Traditional Music from Grayson and Carroll Counties

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	03:22
102	Soldier's Joy Glen Smith	02:51
103	Polly Put the Kettle On Glen Smith	02:04
104	Ida Red Wade Ward	01:29
105	Devilish Mary Glen Neaves, Roscoe Russell, and Ivor Melton	02:28
106	Old Jimmy Sutton (1) Vester Jones	02:49
107	Fire in the Mountain Glen and Frank Smith	01:21
108	Old Ruby (Old Reuben) Vester Jones	03:26
109	Little Love Glen Smith	02:42
110	Sourwood Mountain Wade Ward	01:07
111	Poor Ellen Smith Vester Jones	02:25
112	Mississippi Sawyer Glen and Frank Smith	01:56
113	Pretty Polly Ed Spencer	01:29
201	Katy Cline Vester Jones	02:19
202	Cindy Glen Smith	02:10
203	Ground Hog Vester Jones	02:27
204	Hell Among the Yearlings (Hell Amongst the Yearlings) Glen Smith	02:03
205	Sugar Hill Ed Spencer	01:08
206	Old Joe Clark Vester Jones	02:18
207	Johnson Boys Glen Smith	02:50
208	Cripple Creek Wade Ward	01:06
209	Tom Dooley Glen Neaves, Roscoe Russell, and Ivor Melton	02:12
210	Fortune Glen Smith	03:35
211	Pretty Little Willow / Sugarfoot Rag Glen Smith	01:40
212	Sally Goodin' Vester Jones	02:24
213	Old Jimmy Sutton (2) Glen Smith	02:05
214	Handsome Molly Glen Neaves and Roscoe Russell	02:52