Up for your consideration this week is "Shoes and Stockings", a fine fiddle tune in A.
Tune Background
This, like Quince Dillion's High D Tune, is a historically enjoyable tune, as it gets to us from the Civil War era with very stops in between. Henry Reed learned it from Quince Dillion, Alan Jabbour learned it from Henry Reed, and we're learning it from Henry too thanks to Alan.
Here is the Library of Congress page for the tune as played by Henry Reed, recorded by Mr. Jabbour:
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?afcreed:1:./temp/~ammem_v94Q::
Mr. Jabbour himself fiddles a very spirited version of it on the album "Henry Reed Reunion". I can't find any samples online, but I mention it so as to not miss a chance to recommend this album. It is really terrific: http://www.countysales.com/products.php?product=JABBOUR%2C-REED%2C-LEVY-'Henry-Reed-Reunion'
Samples On the Hangout
Cathy Fink has an excellent version on her page, http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/music.asp?ID=11762
Gurulou has a lovely multitrack version with some really tasteful harmony work, http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/music.asp?ID=11762
Finally, I added a quick banjo + uke take on it to my archive, which will be attached below.
Ah, the internet
Searching for the tune on You Tube has some perils. I don't mean to take us too far afield, especially in to such a topic, but I was really unaware of 'shoe play'. Apparently some people really enjoy watching videos of other people putting shoes on and taking them off. There are lots and lots of such videos on You Tube.
Anyway, with a little perseverance, you can find the fiddle tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF9mOZhmM7I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3yjznqcsbo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjqEooa_nyI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E5Xtu-Q1MQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM7NY17ISvM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAefaxSerpE&feature=related (this one is a video of yours truly from a few years ago)
Your Turn
My favorite TOTW's are the ones that turn in to the "Post Yours" threads of old. I'd love it if this thread prompted more folks to share their take on this tune. I know of at least one recording not in circulation from guys with unpronounceable last names. Hopefully it will surface.