Your favorite mandolin breaks [Archive]

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jhbaylor

Jan-16-2008, 9:43pm

Thanks for everyone's responses, I tried to get them all into a spreadsheet. I guess you can just copy and paste it into your own Excel file too. #You can sort it by song title or artist. #I am not familiar with all of them, so there may be some mistakes on here. #There is some serious listening on here! #

Here goes:

By song:
A Christmas Song Jethro Tull
A Voice from on High Jim Williams
Angel Delight Dave Swarbrick Fairport Convention
As I Roved Out Woods Band
Asleep at the Wheel Johnny Gimble Merle Haggard
Barbara in the Morning Andy Statman
Billy The Kid Ry Cooder
Blue Night Bill Monroe
Blue Night Tim O'Brien's
Blue Ridge Mountain Home John Duffey Country Gentlemen
Bluebirds Singing for Me Roland White Lester & Mac album
Bluebirds Singing for Me Don Stiernberg Robbie Fulks
Bluegrass Holiday Doyle Lawson JD Crowe Blackjack
Brakeman's Blues Chris Thile Chris Thile How To Grow A Band
Christmas Times A Comin Bill Monroe Bill Monroe & Bluegrass Boys
Close By Bill Monroe
Colleen Malone Tim Obrien
Columbus Stockade Blues Bill Monroe
Corrine, Corrina Tiny Moore Haggard
Dark Eyes Dave Peters Live at Ovations
Darling Corey Bill Monroe
Doin My Time Aubrey Haynie Aubrey Haynie Doin My Time
Dooley Dean Webb The Dillards
Every Humble Knee Ron Pennington Lonesome Road Band
Every Humble Knee Must Bow Mike Compton Nashville Bluegrass Band
Every time You Say Goodbye Adam Steffey Alison Krauss.
Fat Man Jethro Tull
Friend of the Devi David Grisman Grateful Dead
Gilderoy/Little Beggarman Norman Blake
Goin' To Brownsville Ry Cooder
Goin' To My Hometown Rory Gallagher
Gospel Medley Alan Bibey BlueRidges Gettin' Ready
Gospel Plow Mike Compton
Granny White Special Sam Bush Mark O'Connor
He Had a Long Chain On Tim O'Brian
Head Over Heels In Love With You Darryl Wolfe Knoxville Grass
Heartaches Doyle Lawson
Heaven Is My Home Webco
Hibriten Mountain Mike Guggino Steep Canyon Rangers Mr. Taylor's New Home
High On A Mountain Ronnie McCoury Del McCoury
Highway 40 Blues Ricky Skaggs
Home Sweet Home Revisited Ricky Skaggs
Hut Sut Song Jethro Burns Homer and Jethro
I Can See For Miles Marty Stuart
I Found a Hidin Place Bill Monroe
I Want To Believe Eric Bazilian Sass Jordan # Rats
I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky Bill Monroe
I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail Frank Wakefield Kitchen Tapes
I'm Lonesome Without You Butch Baldassarri Lonesome Standard Time
I've Waited as Long as I Can Jimmy Gaudreau Tony Rice
Kansas City Railroad Blues Roland White
Laura Jethro Burns #Homer and Jethro
Let The Harvest Go To Seed Sharon Gilchrist Rowan and Rice Quartet
Letter From My Darling Bill Monore
Listen To the Fallen Eagle Chris Hillman Steve Stills and Manassas
Little Bessie Doyle Lawson Country Gentlemen
Little Birdie Frank Wakefield
Little Maggie Bill Monroe
