JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  08:32:58

Jack White shows how it is done.

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 05/25/2012 12:00:45

VIDEO: Jack White - Wayfaring Stranger (Live) (click to view)

bd - Posted - 05/25/2012:  10:34:52

I really like Jack White and think he can interpret (& make his own) older material very well indeed. But looking back on that program the one who really caught my attention was Tim Eriksen.

Especially this performance:

youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv...gdidwe_GGw">Tim Eriksen - Am I Born to Die?

Diablito - Posted - 05/25/2012:  10:44:06

Nice. what show was this from?

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/25/2012:  11:53:22

Tim Eriksen is magnificent.  I really like his one off videos.  He always chooses atmospheric locations that enhance the music and make it a near mystical experience.

youtube.com/watch?v=v7gV7_1yNX...re=relmfu

Once you go to the above video there are lots of others you can click on, but here are a couple of my favorites.  His performances emphasize humanity :

youtube.com/watch?v=Qs76UhGz24...re=relmfu

He has the ability to transform the most unlikely of places into a magical space for a few moments..

youtube.com/watch?v=IYS4VGBZ570

A lot of pathos in that one.  A 200+ year-old song travels through history to materialize in front of a glass and steel fronted office building.  The effect is Dickensian.  In spite of the modern metropolis, the continuity is maintained.  A couple of hundred years later and we're still as human as our ancestors.  The only thing that separates us from them is the thin veil of time.

dingo - Posted - 05/25/2012:  13:42:53

Oh Death, I love to listen to Tim do that tune.

JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  15:28:36

I certainly agree that Tim Eriksen is an excellent musician and singer, but he doesn't bring anything new to the party. He is not unique, and we have heard it all before. However, with Jack White, for all the years he has been performing, selling tons of CDs, and winning Grammies there is still no one like him. He is totally unique, and has mastered garage band rock, blues, and old time music.

steve j. - Posted - 05/25/2012:  15:32:18

Ha, you talk like hes Neil Young or something

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/25/2012:  15:44:20

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

I certainly agree that Tim Eriksen is an excellent musician and singer, but he doesn't bring anything new to the party. He is not unique, and we have heard it all before. However, with Jack White, for all the years he has been performing, selling tons of CDs, and winning Grammies there is still no one like him. He is totally unique, and has mastered garage band rock, blues, and old time music.

---

 I get your point about Jack White, but for me, bringing something *old* to the party like Tim Eriksen does with such integrity and power is new, or at least rare.  He's a traditionalist for sure, but IMHO there are few like him.

Coonskin - Posted - 05/25/2012:  15:48:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

. He has mastered blues, and old time music.

---

Uhh...no.

JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  16:25:12

Mr. lunceford:

I get your point about Tim Ericksen as well. As I said, he is an excellent musician and singer.

SteveJ

As a child of the 60s I certainly appreciated Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and CSNY as well. However, Neil Young faded along the way. Later albums just didn't have it anymore. The last tour of CSY just looked like old fat guys stumbling around the stage look for their blood pressure meds.

Coonskin:

"uhh......no"

Lots of Grammies say otherwise. And........Loretta Lynn picked him to produce her CD. You may say that Loretta is not old time, but I would say otherwise. There is a fine line between what country music once was and old time music. Jimmy Rogers once said that country music is white mans blues.

mojo_monk - Posted - 05/25/2012:  16:43:27

A Grammy does not a great musician make.

I would look to Roscoe Holcomb, Mike Seeger, Morgan Sexton, Virgil Anderson, and a host of other people (yes, Tim Eriksen) before even entertaining the notion of considering Jack White as a source for how to perform Old Time music.

Definitions can be indeed constricting, but let's not get too far out. If Jack White is an old time musician then so is Mick Jagger.

-Sean

bd - Posted - 05/25/2012:  16:48:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

I certainly agree that Tim Eriksen is an excellent musician and singer, but he doesn't bring anything new to the party. He is not unique, and we have heard it all before. However, with Jack White, for all the years he has been performing, selling tons of CDs, and winning Grammies there is still no one like him. He is totally unique, and has mastered garage band rock, blues, and old time music.

