Too much fun!
Too much fun!
"The paths of experimentation twist and turn through mountains of miscalculations, and often lose themselves in error and darkness!"
--Leslie Daniel, "The Brain That Wouldn't Die."
Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1...SV2qtug/videos
Sounds like mandolin-banjo to me; what do others think?
Mud Steppers were a derivative of the great Mississippi Sheiks, organized around the multi-talented Chatmon family (Sitting On Top of The World, etc.).
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
O boy, if that isn't a mandolin-banjo, I'm one.
Anyone actually likes that sound beyond "peculiar"?
Would you believe I worked through Jack Tottle's book on a thing like that?
Right you are Allen. According to the All Music site: "During a recording session of the classic 1930s string band Mississippi Sheiks, several band members cut a few songs under the moniker, the Mississippi Mud Steppers. Guitarist Walter Vinson, banjo player and mandolinist Charlie McCoy, and (probably) fiddler Lonnie Chatmon recorded six songs, including the tune "Alma Waltz," for Okeh's hillbilly catalog."
I got to this from the link to Barry Mitterhoff's version on the Cafe home page.
Ah, Jaycat! You've made me smile once again after a lousy day! I guess it might be time to get this "up and running".
It was made by my wife's great grandfather for his daughter!
Unfortunately, it went back to the company before she and I made our acquaintance, I was working with guys who would have done it "right" and restored the thing properly, original FB was replaced, and the obligatory refinish of course.
"Sasha, you'd better take her home."
"Yes, boss."
"And come right back!!"
"Yes, boss."
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Now that is the stuff right there! Jackson Stomp is another hot tune.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Sad story, Tim. What's with the pickguard, is that original?
Remember, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” I think Mark Twain said that.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
I love what those guys did - "Papa" Charlie McCoy wrote some great tunes, and yes, a banjo mandolin: no doubt chosen for it's volume back in the days before PA's.
Jackson stomp is another great tune:
But I also like some of their slower stuff, even if it is delightfully out of tune:
This ones a bit more in tune:
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