Weems String Band playing Greenback Dollar
This side, recorded in Memphis in December, 1927, represents one half of the total recorded output of Weems String Band. It’s a pity, too, because it’s a rather extraordinary record. With more weemses than one could shake a stick at.
The personnel:
- Dick Weems, fiddle;
- Frank Weems, fiddle;
- Alvin Condor, banjo/ voc;
- Jesse Weems, cello
While the inclusion of the cello is unusual, the loose two fiddle and banjo sound is classic old-time country: multiple instruments playing simultaneous variations on a melody. There’s not really much accompaniment per se, just thick, glorious heterophony.
Courtesy of Archive.org
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That’s a lot of weems, man.
The cello sound is unique. It gives this an extra old timey sound, more primitive rather than less.
Comment by Lucas Gonze — 7/8/2008 @ 3:00 pm
Hi Lucas–
The cello makes an appearance in some other early string band recordings. The East Texas Serenaders used a cello on their recordings, and there are certainly others. I will try to track some more down and post them here.
Kenneth Rainey
Comment by Kenneth Rainey — 7/8/2008 @ 3:17 pm