---

I'm a fan of Jack White. And I'd love it if he did whole albums of traditional music. I don't see that happening anytime soon, alas. I didn't mean to turn this into a Jack White vs Tim Eriksen thing. I remember watching that program as a special feature on the Cold Mountain DVD and I was disappointed a bit with White's performance. I thought he seemed nervous and tentative relative to how he normally seems when playing with his own groups. I give him a ton of credit for being willing to continually explore and perform in venues and genres outside his "comfort zone". Having said that I think he was outshone on that tv special by some of the other performers. Just my opinion.

mojo_monk - Posted - 05/25/2012:  16:48:39

THIS is how it's done.

-Sean

Coonskin - Posted - 05/25/2012:  17:05:58

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

Lots of Grammies say otherwise. And........Loretta Lynn picked him to produce her CD. You may say that Loretta is not old time, but I would say otherwise. There is a fine line between what country music once was and old time music. Jimmy Rogers once said that country music is white mans blues.

---

Lots of Grammies says nothing at all!  Grammies are nonsense, directed toward people who value image over output.   Dan Gellert has no Grammy,  and Jack White isn't fit to drink barn stall water out of his shoes.  A person who thinks like that has a LOT to learn about oldtime music and blues,  as they obviously have not listened to those things enough to know what mastery is.

Heck, Connie Francis has the highest selling "Klezmer' album to date...is she a master of Yiddish vocal?  Of course not.    It's this mainstream music logic that has the vast majority of ignorant listeners touting their record company products as important...over people like Reed Martin,  who basically had to be dragged into the studio to record some of the best banjo music ever captured.

You also said:  "You may say that Loretta is not old time, but I would say otherwise."  But honestly,  your opinion is based on apparent near-total ignorance of what oldtime music is.  Listen to Dock Boggs,  Roscoe,  Ola Belle and the Coon Creek girls,  then put on a Loretta record.  *Then* put on Jack White.

If one can't hear that difference,  then there would be no need for further discussion.

blockader - Posted - 05/25/2012:  17:31:24

i'm still waitin for JTRoberts to lay some playin of his own out here for us, since he fancies himself such an expert and all. proofs in the flame, not in the bite as my Paw Paw used to say.

-justin

JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  17:31:44

Coonskin:

"Grammies are nonsense."

Since you are not a professional musician operating at a high level of your career, then this view is understandable. Ask any professional musician what winning a grammy means to their career.

" A person who thinks like that has a lot to learn about old time music."

Evidently TBone Burdett thinks Jack White is good at old time music. That is why he gave him three tracks in the movie Cold Mountain. T Bone knows what he is doing, even if you don't think so.

"Dan Gellert has never won a grammy"

No surprise there.

"If you can't tell the difference then there is no need for further discussion."

That is fine, you aren't forced to talk with me. If you don't enjoy the experience, then feel free to stop any time.

JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  17:41:30

Mr Mojo Monk:

All those musicians you mentioned are good examples, but isn't old time music allowed to grow and move forward?


It is my experience that most folks are too rigid in how they define life, and the things that it consists of. Take this forum for example. Some folks get very riled when their beliefs and paradigms are questioned or threatened. Totally understandable, yet totally unnecessary.

mojo_monk - Posted - 05/25/2012:  19:49:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

Mr Mojo Monk:



All those musicians you mentioned are good examples, but isn't old time music allowed to grow and move forward?



 

---

Perhaps, but - like language - doesn't the derivative oftentimes become something other than that from which it is derived? French vs. Haitian Kreyol, for example.

In my opinion, Old Time music can grow, but if it moves too far in any direction it is no longer Old Time music.

As for the Grammy's who won the award for Best Rock & Roll Recording in 1967? Jimi Hendrix (who released 2 incredible albums that year)? The Beatles? The Beach Boys? Nope. It was the New Vaudeville Winchester Cathedral. Seriously?!

In the court of popular opinion, that which proves to withstand the test of time is rarely celebrated initially.

-Sean

JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  20:02:20

Mr Monk

Everything is in motion. It it doesn't move it dies. If want old time music to exist 100 years from now it must be embraced by the young. Who better to make that possible than Jack White?

