Reso Hangout Top 20 Old-Time Songs

An oldie but a goody ............. Thanks to Uncle Leegee for the arrangement

An oldie but a goody ............. Thanks to Uncle Leegee for the arrangement

This is based off of Greg booth's version. the Tuning is EBDGBD

This is based off of Greg booth's version. the Tuning is EBDGBD

This old Model 27 is for sale. It is rather weather beaten but sounds wonderful. This is a round neck with a nut rizer and has a short spider and lugged cone.

This old Model 27 is for sale. It is rather weather beaten but sounds wonderful. This is a round neck with a nut rizer and has a short spider and lugged cone.

Old tune from about 1905

Old tune from about 1905

"Lorena" is an antebellum song with Northern origins. The lyrics were written in 1856 by Rev. Henry D. L. Webster, after a broken engagement. He wrote a long poem about his fiancée but changed her name to "Lorena," an adaptation of "Lenore" from Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven." Henry Webster's friend Joseph Philbrick wrote the music, and the song was first published inChicago in 1857. It became a favorite of soldiers of both sides during the American Civil War.

"Lorena" is an antebellum song with Northern origins. The lyrics were written in 1856 by Rev. Henry D. L. Webster, after a broken engagement. He wrote a long poem about his fiancée but changed her name to "Lorena," an adaptation of "Lenore" from Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven." Henry Webster's friend Joseph Philbrick wrote the music, and the song was first published inChicago in 1857. It became a favorite of soldiers of both sides during the American Civil War.

My attempt.

My attempt.

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was written by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian Territory in what is now Choctaw County, near the County seat of Hugo, Oklahoma sometime before 1862. He was inspired by the Red River, which reminded him of the Jordan River and of the Prophet Elijah's being taken to heaven by a chariot.

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was written by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian Territory in what is now Choctaw County, near the County seat of Hugo, Oklahoma sometime before 1862. He was inspired by the Red River, which reminded him of the Jordan River and of the Prophet Elijah's being taken to heaven by a chariot.

recorded on a 1936 National Triolian tuned to open D

recorded on a 1936 National Triolian tuned to open D

Mississippians W.T. Narmour and S.W. Smith cut about 50 sides between 1928 and 1934. Their most enduring contribution to the country music canon is this unusual fiddle tune, Carroll County Blues. One can safely assume that the titular Carroll County is their home Carroll County, Mississippi. The tune is credited to Narmour. Whether it originated with him or was learned from other local players, I can’t say. The tune is interesting in a number of repects: the languid pace, the conspicuous flat thirds and sevenths, the use of a melodic sequence in the ‘a’ strain, the occasional added beats, the backbeat rhythm of the ‘b’ strain, more. It’s a wonderful performance, and the tune has long since been a standard among old-time musicians. It was recorded in Atlanta in March, 1929, for the OKeh label.

played on sable

played on sable

Slow, moody rendition of Shenandoah. My arrangement

Slow, moody rendition of Shenandoah. My arrangement

Banjo/ Reso

Banjo/ Reso

Mastereso Burl Myrtle wood Large Body Guitar from Chris Glass

Mastereso Burl Myrtle wood Large Body Guitar from Chris Glass

I stumbled coming out of the gate, but recovered to sing what was a prison song made famous by Huddie Ledbetter, a bluesman "discovered" at Louisiana State Penitentiary in July 1933 by folklorist John Lomax. After his release from prison, "Leadbelly" would make music his career until his death in 1949. The song was later popularized by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Played in G on a National Triolian.

I stumbled coming out of the gate, but recovered to sing what was a prison song made famous by Huddie Ledbetter, a bluesman "discovered" at Louisiana State Penitentiary in July 1933 by folklorist John Lomax. After his release from prison, "Leadbelly" would make music his career until his death in 1949. The song was later popularized by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Played in G on a National Triolian.

This folk-blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon of the Mississippi Sheiks, a popular country blues band of the 1930s.

This folk-blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon of the Mississippi Sheiks, a popular country blues band of the 1930s.

Tuned in open G, I capoed up into A. This is a song that I've played for years on banjo and it seemed to work on the resonator guitar.

Tuned in open G, I capoed up into A. This is a song that I've played for years on banjo and it seemed to work on the resonator guitar.

My first "trial" recording, all instruments are played by me, and lead and backing vocals are me, Yes I know it's bad, but I had fun.

My first "trial" recording, all instruments are played by me, and lead and backing vocals are me, Yes I know it's bad, but I had fun.