EARL JOHNSON Red Hot Breakdown

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Twelve 1927 recordings are featured on this album by the great Georgia fiddler, Earl Johnson. Another gem from County's 500 series, this one issued in 1976. Sound quality is fantastic for 1927, they must have had amazing copies of the originals.
If you've never heard Johnson you're in for a treat. His fiddling stands up incredibly well to modern ears, he is clever, inventive and aggressive, three traits that make for the pinnacle of the art. The blending of Johnson's vocals with banjoist Emmett Bankston's piercing falsetto is also a high point here, and "I Get My Whiskey From Rockingham" has got to be one of the greatest hillbilly records of the twenties.

Includes jacket scans with full notes by Donald Lee Nelson.

Tracks:

1. Leather Breeches
2. Ain't Nobody's Business
3. Hen Cackle
4. Johnson's Old Grey Mule
5. John Henry Blues
6. Red Hot Breakdown
7. I Get My Whiskey from Rockingham
8. Earl Johnson's Arkansas Traveller
9. Little Grave in Georgia
10. Shortening Bread
11. Bully of the Town
12. Old Grey Mare Kicking Out of the Wilderness

*download here*