Leather Britches

[fiddlegit]

The first rendition of Leather Britches has been uploaded by ADM (Alan Meijer)Thanks Alan, I'm sure that will inspire the rest of us, well done!

<a href="http://f4.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/UIGSQZLp2rmCXCzyE6ImAen8pjLOALgNv78UKQi770_YkNiUj-Xpd6bgQKrEHeZQqZ9PN_v4hVmqilqStdaTi6975G
k5stfP/ADM-leather.mp3" target="_blank">Yahoo group</a>

[Baron Collins-Hill]

im working on it, i got the first part down afer a bit but stalled on the second part

[Dave Hicks]

Mostly done with my recording - keeping an improvised B part on the rails is a little tricky.

D.H.

[levin4now]

thanks roger. it was simple and it was my first take. but I haven't participated in this group for about 3 months (pre-Tenn Blues), and I missed it. so i wanted to get something down. if i have time, get ambitious, and happen to pull it off, I'll juice it up a bit.

Good luck to all. Can't wait to hear more.....

By the way, when LB won, I was 'thinking' Banjalin, and was pretty excited...great tune that is (aka Busy Fingers)

[sjusk]

Good work Alan.

I always look forward to the first upload, especially if I am not familiar with the tune. They just don´t really come alive in those MIDIs, do they.
Somehow the tune makes sense to me when played on a real mandolin. Or fiddle. Or guitar, xylofon, tuba....you name it.

I hope I can find the time to do this one before Christmas.

Søren

[Dave Hicks]

My upload didn't work - got the "Failed to find the "nothing" line (&#92;n&#92;n)! Premature end of script headers." Is there a fix for that?

So my MP3 is on my music page:

http://users.manchester.edu/Facstaff/DJHicks/musicindex.htm

However, I'm not sure this one will be a good way to learn the melody.

[levin4now]

dave,

i had an error too, so I uploaded it to the Yahoo site (and since there was no folder for it, I just left it 'out in the open', and craig must have moved it...)

ADM

[Dave Hicks]

Just put a copy on the Yahoo site, too.

D.H.

[levin4now]

Great job planetcology (david hicks?). Sounds great. What a sound.

[sjusk]

It´s amazing what you can do with an old folky tune, David!
One thing for sure: You´ve really got your own way of doing things around here.

I like it!

Søren

[fiddlegit]

yeah, I like David's version too, good picking, good music. Though I hardly recognised it as Leather Britches. I'm not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing, just commenting on my inability to recognise a tune when done in an unfamiliar way. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Dave Hicks]

I took my version from the Fiddler's Fakebook (but there are many versions of this tune, some of which don't sound too much alike). #My initial statements of the A and B parts are pretty close to the fakebook. #However, I'm using a slow tempo for a fiddle tune, and I'm playing (well, trying to play) swing time rather than straight 8's, so even the parts where I'm trying to be literal are a little tweaky.

The reason I took off in the direction I did with this tune is that the A part reminds me of some of the riff-based swing tunes. #Also, those long stretches on the I chord suit themselves to some chord subs, so the western swing approach seemed to fit that concept. #My improv approach was more chordal than melodic, so the more recognizable parts got left behind fairly quickly.

[JimRichter]

I've been ripped off! Stolen from! David's Leather Britches--as nice as it is--seems to be a bit like my submission for last months' Bill Cheatam. I went ahead and put it in a minor key, but the similarities are there. Please review DawgCheatsam:

http://homepage.mac.com/richter30/iMovieTheater35.html

I demand satisfaction!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Jim

[Dave Hicks]

Well, I was definitely satisfied with Bill in a minor key - LOL is a net cliche, but I really was amused (in a very positive way) when I heard your take on ole Bill. #And Leather Britches isn't exactly my first excursion into II/V/I land as far as Mando Project tunes go.

[David Miller]

Hey all!
Its great to start to hear the fruits of our labors this month. I just added my version to the Yahoo site. It is great fun to hear all the different directions such a tried and true standard can go! I cant wait to hear more.

[levin4now]

Excellent job david miller. What have you all got in that mix? Do it all yourself? Awesome.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[David Miller]

Thanks Alan -
My favorite background trick is to record the guitar track twice, playing essentially the same thing, and then pan one hard left and one hard right. For this recording I also did a third guitar, capo'ed up and more rhythmic (the backbeat) and finally did my mando and fiddle. I am glad you enjoyed it!

[sjusk]

This is just plain beautiful, Mr. Miller!

I love that Irish twist, and I´m going to save your controbution to my harddesk and start STEALING!
Your "setup" is working nicely, and you do a fine job on the guitar(s) too.

I thought I was going to do an Irish version of LB, but I guess you just did the ultimate Irish this month.
(Well, I´ll just steal your version and do a Christmas Carrol next time).

Love it!

Søren

[craig]

plantecology04,

i've misplaced your mp3 for Leather Britches!! can you e-mail it to me or re-post it at Yahoo! Groups?

sorry . . .

thanks

craig

[sjusk]

sbarnes, what a merry song you make of it! You got that simple (don´t get this wrong) touch of the tune that I like so much. What I mean is that you´re not drowning it in ornamentation. Nice tempo too.
You and the other guys that have been uploading sofar have all helped me like this tune - which I didn´t much at first.

