This album is a virtual "how-to" for backing up a fiddler playing a fiddle tune, -and I'm talking about every single back up instrument. Just get a good headset, listen until your brain is picking out your specific instrument, and then start taking notes... I once asked Rodney and Douglas where they learned to backup a fiddler like this? They answered that they had spent their entire formative bluegrass years as kids backing up their father, who incidentally they continued to backup until he passed away at VERY old age. Doug said that if a banjo player REALLY LISTENED to the exact notes the fiddle was playing, and then selected his own notes carefully enough, he could ornament the fiddle to the point of making it sound better than it actually was. This album is FULL of such ornamental back up, not only by the banjo but also Dean's chops and Rodney's syncopated runs. Listen to the banjo echoing the fiddle in the opening Fisher's Hornpipe A-part. Also, listen to the incredible syncopated guitar runs in Tom and Jerry. Much of the Dillards' sound was a result of Doug's use of a raised head banjo and of Rodney's brilliant syncopated runs.
This was the 1st fiddle album that I ever bought & is still the best. Byron's rendition of Soppin the Gravy is one of the greatest ever recorded, as is Durang's Hornpipe!
In 1965, these five masters entered a recording studio together, and documented until the end of time, what the American Bluegrass fiddle tune genre is SUPPOSED to sound like.
This is recording is such a gem...once upon a time I owned it but it got "lost" along the way and thanks to the wonders of Discogs I own it again on vinyl but love having the option of having it on my computer thanks to the wonders of this page!
To follow up with the correct tracklist ('for this video'), Bill Allen started 2 years ago: 1. Hamilton County (Breakdown) 2. Twinkle, Twinkle (Little Star) 2:26 (The fiddle-tune) 3. Black Mountain Rag 4:14 4. Tom & Jerry 6:32 5. Soppin' the Gravy 8:35 6. Drunken Billy Goat 10:36 (part of 'Brilliancy medley' by Eck Robertson) 7. Crazy Creek 12:21 8. Fisher's Hornpipe 14:39 9. Wagoner 16:21 10. Sally Johnson 18:32 (aka Katy Hill) 11. Paddy On The Turnpike 20:22 12. Jazzbow Rag 22:22 13. Apple Blossom 24:29 14. Wild John 26:15 15. Cotton Patch 28:21 16. Durang's Hornpipe 30:49 (no promises that this is exact, took some time to locate them)
+Norm W Interestingly enough, a friend and I both had copies of the vinyl, both purchased in the mid '70s, and they were in different order. I don't recall if the jacket was the same, but the tracks on the LPs were different. In fact, I just checked. On my copy, Black Mountain Rag and Twinkle Twinkle are on side 2, #5 and 6, making them #13 and 14 overall.
+Mike Schmidt Maybe that was the same that happened here when this video was uploaded ? I have several such LPs with two different tracklists (1 on the cover and another on the disc). Sometimes none of the tracklists were correct...
Yeah. Also, I swear there was an anomoly on the Old and In the Way album. My girlfriend and I each had a copy and I will swear that the mix in the first tune, "Pig In a Pen" was different. Just slightly, but the opening notes on the Banjo weren't the same. We never got around to doing an a/b with them both together, though.
This popped up on my UA-cam feed and I thought, "oh, I have this one." My parents had two of these and they gave me one instead of returning it. Usually fiddle albums have just a guitarist to accompany the fiddle leads. It's nice to hear one with a full backing band.
This is a bluegrass treasure. I'm glad you posted this! I heard Black Mountain Rag on Pandora. I looked it up and here I am. A full album of instrumentals. Wow ! Played straight ahead tunes!.
DobroGuitarJohn Should be 'Tom & Jerry' on the 4th tune in the video. Jazzbow Rag probably is track 12 here. The LP tracklist however, is the one posted by the uploader in the Video info. Even so, great to have it here in good quality.
tracks are not listed correctly...2 Twinkle, Twinkle 3 Black Mountain Rag 4 Tom & Jerry 6 Drunken Billy Goat 7 Crazy Creek 8 Fisher's Hornpipe 11 Paddy on the Turnpike not sure about the rest,,,,
![Grassy Fiddle Blues [1975] Kenny Baker](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gTXoyP-R-i8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Grassy Fiddle Blues [1975] Kenny Baker](/img/tr.png)
This album is a virtual "how-to" for backing up a fiddler playing a fiddle tune, -and I'm talking about every single back up instrument. Just get a good headset, listen until your brain is picking out your specific instrument, and then start taking notes...
