Tunes:
Walls of Time
One of my new favorite old songs. I was really inspired by Bryan Sutton's
break on Ricky Skaggs' version of this one. Then I went back and heard
again Peter Rowan's live version, with the intro about Big Mon's "ancient
tones" soliloquy. If that isn't the "high lonesone" sound, I don't
know what is! I knew I had to try this song, and the instrumental
breaks are pretty much my own arrangements all around. I especially
appreciate the theme of a love that transcends time, because I've
been lucky enough to find that with my Pamela. "Our love will bloom
forever, Darlin', 'til we rest side by side." Thanks, Baby.
Ginseng
Sullivan
One of my favorite Norman Blake songs. I guess I first heard it as
done by the New Grass boys, then by Tony Rice (the guitar solo is
from TR, more or less, the banjo break is my own), and finally by
Norman Blake. I put it in the key of G to accomodate the banjo (as
one of my old bandmates used to say, "OK, guys, get in G and face
south!").
Equipment:
Both songs recorded on my Yamaha MD4S, using Alesis Nanoverb and Nanocompressor
effects processing, and Electro-Voice PL76 mics; mixed to stereo on
a cheap Sanyo cassette deck (this IS the Weakest Link!). My guitar
is an adirondack-top 1999 Martin HD28-LSV (my "forever" axe) strung
with Martin Marquis medium gauge 80/20 strings. I've had this guitar
about a year and half now, and it has really opened up beautifully.
I use .82 mm Clayton Gold picks. The banjo is a Gold Star HF-100 (hearts
& flowers) which I've had since 1977; it probably saved my life then,
and later helped put me through law school. I "borrowed" my son's
Fender Precision bass for the project (thanks, Alex!) and recorded
it directly into the Yamaha with a good bit of compression.
As with
last year's project, I really enjoyed working on this for Plec VI,
and I'm anxious to hear what everyone else does! Already planning
for Plectrology 2002!
Bake
