Double Decker String Band

Double Decker String Band (2-disc set) – FRC746

$18.00

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Description

Please note: this is a two CD set.

The Double Decker Stringband has been kind enough to open its archives to us and the result is Double Take, our first double-disc release! We’ve pulled a few tracks from their albums, but most of what you’ll hear is previously unreleased: You’ll hear a lot of live recordings here, plus demos and studio outtakes. If you heard Craig Johnson, Bill Schmidt, Bruce Hutton, John Beam and Susie Robbins play live back in the day, this release will remind you what a force they were to be reckoned with. And if you never heard them live, here’s your chance! This is driving, giddy, beautiful music.

Baltimore/Washington, 1977: Bruce Hutton, Susie Robbins, Bill Schmidt and John Beam form the Double Decker Stringband named for Bill and Susie’s height disparity.

1979: Craig Johnson replaced Susie and was in the band the rest of its 30 years as it made 6 recordings, toured Europe and played festivals across US and Canada. DDSB’s legacy is, as Craig’s son said: “They drink too much beer and laugh at things that aren’t funny.”

The Double Decker Stringband would like to thank our friends, families, all the folks who made this record happen and all the folks who wanted it to. —John Beam

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Annotated Tracklists for Double Take

See also: Craig Johnson – Deep Woods and Hollows

PERSONNEL:
Bill Schmidt
FIDDLE: Tracks 1.01-1.05, 1.08-1.12, 1.14, 1.16, 2.02, 2.04, 2.14-2.19
BANJO: Tracks 1.06, 1.07, 1.13, 2.01

Craig Johnson
VOCALS: Lead on tracks 1.02-1.03, 1.08, 1.10, 1.13, 2.03-2.06, 2.08, 2.09, 2.11, 2.16; Accompanying on 1.01, 1.04, 1.09, 1.11, 2.07, 2.13, 2.14
FIDDLE: Tracks 1.01-1.03, 1.06-1.09, 1.11-1.14, 2.01, 2.08, 2.10-2.12, 2.19
BANJO: Tracks 1.04, 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 2.04, 2.07, 2.09, 2.13, 2.16, 2.18; BANJO UKULELE: Tracks 2.14, 2.15, 2.17

Bruce Hutton
VOCALS: Lead on tracks 1.1, 1.12, 2.04, 2.07, 2.09, 2.12; Accompanying on 1.2, 1.3, 1.6-1.11, 1.15, 2.03, 2.05, 2.08, 2.11, 2.13, 2.14
MANDOLIN: Tracks 1.01-1.03, 1.05, 1.13, 2.01, 2.04, 2.11, 2.16, 2.18; BANJO MANDOLIN: Tracks 1.04, 1.16, 2.14
BANJO: Track 1.12; TENOR BANJO: Tracks 1.06-1.09, 1.11, 2.17; BANJO UKULELE: Tracks 1.10, 1.14, 2.15
GUITAR: Tracks 2.02, 2.05 (lead), 2.07, 2.12, 2.13, 2.19; HAWAIIAN GUITAR: Tracks 2.09, 2.10
HARMONICA: Track 1.15

John Beam
VOCALS: Lead on tracks 1.04, 1.09, 1.11, 2.13, 2.14; Accompanying on 1.01-1.03, 1.06-1.08, 1.10, 1.12, 1.13, 2.03-2.09, 2.11, 2.12, 2.16
GUITAR: Tracks 1.01-1.03, 1.05, 1.06, 1.08-1.15, 2.01, 2.02, 2.04, 2.05, 2.08-2.11, 2.13, 2.16, 2.18, 2.19; BANJO GUITAR: Tracks 1.04, 1.07, 1.16, 2.14, 2.15, 2.17
BANJO: Tracks 2.07, 2.12

Susie Robbins
FIDDLE: Tracks 1.16, 2.01

THE RECORDINGS:

Tracks 1.1 & 1.5 recorded live on “The Coffee House” show, WBRS; Boston, MA (Apr. 1983)
Tracks 1.2, 1.10, 1.11, 2.3 & 2.4 recorded live at the Hiawatha Music Festival; Marquette, MI (1984)
Tracks 1.3, 2.14-2.16 recorded live at the Brandywine Mountain Music Convention (1981)
Tracks 1.4, 1.12, 2.2, 2.17 & 2.19 recorded live at the Folklore Society of Greater Washington; Cabin John, MD (Nov. 17, 1984)
Tracks 1.6, 1.7 & 1.13 recorded live at the Takoma Taproom; Takoma Park, MD (June 18, 1980)
Track 1.8 recorded live at the Eagle Tavern; New York City (Feb. 21, 1981)
Tracks 1.9 & 1.14 from the LP Sentimental Songs & Old Time Melodies (1981)
Tracks 1.15, 2.8-2.13 recorded live at the Live Oak Music Festival; San Luis Obispo, CA (June 19 & 20, 1993)
Tracks 1.16 & 2.1 were undated demos
Track 2.5 recorded live at Anne Arundel Community College (April 30, 1986)
Tracks 2.6 & 2.7 recorded live at the Augusta Festival; Elkins, WV (July 15, 1993)
Track 2.18 from the LP Giddyap Napoleon (1980)

Track List for Both Discs

Double Decker Stringband – FRC746

Disc 1 (Total Time: 51:37)

  1. Crawlin’ and Creepin’ (2:38)
  2. Going Back to Dixie (3:41)
  3. Poor Ellen Smith (2:39)
  4. Lordy Lordy Blues (3:43)
  5. Katy Hill (2:05)
  6. Giddyap Napoleon (2:56)
  7. I Got a Gal Down in Baltimore (3:16)
  8. John Henry (4:53)
  9. Then It Won’t Hurt No More (3:00)
  10. Riley the Furniture Man (3:29)
  11. Mary Don’t You Weep (4:14)
  12. New Prisoner’s Song (2:45)
  13. Look Before You Leap (2:49)
  14. Horseshoe Bend (2:04)
  15. Going to Germany (3:17)
  16. Georgia Camp Meeting (2:51)

Disc 2 (Total Time: 53:50)

  1. Going Across the Sea/Rye Straw (3:54)
  2. Old Joe (3:05)
  3. Titabawassee Jane (1:59)
  4. Diamond Joe (3:12)
  5. Walking in the Light (2:39)
  6. Wait Till I Put On My Robe (2:40)
  7. Outshine the Sun (2:31)
  8. Evolution Girl (3:03)
  9. Little Black Train (2:42)
  10. Louisiana Breakdown (2:20)
  11. Give Me the Leavins (2:44)
  12. Richmond Is a Hard Road to Travel (2:56)
  13. Called to the Foreign Field (2:58)
  14. My Own Iona (3:02)
  15. Saturday Night Breakdown (2:49)
  16. Liza Jane (2:45)
  17. Duck Shoes Rag (2:49)
  18. Tom and Jerry (2:06)
  19. Wimbush Rag (2:01)

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