Jim Along Josey

Comment by Strumelia on January 5, 2015 at 6:41pm

OMG just saw this on YT- fantastic job Paul! love it love it loveit...and your voice is PERFECT. Great that you give song room to breathe- that makes it come alive I think.

Comment by Paul Draper on January 5, 2015 at 6:45pm

Thanks so much Strumelia. Mark's book is great! Btw happy new year, I hear I missed a good one...

Comment by Strumelia on January 5, 2015 at 6:49pm

Would have been waaay better had you showed up!   :)

Comment by Al Smitley on January 5, 2015 at 9:00pm

Exceptional job!

Comment by Mark Weems on January 6, 2015 at 10:26am

Nice job Paul! Great to hear others playing this stuff. That interlude after the chorus really helps make it doesn't it?

Comment by Strumelia on January 6, 2015 at 10:35am

I find so often that both oldtime tunes and minstrel tunes can be somewhat repetitive- but if you add just one little quirky thing someplace, it really makes the whole thing lively and interesting.  In this song, it's that pause or 'interlude' that builds anticipation so effectively.    :)    Same thing in Old Joe.

Comment by Al Smitley on January 6, 2015 at 10:54am

I agree with the positive effects of the interlude.  When I was playing banjo, I'd often discover that because of the limitations of my voice range, it didn't coincide with the best/easiest way of playing the melody on the banjo.  I would sing the verses in one key, then play it in another.  Surprisingly, playing in D and G (or vice versa) seemed to fit alright while also serving the purpose of breaking up some of the monotony described by Strum.  It may not have been authentic or kosher, but it seemed to work and allowed me to sing as well as play instrumental breaks.

Comment by Paul Draper on January 6, 2015 at 12:04pm

Thanks. Mark, your book / recordings are great in presenting this material - thanks for that. I love that interlude - I can easily picture the singer dancing to it.

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