Thanks everybody. I could go on and on about the material, as some of you know(!), but I'll start with the basics and for those who want more info or with other questions, just ask.

The CD is called "The Oldest Was Born First" and has thirteen tracks of songs (8) and tunes (5) from New York State tradition, interpreted with guitar, mandolin, 5-string and tenor banjo, fiddle, concertina, spoons, bones and more, although not all on the same track! A 12-page booklet of notes & historical info is included.

Songs of possible interest include:

* Lena Bourne Fish's text for "The Ballad of Blue Mountain Lake" with an unusual tune
* NYS version of Cabbage Head (Our Goodman, Child #274), recently discussed here on Mudcat
* A duet with Alison Pipitone on "Wisconsin"
* A "lost" Erie Canal song of sorts, re-assembled from two traditional sources
* A NY version of "Bald Headed End of the Broom" with unique chorus
* Ezra "Fuzzy" Barhight's chorus and tune for "Shove Your Grog Around"
* Henry Castor's (Tug Hill fiddler, b. 1907) "Ball and Pin Hornpipe" with fiddle, octave fiddle and mandolin
* one of Vic Kibler's family tunes, same lineup as above + guitar
* "Roslyn Castle" two ways, including an oral tradition version as passed through 150+ years of NY fiddlers to Lawrence Older, played on octave mandolin with mandolin and guitar
* a medley of French Canadian tunes from NY tradition played with gypsy jazz band Babik!
* "Rickett's Hornpipe" on mandolin w/ guitar

A full track listing, cover art and secure credit card ordering here: www.daveruch.com/store.htm

To order without PayPal - - just send a check payable to "Dave Ruch" for $15 per CD, plus $3 shipping per order (NYS residents must add sales tax), to Dave Ruch, 155 St James Place, Buffalo NY 14222, USA