Re: Blues, Stomps & Rags #26
Originally Posted by
maudlin mandolin
According to Godrich & Dixon (2nd Edition) Will Weldon played guitar on a few early Memphis Jug Band tracks but the only one where mandolin features is the one you mentioned "You may leave but this will bring you back" where it is credited "unknown mandolin - possibly Will Weldon". Mandolin on "Round and Round" is credited to Vol Stevens.
The main mandolin player with the Memphis Jug Band appears to be Charlie Burse who recorded more tracks with them than Vol Stevens. Perhaps we could have a feature on him one week?
I listened to videos of Memphis JB tunes which had Charlie Burse credited on mandolin. However, after the first few seconds, I could barely hear the mandolin because of the other instruments, so I didn't post the videos. I suspect that Burse was strumming chords or not playing through most of the tunes. In those days the mandolin didn't get its own mike in a recording stdio, so it was like our perennial complaint about jam sessions, it's hard to hear a mandolin when there are guitars, a fiddle, a jug etc. That being said, I'm a bit hard of hearing, so I may be exaggerating the problem. I'll send you the links in a personal message and see what you think.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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