FiddlerFaddler Says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 @8:05:51 AM

That was superb! The drones and double stops on the fiddle made it really special, and that was a masterful use of a tenor banjo for old-time, traditional music. I arise and call you blessed. I am running out of accolades to shower upon you, so I will end this comment by thanking you for being who you are and for posting this. Keep up the good work, and keep 'em comin'!

janepaints Says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 @8:52:34 AM

Thanks for your kind words, FiddleFaddler. This version of 'Fiddler A Dram' is beholden to the first version I ever heard of the tune: the Holy Modal Rounders's take, recorded on their first album in 1964, on which Peter Stampfel fiddled and Steve Weber played guitar. Tho the HMR's have releases many albums, at times as a large all-out roots-rock band, the HMR recordings by the core-duet of Peter & Steve are, IMO, GREAT OT music. There were two in the 60's on Prestige and two in the late 90's on Rounder Records (which label was named after the band!) All are still available. If you ain't familiar with the Holy Modal Rounders, oh boy! Are you in for some fun, fiddle-wise, banjo-wise and in-general-wise


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Modal_Rounders


Their first two (1964 & 1965) albums, released on one CD with additional outtakes from the original sessions:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Modal-Rounders-Vol-1-2/dp/B0000247S0


HMR guitarist Steve seems to have retired, but fiddler/banjoist/mandolinist Peter is always on the go, based out of NYC. Recently he's been involved in a new project with John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers, with other swell players floating involved. Called 'The Velocity Ramblers.' Since the HMR's were kinda the 'dionysian face' of the 1960's OT Revival and the New Lost City Ramblers were kinda the 'appollonian face,' the combination of Peter and John is wonderful, obviously suggesting some cosmic gears turning properly someplace. You can see some loosey-goosey rehearsal videos of the fray...go here and scroll down a bit in the month of august:


http://onlinefollowthemoney.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

Feodosia Says:
Saturday, September 27, 2008 @3:56:28 PM

Wow , Im hearing your version of "Boatman " when I listen to this recording ...what's wrong with me ?

I played with some of those crazy Holy Modal Rounder guys too ... the version I played with them sounded like the one on this Amazon sampler ...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Holy-Modal-Rounders/e/B000APAYXS

They were hard to play traditional oldtime with , their music really took radical twists ... " We ain't playing no museum music" they'd say ...
and I'd say .. " hey, I kinda like museum music"

Their version of Give the Fiddler a Dram stayed pretty traditional and so it was a favorite tune of mine .