Søren/sjusk

[Mteresko]

I just uploaded my attempt at Leather Britches. A little ragged (it was late last night), but I was encouraged that I could stumble here and there and still stay more or less on track. I am playing my new Wiens F5, far more instrument than I deserve, but an inspiration to keep practicing.

[craig]

collings470,

i just love you rendition of this song. having lived in ireland for 5 years i'm very partial to that irish rhythm. very, very well done! you've inspired me.

craig

[David Miller]

Craig,
Thank you for your kind words! I am glad that one who knows the Emerald Isle recognized my attempt to pay tribute to the rich music of that country. So far (to my sadness) I have only made the trip to Ireland in spirit - but maybe one day......
And believe me.... it is the recordings I have listened to through this site that give me the inspiration to try my own versions of these tunes. Keep up the tremendous work!

[Mteresko]

Where are all the versions of Leather Britches? With 14 votes I thought there would be more! It still November and not too late.

Ken, I vote for yours as the best so far. Really like your playing.

[Bluegrasstjej]

There are very few ones, yeah. I have an excuse, I've been away and then I've mostly played Irish tunes on the fiddle (but I promise I'll come up with something eventually).

I really like the tune and before my vacation I started working on it, just that I had this hunger to learn more Irish music when I got home......... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I'll be there. Later..I have a few days left.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[sjusk]

I have made 3 attempts to upload Leather Britches today, but they all failed.
2 attempts for the LB folder, and one for "the open space".

Anybody knows if there are troubles with the site?

Søren

[fiddlegit]

I have made 3 attempts to upload Leather Britches today, but they all failed.
2 attempts for the LB folder, and one for "the open space".

Anybody knows if there are troubles with the site?

Søren
I had no problem uploading my poor effort Søren.

Such a simple tune, but I had no end of problems with it. I've been leaving trying to record it till I felt reasonably comfortable with it, but I've run out of time, so here it is. I couldn't get at all relaxed while recording, hence the proliferation of squeaks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[David Miller]

Ken, I vote for yours as the best so far. Really like your playing.
I have to agree - add my kudos to Ken! There is an ease and flow to your sound that I know I envy. What do you use for a pick, if I may ask? Congrats on an awesome product!

[uncle ken]

Thanks for the kind words. I have been using the pink Dunlop picks (1.14mm)ever since John Reischman recommended them when I met him some 15 years ago. I think they are made of delrin. He probably has some of the best tone you will ever hear from a mandolin.

[levin4now]

fiddlegit,

just curious - are you a mandolin player as well as a fiddle player? #I don't think I've heard you pick a tune yet! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

But, good job on the fiddlin!

[fiddlegit]

No Alan, I've never tried #mandolin, just fiddle and guitar. I keep thinking I must get a mandolin, specially as I'm a big Bill Monroe fan, but I don't really want to add another instrument to my list of failures. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

But thanks for your kind words anyway. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[sjusk]

Hey Roger, you´re being much too humble. I really like your oldtimish way of fiddling; oldtime is "Folk"! (like you and me and the rest of this gang). I like your sense of humour too - dry and very British. Please keep both the fiddlin´ and the humour streaming!

I have done a recording of Leather Britches, but I just can´t upload. I´ve tried about six or seven times, but some mysterious cyber-elf has nested in my computer...hmmm. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Ken and Miller, I enjoy your recordings very much; you are both so talented with music - and..hooweee...does it show!
(I am almost glad my upload failed. Imagine the sound of 2 rusty tin-cans whirling about in a kitchen-blender at 200 rpm).

Thanks to everybody uploading LB. I enjoyed them all!

Søren

[levin4now]

fiddlegit. i doubt you'd fail at trying the mandolin!

[Bluegrasstjej]

I uploaded my recording of Leather britches, my timing is completely off, I couldn't even back-up on it because it was too bad but I've done several attempts to record it so I just won't do it again! At least not right now.

[rmcintos]

Susi,

Your version of Leather britches is good. When are we going to hear you on the fiddle?

--rob

[fiddlegit]

Susi,

Your version of Leather britches is good. When are we going to hear you on the fiddle?

--rob
Rob is right Susi, It's nowhere near as bad as you think. You're as bad as me for putting yourself down, we must stop that! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I'm also looking forward to hearing you fiddle...its lonesome being the only one. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Mark Seale]

Well, I've been hanging out at the cafe for while but I just discovered this group the other day. Excellent work everyone. I haven't had time to work it out on the mandolin, but I did get it down pretty good on the fiddle. I couldn't upload the file to the yahoo group, it was timing out, but I did upload it to my website.

Leather Britches - Fiddle (http://www.ultimateendurance.com/music.htm)

Enjoy, I didn't want fiddlegit to think he was the only one with fiddle as his main instrument... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Mark

[fiddlegit]

Nice fiddling Mark. That's how it should be done! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Bluegrasstjej]

Nice job Mark!!!
And thanks boys for your nice comments. Yeah, I'm very hard on myself, I know...my boyfriend is trying comforting me by saying that actually I've improved on the fiddle very fast and that I can't improve on everything at the same time. And he's right. So now I'm going to stop being so hard on myself (and how many times will I say this here??). Haha. I'm a hopeless case.

[Bluegrasstjej]

And when are you going to hear me on the fiddle? Pretty soon I hope. I may do something at the Misc musings.

[craig]

mark,

very nice work!! love the mix of double-stops! great groove and the tone is just perfect to my amateur ears. rock-solid timing, too. thanks alot for the upload. would love to hear more from fiddlers . . .

craig