Here are the liner notes for the Down Hill Strugglers album "Home Recordings: Volume 1."
This album was recorded around a single microphone over the course of 2 days while we were staying in a house on the former site of Sodom, KY. At present it is only available for purchase at our live shows.
The songs are listed below along with information on who played what and one or two of the source recordings that inspired our own version.
Cover drawing by Walker Shepard.
1. Colored Aristocracy
Source: The Rich Family - Recorded by Charles Seeger during the Arthurdale Festival, Arthurdale,
W.V., Archive of folk Culture, Library of Congress, 1936.
Walker - banjo
Jackson - fiddle
Eli - mandolin
2. All Gone Now
Source: Georgia Yellow Hammers/Clyde Evans Band - Columbia Records 1929
Walker - guitar, harmony voice
Jackson - fiddle, lead voice
Eli - mandolin
John - banjo
3. In the Good Old Summer Time
Source: Uncle Dave Macon - Vocalion Records 1926
Walker - guitar
Jackson - fiddle
Eli - banjo, voice
4. Eighth of January
Source: The Arkansas Barefoot Boys - Okeh Records 1928
Walker - banjo
Jackson - fiddle
Eli - guitar, harmonica
5. Ain't Gonna Lay My Armour Down
Source: McVay and Johnson - Columbia Records 1928
Walker - fiddle, voice
Jackson - guitar, harmony voice
Eli - banjo
6. Four Cent Cotton
Source: Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers - Columbia Records 1931
Walker - fiddle
Jackson - fiddle, voice
Eli - guitar
John - mandolin
7. Sugar in the Gourd
Source: Marcus Martin - Recorded for the Library of Congress by Margot Mayo 1946
Jackson - lead fiddle
Walker - backing fiddle
Eli - harmonica
8. Leaning on the Everlasting Arm
Source: Cogar and McGhee - Gennett Records 1928
Walker - fiddle, harmony voice
Jackson - fiddle, lead voice
Eli - guitar, whistling
9. Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Source: Fiddlin' John Carson - Okeh Records 1928
Walker - fiddle
Jackson - guitar
Eli - harmonica, voice
John - banjo
Walker - fiddle
Jackson - guitar
Eli - banjo
11. Way Out West in Kansas
Source: Nimrod Workman - "The Land of Yahoe" (Rounder Records 1996), Vernon Dalhart - Edison 1924
Walker - fiddle
Jackson - fiddle
Eli - guitar, voice
12. Johnson Boys
Source: Grant Brothers - Columbia Records 1928
Walker - banjo, voice
Jackson - fiddle
Eli - mandolin
13. Likes Likker Better Than Me
Source: Woodie Brothers - Victor Records 1931
Walker - banjo
Jackson - guitar, voice
Eli - harmonica
14. Goodbye My Honey I'm Gone
Source: Grant Brothers - Columbia Records 1928
Walker - guitar, harmonica
Jackson - fiddle, voice
Eli - mandolin