Coonskin - Posted - 05/25/2012:  20:47:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

"Dan Gellert has never won a grammy"



No surprise there.

 

---

That sentence pretty much makes anything you say irrelevant.

Oldtime music is played all over the world, and Jack White has nothing to do with that,  no matter how much cocaine he does with T-Bone.

God forbid Madonna sings Cripple Creek...ol' JT might just pass out from joy. 

UncleClawhammer - Posted - 05/25/2012:  21:34:02

The condescending attitudes on both sides of this argument are sickening. This is what I hate about old time music, all the snobbery.



I like the song and think this is a fine performance, though it seems to be more of a bluegrass or folky asthetic than old time to me, at least. Jack White and Tim Eriksen are both fine, talented musicians and both deserve the same level of respect. One or the other might not be your cup of tea. Both may be your cup of tea. In the end, it's arguments like this that hinder the growth and enjoyment of old time music.

Edited by - UncleClawhammer on 05/25/2012 21:39:23

JTRoberts - Posted - 05/25/2012:  22:38:06

Uncle Clawhammer:

Certainly no condescending attitude on my part. I said that "Tim Eriksen is a fine musician and singer", and I meant it.

When I said that I wasn't surprised that Dan Gellert never won an Grammy, I was using common sense. They don't usually give Grammies to someone like that.

Here is the bottom line......The purists have their time and then become irrelevant, because things always change whether they like it or not. Just remember Pete Seeger muttering "heresy" as he tried to unplug Bob Dylan's amp when Bob went electric at Newport. The purists called him a traitor and booed him at several concerts. Shortly after that, the folk revival faded, and Bob Dylan went on to become a mega- star with one of the biggest careers in show business.

RG - Posted - 05/25/2012:  22:55:33

Originally posted by R.D. Lunceford (quotes in blue)

"I get your point about Jack White, but for me, bringing something *old* to the party like Tim Eriksen does with such integrity and power is new, or at least rare.  He's a traditionalist for sure, but IMHO there are few like him."

Originally posted by mojo_monk (quotes in blue)

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

Mr Mojo Monk:



All those musicians you mentioned are good examples, but isn't old time music allowed to grow and move forward?



 

---

"Perhaps, but - like language - doesn't the derivative oftentimes become something other than that from which it is derived? French vs. Haitian Kreyol, for example.

In my opinion, Old Time music can grow, but if it moves too far in any direction it is no longer Old Time music.

As for the Grammy's who won the award for Best Rock & Roll Recording in 1967? Jimi Hendrix (who released 2 incredible albums that year)? The Beatles? The Beach Boys? Nope. It was the New Vaudeville Winchester Cathedral. Seriously?!

In the court of popular opinion, that which proves to withstand the test of time is rarely celebrated initially."

Originally posted by Coonskin (quote in blue)

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

"Dan Gellert has never won a grammy"



No surprise there.

 

---

"That sentence pretty much makes anything you say irrelevant.

Oldtime music is played all over the world, and Jack White has nothing to do with that,  no matter how much cocaine he does with T-Bone.

God forbid Madonna sings Cripple Creek...ol' JT might just pass out from joy."

The above are 3 of the best posts I have ever read on this forum, especially this sentence from mojo_monk "In my opinion, Old Time music can grow, but if it moves too far in any direction it is no longer Old Time music."  Truer words have not been posted...

Thank you gentlemen for your astute observations...

Originally posted by jtroberts (quote in blue)

Since you are not a professional musician operating at a high level of your career, then this view is understandable. Ask any professional musician what winning a grammy means to their career.

Again, please reference the above statement from mojo_monk "As for the Grammy's who won the award for Best Rock & Roll Recording in 1967? Jimi Hendrix (who released 2 incredible albums that year)? The Beatles? The Beach Boys? Nope. It was the New Vaudeville Winchester Cathedral. Seriously?!"

Having spent over 20 years in the music industry (primarily working with independent artists from Hound Dog Taylor to Doc Watson to Sublime), I can assure you that the Grammy's are pretty irrelevant in regards to being an indicator of true talent since for the most part the voting members are themselves irrelevant to anything musical...except for the sound of bean counting...BTW, your avatar never won a Grammy...guess he just didn't have what it takes to be an incredible example of Mississippi hill country blues...a Grammy win would have cinched that for sure huh...???  But of course that was obvious to you already...troll away my friend...

