Blog Comments

  1. chipper35's Avatar
    This is some straight up awesomeness right here!
  2. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Mandolin Cafe
    Nicely done, Alex! Who is on steel and your guest vocalist?
    I was at home with the family so I had my step dad play steel for me and that's my sister Judy on vocals!
  3. keme's Avatar
    Love the song, and you did a fine job. Beautiful!
  4. Gelsenbury's Avatar
    Very nice!
  5. Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Nicely done, Alex! Who is on steel and your guest vocalist?
  6. Mike Romkey's Avatar
    Nice, Alex. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about coming up with variations on fiddle tunes. Especially, working in blue notes and chromatics not in the D major scale in this reel (as in around 0:22, 0:54, 1:01 and elsewhere).
  7. Alfons's Avatar
    A wonderful song, and a very fine performance. I hardly missed the mandolin.
  8. Gelsenbury's Avatar
    You're obviously very good at all those things you don't do as often. I enjoyed and admired the guitar playing, voice, and songwriting.
  9. Richard J's Avatar
    thanks, always nice to hear one of John's songs.
  10. WaxwellHaus's Avatar
    Crushed it.
  11. Gelsenbury's Avatar
    That's a nice composition. I like the accordion and mandolin.
  12. Gelsenbury's Avatar
    That's really great playing! I'll try to learn from it.
  13. Teak's Avatar
    Very nice! Thanks.
  14. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by fifths
    And it would have worked too, if it wasn't for you meddling mandolin players!
    Awesome! Lol.
  15. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Mandolin Cafe
    Nicely done!
    Thanks! And thanks so much for sharing!
  16. Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Nicely done!
  17. ccravens's Avatar
    Nice!!

    BTW - "fifths" comment:

  18. fifths's Avatar
    And it would have worked too, if it wasn't for you meddling mandolin players!
  19. Trey Young's Avatar
    Excellent!
  20. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by StuartE
    A very nice performance, but it is not really a traditional song. Recorded versions of the song credit Gussie Davis, one of the first African-Americans to become a popular song writer, and Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), who modified the tune and rewrote the lyrics. Davis' version was published in 1886 and Leadbelly recorded his version in 1933. The Weavers had the first commercial success with it in 1950.

    Davis and Leadbelly deserve recognition for writing this classic, just as Gershwin and Heyward deserve credit for "Summertime" (1934).
    Awesome! I've been wanting to know where the song came from for years. Of course I know the lead belly version, but I believe he said he learned it from relatives. I couldn't find any information before that, which is why I said it was a traditional tune. I was missing the Gussie Davis info. Thanks much!
  21. StuartE's Avatar
    A very nice performance, but it is not really a traditional song. Recorded versions of the song credit Gussie Davis, one of the first African-Americans to become a popular song writer, and Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), who modified the tune and rewrote the lyrics. Davis' version was published in 1886 and Leadbelly recorded his version in 1933. The Weavers had the first commercial success with it in 1950.

    Davis and Leadbelly deserve recognition for writing this classic, just as Gershwin and Heyward deserve credit for "Summertime" (1934).
  22. Elb2000's Avatar
    Outstanding,
    Thanks
  23. Paul Statman's Avatar
    Bostin' rendition, Alex! Excellent video, too. Thanks!
  24. alexheflin's Avatar
    Thank you! I know the things I play are typically a bit off the beaten path. I thought this song was real pretty though.
  25. catmandu2's Avatar
    Lovely!
  26. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by catmandu2
    Great fun and well done! I also play clarinet and accordians - and love a good old Excelsior myself
    Thanks! Yeah clarinet is a beautiful instrument. If only I could stop it from squeaking all the time.
  27. catmandu2's Avatar
    Great fun and well done! I also play clarinet and accordians - and love a good old Excelsior myself
  28. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Paulmazz
    I love it!
    I'd also been thinking of arranging this for mandolin a while back.
    Yeah this song just worked too well!
  29. barry's Avatar
    Loved it! Great way to start the day.
  30. John Soper's Avatar
    WILMA-A-A-a!
  31. MANDOLINMYSTER's Avatar
    Yab a dab a doooo
  32. Alfons's Avatar
    Too cool. Thanks.
  33. atbuckner21's Avatar
    Heck yes! This is epic! Thanks for sharing!
  34. Paulmazz's Avatar
    I love it!
    I'd also been thinking of arranging this for mandolin a while back.
  35. Alfons's Avatar
    Thanks, that's Very Tasty. I'll also second the comment about the nice audio recording, and it's great to see those fingers doing their thing in the videos.
  36. John Soper's Avatar
    Great playing and a really nice axe!
  37. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Don Stiernberg
    Alex Heflin!
    yeah!
    Thanks Don!
  38. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by atbuckner21
    Yes!!! I LOVE this!!! It's so nice to hear a 4-string recorded so well!
    Thanks much!
  39. atbuckner21's Avatar
    Yes!!! I LOVE this!!! It's so nice to hear a 4-string recorded so well!
  40. V70416's Avatar
    Unseasonably Cool.
  41. Matt Livingston's Avatar
    Super cool!
  42. Don Stiernberg's Avatar
    Alex Heflin!
    yeah!
  43. Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Wow, this is really nice.
  44. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by TaylorSwan
    Now this brings back some memories
    Agreed.
  45. TaylorSwan's Avatar
    Now this brings back some memories
  46. alexheflin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Mandocarver
    Loved it - nice arrangement and so catchy. Surprised at how well the accordion blends in there.
    Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I mostly use the accordion because I love how it fills up the low end and I don't own an upright bass. Someday maybe I will.
  47. Mandocarver's Avatar
    Loved it - nice arrangement and so catchy. Surprised at how well the accordion blends in there.