Little Sadie Sam Bush Tony Rice Manzanita
Lonesome For You Butch Baldassarri Lonesome Standard Time
Louise David Grisman Bonnie Raitt
Love of The Mountains Dempsey Young Lost & Found
Me and the Jukebox Buzz Starday
Midnight Moonlight David Grisman Old and in the Way
Midnight on the Stormy Deep Bill Monroe The Rowan & Greene Band
Mr. John Henry, Steel Drivin' Man Marty Stuart
My Love Will Not Change Ronnie McCoury Del McCoury
Never Got Off the Ground Sam Bush Allison Krauss
No Hiding Place Mike Compton Nashville Bluegrass Band
Nowhere To Run Adam Steffey
Old Fashioned Love Tiny Moore #Merle Haggard
Old Home Place Ricky Skaggs JD Crowe & The New South
On and On Jimmy Gaudreau Tony Rice
On The Sea Of Life Doyle Lawson
On the Sea of Life Doyle Lawson
Out in the Cold World Bill Monroe
Pale Rider Emory Lester
Pass Me Not Butch Baldassari Butch Baldassari Day in the Country
Peace in The Valley Dempsey Young.
Poor Little Beggar Girl Richard Thompson
Rabbit In A Log David Grisman Doc and Ricky Skaggs
Rabbit in the Log Marty Stuart Bill Monroe The Legend Lives On
Rain & Snow David Grisman Muleskinner
Rambler Buzz Busby Leon Morris & Buzz Busby #Honkytonk Bluegrass
Ramblin' Robin Andy Irvine Christy Moore Prosperous
Reach Sam Bush
Ripple David Grisman Grateful Dead
Riverboat Fantasy Rick Alread The Country Gentlemen
Road With No End Adam Steffey Mountain Heart
Roly Poly Tiny Moore #Merle Haggard
Sea of Life Doyle Lawson
Shady Grove Andy Leftwich Ricky Skaggs
Slipstream Sam Bush Bela Fleck Drive
Smiffey's Glass Eye Richard Thompson
Spanish Johnny Ricky Skaggs Emmylou Harris #Evangeline
Step On Out Chris Hillman Slippin Away
Take Me Back to Tulsa Tiny Moore #Merle Haggard
Tall Pine Tom Rozum Laurie Lewis
Thanks A Lot Alan Bibey Third Time Out
That's All Right Mike Compton Nashville Bluegrass Band
The Cold Hard Facts Ronnie McCoury
The Lonesome River Pee Wee Lambert
The Maid And The Palmer Martin Carthy
The Ride In The Creel Martin Carthy
Things In Life David Grisman Don Stover
This Side Chris Thile Nickel Creek
Train 45 Doyle Lawson School of Bluegrass
Travel, Travel On Marty Stuart and Del Mccoury
Travelin' Down This Lonesome Road Bill Monroe
Two Little Boys John Duffey
Under the X in Texas Johnny Gimble Johnny Gimble
Up In The Morning Andy Statman Andy's Ramble
Vincent Black Lighting Ronnie McCoury
Walk, Don't Run Doyle Lawson # Mike Auldridge Blues & Bluegrass
Walls of Time Ricky Skaggs Ancient Tones
We Shall Inherit Doyle Lawson
When I get Home Tom Rozum Laurie Lewis
When You Are Lonely Bill Monroe Bill Monroe
Whiskey Before Breakfast/Fiddlers Dream Norman Blake
Whitehouse Blues Bill Monroe
Whose Red Wagon Starday
With Care from Someone Sam Bush Newgrass Revival
Workin on a Building John Duffey Seldom Scene
Working in the Vineyards Rick May 5 for the Gospel
Working on a Building Bill Monroe
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away Jimmy Gaudreau 2nd Generation

