This is a collection of mostly traditional American folk tunes, with a couple of originals (that have a traditional American folk "feel") mixed in the bunch - I handle all the instrumentation (guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, and harmonica) and vocals. There are some oft-played tunes (Shady Grove, I Know you Rider, Working on a Building) that I've arranged and played in a way that I hope you find refreshing. I've included four finger-style guitar instrumentals (Down in the Valley to Pray, Old Joe Clark, Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine, and Hop High Ladies), a spiritual from the Civil War days (Keep your Lamp Trimmed and Burning), a couple of Merle Travis / Doc Watson influenced tunes (Sitting on Top of the World and Columbus Stockade Blues), and a great old Appalachian tune (Red Rocking Chair). This leaves the two originals. Hotel Blues is based on a lyric my brother Gregory wrote about 30+ years ago. I had been playing around with a C tuning on guitar (John Fahey uses this a lot), and came up with this little blues riff. Mama Callin' was written with lyricist Michael Vigilant, a longtime collaborator (we've written quite a few songs for play publishers like Samuel French and Pioneer Drama Service) and friend. This song was written for the Alabama Shakespeare Production of "Bear Country", a play about legendary Alabama coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant.
I really hope you enjoy this collection of songs.
Gerry Castle
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