"It's impossible to play a sad song on a banjo" - Steve Martin. Sorry King Tut, that's ridiculous

[The Polack MSgt]

[Tanuki]

1. Here's another

[The Polack MSgt]

4. One of my Mom's favorite songs.

I heard it quite a bit when I was a kid.

Thanks Tanuki.

Every time I see your handle I think of this:

[TomSlick]

2. Geez, I don't know MSgt.

The lyrics are sad but the banjo naturally sounds joyous and playful. It is the incongruity between the lyrics and the accompaniment that makes the tune work.

Thanks for introducing me to a new tune.

[ZZenith]

3. Sad banjo songs?! Sign me up!

Here’s one for you:

[The Polack MSgt]

5. I like it - Quite a bit actually. I've heard this man's name, but this may be my 1st listen

The melody reminded me of "It's a good life if you don't weaken" a little.

[ZZenith]

10. Oh man, He's one of my all-time favorite musical artists and I hope you can make some time to

check out his catalog. Wide-ranging stylistically and always with a deep pathos for the human condition, he can really get you right in the feels.

Largely unknown in the broader landscape of American culture but he has a rabid fan base who’ll follow him anywhere he chooses to explore. He recorded this particular album, “Michigan” with a pair of cheap microphones and a very primitive digital recorder in 2003 and now sells out world tours and has his own record label with dozens of signed artists.

Here’s a collection of songs he wrote in 2015 to help him deal with the death of his estranged mother, which made it onto quite a few “best album of the decade” lists:

Thanks for all the great music threads!

[The Polack MSgt]

11. I will definitely take a listen - Thanks

I love to share music - and that turns out to annoy my non-music fan friends and relatives. So I'm happy to share songs here.

The dirty little secret is that I learn of as many (or more) artists here as I share

Holy shit - "Should Have Known Better" is beautiful and brutal at the same time...

I'm listening as I type this response, but I'm going to bed soon, so I'll pick it back up tomorrow

Thanks for the tip on this guy

[ZZenith]

14. !!!

[The Polack MSgt]

21. That was a great album ZZenith, I think 4th of July and Eugene stand out most for me

But that's at 1st blush, may change my mind after a few more listens

[ZZenith]

22. So glad it rang a bell for you!

Yeah, Fourth of July just devastates me, having lived pretty much the exact scene when me mum died of cancer. And Eugene is my second favorite tune on the record, for sure, though I like them all when I need some sadness, banjo or no.

Check out his “Come On Feel the Illinoise” when you get a chance - it’s a masterpiece of an album but not nearly as heavy as “Carrie and Lowell,” though he did write a strangely beautiful song about John Wayne Gacy for it.

Cheers!

[Triloon]

6. Ooh ooh, I know one...

[link:

|

[blm]

15. Heh

[EarlG]

7. How about this?

[The Polack MSgt]

8. If it's Noam - Well he can play anything on that banjo

Love these guys

[The Polack MSgt]

9. Ok, point was made that the song is sad, but Nicklaus' Banjo sounds happy

Rhiannon's banjo sounds sad here tho

[cemaphonic]

13. Yeah, that fretless gourd banjo is perfect for a dark moody feel

Especially played and sung by a master like her.

[cemaphonic]

12. I'm sure that Steve Martin has heard Dock Boggs before

&ab_channel=jhnevn

He does have a point though. Bluegrass (and bluegrass banjo in particular) is often a bit ridiculous in setting really sad songs to fast, busy upbeat arrangements.


Bonus Abagail Washburn:

&ab_channel=MasonJarMusic

[Tanuki]

16. Worried Man Blues

[Tanuki]

17. I think being eaten by a hog is pretty sad...

[The Polack MSgt]

20. +++

[BluesRunTheGame]

18. How about the first recording of "Cold Rain And Snow"?

[The Polack MSgt]

19. I never heard the original, well more accurately the 1st recorded version

Thanks

[JimGinPA]

23. Here's Some Bass Banjo For You

[JimGinPA]

24. Check Theses Kids Out

[The Polack MSgt]

25. +++

Blue grass is making a bit of a comeback these past couple of year.

Could Polka be the next trend?

Actually I hope not