Old Virginia (CD)

Thanks to The Highlanders String Band members: Jim Gaskins, fiddle; Gene Bowlen, banjo; Suzanne Kennedy, bass; and Al Kennedy, mandolin. Thanks to Mike Harrison for guitar accompaniment on this album and at many fiddler's convention contests. This album was originally released in 2005. It has been released again here on CD Baby in 2012. Enjoy! Track information: 1. Old Virginia is a tune I have loved for a long time but is not heard that often. It was collected by R.P Christeson from old time fiddle player, Thomas Michaels. 2. Seneca Square Dance was played by the Blue Sky Ramblers from Hillsville, Virginia when Raymond Melton was their dulcimer player. It is a favorite contest tune. 3. Fisher's Hornpipe is Irish and survived in the mountains by being transformed into a reel for square dancing. 4. Liza Set contains two 'Liza' tunes. The first has lyrics written by Phyllis. 5. Ebenezer is a common Grayson County tune which has been a Galax dulcimer staple at fiddler's conventions for years. Hop Light Ladies (Did You ever See the devil Uncle Joe?) was originally a Scottish tune known as Mrs. MacLeod of Raasay also McLeod's Reel. 6. Flop-Eared Mule was one of Raymond Melton's favorite contest tunes at fiddler's conventions. I used to delight in listening to him play this tune with his quot;lightning stickquot; noter. 7.Reuben is a favorite train fiddle-song tune. 8. Phyllis's Reel was composed for Phyllis by her husband Jim specifically to be played on the dulcimer. Julie Ann Johnson was taken from a Library of Congress recording of legendary Galax fiddler, Emmett Lundy. 9. Uncloudy Day is an old hymn tune that used to e played regularly by Raymond on the dulcimer. It has wonderful words: quot;Oh they tell of a land of a cloudless day, oh they tell of that land far away...quot; 10. Southwind is a traditional Irish waltz melody. 11. Walkin' in the Parlour #1 is so named because it was the first version of this tune we learned in our early pickin' days at various fiddler's conventions. 12. June Apple was learned from the playing of Luther Davis. Devils Dream is arranged by Jim Gaskins and is so much fun to play! Green Willis, a reel, came from the 6/8 tune called Chapel Hill March. 13. Westphalia Waltz is a favorite from the northeast tradition. 14. Hard Times is a Stephen Foster song. 15. Walkin' In My Sleep was learned from the playing of Luther Davis and Raymond Melton. 16. Ladies' Waist Ribbon is a rare Appalachian tune and St. Anne's Reel is a well-traveled French Canadian tune. 17. Whiskey Before Breakfast is a fiddler's convention all-time hit. 18. Silly Bill is a version of the tune we learned from the late, great Luther Davis. 19. Kitchen Girl was arranged by the Highlanders String Band and Dinah was learned at many fiddler's convention jams way back when!