What do Mudcatters play and sing

Subject: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Will Bakker in Holland
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 03:18 PM

Maybe this a very old question and thread, but what instruments do we play and what kind of songs do we sing. (Apart from Art Thieme, I am really trying to get his CD!)

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Bert
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 03:45 PM

Well I strum a few chords on the guitar and sing a variety of traditional, American, Country, 60's pseudo-folk and some of my own whenever I get the chance.

See the 'fantasy folk circle threads' for an idea of typical songs that we sing.

How 'bout you??

Bert.

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: SeanM
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 03:48 PM

Tin whistle, Jaw harp, and learning Mandolin, on my end... I usually can be found with 18 and 1900 Irish and Western songs, with forays across the years for sea shanties...

But I'm willing to give just about anything else a try.

M

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Will Bakker
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 04:19 PM

I started playing skiffle in the sixties. Later on we were inspired by the Kingston Trio and Peter Paul and Mary. Now we have a folk revival here and I am looking for the songs from the original singers, I bought the Anthology of American Folk Music and it opens a new world for me. In the sixties we made some singles,for instance 'Molly Dee',Donna Donna' and some Dutch translations of folksongs. At that time the name of our group was The Mudfield Skiffle Group. Now we call ourselves Mudfield. (I had never heard of a mudcat at that time, didn't know it is a fish) I play the guitar and am the lead singer. I must say I learned my English from listening to records and trying to write the lyrics down. I'm wild about Mudcat, it is crazy that you can find all lyrics you want. I thought that Darcy Farrow was courted by a young bandoleer (whatever that may be,) but now I learned that it was young Vandermeer, which is a Dutch name!

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From:
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 08:52 PM

Oh yeah nothing is as it appears ! Darcy Farrow (laughs loudly no comment) I play anything from classical to jazz on anything that I can. Hmmm my best musical enterprises are with unlikely things like a harmonica - would you believe it this thing is really hard to play!!! It seems easy but it aint.

Songs - welll any one I like. Any 1 got the lyrics for Joan Byaz song ( I think ) 'Farewell Angelina' ( I ve a really old tape and it's on it but the sound is very bad )

love this site :)

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: McMusic
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 11:06 PM

Well, I harm a guitar, can torture a few songs out of a fiddle, and do mostly folk songs and old time country--and write my own.

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Billy Johnson
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 05:12 AM

I play mostly John Phillip Sousa stuff on Comb and tissue paper, I Find it's easier to play instrumental music than sing thru the thing. I just finished a comb cd of surf music - "walk don't Run" "Wipe Out" Looking for a noseflute player to tour with...

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From:
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 05:34 AM

I haven't heard a good nose flute in years! There used to be this guy on WOR called Gene Sheppard (not sure of the spelling) who would talk for about an hour about anything. Once in a while he would play an old time record and nose flute along with it.

I play the Clavichord (out of practice), the flute and recorders (also out of practice), the harmonica (never got into practice) and the guitar (at least I practice). I have only been playing the guitar for a year, but I have been a fan of the instrument since the early 60s--both classical and blues. I have a steel-string one at the moment and I am trying to learn to sing country blues along with those intricate accompanyments--but I get sidetracked into classical and Celtic fingerpicking once in a while. I am getting to master the accompanyment; but I haven't developed the coordination to sing along with it yet. I am concentrating on Mississippi John Hurt's music at the moment. I have my eye on Frank Stokes and Blind Lemmon Jefferson for the future.

I like to play Renaisance music on the Clavichord, especially pieces from (eg) the Fitzwilliam Virginal book that fit it's little four-octave keyboard.

The recorder is the only instrument with which I ever appeared on stage, and that was thirty years ago playing British Folk music and classical (pre-baroque) music.

Murray

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Scotty Rotten
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 04:35 PM

Renaissance music on the clavichord!?...AWESOME!! I tinker with Renaissnce lute here and there...but the most fun I have is the weekly informal guitar jam with my brother...we've been playing together for fourteen or so years (half my life!) and just last week played publicly together for the first time! Fare Ye Well, Mudcatters All! Scotty

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Alice
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 08:41 PM

Farewell Angelina is here in the database. Go to the blue box in the upper right hand corner of the page and type in [Farewell Angelina] in square brackets. Click the search button, and the lyrics are yours.

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From:
Date: 26 Feb 99 - 09:13 PM

Records, Tapes & CDs. I have no voice, no rhythm, no facility for instruments, or the patience to try. But i am a great audience!

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: BK
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 12:06 AM

Mostly 6-string, sometimes get very out of practice instead of just a little; occasional 12-string, mandolin & banjo (VERY simple stuff); "3-finger" pick guitar & 5-string, etc; lots of stuff I've known for years & still like; Irish, other celtic, (only a little so far); 60's stuff. Paxton, occ Lightfoot, Stan Rogers, Mike Smith, Eric Bogle, KT, Limelighters, Bros 4, Ian & Sylvia, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.. ; whatever ballads really move me & are not too hard for a by-ear mostly 3 chord guy. Got at least a Zillion "favorite" songs, many favorite writers & singers. Play various brands of flat-tops (steel). Mostly the guitars are better than the player. Mostly play at home, jams, church, (used to be in College folk Group) etc; occ in public & formal scheduled stage sets in a street festival setting.