By Mandolin Picker:

Adam Steffey Nowhere To Run
Adam Steffey Road With No End Mountain Heart
Adam Steffey Every time You Say Goodbye Alison Krauss.
Alan Bibey Gospel Medley BlueRidges Gettin' Ready
Alan Bibey Thanks A Lot Third Time Out
Andy Irvine Ramblin' Robin Christy Moore Prosperous
Andy Leftwich Shady Grove Ricky Skaggs
Andy Statman Barbara in the Morning
Andy Statman Up In The Morning Andy's Ramble
Aubrey Haynie Doin My Time Aubrey Haynie Doin My Time
Bill Monore Letter From My Darling
Bill Monroe Blue Night
Bill Monroe Christmas Times A Comin Bill Monroe & Bluegrass Boys
Bill Monroe Columbus Stockade Blues
Bill Monroe I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky
Bill Monroe Out in the Cold World
Bill Monroe Travelin' Down This Lonesome Road
Bill Monroe When You Are Lonely Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe Working on a Building
Bill Monroe Close By
Bill Monroe Darling Corey
Bill Monroe Whitehouse Blues
Bill Monroe Little Maggie
Bill Monroe Midnight on the Stormy Deep The Rowan & Greene Band
Butch Baldassari Pass Me Not Butch Baldassari Day in the Country
Butch Baldassarri I'm Lonesome Without You Lonesome Standard Time
Butch Baldassarri Lonesome For You Lonesome Standard Time
Buzz Busby Rambler Leon Morris & Buzz Busby #Honkytonk Bluegrass
Buzz Starday Me and the Jukebox
Chris Hillman Listen To the Fallen Eagle Steve Stills and Manassas
Chris Hillman Step On Out Slippin Away
Chris Thile This Side Nickel Creek
Chris Thile Brakeman's Blues Chris Thile How To Grow A Band
Darryl Wolfe Head Over Heels In Love With You Knoxville Grass
Dave Peters Dark Eyes Live at Ovations
Dave Swarbrick Angel Delight Fairport Convention Angel Delight
David Grisman Louise Bonnie Raitt
David Grisman Midnight Moonlight Old and in the Way
David Grisman Ripple Grateful Dead
David Grisman Things In Life Don Stover
David Grisman Friend of the Devi Grateful Dead
David Grisman Rain & Snow Muleskinner
David Grisman Rabbit In A Log Doc and Ricky Skaggs
Dean Webb Dooley The Dillards
Dempsey Young Love of The Mountains Lost & Found
Dempsey Young. Peace in The Valley
Don Stiernberg Bluebirds Singing for Me Robbie Fulks
Doyle Lawson Bluegrass Holiday JD Crowe Blackjack
Doyle Lawson Heartaches
Doyle Lawson Little Bessie Country Gentlemen
Doyle Lawson On The Sea Of Life
Doyle Lawson On the Sea of Life
Doyle Lawson We Shall Inherit
Doyle Lawson Sea of Life
Doyle Lawson Train 45 School of Bluegrass
Doyle Lawson # Walk, Don't Run Mike Auldridge Blues & Bluegrass
Emory Lester Pale Rider
Eric Bazilian I Want To Believe Sass Jordan # Rats
Frank Wakefield Little Birdie
Frank Wakefield I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail Kitchen Tapes
Jethro Burns Hut Sut Song Homer and Jethro
Jethro Burns Laura #Homer and Jethro
Jethro Tull A Christmas Song
Jethro Tull Fat Man
Jim Williams A Voice from on High
Jimmy Gaudreau I've Waited as Long as I Can Tony Rice
Jimmy Gaudreau On and On Tony Rice
Jimmy Gaudreau You've Got To Hide Your Love Away 2nd Generation
John Duffey Blue Ridge Mountain Home Country Gentlemen
John Duffey Two Little Boys
John Duffey Workin on a Building Seldom Scene
Johnny Gimble Asleep at the Wheel Merle Haggard
Johnny Gimble Under the X in Texas Johnny Gimble
Man Marty Stuart Mr. John Henry, Steel Drivin'
Martin Carthy The Ride In The Creel
Martin Carthy The Maid And The Palmer
Marty Stuart Rabbit in the Log Bill Monroe The Legend Lives On
Marty Stuart I Can See For Miles
Marty Stuart and Del Mccoury Travel, Travel On
Mike Compton Every Humble Knee Must Bow Nashville Bluegrass Band
Mike Compton Gospel Plow
Mike Compton No Hiding Place Nashville Bluegrass Band
Mike Compton That's All Right Nashville Bluegrass Band
Mike Guggino Hibriten Mountain Steep Canyon Rangers Mr. Taylor's New Home
Norman Blake Whiskey Before Breakfast/Fiddlers Dream
Norman Blake Gilderoy/Little Beggarman
Pee Wee Lambert The Lonesome River
Place Bill Monroe I Found a Hidin
Richard Thompson Poor Little Beggar Girl
Richard Thompson Smiffey's Glass Eye
Rick Alread Riverboat Fantasy The Country Gentlemen
Rick May Working in the Vineyards 5 for the Gospel
Ricky Skaggs Highway 40 Blues
Ricky Skaggs Home Sweet Home Revisited
Ricky Skaggs Old Home Place JD Crowe & The New South
Ricky Skaggs Walls of Time Ancient Tones
Ricky Skaggs Spanish Johnny Emmylou Harris #Evangeline
Roland White Bluebirds Singing for Me Lester & Mac album
Roland White Kansas City Railroad Blues
Ron Pennington Every Humble Knee Lonesome Road Band
Ronnie McCoury My Love Will Not Change Del McCoury
Ronnie McCoury Vincent Black Lighting
Ronnie McCoury The Cold Hard Facts
Ronnie McCoury High On A Mountain Del McCoury
Rory Gallagher Goin' To My Hometown
Ry Cooder Goin' To Brownsville
Ry Cooder Billy The Kid
Sam Bush Reach
Sam Bush Slipstream Bela Fleck Drive
Sam Bush With Care from Someone Newgrass Revival
Sam Bush Granny White Special Mark O'Connor
Sam Bush Little Sadie Tony Rice Manzanita
Sam Bush Never Got Off the Ground Allison Krauss
Sharon Gilchrist Let The Harvest Go To Seed Rowan and Rice Quartet
Starday Whose Red Wagon
Tim O'Brian He Had a Long Chain On
Tim Obrien Colleen Malone
Tim O'Brien's Blue Night
Tiny Moore Old Fashioned Love #Merle Haggard
Tiny Moore Roly Poly #Merle Haggard
Tiny Moore Take Me Back to Tulsa #Merle Haggard
Tiny Moore Corrine, Corrina Haggard
Tom Rozum Tall Pine Laurie Lewis
Tom Rozum When I get Home Laurie Lewis
Webco Heaven Is My Home
Woods Band As I Roved Out

