Skip to main content

American Banjo: Tunes and Songs in Scruggs Style

Various Artists
American Banjo 2018 reissue LP artwork
American Banjo - Tunes and Songs in Scruggs Style 2018 reissue LP artwork
American Banjo original LP artwork
American Banjo - Tunes and Songs in Scruggs Style original LP artwork

2018 vinyl reissue remastered from the original 1957 master tapes, packaged in classic Folkways-style tip-on jackets with original liner notes.

Although there is debate among musicologists and banjo players as to who “invented” the three-finger style of five-string banjo playing, there is no disagreement that the style was popularized by Earl Scruggs in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The three-finger style enabled banjo players to play harmony and to solo on bluegrass tunes and songs. This 1957 release assembles examples of the three-finger style by bluegrass banjo players including Scruggs’ older brother Junie and Snuffy Jenkins, who may have had an influence on the style as well.

The vinyl reissue of American Banjo includes the original liner notes and is part of Folkways Records’ 70th anniversary celebration series, revisiting some of the most iconic and influential albums released on the record label.

This recording was partially reissued with additional tracks and liner notes in 1990 as Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 40037.

We are offering the vinyl reissue of American Banjo: Tunes and Songs in Scruggs Style, Dock Boggs: Legendary Singer and Banjo Player, and Pete Seeger Goofing-Off Suite as a Vinyl Bundle with Bonus Folkways Slipmat.

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Cacklin Hen Joe Stuart 00:53
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
John Henry Snuffy Jenkins 01:11
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Lonesome Blues Snuffy Jenkins 01:16
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Big Eared Mule Snuffy Jenkins 01:11
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Snuffy Jenkins 01:28
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Spanish Fandango Oren Jenkins 01:25
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Cripple Creek Oren Jenkins 01:21
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
108
Shout Lula Oren Jenkins 01:22
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
109
Down the Road Oren Jenkins 01:14
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
110
Old Hen She Cackled Oren Jenkins 01:10
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
111
Sally Goodin - Sally Ann Junie Scruggs and Mike Seeger 01:43
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
112
Wildwood Flower Eugene Cox and Roni Stoneman 01:38
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
113
Lonesome Road Blues Eugene Cox and Roni Stoneman 01:15
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
114
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down J.C. Sutphin, Hazel Dickens, and Mike Seeger 01:13
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
115
I Don't Love Nobody J.C. Sutphin, Bob Shanklin, and Hazel Dickens 01:34
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
116
Little Maggie Larry Richardson 01:17
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
117
Sunny South Larry Richardson 01:20
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
118
Buckin' Mule Larry Richardson 01:23
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
119
Turkey in the Straw Don Bryant and Pete Kuykendall 01:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
120
Jenny Lynn Don Bryant and Pete Kuykendall 00:54
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
201
Pig in a Pen Smiley Hobbs 01:15
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
202
Train 45 Smiley Hobbs 02:24
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
203
Rosewood Casket Smiley Hobbs and Tom Morgan 01:30
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
204
Cotton Eyed Joe Smiley Hobbs 01:45
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
205
Irish Washerwoman Mike Seeger and Pete Kuykendall 01:02
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
206
Cindy Dick Rittler, Bob Baker, and Hazel Dickens 01:48
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
207
Ruben's Train Kenny Miller and Mike Seeger 02:00
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
208
Please Come Back Little Pal Kenny Miller 01:04
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
209
Pretty Polly Mike Seeger and Bob Baker 04:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
210
Ground Hog Mike Seeger and Bob Baker 01:39
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
211
Jesse James - Hard, Ain't It Hard Eric Weissberg, Mike Seeger, and Ralph Rinzler 04:01