I'ln be interested in how other mudcatters respond.

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Teresa
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 04:54 AM

I like to make music out of anything I can get my hands on that even remotely resembles something like a musical instrument. I remember when I was very little, I made a sort of zitherish thing out of a shoebox and rubber bands. I got frustrated because it kept going out of tune! Is the shoebox an old trick? It was fun anyway. I've done a little busking and a smaller amount of performing. I have the frustrating combination of an awful case of stage fright and a reasonable amount of musical talent. This site is great for me, though--truly inspiring. Teresa

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: reggie miles
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 05:56 AM

I play my six string flat-top that used to be a twelve until the operation. We don't talk about it. My frankenstein job home-made rezophonic guitar, (made out of record player parts, door kick-plate, vegetable steamer, baseball bat, piano soundboard), is alot of fun to play bottle-neck stuff with. Oh yes, I use a frictionless marine propellershaft bearing as a slide. I have a percussion/sound-effects gizmo, (washboard with cow bells, temple blocks, cymbal, train whistles, duck call, slide and siren whistles and a harmonica rack), that's a real hoot to get cranked up. Of late I've been exploring the mysteries of the razor sharp handtool, the musical saw. Primitive roots blues, jug band stuff, old novelty songs, songs I've written, and those of friends. Stuff from the teens to the fifties mostly. The songs I do on guitar tend to be a bit obscure while the tunes I do on the saw are more familiar. I enjoy many styles and have had the opportunity of working with others in a wide variety of musical forms bluegrass, folk, hillbilly, jazz, swing etc. mostly acoustic some electric. sawya, Reggie

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From:
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 06:14 AM

Teresa, you were a smart kid. Most people I knew, including myself made one-string instruments out of various box-like things and string-like things. These one-string affairs rarely had tuners--or course they aren't so essential. I don't think I would have thought of tuners if I had ventured into a multi-string gadget.

Murray

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Big Road Blues (inactive)
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 08:33 AM

I used to torture the neighbors by playing bass in an all-electric gatage rock band in the late 60's to early 70's. In the summer, we'd throw open the garage door, play, and see how far the sound carried. We thought it was a good session when the police came by and asked us to "tone it down, won'tcha." We played tunes by the Doors, Beatles, Cream, The Band, CSN&Y, Jefferson Airplane, and some of our own stuff.

I've mellowed a lot since those days of misspent youth, and now hate it when the neighbors crank up their stereo!

About two years ago, a friend introduced me to Robert Johnson. I was surprized to learn that a lot of the songs we played in the garage band were from the 1920's and 30's. I started to listen to the blues more and more, and, one day while window shopping in Richmond, VA I walked into a guitar store "just to see" what the guitars looked like. I walked out with a nice model, of course, and started to learn country blues and fingerstyle. A lot of the old muscle memory came back!

So, I've been playing blues ever since. I don't sing publicly, though. My voice sounds more like an old, lonely cow left out in the field on a cold night than a blues singer. I try not to torture the neighbors any more!

BRB

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Night Owl
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 12:16 PM

Speaking of...."cows in fields"...back in the seventies I was trying to play and sing along with a Hazel and Alice song in which they yodel. Thinking I had no neighbors and could let it out without fear of embarassment I tried yodeling with them LOUD. The following day at our general store, our local police officer came up to me and apologized for disturbing my dog and causing him to howl in the middle of the night! (I did not confess that it was me.) I started playing guitar in the early sixties on a four string Harmony guitar which made instant music. Played folk through the sixties political activities (SCLC etc)...then got fiddle tunes in my veins at Union Grove Festivals all night jams and Folk festivals in the Smokies. A member of a family group called the "Bergerfolk" put an Autoharp in my hands in the early seventies...have been playing both ever since. Played in a couple bands for a while but decided I'm not a performer and prefer the comraderie and sharing of living room music. Love reading this thread...can we include "most unforgetable music memories" or, if anyone else is interested should that be another thread?

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: RWilhelm
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 12:50 PM

I play guitar, various mandolins, harmonica, and concertina. The songs I play these days are mostly country blues, ragtime, and old-time country with some originals written in those styles. I have been trying to focus my string playing on Memphis jug band songs and also learn some songs appropriate for concertina. I promise I won't mix them up.

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Will Bakker
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 02:18 PM

Know I'm stupid, but what's a concertina?

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 03:20 PM

Mainly play fingerstyle on a 1962 Gibson LG-1. That's an 000 size, not the top of the line, but a good sound, nonetheless. I have a 5-string banjo and mandolin, too, but I've only begun fiddling with them, so far. My guitar is pretty good, though. Next secret wish is an Anglo concertina.

My repertoire sounds a bit like BK, but it's very eclectic - see my web page at:

http://users.neca.com/rsbassoc

for a list of the tunes I play (or wish I could play). I'll E-mail lyrics on request. I mostly play and sing (2nd tenor, high baritone) alone, that is, not with a group. I'm happy to sing for family and friends, or at a party, but have never done a gig.

