This weeks winner is Avalon Quickstep. You may have noticed that Dusty Miller had more votes, but it’s been pointed out that Dusty Miller has already been Song of the week! Here is a link to the tune on the session.org
I learned this tune from the Compton and Blake "Gallop to Georgia" recording of Narmour and Smith tunes. It's not up to Compton speed but who is? Played on my 2010 Heiden A5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XNqYbLZpWQ
Well played, Don. It sounds very authentic with those slides and double stops. Do you use a special pick to get this sound?
Here is the Narmour & Smith version.
I was hoping you’d jump right in on this, Don. Nice job. I used to have a slight acquaintance with this tune. As you say, Mike Compton is quite the Narmour & Smith apostle.
Thanks Mike and Gelsenbury. I'm using a Blue Chip CT55 pick that I took a tiny bit off of the bevel. Maudlin--always good to listen to Narmour and Smith's versions of tunes. They really liked to make them crooked.
Once it dawned on me that there are 8 bars in the A section and 10 bars in the B ...
Don and Mike – thanks for your recordings. Good to have such great examples how to play the tune on mandolin.
Well played, that man! You have got that 10 bar B part and the syncopated phrases really well, Mike.
Yep, Narmour and Smith liked their tunes crooked. I think Compton straightened this one out a bit. Well played, Mike! Do you have the book Compton put out for the CD? If you like these tunes, it provides a great framework to help figure them out. You can find it at www.mikecompton.net
Compton made a crooked tune less crooked? Wow. I've never known that to be the case! (g) But I believe you, Don. The thing I like best about Compton's version (which is definitely worth a listen) is how much of a downbeat he gets in it. Of course, I'm sure it was a dance tune, and the dancers would want to feel that downbeat -- especially with the bizarre extra measures in the second part. I asked Compton once if he thought some of these country tunes were written crooked out of a different intuitive sense of rhythm, or just because (no insult intended) they just didn't know any better. He thought it was the former, but I have my doubts. Yeah, I do have the "Georgia" book, but in a fit of organizing I put it someplace and haven't been able to locate it. I'm still looking. I ordered the CD too and then realized I don't have a CD player anymore. I had my wife burn me a digital copy at school.
Nice job, both of you! I do love playing the tunes off Gallop to Georgia, but I'm still way below Compton's tempo. The crookedness is a challenge to feel in some of them, but those melodies are just great. Seems like it might be time for some more posts in Old Sausage's G 2 G thread!
I've been impressed by you folks who post multi-track videos and accompany yourselves. I thought I'd try it. The synching gave me fits but here goes.
Your multi-track recording sounds amazing, Mike. It inspired me to practice the tune more seriously today. My first listen of your playing was in the morning - means ten hours ago. No other comments in the meantime. Obviously all our friends are practicing like hell, too.
Thanks, Frithjof. The tune is a bit weird — “crooked,” as they say — with some timing challenges and 10 bars in B part instead of the usual 8. What I did was just play it through slowly as if everything was (slow) eighth notes to sus out the dotted quarter notes (which = 3 eighth notes of course) and other timing puzzles.
Beautifully done, as usual, Mike. I think this is the first time I publish a video in the right week. Short and a little skaky, sorry to the dancers.
Nailed I Pierpaolo! Love the stops.
My second attempt at a multiscreen video. Unwisely, I tried to play at the tempo of the Narmour & Smith recording. A step backwards but , hey, it's only 57 seconds. I had to trim it down to that because I kept getting interrupted during the recording and didn't have time to keep doing more takes! So I filled the third screen with the view of snowing out my office/mandocave window. Sound seemed OK in the room but the came out tinnier than expected on my phone or tablet. Sigh. Things can only get better.
Nice tempo, Bren. Way to go for it. Pierpaolo, enjoyed your version too. Very nicely played! I hardly ever get to the tunes the week they are announced either.
Thanks Don. While listening to the first playback, I had to keep stopping to answer a call from my son. Until I realised it was just the sound of him calling when I recorded it.
Bren, Glad you stuck with it.
Three very fine and quite differennt versions, gents, each with its own charms and individual stamp. Thanks for all three.
Good job, Pierpaolo e Bren! Bren, hats off for playing at tempo - they're still buttkickers for me at speed. Pierpaolo, what a nice, loping rhythm! Really enjoyed it.
Oh, and Mike, your multitrack attempts are coming up aces - and nice version!
Great versions, Pierpaolo and Bren.
Here is my solo version:
Who needs accompaniment when you can produce a solo version like this one, Frithjof!
Frithjof, you do do a very good solo.
Nice one, Frithjof, it's got that lively vibe.
Frithjof, excelent! your version is similar to the tef file avalaible here in the cafe, I'm working on it and you give me some ideas with your double stops and ornaments, thanks!
Thanks, John, Ginny, Bruce and Jairo. I didn't know about a existing tef file. My source was The Session and the submissions above.
That's some fine spirited playing, Frithjof. And what wonderful tone and volume from your beautiful mandolin!
Nice one Frithjof- there are some excellent touches in your version. Mine is more straightforward.
Thanks for your nice comments, Don and Duncan. Great you joined the party with your solid picking, Duncan.
Good clean picking, Duncan and your rhythm has a good feel to it.
Bren, Frithjof and Duncan, nicely played!
This one has proven popular! Comparing different players' interpretations of the same material is one of my favourite things to do, and I liked all of yours. Bren's idea of having a split-screen video where one pane provides a visual accompaniment to the musical ones is just great!
I enjoyed all of the versions posted. Here is my try at this tune. I'm a little slow at posting this one.
A good ringing tone from your mandolin there, Brian.
Thanks John. I discovered what a difference a change in picks make in bringing out certain tones.