Brilliancy medley – Eck Robertson. 1930. (THE pioneer!)
Eck Robertson. - C. Delaney, Arkansas. 20.11.1887 - 1975.
With his parents, moved to Texas at the age of 3, after being born in a tiny Hamlet in Arkansas. He began to play at the age of 5, learning both guitar & banjo, & by age 16 was an accomplished fiddler as well. In the early 1920,s Robertson was a regular figure at the Annual Old Confederste soldiers reunion, which always had a fiddle competition as part of the entertainment & his participation & reputation in these contests soon brought him to the attention of Victor recording executives. His first recordings, cut in 1922 but not released until 1923, included the seminal fiddle tune "Sallie Goodin", still considered one of the finest examples of old time fiddling ever
The Spanish merchants daughter – Stoneman family. 1930. (modelled on “Oh no John”)
Ernest Stoneman. Monorat, Va. 25.5.1893 – 14.6.1968. Played Autoharp, Harmonica & Guitar.
Buddy won,t you roll down the line – Uncle Dave Macon. 1930. (Has a skiffle feel).
Fatal flower garden – Nelstones Hawaiians. 1930. Harry Smith Anth.vol.1. (Eerie! From Shropshire) Hubert Nelson – Steel guitar.
Prohibition blues - Clayton McMichen. 1930. White country blues. Allatoona, Ga. 26.1.1900 – 4.1.1970. Between 1926 & 1931 made more than 80 recordings with Gid Tanner,s skillet Lickers.
Leaving home - Charlie Poole. 1930. White country blues. (Another take on “Frankie & Johnny”)
If the river was whiskey - Charlie Poole. 1930. White country blues.
The lone star trail - Ken Maynard. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology. (Unusually, a genuine cowboy!)
Back in the saddle again - Gene Autry. 1930. The very best of…… (C.D)
Gene Autry. - Tioga,Texas.1907-1998.
The cowboy element of the C & W business was pioneered by Texan actor, radio, film & recording star, Autry. After working on his fathers ranch , he began broadcasting on radio from Tulsa in 1929; by 1930 he was known nationally through the WLS national barn dance network. In 1934 he made the first of innumerable screen appearances as the "singing cowboy", partnered as often as not by the equally famous horse, Champion! The most universally popular country singer of the mid-30,s he had a cult following with such hits as "Yellow rose of Texas",1933, "The last roundup", 1934, "Tumbling tumbleweeds", 1935, "Mexicali rose", 1936, " South of the border" 1940, "You are my sunshine", 1941.His own "Atlanta bound" is an interesting & less often heard item of earlier vintage.(1931).
Back in the saddle again – Cowboy Nation. 1999. (Chip & Tony Kinman. Formed 1996, formerly of “Rank & File” & “The Dils”).
John Hardy - Carter Family. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology. (A/The classic murder ballad!!!)
John Hardy - Uncle Tupelo. 1990. No Depression.
Uncle Tupelo. Belleville, Illinois. 1987-1994.
The House Carpenter - Clarence Ashley. 1930. Harry Smith Anthology.
The House Carpenter - The Handsome family. 1999. Down in the Valley.
Handsome Family. Chicago, Illinois. 1993- (Brett Sparks, from Texas, studied music, moved to Chicago mid 1990,s & met Rennie, a fiction writer from Long Island).
The runaway train - Vernon Dalhart. 1931. American roots. (Yes, I know it's awful, but a bit of humour was/is necessary !!)
High steppin, mama - Gene Autry. 1931. American Roots.
Bear cat papa blues - Gene Autry. 1931. Hillbilly.
Henry Lee - Dick Justice. 1932. Harry Smith Anthology. (A pleasant voice on an old Scottish ballad).
Henry Lee – Nick Cave. 1996. Murder Ballads.
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