Brady Smith

Jan-16-2008, 9:54pm

Very nice...but now we will need tabs for these. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

cooper4205

Jan-17-2008, 8:27am

cool stuff- How about adding Foggy River by Big Mon, one of his funkiest breaks, IMO (along with "I Found a Hiding Place" he gets out there on that one too).

Also, I tabbed out Monroe's break to Blue Night (it's in C) on here a while back if anyone wants to search for it. It's not perfect but it's close enough.

jhbaylor

Jan-17-2008, 8:52am

If anyone wants to add a break to this list, try and get the Mandolin pickers name, Song Name, Artist or Group Name, and album title/source.

That way when we want to try and find it it makes life a lot easier. Thanks to everyone who responded on the post before.

Here is the link to that thread.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=49505 (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=49505)

Ed Goist

Dec-25-2010, 4:23pm

While searching the Cafe forums for new mandolin music to add to my collection over the next year, I stumbled upon this thread.
Wow, check out the comprehensive list in post #1...
Thought I'd bump this thread into play for the benefit of other relatively new Cafe readers.

Murphy Slaw

Dec-25-2010, 4:40pm

Opus 57 in C Minor.

Muleskinner.

Ivan Kelsall

Dec-26-2010, 1:29am

Whilst not a 'break',i think that the kick off to "I Cried Again" played by Ralph Rinzler with the Greenbriar Boys,is one of the finest 'Monroesque' pieces of playing i've ever heard in nearly 50 years of playing Bluegrass,
Ivan

Pete Martin

Dec-26-2010, 2:17pm

Sams second mando solo on "Small Change".

D C Blood

Dec-26-2010, 7:56pm

Then there's always Jethro's break on "Back Up And Push" on the Down Yonder with the Country Fiddlers album, features Wade Ray on fiddle and also had Sonny Osborne on banjo. Somebody needs to put this one out on CD...

cwtwang

Dec-26-2010, 9:23pm

Mike Compton on "Fun's All Over" and Tim O'Brien on "Can't Find My Way Back Home"

Pete Martin

Dec-27-2010, 2:12pm

I forgot my second, Monroes break on Blue Night.

Charley wild

Dec-27-2010, 2:24pm

Monroe's break - "On and On"
Duffey's break- "These Men of God"

re simmers

Dec-28-2010, 8:41am

This list is going to be a book!

