Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia

by BLACK BANJO SONGSTERS OF N CARO

Overview

Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia features 32 tracks of African-American banjo players from North Carolina and Virginia playing in the old-time folk style, recorded between 1974 and 1997. This is one of numerous releases illustrating that the roots of American music have more of a commonality than is often supposed. Many of the standards covered by the musicians on this record were (and are) in the repertoire of white folk artists, and it seems almost arbitrary to try to determine whether this is more of a country or a blues collection. Several of the players use odd tunings, and their instrumental skills outshine the vocals, which often sound like off-the-cuff afterthoughts. This is very well produced (with a booklet giving background on black banjo playing and the history behind the songs), and it's really more of academic interest than something to play for entertainment, historical importance aside. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/1998
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074007921
Rank:	59601

Tracks

1. Coo Coo  - John Snipes  -  Traditional
2. Coo Coo  - Dink Roberts
3. Old Rattler (Fox Chase)  - John Snipes
4. Georgie Buck  - Dink Roberts
5. Georgia Buck  - Joe Thompson  - Odell Thompson  -  Traditional
6. John Henry  -  Roberts  -  Traditional
7. High Sheriff  - Dink Roberts
8. John Hardy  - Dink Roberts
9. Garfield  - Dink Roberts
10. Old Corn Liquor  - Dink Roberts
11. Old Corn Liquor  - Joe Thompson  - Odell Thompson  -  Traditional
12. John Henry  - Joe Thompson  - Odell Thompson  -  Traditional
13. Love Somebody  - Joe Thompson  - Tommy Thompson
14. Long Tail Blue  - John Snipes
15. Ain't Gonna Rain No More  - Jamie Alston  - John Snipes  - Tommy Thompson  - Johnny Snipes
16. Going Where I've Never Been Before  - John Snipes
17. Black Annie  - Dink Roberts
18. Old Blue  - Dink Roberts
19. Going Away from Home  - John Snipes
20. You Don't Know My Darling  - John Snipes
21. Jaybird March  - Etta Baker  - Cora Phillips
22. Going Up North  - Jim Clark  - John Jackson
23. Sugar Hill  - Homer Walker
24. Mama Don't Allow  - Leonard Bowles  - Irvin Cook
25. Shortnin' Bread  - Leonard Bowles
26. Shortnin' Bread  - Lewis "Big Sweet" Hairston
27. Fox Chase  - John Tyree
28. Roustabout  - Dink Roberts
29. Cookin' in the Kitchen  - John Snipes
30. Coo Coo Bird  - Rufus Kasey
31. Fox Chase  - Dink Roberts
32. Little Brown Jug  - Joe Thompson  - Odell Thompson  - Tommy Thompson

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Snipes   Primary Artist
Cora Phillips   Primary Artist,Guitar
Tommy Thompson   Primary Artist,Guitar,Claw Hammer Banjo
John Tyree   Primary Artist,Bass
Odell Thompson   Primary Artist,Claw Hammer Banjo,Vocals,Banjo
John Snipes   Primary Artist,Claw Hammer Banjo,Vocals
John Jackson   Primary Artist
Irvin Cook   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals
Rufus Kasey   Primary Artist,Vocals,Claw Hammer Banjo
Dink Roberts   Primary Artist,Banjo,Vocals,Claw Hammer Banjo
Lewis "Big Sweet" Hairston   Primary Artist,Vocals,Banjo
Uncle Homer Walker   Primary Artist,Vocals,Claw Hammer Banjo
Etta Baker   Primary Artist,Banjo
James Roberts   Primary Artist,Banjo
Joe Thompson   Primary Artist,Fiddle
Leonard Bowles   Primary Artist,Fiddle,Claw Hammer Banjo

Technical Credits

Michael Maloney   Production Coordination
Uncle Homer Walker   Performer
James Roberts   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Cora Phillips   Performer
Joe Thompson   Performer
Jim Clark   Composer
Tommy Thompson   Performer
Etta Baker   Performer
Dink Roberts   Performer
John Jackson   Performer
John Tyree   Performer
Mary Monseur   Production Coordination,Editing Assistant
Charly Weber   Engineer
Jamie Alston   Composer
Lewis "Big Sweet" Hairston   Performer
Odell Thompson   Performer
John Snipes   Performer
David Glasser   Mastering
Anthony Seeger   Editing Assistant