The fiddle tune, “L & N Rag” has intrigued me for a long time, but it hasn’t until recently that I’ve taken the time to study it. One of its charms is its phrasing, which seems to include “extra” beats in the second half. Here is my clawhammer banjo version in the key of C (gCGCD). I am playing a model of the Gold Tone banjo Bob Carlin helped develop, the BC 350+. The design of the inlay and headstock of the BC 350+ draws inspiration from the classic elegance looks from the original Orpheum line of banjos.
Alex Hood’s Railroad Boys recorded L and N Rag and Corbin Slide in April, 1930. They never recorded again, and had never recorded before. The band Alex [Alec] Hood, banjo; John V. Walker, violin; Clyde Whittaker, guitar; Bert Earls, guitar. All of this information is taken from “John V. Walker: Corbin’s Finest” by David Nelson, published in the JEMF Quarterly in 1972. A tip of the hat to Kerry Blech, who forwarded the article to me.
“Under the sponsorship of the Middlesboro Piano Company, the group, called Alec Hood’s Railroad Boys (Since all were employed by the L & N) were to record ten numbers for the Vocalion Company. When they arrived at the recording studio they were told that a group which included Lowe Stokes and Slim Miller were working on a skit called “The Hatfield-McCoy Feud”. The Hood musicians were pressed into service as actors in the skit, which was practiced all day before satisfactory takes were made. Mr. Walker recalls them sending out for yards and yards of calico to tear for simulated fighting, and using pads and paddles for sounds of gunfire and running. His own line was “Stand back boys, I’ll shoot”. It was not until late evening that the “Feud” session was completed, and the Railroad Boys were told to cut two numbers, and there would be a supper break, after which they were to return and the other eight pieces. Since they had a train to catch, they were unable to work on the after-dinner session. Hence, only two sides were put on wax. “L &N Rag” was a popular fiddle tune of the area which was usually called “Sleeping Lulu”. It was recorded under this title by fellow Kentuckians Richard D. Burnett and Oscar Rutledge. The other side of the disc was “Corbin Slide.”…The record had some impromptu talking on it, and this was done by Mr. Brown, the man in charge of the recording studio—probably the talking itself was to break up the straight instrumentalism of the number.
Here is the spoken part as I hear it. It sounds to me like a few of the band members are speaking.
“Oh Alec Hood and his Railroad Boys playing that L and N Rag.”
“Yeah boy, they just down from Corbin.”
“That’s a good place to be away from, Corbin.”
“Alright, step on it now there, Alec.”
“When I say away from Corbin, I mean a pretty good town after all. We like it. Whether the rest of you folks do or not.”
“Say Alec”
“Yeah what do you say?”
“Don’t that L & N run from Mingo or something”?
“Yeah boy and that old southland too.”