I know there exists on this site lists of 'best' or 'top 5' / ' top 10' bluegrass banjo tunes, so if I ask something similar I would likely be referred to those archives-- but I want to get at this another way. If you could only hear one more 'bluegrass BANJO tune' which one would you choose and why? For me, I think it would be "Lonesome Road Blues' because of all the variations especially the high parts that slide into fret positions 20+. Love that tune with all its fast chokes.
What say ye?
Pike County Breakdown because of the drive.
Bells of St. Maries by Raymond McLain. I heard/say him playing that in the late 70ies at a festival and wow, the way he picked the A part using chimes, never heard anything like it. To think he still was a teenager at the time...
Edited by - Bart Veerman on 05/20/2025 18:02:52
added: here's a much older (the years are showing...) Raymond playing that tune here @ 3:10:
Edited by - Bart Veerman on 05/20/2025 18:23:44
quote:
Originally posted by Bart VeermanBells of St. Maries by Raymond McLain. I heard/say him playing that in the late 70ies at a festival and wow, the way he picked the A part using chimes, never heard anything like it. To think he still was a teenager at the time...
I heard him play that at the Carter Family festival around 76/77. I had never heard anything like it at the time. Playing banjo while clogging was impressive too.
That’s tough. I really like Boulderdash off Bela’s Bluegrass Heart album. Every time I hear it I love to pick out Tony, Noam and Bela’s different playing.
For me, it would have to be 'Slipstream' from Bela Fleck's album 'Drive'. When I first heard this album (on vinyl) in the late 1980s, I was astonished at the quality, inventiveness and power of the playing, and I still feel that way today.
The whole album is an object lesson in superlative musicianship, but 'Slipstream' stands out. It took me a long, long time to learn the tune by ear and of course my version is but a pale imitation of Bela's but I play it regularly to ensure that I don't lose it. I've heard some great tunes in the 50+ years I've been playing, but I suspect that nothing will match 'Slipstream'.
It would be Foggy Mountain Breakdown hoping that it would make me run fast enough from my deathbed to escape death.
Tough question! Toss up between Runaround by JD Crowe or Clinch Mtn Backstep by Ralph. Both have drive but not at breakneck speed
Edited by - stanleytone on 05/21/2025 05:01:27
Today, it would be Knee Deep in Bluegrass.
If I could only hear one tune I would very soon get real tired of hearing the banjo.
That being said I'd have to go with Alan Munde's Durang's Hornpipe.
If I could only hear one bluegrass recording, it could only be at the moment of my death, because even though I play old time and ragtime and blues on the banjo, life without hearing bluegrass banjo would be a hard thing to suffer through and if I heard some of the best, I might want to get together and do whatever I could to remain on this Earth.
When I was 15 the neighborhood record store where I lived in Hartford CT, got old records from a nearby radio station in Bloomfield (local touch for homies will know which I am talking about) that the station did not play and sold them for a buck. As a buck and change was all I could afford, I bought a Mercury reissue of the first Flatt and Scruggs recordings from 1948. The Pike County Breakdown which I think came first on the record, and Doing My Time which might have been second might suit the bill.
On the other hand later on I got the air checks of Monroe with Earl at the Opry from the 40s. There are two recordings of Monroe with Earl and Lester and Chubby in the band playing Jimmie Rodgers Blue Yodel #4 where Monroe is egged on to go over the top with both his vocal and mandolin by what a very young Earl is doing on the banjo which is unbelievable. Earl and Monroe were as hot and wowing the crowd with their picking as much as any rock or blues star I have ever heard and I have heard alot being almost 78. The Opry crowd is going crazy crazy and crazier, and Monroe is soaring beyond what any normal or natural human can with both vocals and Mandolin and the whole thing is swinging. No one even if they hate Bluegrass should be denied the experience of listening to this.
In fact if it is the last one before death, let me hear that whole 1946 set from the Opry especially those two #4 cuts, because I might even raise up from death just hear that and keep hearing that. There is some music that you wonder why you do anything else except listen to it. If a person could play like Earl or Monroe why would that person would want to do anything else.
We are so lucky to have received such gifts!
Edited by - writerrad on 05/21/2025 08:26:05
Foggy Mt Chimes by Flatt & Scruggs. All it's missing is some up-the-neck work by Earl, but man, everything else he does is just whipcrack good. Benny Martin's fiddling might be his best ever (including back up). And of course, the ending has been baffling science (as Stringbean would say) for 70+ years. Even rhythm guitar players can learn from this record.
Sample observation: how does one get "that tone" with a calfskin head?
Edited by - The Old Timer on 05/21/2025 08:28:07
Not having listened to so many of the greats from back in the day, I would like to hear Appalachian Rain one last time before eternal rest.
Edited by - Realbluegrassfan on 05/21/2025 08:50:06
Limerock
Dueling Banjos by the Kruger Brothers. It's like 10 minutes of humor, talent, and fun !
thats a tough one,,,,,,,,,,, silver eagle by earl would be my fav
followed close by bela on county clare
silver eagle
youtube.com/watch?v=LkGONvuruAU
just the purity of earl and the monster rake he does is killer.
county clare
youtube.com/watch?v=LNoNIZd3Qgs
the second part of county clare just get the groove going
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 05/23/2025 07:54:59
Earl Scruggs - "Home Sweet Home"
I wondered what Oldtwanger would pick. Proud to say that before I read his response, I also chose "Home Sweet Home"! It's a masterpiece of right hand marvel.
Black Diamond by Don Stover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K86t8QdjhSc
I think it would have to be Bear Tracks by J.D. Crowe, but I never understood why he waited until after he had finished the song to tune his banjo.
