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Thread: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

  1. #1
    Mandolin Pickin Fool dawgmike94's Avatar
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    Default My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Hullo all.
    Not sure if this is the right place for this, but I thought I would share a recently recorded track from a new CD of mine that should be finished early this spring.
    This is the East Tennessee Rag (or "Blues") recorded live in one take (other than the guitar) with two mandolins: myself mixed on the left channel and taking the odd-numbered solos (or just odd solos ) and my mentor/teacher, Virgil Bowlin mixed on the right side and taking the even-numbered solos. We twin on the last time through and he plays the rhythm guitar.
    This is my first time recording something somewhere other than my bedroom.
    By the way, do y'all call this a "blues" or a "rag"?

    <EDIT> Also, he is on a 2004 Sam Bush Gibson and I'm playing a Jerry Haynes #37.
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    Registered User Charley wild's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    I'd call it a "rag" but I'm not an expert on the subject. You two sound great! The recording itself came across well also! Thanks for the mandolin info as well as the song. Always appreciated here.

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    Registered User Cheryl Watson's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    The title of this tune is "East Tennessee Blues" but its roots are in blues and ragtime. I call them "raggy" tunes. Sounds really really nice! I wish you the best with your new album.

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    Mandolin Pickin Fool dawgmike94's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Thanks for the nice comments; you guys are too kind.
    Cheryl, i've heard it called that, but i've also heard it called the E.T. Rag. To me it sounds more like a rag, but i guess the Farewell Blues is kinda like that too. Good tune, nonetheless.
    Trying to get my hands to do what I hear in my head...
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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Mike, you guy's sound great. I have always heard it called East Tennessee Blues. There are number of tunes with "blues" in the title that are rags, including "Carrol County Blues".
    What type of mandolins are you guy's picking?
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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    Mandolin Pickin Fool dawgmike94's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Thanks Charles; Virgil's on a 2004 Sam Bush Gibson and I'm playing a Jerry Haynes #37 made in March of 2010. I haven't had it for long, but I think I like it's sound.
    I have also heard this tune called the East Tennis-Shoe Blues, but I think that was probably in jest
    Trying to get my hands to do what I hear in my head...
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    Registered User Jordan Ramsey's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Nice pickin', y'all! I know the song as the "East Tennessee Blues", but Jethro also recorded it as the "Kelly Boy Rag" on the Puritan Sessions album.
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    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    If you keep pickin' like that all you need to call it is GOOD!

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    Registered User almeriastrings's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Very nice indeed. Good variations there. Great tone and timing. I also know it at E T Blues, though it's obviously got much more of a "Rag" feel to it than a typical "Blues".
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Sounds great!

  12. #11

    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Very nice picking, nice job! Killer tone. Maybe turn up the right channel a bit? Thanks for sharing.
    Last edited by shortymack; Jan-22-2013 at 1:36am.

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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Marvy.

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    Registered User usqebach's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Let me first say that I really enjoyed the tune, and appreciate the musicianship it takes to play it so well.

    But as one of those cantankerous "Old Timers" (both in musical style and now approaching it chronologically) I do want to inject a link to Charlie Bowman of Gray Station TN playing this with his band "Al Hopkins and the Buckle Busters" on a 1926 recording.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq8rwzPHbdI

    It's really interesting to see where the tune has gone from the original. Still recognizable, but much varied.

    Again, congrats, and well done!
    Jim Sims

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    Mandolin Pickin Fool dawgmike94's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Thank you all for your nice comments, I appreciate them.
    Shortymack, I believe I shall increase the volume on Virgil's mandolin. It sounded pretty good in studio, but the more I listen the more I think it could go up some.
    usqebach, There's nothing at all wrong with being a "cantankerous old timer," they're usually right and I hope to be one in a few years I don't think you were being cantankerous anyway. That version was really great! Smooth, clear, and clean...just really hits you in the gut and punches you in the head and makes you smile; I enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know both who wrote it and the real name of the song
    Trying to get my hands to do what I hear in my head...
    -John Hartford

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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    dawgmike94 - Thanks for your rendition of "East Tennessee Blues", very good and a nice arrangement. Really liked how you and you teacher swapped leads and the variations, verse to verse. Good luck w/ the new CD and keep more coming. Thanks, again.
    Lee

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    Mandolin Pickin Fool dawgmike94's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Thanks Lee, preciate it...I'm hoping that I can finish by the spring; recording gets looong...
    Trying to get my hands to do what I hear in my head...
    -John Hartford

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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    nice playing - sounds great

    I am confused on East Tennessee blues

    this is not the same as Thile and Daves "Tennessee blues" which I believe is supposed to be a Monroe tune ?
    a fiddler friend wants to play it and Thile and Daves just go too fast for me - trying to find a different version

  20. #18

    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Nice stuff love it

  21. #19
    Registered User Cheryl Watson's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Yes, "East Tennessee Blues" is a completely different tune from Monroe's "Tennessee Blues." I was once confused about that too until someone at a jam pointed it out to me.

    Quote Originally Posted by tmsweeney View Post
    nice playing - sounds great

    I am confused on East Tennessee blues

    this is not the same as Thile and Daves "Tennessee blues" which I believe is supposed to be a Monroe tune ?
    a fiddler friend wants to play it and Thile and Daves just go too fast for me - trying to find a different version

  22. #20
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Cwtwang - thank you !

  23. #21

    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Here's the Tennessee Blues thread on the Song A Week group here, with similar discussion:

    http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/gr...713&do=discuss

  24. #22
    still Lefty & French Philippe Bony's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Version of the East Tennessee Rag

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Tasty Licks called it "East Tennessee Rag" on the album "Anchored To The Shore"

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