Edited by - RG on 05/25/2012 23:01:12

UncleClawhammer - Posted - 05/25/2012:  23:25:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

When I said that I wasn't surprised that Dan Gellert never won an Grammy, I was using common sense. They don't usually give Grammies to someone like that.

---

Forgive me, I assumed you were just being nasty. We all know what happens when we assume... You're right, of course.



Regarding the Grammy issue: Some very talented people have been the recipients of Grammies, and just as many haven't. I guess that's common sense, too, though.

banjopogo - Posted - 05/25/2012:  23:41:22

Well, neither video was as cringeworthy as I'd feared.

I'd give a slight edge to Tim Eriksen.

There is something exaggerated about Jack White's performance... he's obviously done a lot of listening, but it's like he's attracted to some of the most extreme examples, and then takes it even farther in that direction.
He also goes quite sharp sometimes, and to me, that doesn't sound Old Time... it just sounds SHARP, and a bit painful to listen to. Eriksen definitely isn't doing that, for which I'm thankful.

Having said that, I sang some Sacred Harp hymns in a group when I was about 20 years old, and I suspect if I heard a recording of me from back then, I'd probably find I was doing everything I hear Jack White doing and more!

At some point I realized that Frank Proffit was just as Old Time as Clarence Ashley and Roscoe Holcomb,
and Frank Profitt doesn't sound nearly as extreme. If you haven't grown up in a tradition, I think there is some safety in not aiming for the most extreme examples you can find.... there is the danger of sounding like you are caricaturing something. Anyway, older and wiser, I think when I try to do something in the Old Time singing style, I'm trying to soften it a bit... get somewhere between Clarence Ashley and Frank Profitt.

I think the good thing about both Eriksen and White is that they will probably give people a taste, and then hopefully some will dig a little deeper and listen to some originals.

RG - Posted - 05/26/2012:  00:02:18

Originally posted by jtroberts (quote in blue)

"When I said that I wasn't surprised that Dan Gellert never won an Grammy, I was using common sense. They don't usually give Grammies to someone like that."

Really? Why do you think that is?  There are still a lot of Grammy musical genre categories that most folks aren't aware of (last year the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences slashed the categories from 109 to 78...that's a 28% reduction).  Prior to 2011 there were 2 main categories where Mr. Gellert's music would have been eligible to win; Best Folk Album & Best Traditional Folk Album.  Why would it be "surprising" that Dan Gellert wouldn't be considered for these categories in his 30+ years of playing OT music, and given these 2 categories, why would it be "common sense" to assume that a performer like Dan wouldn't be considered for an award?  Nice spin on your original statement by the way, I do have to acknowledge that...

Coonskin - Posted - 05/26/2012:  00:08:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by UncleClawhammer

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

When I said that I wasn't surprised that Dan Gellert never won an Grammy, I was using common sense. They don't usually give Grammies to someone like that.

---

Forgive me, I assumed you were just being nasty.

---

Me too...it seemed so in line with the rest of what you were saying.

I just would read too much into a rock musician getting chosen to do a soundtrack to a cheesy civil war movie(oh, Zellweger's accent was soooo bad) by the guy who played Guitar for Bob Dylan...not big oldtime credentials there.

I grew up with real oldtime musicians from the Appalachians, so it's hard to see some makeup wearing poser getting lumped in with real masters...

When Madonna's square Dance album comes out, titled "Corn Pone",  I'm sure that it will win a Grammy.  Nuff said.

mojo_monk - Posted - 05/26/2012:  05:23:50

quote:

---

Originally posted by Coonskin

When Madonna's square Dance album comes out, titled "Corn Pone",  I'm sure that it will win a Grammy.  Nuff said.

---

I wonder if she'll remake THIS one?

-Sean

minstrelmike - Posted - 05/26/2012:  10:13:59

Popularity is granted by the audience, not by the musician and not by critics and not by supporting organizations and not by editors of fanzines.

