old time string bands w/ mandolin

**kudzugypsy** · Oct-31-2004, 1:20pm

anyone got any good recommendations for recordings of the "OLD old school" style of mandolin playing common in the 20's-40's where the mandolin doubles the melody line behind the singer. much like early monroe brothers, or blue sky boys.
thanks

**mingusb1** · Nov-01-2004, 12:18pm

Check out the Foghorn Stringband (Portland, OR). #They have 2 CD's recorded.

Not sure if the mando is doubling-up the singing melody a lot, but the songs do have great fiddle/mando (even banjo) melody double-ups much of the time. #And the band is great across the board.

Z

**mandroid** · Nov-03-2004, 9:59pm

Martin, bogen and armstrong.
'Louie Bluie'howard armstrong
and check out the " r.crumb & cheap suit seranaders " # 'bob'on mando-banjo often...
3lp's reduced to 2cd's
string bands, maybe a blue-black shade.
even if its white hippies.

**John Flynn** · Nov-04-2004, 7:11am

These five fit your description as I understand it, and they are also five of my favorite CDs:

"Little River Stomp" by the Buckhannon Brothers
http://members.i4f.net/otmando@i4f.net/

"Laugh and Grow Fat" by the Ill-MO Boys
http://www.vigortonerecords.com

"Old-time Mandolin Music" by Clyde Curley and the Oxymorons
http://www.oldtimemusic.com/otrecdetail.asp?RecordID=20

"Old Style Mandolin" (Volumes 1 and 2) by Skip Gorman
http://www.skipgorman.com/sg_disc.cfm

**Jim M.** · Nov-04-2004, 9:15am

Reeltime Travelers have a great mandolinist. They do old-time and original songs that sound really old time. I think Kenny Hall does that with the Sweet Mill String Band too.

**mandolooter** · Nov-06-2004, 3:15pm

I'll second "The Reeltime Travelers". Their mando player is one of my favorites and their banjo player is my favorite. Lot's of live shows available for free but buy their 2 CD's too and support the band!

**John Rosett** · Nov-09-2004, 2:36pm

the original red clay ramblers with jim watson on mandolin.
even though i mostly play country swing and jazz, i think of the (70's) red clay ramblers as the greatest band of all time. jim plays some great mando on those albums.
john

**John Flynn** · Nov-09-2004, 2:56pm

mandorose:

What RCR CD would you recommend as the best one to start with, especially for mando content?

**Jim Garber** · Nov-09-2004, 9:39pm

Not strictly old time, tho there is plenty to go around plus a few other genres, I like Early Mandolin Classics, Volume 1. I don't think they ever put out a volume 2... too bad.

This is the old stuff from scratchy 78 rpm records.

Jim

**PhilGE** · Nov-10-2004, 4:50am

The Volo Bogtrotters are not strictly an old-time mandolin band, but have plenty of mandolin and vocals. Lots of great suggestions in previous posts!

-Phil