banjukebox - Posted - 09/01/2017:  09:05:39

I was in a small, cozy jam at the Centralia Campout recently  (highly recommended, by the way). A logical sequence of tunes came up while playing in D. First we played “Johnny Don’t Get  Drunk”. This was followed by “Step Around Johnny” (he obviously hadn’t heeded the advice). And then “John’s Liver’s Gone” (which sounded an awful lot like “John Lover’s Gone”.)

Today’s Tune of the Week is Step Around Johnny, an Alabama tune played in the key of D.

The tune is attributed to Sam Taylor (an Alabama mandolin/guitar player) at the Slippery Hill Website:

slippery-hill.com/recording/st...nd-johnny

Liner notes in an Album by the Red Mountain White Trash also cite Sam Taylor as their source:

sites.google.com/site/redmount...-too-high

In his You Tube posting, Dean Barber says the tune comes from Blount County Alabama.

There are a number of great recordings to be found. A few of which I’ll list here:

Red Mountain White Trash: youtube.com/watch?time_continu...AJiFMbEbI

Dan Levinson:

youtube.com/watch?v=Gt8MeQ8x5uE

vimeo.com/109262869

Josh Turknett:

youtube.com/watch?v=iVxw67bxunc

​Dean Barber posted a version with triple fiddles:

youtube.com/watch?time_continu...8hVdVlweI

Tabs are also available:

Don Borchelt’s version:

hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...42014.pdf

Ken Torke’s version at Tater Joe’s:

taterjoes.com/banjo/StepAroundJohnny.pdf

The sheet music can be found at the Portland Collection site:

theportlandcollection.com/wp-c...ohnny.pdf

Finally, here’s the version I recorded for Todays TOTW along with its Tab:

Edited by - banjukebox on 09/01/2017 22:13:53

Step Around Johnny Tab

VIDEO: STEP AROUND JOHNNY
(click to view)

JanetB - Posted - 09/01/2017:  16:30:15

This is a good choice, Pat, with lots of intricacy in your nice style.  I like how you link the Johnny titles together into a story.  Sam Taylor's mandolin style is very old-timey, like my husband, Kit's playing. 

Here's what Milliner and Koken wrote about Sam Taylor:  Born in 1929, "Sam's grandfather, Jim Allen, was an excellent fiddler, as was his uncle Simon Pate; Taylor played mandolin and guitar since he was a child and formed a band called the Hamilton Mountain Boys with his friends when he was a teenager.  It broke up when most of them went into the army during the Korean War.  Since then he has been a part of the music played at community gatherings with fiddlers such as Ralph Whited, Grady Cornelius, Eben Pate and other Blount County musicians."

My version is a bit laid back -- I think Johnny's been overworking in the sun, but on Friday night he's ready to step out anyway.

Step Around Johnny (TOTW)

 

banjukebox - Posted - 09/01/2017:  17:09:33

That's a great version, Janet. I noticed you go for the higher notes in the B section. My Tab has a low B part and an alternate higher B part. I just realized I didn't include the alternate part in the video I recorded.

Here's a link to a version that does: 

youtube.com/watch?v=u7_AJ0BfNv8

jack_beuthin - Posted - 09/02/2017:  17:02:13

When this tune gets called in a jam, I make sure I'm listening closely to the nearest fiddler.  I love playing this with a fiddler who knows it. Getting in the groove with that syncopated B part is one of those things that puts you right in the moment.  I never played it on my fretless before, so thought I would give it a try. Although I'm a bit rusty on the fretless, I got something close enough to post.  Adam Hurt turned me on to Step Around Johnny, and my rendition is more or less based on his playing.

Great choice Pat with plenty of good links, and thanks for the additional background Janet.

Edited by - jack_beuthin on 09/02/2017 17:05:36

Step Around Johnny (OT TOTW 1 Sept 2017)

 

banjukebox - Posted - 09/03/2017:  20:41:24

Thanks for contributing, Jack. Those slides in the B part really add a lot to the tune!

Beardog - Posted - 09/04/2017:  07:56:03

You guys are getting way ahead of me! I am about 3 songs behind you, but I am enjoying more slowly listening to and learning the tunes.

J-Walk - Posted - 09/05/2017:  19:30:51

This is from Centralia Campout 2017. A roving bass player joins in around 40 seconds.

clyp.it/lrfpbqbp

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 09/06/2017:  03:47:26

Boy, John, that just drives forward.  Thanks for sharing.  

Lew

RV6 - Posted - 09/06/2017:  05:31:58

quote:

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Originally posted by jack_beuthinAlthough I'm a bit rusty on the fretless, I got something close enough to post.  

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Rusty, huh?  Let me know when you get good  Your rusty is my lifetime goal!

Your Tradesman sounds great with the Aquila's on it and great job on the tune.