One of these days, I'm going to start playing at old folks homes and the like. They will appreciate the oldies that my wife can't stand.

.....Tiger

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Jen
Date: 27 Feb 99 - 05:41 PM

I sing better than I play any instrument*g*, but my new harp and I now have an agreement(she won't fling any strings in my face and I'll actually be serious about learning to play her... so far, agreement is working). I can play the tin whistle passably well, I've tinkered a bit with accordian and mandolin. Guitars, unfortunately(at least my mom's guitar) seem too big for me to comfortably hold, so I'm holding out for a smaller one someday. I have a zither and an autoharp, too, which I can pick tunes out on.

As to what kind of songs, mainly scottish/english/irish ballads(starting out slow, building up to fast), and some religious songs I happen to like the tunes of.

I'm hoping one day to be good enough to be a musician at a Renaissance Festival.

Jen

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Ferrara
Date: 28 Feb 99 - 12:30 AM

Will Bakker -- A concertina is a "squeezebox," a small instrument in the accordion family. There are lots and lots of styles and key arrangements.

My main instrument for the past nine years has been a chromatic zither, beautiful with a full rich sound but damn near impossible to play, for the first three years or so. Also impossible to bring up to pitch unless the zither is in a good mood.... See photo on Bill D's site once he actually gets on line with the pics. Second instrument, also on Bill's site, a MacArthur harp. Diatonic, not chromatic, only about 1/10 as hard to play as the zither. Have two guitars, a Martin D-28 and a Gurian Jumbo Rosewood.

Since I got the above instruments I've done lots of 19th century parlor songs and simple bouncy things like the Glendy Burke, for the little harp. But I'll sing anything, pop, folk, ballads, sea chanties, cowboy songs, country, international folk, opera (but never when anyone is listening), musical comedy, well -- you get the idea.

I, too, want to do some singing in old folks' homes. They're a very appreciative audience! -- have plans to do an hour for St Patrick's Day.

Subject: donna donna
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 02:07 AM

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 04:04 AM

I play the field a bit but I don't sing my own praises.

eric

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Surreysinger
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 05:50 AM

Would that be "The Green Green Grass of Home" then?

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 07:47 AM

like an earlier Mudcatter I play recorded music, mainly CDs & I'm listening to Alistair Hulett at the moment.

I have 7 x 1 metre shelves full of CDs, 120 more CDs in a separate unit, about half a metre of Mudcatter CDs, lots of tapes which I play on occaasion, & a few LPS that I can't play due to lack of technology.

I also sing along with any chorus going (I can't hold a tune on my own) & love shanties & unaccompanied songs

sandra

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 07:52 AM

Songs.

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Scoville
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 09:21 AM

Recordings: old-time (High Woods SB, Allen Street SB, Red Clay Ramblers, Fuzzy Mountain SB, Rhys Jones, Volo Bogtrotters, etc.); folk (New/Golden Ring, some of the 1960's stuff); blues/blues-ish (Robert Johnson, Paul Geremia, early Kelly Joe Phelps, Scott Biram, Dave Van Ronk); vintage/retro country (Maddox Brothers, Hank, Sr., Weary Boys, Wayne Hancock, Lefty Frizzell); Cajun & Cajun swing (Lost Bayou Ramblers, Red Stick Ramblers, Hackberry Ramblers); folk rock/pop (Dylan, Gillian Welch, select OCMS, Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt).

Instruments: Appalachian dulcimer, guitar, fiddle. I've decided that I'm only allowed to play two instruments badly--I only play the dulcimer really well--at any given time so I recently declared myself an ex-player of pennywhistle, piano, and hammered dulcimer.

Songs & Tunes: favorites include Seneca Square Dance, Cherokee Shuffle, Elzic's Farewell, Santa Ana's Retreat, Booth Shot Lincoln, John Brown's March, Billy in the Low Ground, Pretty Polly, Amelia [Bob McQuillen], Engine 143, the Golden Ring version of Jesse James.

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 10:00 AM

Trust flamenco ted to get technical.

eric

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: GUEST,joseacsilva
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 02:23 PM

I have the same life story of BRB.
When I was 19, learned some blues, folk songs from an older friend who lived in the USA(they were not so popular in my Country(Brazil).After that I spend some time just playing once in a while, due to my work as a doctor. In the last 6 years (I´m 46 now)I got back to music(though keep on working as a doctor), rediscovered Robert Johnson, Mississipi JohnHurt , Gary Davis, Elmore James,Jorma Kaukonen, etc and the pleasure to play the blues again.I got a Taylor 720, a Johnson Resophonic guitar, have bought a Larrivée recently(great Canadian guitar, and have played some covers and made some songs of my own.Thank God I got back!
Cheers
         Joe

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: Alice
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 09:51 AM

links to some audio files here - Alice

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: melodeonboy
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 06:19 PM

Have a guess!

Subject: RE: What do Mudcatters play and sing
From: breezy
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 06:26 PM

come and hear 5 or more at the Comfort Hotel, st Albans

Sunday 12 th march , 19th, and 26th

If you dare