Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

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Apr-03-2018, 4:24pm
Ranald

Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I notice that not much is happening by way of blues here, so I decided to start posting a blues or blues-related tune a week (allowing for "the best-laid plans of mice and men...") for blues mandolin and banjolin (mandolin-banjo or whatever) players and fans. I don't have the skills to include notation or tablature. I just want to share tunes for your enjoyment and inspiration. In order to see how much interest there is in this topic, I'd appreciate if Cafe members who want me to continue doing this could hit "Thanks", not because I want thanks but so I can get an idea of how many people care.

To start with, here's "The Jackson Stomp" by the Mississippi Mudsteppers, with Charlie McCoy (not the contemporary Nashville Charlie McCoy) on banjolin. This tune, with lyrics, is also known as "The Lonesome Train that Carried My Gal Away." It's available under one or the other title on both of Steve James's "Learn to Play Blues Mandolin" DVD's, and in Rich DelGrosso's book with CD, Mandolin Blues.

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-BqHli5sc8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQPTcpcFKU
Apr-03-2018, 5:00pm
Fretfet2

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I would love to learn more about blues and the mandolin. I most recently attended a blues jam in my area with my mandolin. It was a lot of fun trying to figure out how to play the blues. The crowd was very welcoming of me and my mandolin. I'm hoping to learn something so I can contribute in someway . Looking forward to your postings .
Apr-07-2018, 2:39pm
Teak

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I care. Thanks!

Recently purchased a National RM-1 resophonic mandolin so I am always on the lookout for tunes to add to my band's list. We do swing and Gypsy jazz, but I also like ragtime and the older style, rowdy blues tunes.
Apr-07-2018, 3:39pm
mmcraig

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Thanks!
Apr-07-2018, 3:51pm
Ranald

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teak

I care. Thanks!

Recently purchased a National RM-1 resophonic mandolin so I am always on the lookout for tunes to add to my band's list. We do swing and Gypsy jazz, but I also like ragtime and the older style, rowdy blues tunes.

Thanks, Teak. From what I see on YouTube, that's a nice instrument. Enjoy playing it. If you haven't seen this already, here's Steve James playing a little blues on an RM-1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAJnUJ97I5I
Apr-07-2018, 4:48pm
DavidKOS

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I really like the stuff from Charles "Papa Charlie" McCoy:grin:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._young_man.jpg
Apr-07-2018, 6:19pm
Ranald

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidKOS

I really like the stuff from Charles "Papa Charlie" McCoy:grin:

Thanks, David. He's the same Charlie McCoy in the Mississippi Mud Steppers (post 1). I really enjoy him.

I checked out some of your music by the way, and was thoroughly impressed -- it's much more sophisticated than my mandolin playing ever will be. In my circles, a tune with more than four chords is called "jazz."
Apr-08-2018, 1:06am
DavidKOS

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranald

Thanks, David. He's the same Charlie McCoy in the Mississippi Mud Steppers (post 1). I really enjoy him.

I checked out some of your music by the way, and was thoroughly impressed -- it's much more sophisticated than my mandolin playing ever will be. In my circles, a tune with more than four chords is called "jazz."

I appreciate your interest, thanks!
Apr-08-2018, 8:55am
Charles E.

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Charlie and his brother, Joe, also recorded with a studio group in Chicago using the name "Harlem Hamfats"........
Apr-08-2018, 9:03am
Ranald

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles E.

Charlie and his brother, Joe, also recorded with a studio group in Chicago using the name "Harlem Hamfats"........

Thanks, Charley, but the video didn't come through for me, so could you please provide the name of the "Harlem Hamfats" tune, so that those of us who didn't get it can find it on YouTube?
Apr-08-2018, 9:07am
Charles E.

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I have had this problem in the past with my imbedding not showing up for some folks.

Try this.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2heVEC2djCE

The tune is " oh red".
Apr-06-2019, 10:37am
Ranald

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I just noticed that the second video in the first post had disappeared, so I'm reposting it. Here are Charlie McCoy (mandolin) and Bo Carter with"The Lonesome Train That Took My Baby Away."I don't know who is singing. If the links don't work search You Tube for "Charlie McCoy/The Lonesome Train That Took My Baby Away".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4pAARyV7DY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4pAARyV7DY
Apr-06-2019, 11:03am
frankie

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

It's definitely Charlie McCoy singing. That type of accompaniment on the guitar was a kind of common denominator between the Chatmons and some of the musicians that played with them. Both of the musicians here are playing in B-flat, although the 78 plays back a bit fast. Charlie McCoy also has the two lowest courses of his banjo-mandolin strung in octave pairs, so there's all kinds of weird stuff going on.

The Chatmons tended to favor flat keys in their ensemble music - they recorded more songs in E-flat than D, for example, and once you factor in songs with other singers (like Texas Alexander), there are nearly as many recordings in B-flat as there are in G. None where they played in A position (weird but true). The rest are split between in F and C and one or two where Walter Vinson may have been using a variant of spanish tuning, but may very well have been playing in standard tuning, G position. There is ONE (just one) where the guitar and fiddle are both playing in the key of E - Dead Wagon Blues - one of the last recordings with Walter Vinson.
Jan-13-2024, 7:24pm
Ranald

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

I see that one of the videos in Post #1 isn't linking anymore. In case the links are lost again, search YouTube for, the first tune, "The Jackson Stomp/ Mississippi Mud Steppers", and, the second video (same tune with lyrics), "That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away/Charlie McCoy."

Here's "That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjK5...lieMcCoy-Topic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjK5HIV0r2g&ab_channel=CharlieMcCoy-Topic

In Post #9, Charley referred to "Oh Red" by the Harlem Hamfats with Charlie McCoy. If the link is lost again, search YouTube for "Harlem Hamfats/Oh Red". For now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHO...erfulrocksongs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHOPtuZoXw&ab_channel=HistoryofRockMusic-Mostpowerfulrocksongs
Jan-14-2024, 10:18am
Bob Buckingham

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

The music here is The Jackson Stomp, they just put words to it on the Charley McCoy piece.
Jan-14-2024, 10:38am
Ranald

Re: Blues, Stomps, & Rags #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Buckingham

The music here is The Jackson Stomp, they just put words to it on the Charley McCoy piece.

From Post #14: "...search YouTube for, the first tune, "The Jackson Stomp/ Mississippi Mud Steppers", and, the second video (same tune with lyrics), "That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away/Charlie McCoy."