RG - Posted - 05/26/2012:  13:41:09

And popularity is certainly not an indication of actual talent...although there are certainly popular performers who do possess it...talent that is...

Edited by - RG on 05/26/2012 13:42:35

RG - Posted - 05/26/2012:  13:47:06

originally posted by mojo_monk (quotes in blue)

"I wonder if she'll remake THIS one?"

Sean, if you liked that, you'll love this Michael Landon re-mix, especially the banjo - fiddle "showdown"...really good stuff!  Michael Landon (RIP) sure could pull some bow...enjoy...!

youtube.com/watch?v=vq-AqkSEYq8

Edited by - RG on 05/26/2012 13:49:58

UncleClawhammer - Posted - 05/26/2012:  15:11:40

Well, talent's subjective.

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/26/2012:  17:22:25

quote:

---

Originally posted by RG

 

Sean, if you liked that, you'll love this Michael Landon re-mix, especially the banjo - fiddle "showdown"...really good stuff!  

---

 You'd have to go a long way to find a fiddler who could beat this banjo player in a "showdown" !!!

youtube.com/watch?v=vQ-NhyctOho

erikforgod - Posted - 05/26/2012:  18:02:36

Holy cow this is one of the greatest videos ever!!! Thats a Fairbanks model .30-06...a man could go turkey huntin with that and keep himself pretty entertained LOL

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/26/2012:  19:31:52

Yeah, and on top of that, my wife stole Jane's line from the 0:05 mark:

Banjo: I'm waiting.

Jane: Waiting for what?
For somebody to give you a pile of money
for playing that banjo ?!?!
That won't happen in this town!
You'd have to kill'em first!!!

The Mighty Ant - Posted - 05/26/2012:  20:01:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by steve j.

Ha, you talk like hes Neil Young or something

---

 Hey now. (((HUGE)))  Neil fan here! Just had to chime in and agree with you completly. 

RG - Posted - 05/26/2012:  21:49:42

R.D. - that Sabata clip is classic, too funny...pretty sure he won a Grammy for his banjo title score...oh wait, that was an Oscar...

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/27/2012:  03:26:35

RG;

I guess it's like UncleClawhammer said a few replies ago!!!

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/27/2012:  03:32:17

youtube.com/watch?v=_KDgbrBwofg

mbuk06 - Posted - 05/27/2012:  05:29:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

Mr Mojo Monk:



All those musicians you mentioned are good examples, but isn't old time music allowed to grow and move forward?





It is my experience that most folks are too rigid in how they define life, and the things that it consists of. Take this forum for example. Some folks get very riled when their beliefs and paradigms are questioned or threatened. Totally understandable, yet totally unnecessary.



 

---

Kind've gives the game away when you use language like this. I don't feel in any way threatened by others ideas or opinions and from what I read on here most others aren't either. A breadth of ideas and opinions ​adds​ it doesn't '...threaten'. And your comment 'Most folks are too rigid in how they define life' is laughable...done a survey lately? You're welcome to come spend some time with me and then revise your opinion? Until you have comments like that are just baseless generalised nonsense.

Edit: Just to add that I just listened to Dan Gellert for the first time yesterday and his playin' blew my ears off. 

Edited by - mbuk06 on 05/27/2012 05:36:02

erikforgod - Posted - 05/27/2012:  09:23:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by mbuk06

quote:

---

Originally posted by JTRoberts

Mr Mojo Monk:



All those musicians you mentioned are good examples, but isn't old time music allowed to grow and move forward?





It is my experience that most folks are too rigid in how they define life, and the things that it consists of. Take this forum for example. Some folks get very riled when their beliefs and paradigms are questioned or threatened. Totally understandable, yet totally unnecessary.



 

---

Kind've gives the game away when you use language like this. I don't feel in any way threatened by others ideas or opinions and from what I read on here most others aren't either. A breadth of ideas and opinions ​adds​ it doesn't '...threaten'. And your comment 'Most folks are too rigid in how they define life' is laughable...done a survey lately? You're welcome to come spend some time with me and then revise your opinion? Until you have comments like that are just baseless generalised nonsense.

