P. Fraley's album with this title name has a gem of his fiddled tunes. Kentuckian J. P. was influenced greatly listening to Ed Haley as a youngster. Previously I'd arranged this with 3-finger picking. By changing the key it laid out better for clawhammer.