Sally Slapped Me With a Flounder

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There was a short Banjo Hangout discussion of this tune back in 2011, including links to some sound files from festival jams. It's one of those new old time tunes written by Steve Mason, of the Alferd Packer String Band. I downloaded one of the files and then it kind of just sat on my hard drives. Last night I was listening to a shuffle of tunes and this came around. I decided to do a quick version on mandolin, just to remind me. It's also the first time I've recorded the Red Line Traveler mandolin which I bought last November. I'm not much good on it, but it sure is fun.

Virginia Reel

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I forget if I knew that there was an actual tune by the name Virginia Reel. Mostly when we hear that the dancers want to do the Virginia Reel we make sure that we have a medley to play for them because it can go on for a very long time.

I'm at work and lunch, so I only have access to my crummy aluminum banjo, but here is a CH version I recorded after listening to an excellent rendition on BHO as a Tune of The Week. The recording is a bit noisy because I'm in a room next to an air-handling unit. I finally did it right in the third repetition, but unwisely I went for a fourth one.

Horserace Rapids

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I was in Baraboo,WI, having a good time at the String Happening. But my good time began on the drive up. I decided to stop at Spruce Tree Music in Madison. My first visit--nice shop. I played a bunch of fine banjos. As usual, I feel guilty if I just come in and play instruments without buying anything, so I leafed through the CDs and chose "The Right Hands 'Round" by the Bowhunter String Band. That turned out to be a real winner of a CD!

Walking in the Parlor

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There a several melodies by this name, as well as several versions of at least the most common melody. This is a 3-part version that I learned from a TV ad for insurance. I have no idea who was playing the banjo & guitar, but it was nice.

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