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General Category >> The Cafe >> Wabash Cannonball......over the ages.
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Message started by Dave on 08/29/22 at 10:39:48

Title: Wabash Cannonball......over the ages.
Post by Dave on 08/29/22 at 10:39:48

I am a fan of lots of different styles of music. Singer/songwriter, Jazz, Blues, Classic Country, Bluegrass, Latin, Celtic, Appalachian String Band etc. (I am not a fan of modern country, rap, Hip Hop and similar styles).

Yesterday I had a YouTube session where I came across an old version of the Carter Family singing Wabash Cannonball. The song was first believed to be published in 1882 as the Rock Island Route. Later it was changed a bit and published in 1904 as the Wabash Cannonball.

One of the earliest recordings was by the Carter family in 1929 - although the song was not released until 1932. The Carter Family was a pioneer in "Hillbilly Music" as it was known then, and the Carter Family was at the top of their game during those years, and they were extremely popular back then......it didn't get any better than this! Maybelle's guitar style was very unique. It is pretty simple by the standards of today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMiU_aknPDA
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMiU_aknPDA[/media]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMiU_aknPDA

A few years later Roy Acuff did a version of the song in 1938. This is the version most people have heard, and it sold 10 million copies!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i435ovKX9aE
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i435ovKX9aE[/media]

This is the version I like best....a more modern version played by professional musicians who are the best in their field. When I was the Music Coordinator for the Cincinnati Appalachian Festival we had this group as the headliner one year. The vocalist is Claire Lynch, the guitar player is Jim Hurst - they both are multiple Grammy and Bluegrass Music Association award winners. This is a great example of how music has evolved - the original 3 minute song has evolved into a 10 minute performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uzVF53j3Gg
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uzVF53j3Gg[/media]