How about Herschel Sizemore's "Rebecca" and "Charmaine."
How about John Duffey's "Tennesse Blues."
Akira Otsuka's "Back Home in Indiana" "Ain't Misbehavin" and Shiek of Araby"
Jesse McReynolds' "El Cumbanchero"
Jimmy Gaudreau's "Blackberry Rag" 3 excellent breaks
Ricky Skaggs' "Bluegrass Stomp" at Greyfox on youtube
Ricky Skaggs' "One Way Track" w/Boone Creek
Ricky SKaggs' "Get Up John" Live at Charleston
David Grisman's "EMD" is a must on the list, ain't it?
Danny Roberts' "No mother or dad" and "Send the Light" with New Tradition
Bill Monroe's "Ebeneezer Scrooge" "Old Dangerfield" and "Come Hither to go Yonder"

and several more.

Bob

re simmers

Dec-28-2010, 9:45am

Let's not forget Jethro Burns' break on "City of New Orleans" w/Steve Goodman on Austin City Limits.

Bob

Mandoist

Dec-29-2010, 4:30am

My favorite mandolin "break" was in the late 1980s(?) when Ron Thomason's Loar fell to the floor of the Gettysburg Fest stage. A short section of the binding popped and John Duffey came to the rescue. I believe he took out his pocket knife, popped the binding clean-off, then reset it. But it was the pocket knife surgery that caused Ron to fret, as it were.
:disbelief:

AlanN

Dec-29-2010, 6:14am

Too wise!

FW did a good little break, when the Duff he had slung over his back whilst hob-nobbing slipped off its strap and clattered to the floor, breaking the top.

But, back to my fave mando breaks:

Dawg's kick to Don't Fall In Love With Me Darlin, I'm A Rambler
Dawg again on Dixie Hoedown, off an Eric Thompson Record
Dempsey Young on Love Of The Mountains
Doyle Lawson on Lover's Concerto

Willie

Dec-29-2010, 3:34pm

All breaks by Dempsy Young.....The master of all mandolin players...In my opinion, that is.....Willie

evanreilly

Dec-29-2010, 5:10pm

Ed Goist

Dec-29-2010, 11:38pm

Altho I admit to having many, many favorite Monroe breaks, one of his that always inspires me is his intro and break to the Jimmie Rodgers' song Travelin' Blues, recorded in March of 1951. This was part of an aborted Decca project of Jimmie Rodgers covers, featuring Monroe and a variety of BGB and studio musicians.
Monroe's into is a great turnaround; his break combines classic Monrovian features: the flawless tremolo melding into serious bluesy downstrokes.

Evan; thanks so much for this recommendation...Wow!
For those who haven't heard this little gem, here it is:
http://www.myspace.com/557034923/music/songs/travelin-blues-55810710
As a 'Blues' guy more than a Bluegrass guy, this is my favorite style of Monroe's, and this is a classic example of it...This might now be my favorite Monroe break as well. Thanks again.

mandolirius

Dec-29-2010, 11:54pm

"Travelin' Blues" was among the many breaks I selected for a workshop I did on Monroe's mandolin style over the years. I gave this list out to all the students, along with CD's of the tunes, so they could listen along.

1. Tennessee Blues (1940) - Any Monroe retrospective has to begin with this tour-de-force from the very first recording session by the Bluegrass Boys. Notice there are no other breaks. Monroe plays the whole thing on mandolin and, as he does, lays the foundation for most of the bluegrass mandolinists who follow for abour the next thirty years.

2. Why Did You Wander (1946) - A gem from the first session with Flatt & Scruggs. Monroe is surging...rolling along with tremendous drive. He's clearly enjoying himself, playing a super-charged version of the Monroe Brothers style.

3. I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky (1947) - The alternate take from the Columbia boxed set. Monroe plays everything: leads, great backup, harmony lines with the fiddle and banjo. He's beginning to acquire the tremendous power in his playing that came out in the 1950's.

4. Mighty Dark To Travel (1947) - as above. His mandolin is taking on a darker tone. He seems to play better and better with each new recording.

5. Bluegrass Breakdown (1947) - This is it, the first true bluegrass instrumental (i.e. the first one not based on a standard blues progression) The inspiration for Foggy Mtn. Breakdown and countless others. Monroe's playing speaks for itself.

