Liner Notes:
by Lars Dahl
1: “Tempie” comes from David Winston’s playing – I do think that the syncopated pull-off-idles are somehow from Al Tharp’s (Plank Road) playing.
2: “Black-Eyed Suzie.” I heard this tune first time in 1980 from the flimsy demo record accompanying “John Burke’s Book of Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Banjo.” It was and is a standard which we also play with my brother and sister-in-law at family gatherings‘ dances.
3: “Reuben’s Train” also goes by the names “Train 45” and “Ruben” and is related to among others the songs “Steel Rail” and “Nine Hundred Miles.” It dates back to the early 1900s, and has been recorded by old-time as well as bluegrass bands. I heard Al Tharp (bj), James Leve (fi), and Michael Kott (cel) as „Plank Road Stringband“ play this rocking bluesy piece in Aarhus, Denmark one summer in 1980.
Otherwise our version draws on the great Round Peak musician Fred Cockerham’s show piece. We think that the piece goes well with the simple backup bass that keeps the steam train really fired up.
4: “Rock The Cradle, Joe” I heard this one the “Southern Clawhammer Banjo” KM203, and on a demo video with Bruce Molsky and David Winston. We try to play this – probably French tune – with a traditional rocking beat, which we think especially the low part calls for.
5: “June Apple” a beautiful ‘standard tune.’ I started playing banjo in 1971, Pete Seeger style. Anders Færgeman, Horsens Denmark introduced me to downpicking or clawhammer 1978/-79. I have forgotten if “June Apple” was among the first tunes he taught me. Anders was inspired by Kyle Creed, and encouraged me to listen to records of Creed, Jarrell and Cockerham. We just love playing this somewhat quirky tune in a singable tempo.
6: “Say, Darling, Say” This is a tune we picked out together. Say, Darling is a brilliant example of how something really simple can sound really beautiful.
7: „Big-Eyed Rabbit“ comes from the playing of the Plank Road Trio (James Leva, fiddle, Al Tharp, banjo, and Michael Kott, cello) visiting us in 1981, 82 & 83.
Racing Rabbit: Mette Kyed: Bass – Lars Dahl: Banjo, Vocals
We recorded these tunes on a ZOOM H4 in our living room. The recordings are part of our preparations to play live, and although they have some minor misses, they represent how we played in December 2016 in Flensburg, Germany.
Instruments
Banjos: Enoch Tradesman #T958 (D) & Bart Reiter Standard #2140 (A)
Bass: Kala Acacia U-Bass through Roland Microcube
