Whiskey Before Breakfast

[Martin Jonas]

I've just recorded and uploaded a basic version of Whiskey Before Breakfast. #I was aiming for an Old Time sound, so I wheeled out my vintage Majestic flattop for this one. #As a result, a very different tone from my recent recordings on the bowlback and/or the F-style. #I haven't played the Majestic in a good while, so it's nice to revisit it and to notice just how different its tone is.

Seeing no discussions here yet, I thought I was the first one to upload, but when I checked after I put mine on Yahoo, I noticed that c3hammer and farmerf5 pipped me to the post. #I've just had a quick listen of theirs:

In quite a departure from the recent trend, all three initial versions are mando-only without overdubs. #I like that: it makes it easier to hear what's going on and what the note choices are.

c3hammer: Nice jazzy variations and playing around with the tempo and good tone. #I like it, especially the chords thrown in at strategic places!

farmer f5: Lovely playing. #Once you pick up the tempo, there's a great groove going on -- very toe-tapping. #I always find it a problem to inject that type of levity and danceability to my recordings, which tend to stay pretty four-square. #It's my Germanic heritage, no doubt.

Martin

[jimini_pickit]

Well Martin, sorry to go against the 'new grain', but I finally got my multitrack Audacity to work (by loading it on THIS machine, rather than my other) so I've just posted my semi-basic, semi-fancy version with a few instruments. Now that I've got multitrack capability, I no longer sound like some rythmn-compromised bozo (just a bozo who hasn't mastered all the instruments put in front of him--he just records them anyways!)

My upload is currently working better than my download, so I've yet to hear your (and other) version(s), but I'll be looking forward to it.

Happy Pickin'
Jim

[c3hammer]

Martin:

I've come to the conclusion that I'm hopeless when it comes to rhythm that's why I don't ever record a rhythm track. I actually can't even do one, much less make it sound ok.

Nice one jimini_pickit!

There's another one out on yahoo by watkinsthilefan that has a near perfect rhythm to it as well.

Maybe some day I'll figure it out, but I'll have to stop listening to all this weird jazz before that will ever happen

Cheers,
Pete

[Martin Jonas]

Jim/Pete -- I didn't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with using backup, just that it made a nice change to hear several unaccompanied version to start with.

Jim: great picking again, and in many ways the best of both worlds, as your mando is right up front and you can hear every note clearly, but the bass line emphasises the rhythm further. I adore your driving mando style; with the alternation between single-notes, crosspicking and chords, you really know how to move a tune along!

Pete: I have to admit that my own no-backup recordings are also largely a testament to my playing limitations. I can strum chords and play lead, but somehow can't get the two together on a single recording.

Martin

[c3hammer]

I actually like the picked versions with out all the extras too.

I did just have a major break through though. If you listen to a version of the song on head phones while you are recording the rhythm comes out pretty good.

I did both a rhythm track and a lead while listening to Butch Baldissarri's version of WBB from "30 Fiddle Tunes for Mandolin".

Holy Cow! It works. The two actually work together. That's a first for me. LOL!

I uploaded it to the yahoo site.

Cheers,
Pete

[jimini_pickit]

Thanks for the nice words...I'm pleased with the mix, but it's just something I threw together at 1:00am (while the kids are in bed...no interruptions!) so I wish I could have spent more time mixing, but all in all I thought it sounded good enough out of the box to post, so I let it go. I was originally going to post the lead mando only, but thought I'd try the backup instruments (1 chop mando, 1 guitar, 1 bass) and it did seem to blend pretty good, as you say without muddling up the lead mando part from showing through. Mixing is fun, but there's always the cutoff point, where things can be 'over-produced' so that's a fine line to tread and decide.

Now if I can just learn more than 1 roll pattern on my banjo, it'd be a great addition to that song!!

Happy Pickin'
Jim

[Bluegrasstjej]

It's great to hear your versions. Seems like this is a tune most people have played, since there are so many versions so soon??? I just learned it, I've just sort of picked it out before. I'll wait until I upload mine...
Great variation, I like that!

[Martin Jonas]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I hadn't played it before: learned it on Friday and recorded on Saturday. I chose a fairly basic version, which was pretty straightforward to pick up.

Martin

[jimini_pickit]

For me, the 'simple' part of my version was from a MC download off the Tab Files section about a year ago, from a duet version of WBB...the more 'intricate' pieces of cross-picking, etc are from a fiddle version off a bluegrass CD I have. As with any song, there can be many versions, but those are the only 2 I have to go by, so I combined them into my version.