Edit: Just to add that I just listened to Dan Gellert for the first time yesterday and his playin' blew my ears off. 

---

I concur...I was not threatened at all by Mr Roberts differences of opinions or vice-versa in this thread or any other. My opinions and beliefs are not challenged as such and I would actually imagine that most of us also could careless one way or the other.  From my point of view, with regards to other threads, it was Mr Roberts continued presentation of his mere opinions as "facts" and also his condescending "down talking" style of responding to everyones comments in the thread...not with regards to differences of opinion. Although with respect to this thread in particular, I am glad to see that he actually seems to be participating ad respectful. I respect his opinions, he is welcome to them.. but I will admit though, I like many others in the beginning, thought he was just "trolling" In fact it is very interesting that Mr Roberts makes his statement about the "rigidity" and beliefs of others being challenged when quite frankly and in fact, that was actually the assumption I had about "him" at times in the beginning at least with regards to some other threads.

You see..I dont think the BHO is necessarily a place to come and spar over differences and opinions, but actually a place to exchange them, with all of our passions about them, and let the reader of the thread form his/her own opinions based on the discussions. Most of us are here to share what we are passionate about..banjo..not persuade or dissuade others.. quite the contrary. With regards to those differences some may be more popular disproportionately to others...thats just reality..some styles of playing or approaches are just maybe more popular than others. This thread about Jack Stripe is a perfect example, but its not about "cliches" or "clicks" as some may suppose. There are different ways of playing the banjo or approaching OT music, singing included and thats great. This way each one of us can decide for ourselves whats best and just leave it at that.

Edited by - erikforgod on 05/27/2012 09:35:00

RG - Posted - 05/27/2012:  12:21:34

R.D. - that link was downright spooky!  Another classic...

SF and have a great Memorial (Remembrance) Day weekend...

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 05/27/2012:  13:58:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by RG

R.D. - that link was downright spooky!  Another classic...

SF and have a great Memorial (Remembrance) Day weekend...

---

 Roger that.

You have a great weekend as well sir.

plunknplinkntwang - Posted - 05/28/2012:  13:07:43

WARNING OPINION ALERT!

If the songs had been cited as standard examples of old time to me when becoming interested in banjo then I'd probably be playing something else now.  The first song is just so miserable it beggars belief that it would have any popularity other than in the current decadent age.   And although an excellent musician and obviously a very knowledgeable man Tim Ericson sings with a pseudo celtic nasal accent that reminds me of many Brit folk singers.  It's the type of sound that seems to be adopted to accentuate the academically "ancient" aspect of the music and so often slips into the maudlin somber aspects of the tunes.  To me this kills the music and prevents it being more readily received; and though this is pure conjecture it doesn't seem a true reflection of the music.   At one time this music was popular and  in that time life was hard enough and usually mankind uses music a means to alleviate the grind not reinforce it.  

Just for a comparison compare Tim's & Riley's accents in this song, though perfect pitch etc Tim doesn't sound American to me

youtube.com/watch?v=sFpU3zslpH...re=relmfu

rgds

Chris

mojo_monk - Posted - 05/28/2012:  14:52:37

Interesting take, Chris. I figure Tim's ballad/Sacred Harp influence is at the heart of his vocal performance - whether he's playing electric guitar or lap dulcimer. He definitely seems to have a preference for "ancient" sounding arrangements, I'll give you that, but having little to no experience with "Brit folk singers" I can't comment on your description of his singing. I'll wager that he is a "trained" vocalist given his ability to match his vocals so close to pitch. This is rarely a skill tha a person just picks up...

That said, upon reading your comment I was instantly reminded of "Banjo" Bill Cornett's singing style (for some reason ).

Mr. Cornett was just as much a ballad singer as he was a banjo player and, from what I can tell, his song repertoire was rooted in some pretty ancient stuff. I can easily imagine each of Banjo Bill's vocal performances on the FRC304 CD done in solo ballad style; belted out in ways that resemble "Old World" performance instead of something from the Skillet Lickers or the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers - which we usually associate more with that elusive Old Time music "sound." This is not entirely dissimilar to Tim Eriksen's performances (although Banjo Bill's singing certainly wasn't perfect pitch). Just thinking out loud on this one, I guess.