I once asked Rodney and Douglas where they learned to backup a fiddler like this? They answered that they had spent their entire formative bluegrass years as kids backing up their father, who incidentally they continued to backup until he passed away at VERY old age. Doug said that if a banjo player REALLY LISTENED to the exact notes the fiddle was playing, and then selected his own notes carefully enough, he could ornament the fiddle to the point of making it sound better than it actually was. This album is FULL of such ornamental back up, not only by the banjo but also Dean's chops and Rodney's syncopated runs. Listen to the banjo echoing the fiddle in the opening Fisher's Hornpipe A-part. Also, listen to the incredible syncopated guitar runs in Tom and Jerry. Much of the Dillards' sound was a result of Doug's use of a raised head banjo and of Rodney's brilliant syncopated runs.
As teenagers, Doug and Rodney also played in a band led by Salem, MO fiddler Howe Teague. Growing up, they were surrounded by old-time fiddling.
This was the 1st fiddle album that I ever bought & is still the best. Byron's rendition of Soppin the Gravy is one of the greatest ever recorded, as is Durang's Hornpipe!
In 1965, these five masters entered a recording studio together, and documented until the end of time, what the American Bluegrass fiddle tune genre is SUPPOSED to sound like.
Second to none. Byron Berline is unstoppable. And the Dillards kick royal ass backing him.
This is recording is such a gem...once upon a time I owned it but it got "lost" along the way and thanks to the wonders of Discogs I own it again on vinyl but love having the option of having it on my computer thanks to the wonders of this page!
RIP Byron Berline (July 6, 1944 - July 10, 2021)
To follow up with the correct tracklist ('for this video'), Bill Allen started 2 years ago:
1. Hamilton County (Breakdown)
2. Twinkle, Twinkle (Little Star) 2:26 (The fiddle-tune)
3. Black Mountain Rag 4:14
4. Tom & Jerry 6:32
5. Soppin' the Gravy 8:35
6. Drunken Billy Goat 10:36 (part of 'Brilliancy medley' by Eck Robertson)
7. Crazy Creek 12:21
8. Fisher's Hornpipe 14:39
9. Wagoner 16:21
10. Sally Johnson 18:32 (aka Katy Hill)
11. Paddy On The Turnpike 20:22
12. Jazzbow Rag 22:22
13. Apple Blossom 24:29
14. Wild John 26:15
15. Cotton Patch 28:21
16. Durang's Hornpipe 30:49
(no promises that this is exact, took some time to locate them)
+Norm W Interestingly enough, a friend and I both had copies of the vinyl, both purchased in the mid '70s, and they were in different order. I don't recall if the jacket was the same, but the tracks on the LPs were different. In fact, I just checked. On my copy, Black Mountain Rag and Twinkle Twinkle are on side 2, #5 and 6, making them #13 and 14 overall.
+Mike Schmidt Maybe that was the same that happened here when this video was uploaded ? I have several such LPs with two different tracklists (1 on the cover and another on the disc). Sometimes none of the tracklists were correct...
Yeah. Also, I swear there was an anomoly on the Old and In the Way album. My girlfriend and I each had a copy and I will swear that the mix in the first tune, "Pig In a Pen" was different. Just slightly, but the opening notes on the Banjo weren't the same. We never got around to doing an a/b with them both together, though.
The above track listing corresponds to my vinyl copy. I'm studying it and this track listing was helpful
What instrument do you play?
I just got a copy this at amazon--I recommend this to all beginning old time players --and advanced--clean & with spirit--thanks a billion Byron!
Any mandolin or fiddle player would do well to learn every song on here. I've been coming back to it for 20 years now.
This popped up on my UA-cam feed and I thought, "oh, I have this one." My parents had two of these and they gave me one instead of returning it. Usually fiddle albums have just a guitarist to accompany the fiddle leads. It's nice to hear one with a full backing band.
i just love banjo so dang much
This album is killer
Thanks for posting. I've had three of these -- all stolen.
This is a bluegrass treasure. I'm glad you posted this! I heard Black Mountain Rag on Pandora. I looked it up and here I am. A full album of instrumentals. Wow ! Played straight ahead tunes!.
A Fiddler's diary brought me here, what fabulous musicians.
Wooooohooo!!! Breaking out my Kentucky backstep!
Awesome ..... thanks for posting!
this is the best close order drill team ever!
Bluegrass at its top level...Soggy Bottom Boys, listen and learn!!
15 Cotton Patch 5 Soppin' the Gravy
The time stamps for the tunes is all messed up.
Hello, was this recorded from the original LP, as there is some doubt that the name of track 4 is actually jazz bow rag. Can anyone confirm?
DobroGuitarJohn Should be 'Tom & Jerry' on the 4th tune in the video. Jazzbow Rag probably is track 12 here. The LP tracklist however, is the one posted by the uploader in the Video info. Even so, great to have it here in good quality.
FTR, I consider this Appalachian Jazz.
Pre Monroe and pre Dan Crary!
tracks are not listed correctly...2 Twinkle, Twinkle 3 Black Mountain Rag 4 Tom & Jerry 6 Drunken Billy Goat 7 Crazy Creek 8 Fisher's Hornpipe 11 Paddy on the Turnpike not sure about the rest,,,,