6. New Muleskinner Blues (1950) - Monroe's remake of the song that began it all, the first on the played on the Grand Ol' Opry, is also the first recording where he plays fully in the style he's come to be known for. His notes are pinched and cut off short. He's using mostly downstrokes, playing very close to the bridge. It's a harder, sharper sound than the 46-47 recordings.

7. Rawhide (1951) - Monroe's signature tune. His playing is very hot, especially the second break, foreshadowing what may be his best recorded work ever, Whitehouse Blues.

8. Whitehouse Blues (1954) - The early 1950's saw a great leap forward in Monroe's playing. He's gained more power in his right hand and incredible speed and dexterity in his left. Compare Monroe's breaks here, especially the last two, with the second break on Rawhide. His tone, volume and overall sound have increased slightly, but significantly in this three-year period.

9. Travelin' Blues (1951) - From the Jimmie Rodgers tribute session. Monroe plays a loose, relaxed break that displays his mastery of rhythm, even while taking a solo.

10. The Prisoner's Song (1951) - Monroe's first session without the Bluegrass Boys produced some pretty strange results. He responds to the unusual situation with a great vocal performance and blistering mandolin solo, intense and fiery as though he's trying to get as much of the bluegrass sound as possible into the session in his short opportunity. Although session players were occasionally used, Decca made only one more attempt to record Monroe without his band.

11. Ben Dewberry's Final Run (1951) - The second half of the Rodgers tribute was Decca's final attempt at matching Monroe with studio players. Again, not particularly successful but Monroe contributes a brilliant, loping solo that clearly shows him to be a blues player of the first degree.

12. Get On your Knees And Pray/Lord Protect My Soul (1951) - Some of Monroe's best playing over the years are his fills and turnarounds in the Bluegrass Boys' gospel quartets, often recorded with only guitar and mandolin as accompaniment. Here are two of the best examples of these short, terse but ultimately eloquent musical statements.

mandolirius

Dec-29-2010, 11:55pm

13. Get Up John (1953)/Get Up John (1965) - Always a potent a potent number for Monroe, Get Up John is based on an older tune called Sleepy-Eyed John. Monroe's cross-tuned mandolin demands attention and his playing is ferocious. This was the first tune recorded after the devastating car accident that laid him up for most of 1953 and very nearly ended his life. The second version, from the Smithsonian reissues, was recorded live with Peter Rowan on guitar, at the New Jersey home of fiddler Tex Logan.

14. Let the Light Shine Down On Me (1955) - A good example of how Monroe's playing developed during the 50's. the relaxed, rolling style of the previous decade is still there, with some additional rhythmic synchopations. His backup work has now become the crucial element in maintaining the sound of the band throughout a myriad of personnel changes.

15. Watermelon Hanging On The Vine/Roanoke/Brakeman's Blues/Close By/Bluegrass Stomp - These live performances from 1956 are some of the best illustrations of the strength and versatility of Monroe's playing. On Brakeman's Blues. Kentucky Waltz and Bluegrass Stomp, Edd Mayfield is the guitarist. His rhythm is particularly impressive, characterized by synchopated playing and extensive use of bass runs. Mayfield's work with the Bluegrass Boys represents the first major advance in bluegrass rhythm guitar since Lester Flatt joined the band in the mid-40's. On Close By, it's Monroe who contributes some incredible rhythm playing. Listen to the end of the second line in the fiddle break. He changes from a straight chop to a complicated pattern where he synchopates the "on" beat and then right back to the off beat chop. Also noteworthy is Monroe's moody, modal break following Don Reno's banjo extravaganza on Bluegrass Stomp.
16. Lord Lead Me On (1958) - Another first-rate example of Monroe's ability to say so much with so little. His tone is sharp, like glass breaking and every note is perfectly placed. More great singing and guitar-playing from Edd Mayfield.

17. Bluegrass, Part One (1960) - Also known as Bluegrass Twist, this is another of Monroe's blues numbers. However, this one has a special sound that arose from a problem with his mandolin at the time of the recording session. Apparently the thirteenth fret had come loose and one of the E strings was stuck momentarily underneath the fret, resulting in various harmonies as Monroe played that string. The odd effect is heard most clearly at the beginning of the second mandolin break, right after the fiddle solo.