And because no day is a good day without listening to "Banjo" Bill Cornett, here's clip from a home recording of him singing Born in Old Kentucky.

Of all the recordings available through the Field Recorder's Collective (or anywhere for that matter), in my humble opinion, the "Banjo" Bill stuff is tops. Talk about "how to play and sing old time music"...YOWZA! If you don't own it, go buy it!

-Sean

jojo25 - Posted - 05/28/2012:  15:34:00

before I read any of this thread...other than the first as it got me to the vid...I watched the vid...or tried to...and it was, for me, what I call a "clicker"...i.e. something I immediately turn off because it is so...well...bad...IMHO

I thought this was going to be a discussion of how to play and sing at the same time..alas no

and then I read...I love R.D.'s comment to the effect that being "old" is good..after all folks...we do call it  "Old Time", don't we?

I've really never heard of this dude...so his reputation had no bearing on my judgement of the quality of his performance...me no like...move on here...there is nothing to see

OT police and others...let me know when you have calmed this down

riverstein - Posted - 05/29/2012:  01:35:48

Old-Time music is public domain,an invitation to individual creative expression, and Jack White and Tim Eriksen have as much right  to interpret it as anyone else. Meanwhile, interesting to note what old timer Ralph Stanley is up to: singing the Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat" in the new Nick Cave film. Haven't heard it yet, but the news made me chuckle.  

plunknplinkntwang - Posted - 05/29/2012:  03:58:26

quote:

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Originally posted by mojo_monk

Interesting take, Chris. I figure Tim's ballad/Sacred Harp influence is at the heart of his vocal performance - whether he's playing electric guitar or lap dulcimer. He definitely seems to have a preference for "ancient" sounding arrangements, I'll give you that, but having little to no experience with "Brit folk singers" I can't comment on your description of his singing. I'll wager that he is a "trained" vocalist given his ability to match his vocals so close to pitch. This is rarely a skill tha a person just picks up...

That said, upon reading your comment I was instantly reminded of "Banjo" Bill Cornett's singing style (for some reason ).

Mr. Cornett was just as much a ballad singer as he was a banjo player and, from what I can tell, his song repertoire was rooted in some pretty ancient stuff. I can easily imagine each of Banjo Bill's vocal performances on the FRC304 CD done in solo ballad style; belted out in ways that resemble "Old World" performance instead of something from the Skillet Lickers or the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers - which we usually associate more with that elusive Old Time music "sound." This is not entirely dissimilar to Tim Eriksen's performances (although Banjo Bill's singing certainly wasn't perfect pitch). Just thinking out loud on this one, I guess.

And because no day is a good day without listening to "Banjo" Bill Cornett, here's clip from a home recording of him singing Born in Old Kentucky.

Of all the recordings available through the Field Recorder's Collective (or anywhere for that matter), in my humble opinion, the "Banjo" Bill stuff is tops. Talk about "how to play and sing old time music"...YOWZA! If you don't own it, go buy it!

 

-Sean

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 Sean - nice link.  I agree that Banjo Bills singing is in an older balladeer style but the difference is that Bill sings like a Kentukian with his natural accent showing through.  What I was trying to say about  Tim's singing [as fine as it is] is that it strays into that strangely Celtic accent affected by a lot of professional folk singers.  It's only my personal feeling about an unimportant detail, but to Joe Soap, this could be a barrier to acceptance of this music genre.    I will add though that in the Warsaw train example the accent was more subdued and the whole experience was greatly enhanced.  

I keep looking at the FRC catalog but it looks like a physical articles only purchase.  Unfortunately they way that our UK Customs & Revenue system functions is that each order will attract +20% tax for the total cost of the CD & Postage, plus another $13 dollars handling fee for each transaction.  I'm just hoping that FRC develop an electronic download method, whether direct or through an agent then it'll be affordable; I especially want to get the Fred Cockerham album as I think he often gets overshadowed by some of his contemporaries

best regards

Chris

mojo_monk - Posted - 05/29/2012:  05:02:58

Yeah - hopefully the folks at the FRC "get with the program" and start offering digital downloads sooner than later...

-Sean