J_P

[Dan Adams]

Thanks Martin! I've always liked the tune and I play it all the time. It's a standard 'jam' and performance tune. Like you, I need to record all the songs of the month, and post Sally Goodin to complete the series. But 'East Tennessee Blues' has thrown a wrench into to works. I've never heard the tune and now I have to learn the darn thing? At least I've had experiences with all the other tunes. Now I'm worried. Guess I'll learn, then post.

Thanks Again, Dan (farmerf5)

[chirorehab]

Listening to all these great versions of WBB got me motivated to record something... I haven't been playing too much lately.. (6.5 weeks until my daughter is born!!!)

I hope it sounds ok...

Thanks & keep up the great work,

Eric

[fiddlegit]

As I'd already learned this tune a while back I wanted to do a better job than on my previous efforts, but you wouldn't believe the trouble I had recording it!! Kept messing up until I nearly gave up completely. Anyway, after all that effort I thought I'd better upload it. Not sure it was worth it though!

[Mark Normand]

I posted my plinky version of WBB on yahoo, and still practice it every night. Hopefully one day I'll be able to go much faster, recently got hooked up in a jam of strong players, they ripped this up. I didn't.

Moving right along, on to East Tennessee Blues

Mark

[Bluegrasstjej]

Mark, it sounds great!! I like that version - you put in more notes than I do in mine. It's really nice.

Fiddlegit - your version is awesome!! Love to hear your fiddling and this recording is one of your best.

[Bluegrasstjej]

Uncle Ken, just listened to yours too, it sounds great. It's such fun listening to the differences of everyone's recordings! Not one of them are like another...it's cool!

[fiddlegit]

Susanne, Thanks for your kind words, knowing there's at least one person out there who likes my fiddlin' makes it worth carrying on.

Thanks for all the other recordings guy's, every one of them have inspired me to try out some new variations.

[Mike Buesseler]

I've been keeping my head down around here for awhile. #(Trying to get my pick to work a little smoother...well, a LOT smoother.) #Anyway, for this month, I decided to learn a new version of WBB. #I have a terrible tendency to lead the beat by a ways. #So, I played against an accompaniment that was supposed to help that. #I STILL lead the beat, but the background was so corny, I decided to leave it in. #(It's a recorded kalimba...)

So, for what it's worth, my Whiskey BB, just posted.

Humbly,
MikeB

[sjusk]

MikeB! No humbly stuff here!!
What a sweet version! So far you are my choice of Whiskey Before Breakfast. I´ve been to Ireland a couple of times, and this is what it sounded like when I walked into the local pub at 8 in the evening - in Westport, Killybags and all the other joints I hit.
Got to admit: WBB never meant much to me; I settled with ETB this month, but you really opened my ignorant eyes and mind to this song.
Thanks Mike, and please keep them coming!

Søren / sjusk

[Michael H Geimer]

Well Mike,
You'll be happy to hear that now *my* pick is all hung up. I've changed my grip, and it's like starting all over again ... but it improving quickly.

I'm sure *your* playing is as great to hear as it has always been.

I've been quite 'scattered' lately, so I apologize for not having minded this month's contributions. I have DL'ed a few and started listening, but haven't yet found the time to reply to each.

I hope to record a guitar/mandolin trade-off arrangement, but don't hold yer breath.

- Benig

[Mike Buesseler]

Well, hot dang! #Thanks, folks. #I hesitated to post my somewhat goofy arrangement.

Benig, glad you picked up on that "pick" comment. #I'm hammering away, trying to sound like you...and Uncle Ken...and a bunch of other folks around here. #I listened to several before commencing my recording. #Loved them ALL!!!

[Mike Buesseler]

And this should teach you not to encourage me. #I had to go back and try WBB at a little higher tempo...about 180. #It actually makes a smaller file, but I still feel like a ball hog.

[Bluegrasstjej]

Mike: Neat!!!!!!! Very nice version!! I agree with Sören about that Irish touch. You're inspiring me to improvise some, I was getting a bit sick of my version...

[Dave Hicks]

Mike - Nice and smooth, really catches the Celtic rhythmic feel.

I've just posted my twisted version; sorry, it's a rather large file. (I'm not sure why so large, it's not all that long.)

[craig]

fiddlegit,
very nice job with WBB!! wish i knew how to dance!
craig

[craig]

plant dude,
very clean recording. you've definitely got your own style, man! not many of us can say that. not sure i'd be able to classify this genre, but somehow i feel i should be sipping on a pina colada while listening to this . . .
thanks!

craig