18. I Have Found The Way (1962) - Similar to Let The Light Shine Down On Me, there are literally dozens of examples of Monroe playing in this smooth, relaxed style. It is bluegrass mandolin at it's very best.

19. Fire On The Mtn. (1964)/Kansas City Railroad Blues (1964) - These two numbers show how Monroe's mandolin sound changed during the 60's. He began moving his hand around, exploring the timbres and textures. Meanwhile his lead and rhythm playing became more integrated, to the point where he often abandoned the melody altogether in favour of exploring the tonal possibilities of his instrument. Listen to KCRB, where he produced a phase-shifter type of effect through the use of this technique.

20. Bluegrass Breakdown/Rawhide/Y'all Come (1964) - Comparing the first two tune with the originals, the change in Monroe's sound was obvious. By the 60's he was getting far more sound out of his instrument than in the ear part of of his career. His tag break on Y'all Come is an absolute stuner, similar to the kick-off to Roanoke.

21. What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul/Watson's Blues (1963) - Monroe's playing is comparatively delicate in this live performance with Doc Watson. As the sould instrumentalist, he displays a softer, more understated style than he does with the Bluegrass Boys.

22. Paddy On the Turnpike/Dusty Miller (1966) - From the first session with the Peter Rowan, Richard Greene, Lamar Grier band, here is Monroe at the height of his power and ability. It's difficult to imagine anyone getting more tone and volume out of a mandolin, especially at these tempos. These are bluegrass classics!

23. A Pretty Fair Maid In The Garden (1966) - Monroe's break, while not technically flawless is pure bluegrass. His choice of notes is perfect for bringing out the subtle nuances of the melody. An appreciation for the tone, timing and technique of this break is all one needs to understand Monroe's genius as a mandolinist.

24. The Dead March (1969)/Goin' Across The Sea (1989) - Monroe attributes these two tunes to his fiddling Uncle Pen.The first features an easy relaxed tempo that spotlights the tone of his mandolin. The second tune was recorded at Monroe's abandoned childhood home in Rosine, Kentucky, as part of the filming of the documentary High Lonesome.

Well, that's it. I could have continued into the 70's/80's but the goal wasn't so much to be comprehensive as it was to feature examples of the different aspects of his playing and, by the time I reached the end of the 60's I felt that goal had been accomplished.

Ed Goist

Dec-30-2010, 12:08am

Mike Bunting

Dec-30-2010, 12:32am

Mandoist

Dec-30-2010, 3:47am

I cannot even begin to choose favorite anything when it comes to music -- way too much great stuff for my personal tastes. But unusual, out of the ordinary licks I can relate to instantly.

re: Monroe:
His solo in "Wayfaring Stranger" (with Pete Rowan ca. 1963 or 64?) from the 'Off The Air, Volume I' release on Smithsonian-Folkways includes a very cool lick. No need to describe it -- your ears will catch it immediately. I'd heard him play a similar lick, but maybe only once or twice? This was the first time I recall hearing or seeing him do it.

Rroyd

Dec-30-2010, 9:20am

Sam Bush on "Washington County", with Kenny Baker, on Butch Robins' album "Forty Years Late."

mandolirius

Dec-30-2010, 2:13pm

Mondolirius; Thank you very much for posting this remarkable, comprehensive and detailed overview of Bill Monroe's mandolin playing. I for one will be referring to this list time and again. Actually, I think this list should be uploaded as its own page on the Cafe as a Bill Monroe Primer. Just exceptional.

Thanks Ed. I had a lot of fun putting that together. It was the year he died and I was program director at Sorrento. We dedicated the whole week to Monroe and every workshop had a Monroe theme to it.

As for the list, yeah I guess it could be a primer. It's not completely comprehensive, so it could be expanded to include the earlier and later parts of his career that I didn't look at. Someone would have to fix all the typos, too. :))

mandolirius

Dec-30-2010, 2:23pm

Excellent post, somes it up nicely. My favourite solo may be his live version from that recording at the Gaslight Cafe workshop he did in 1966. I swear there were sparks flying on that one.

I like that one, too. If I'd had access to it at the time, I probably would have included that one as well.