Post by PeterW on Nov 4, 2006 19:43:51 GMT -5
My thanks to John, Scott, Walker and others who suggested some 'real' country artists for me to listen to. Some of the names are, of course familiar to me but I must admit there are quite a few I didn't recognise. Maybe their work hasn't had much exposure in the UK.
To me, at the moment at least, there seems to be a fine line, if indeed there is one, dividing older country music and folk music, and I'm not quite sure in which category you'd put people like Box Car Willie, Leadbelly, Gary Davis and, of course, 'Ragtime Cowboy Jew' Stephan Grossman who IMHO did a great job finding and recording some unknown but excellent amateur guitarists playing old folk and ragtime for his Kicking Mule label. The quality from his portable tape recorder wasn't all that good at times, but the music's first rate.
I see I've got a lot more listening to do, and I must also unplug my Stratocaster for a while and dust off my steel-strung acoustic. It's a Yamaha that originally belonged to my daughter Emma who called it Fido, but being the perverse sort of person I am I like to spell it Phydeau. I prefer it to my other steel-strung acoustic, a Fender Jumbo which is a lovely guitar but which I find a bit on the big side these days. Must be getting old!
'
John, you wrote:
That's easy, you like easy playing, there's less finger stretching than playing it in C
and:
Quite right, John, because, in Lonnie's words, the British came out rather ignominiously. But with a name like Donnegan I suppose he's entitled to remind us about that even if he was born in Glasgow and grew up in East Ham.
Did you also play his slow intro to Take my hand precious Lord? and did you know that Paul McCartney credits Lonnie for inspiring him and John Lennon go out and buy guitars and form The Quarrymen, a fore-runner of The Beatles?
OK. Don't shoot. Last word on country music. I promise (fingers crossed). Of course, by any other name ...
Just looked at the clock. Way, way past my bedtime - again. Got to go and get some beauty sleep, not that it's likely to improve my ancient ravaged looks! G'night.
PeterW
To me, at the moment at least, there seems to be a fine line, if indeed there is one, dividing older country music and folk music, and I'm not quite sure in which category you'd put people like Box Car Willie, Leadbelly, Gary Davis and, of course, 'Ragtime Cowboy Jew' Stephan Grossman who IMHO did a great job finding and recording some unknown but excellent amateur guitarists playing old folk and ragtime for his Kicking Mule label. The quality from his portable tape recorder wasn't all that good at times, but the music's first rate.
I see I've got a lot more listening to do, and I must also unplug my Stratocaster for a while and dust off my steel-strung acoustic. It's a Yamaha that originally belonged to my daughter Emma who called it Fido, but being the perverse sort of person I am I like to spell it Phydeau. I prefer it to my other steel-strung acoustic, a Fender Jumbo which is a lovely guitar but which I find a bit on the big side these days. Must be getting old!
'John, you wrote:
I'll carry on playing my old favourite "The Wild Rover". Only thing is I play it in A minor. Categorise that!!
That's easy, you like easy playing, there's less finger stretching than playing it in C
and:
Don't play his 'Battle of New Orleans' 'cause why should I?
Quite right, John, because, in Lonnie's words, the British came out rather ignominiously. But with a name like Donnegan I suppose he's entitled to remind us about that even if he was born in Glasgow and grew up in East Ham.
Did you also play his slow intro to Take my hand precious Lord? and did you know that Paul McCartney credits Lonnie for inspiring him and John Lennon go out and buy guitars and form The Quarrymen, a fore-runner of The Beatles?
OK. Don't shoot. Last word on country music. I promise (fingers crossed). Of course, by any other name ...
Just looked at the clock. Way, way past my bedtime - again. Got to go and get some beauty sleep, not that it's likely to improve my ancient ravaged looks! G'night.
PeterW
