Traditional Music from Grayson and Carroll Counties, Virginia: Songs, Tunes with Fiddle, Banjo and Band

Bordering each other in southwestern Virginia, Grayson and Carroll counties have a distinctive musical heritage. An important banjo technique, variously called “clawhammer,” “flailing the banjo,” or “thumbnoting,” captured the interest of collectors Eric Davidson and Paul Newman, who set out to record examples of this indigenous style.
Recorded between 1958 and 1961, the songs and tunes are believed to be representative of the traditional musical heritage of the area. How do we know? According to elderly locals, the style of the music on this album is similar to what they remember as far back as their grandparents’ day.
Liner notes include a social and musical history of Grayson and Carroll counties, song notes and lyrics, and performer biographies.
Track Listing
101
|
Cluck Old Hen | Vester Jones | 3:22 | |
102
|
Soldier's Joy | Glen Smith | 2:51 | |
103
|
Polly Put the Kettle On | Glen Smith | 2:04 | |
104
|
Ida Red | Wade Ward | 1:29 | |
105
|
Devilish Mary | Glen Neaves, Roscoe Russell, and Ivor Melton | 2:28 | |
106
|
Old Jimmy Sutton | Vester Jones | 2:49 | |
107
|
Fire in the Mountain | Glen and Frank Smith | 1:21 | |
108
|
Old Ruby (Old Reuben) | Vester Jones | 3:26 | |
109
|
Little Love | Glen Smith | 2:42 | |
110
|
Sourwood Mountain | Wade Ward | 1:07 | |
111
|
Poor Ellen Smith | Vester Jones | 2:25 | |
112
|
Mississippi Sawyer | Glen and Frank Smith | 1:56 | |
113
|
Pretty Polly | Ed Spencer | 1:29 | |
201
|
Katy Cline | Vester Jones | 2:19 | |
202
|
Cindy | Glen Smith | 2:10 | |
203
|
Ground Hog | Vester Jones | 2:27 | |
204
|
Hell Among the Yearlings (Hell Amongst the Yearlings) | Glen Smith | 2:03 | |
205
|
Sugar Hill | Ed Spencer | 1:08 | |
206
|
Old Joe Clark | Vester Jones | 2:18 | |
207
|
Johnson Boys | Glen Smith | 2:50 | |
208
|
Cripple Creek | Wade Ward | 1:06 | |
209
|
Tom Dooley | Glen Neaves, Roscoe Russell, and Ivor Melton | 2:12 | |
210
|
Fortune | Glen Smith | 3:35 | |
211
|
Pretty Little Willow / Sugarfoot Rag (medley) | Glen Smith | 1:40 | |
212
|
Sally Goodin' | Vester Jones | 2:24 | |
213
|
Old Jimmy Sutton | Glen Smith | 2:05 | |
214
|
Handsome Molly | Glen Neaves and Roscoe Russell | 2:52 |