I'm on a quest to listen to as much of the traditional music of the United States as much as I possibly can, so I've got a few things that I could reccomend, but I'll stick with this one for a banjo album. Nice picks so far!
That was bloody brilliant - thanks heaps for sharing! I think I am several millenia away from all those fancy neck swirling moves... But that was really cool to watch!
Listening to Roscoe Holcombe as I type - traditional as traditional comes... love it. It is a cool ambition to want to listen to as much US traditional music as possible. I have no connection at all with that part of the US, but I still love the sound.
I actually went looking for different versions of the song that sparked the 'I want to learn the banjo' mid-life crisis this morning. 'The Cuckoo' is an ancient song (at least 300 years old) and has lots of different titles and versions. I have a massive soft spot for this live version by my favourite Monkee, Peter Tork (RIP).
Anyway I landed up with the Willie Watson version today and decided to listen to the whole album. His version of 'The Cuckoo Bird' is beautiful as is the rest of the album. A lovely modern take on some very old classics. I also liked the mixture of guitar and banjo and he has a very folk voice. I know I am going on a lot about the voices and singers as I go through these albums, but it is important to me. I find that some folk singers have very harsh voices which I find really hard to listen to and it puts me off everything else... I know it is sometimes the style but still!
I had a fun afternoon yesterday listening to the Lost Dog Street Band. On paper this is probably something that I wouldn't expect to like (wailing men rarely do it for me! ) But I actually really enjoyed the album. It reminded me of something and I can't quite put my finger on what it is. And again I liked that mix of guitar, banjo and fiddle - vocals are not as bad as I just made them sound either.
GOT IT - it reminds me a little bit of Camper Van Beethoven (one of my all time favourite bands) - this album to be precise but without the more rock sound that the camper vans have:
GOT IT - it reminds me a little bit of Camper Van Beethoven (one of my all time favourite bands) - this album to be precise but without the more rock sound that the camper vans have:
Oh cool! I love them too. Will have to check out Lost Dog soon!
I have been listening to the Dubliners for years - my dad likes them. Barney McKenna is one hell of a banjo player. I love listening to the distinctive Irish take which has a different feel to the mountain banjo of some of the others on here.
It is back up to the mountains for some Ola Belle Reed. My fingers are tingling from trying to play 'You led me to the wrong'... The whole album is very raw and has a hint of the blues to it. Fabulous playing to boot (one day, Abs, one day!)
Verdict - very old school mountain banjo playing - rough and ready but with a beauty of it's own.
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) But I actually really enjoyed the album. It reminded me of something and I can't quite put my finger on what it is. And again I liked that mix of guitar, banjo and fiddle - vocals are not as bad as I just made them sound either.
