Topic: Frank Hutchison discographical question

[banjochris]

Here's a weird one - something I've been wondering about for a while and I was reminded of it by a YouTube video.

There's a recording of Frank Hutchison playing "Wreck of the Old 97" on harmonica and guitar that is not on the Document CD. I have it on an Old Homestead album that came out in the early 1980s called West Virginia Hills (it has other tracks by Bill Cox, Kessingers etc.).

The LP lists this recording as a previously unreleased harmonica number. It's not in Tony Russell's book, but there's also no obvious gap in matrix numbers (a few unissued/rejected numbers are listed). Listening to the track I don't think there's any doubt at all that it's Hutchison. Does anyone know anything more about this?

Here's the track:

[Bunker Hill]

I emailed Tony and he's come back with this info:

This was overlooked in CMR, but I picked up the omission later, and the
emended text would now read:

Frank Hutchison, h; acc. own g.
New York, NY.                           Friday, January 28, 1927

80350-B   Stackalee                          OK 45106
80351-     The Wild Horse                   OK 45093
80352-     Long Way To Tipperary         OK 45089
80353-     The Gospel Ship                   OK unissued: OH OHCS141 (LP)

Matrix 80353 is erroneously titled The Wreck Of The Old 97 on Old Homestead
OHCS141.

[uncle bud]

I'm not sure I understand. That's Wreck of the Old 97 in the recording. Gospel Ship (the version I know is by the Carter Family) is a different song.

[banjochris]

Interesting. Perhaps OKeh mistitled it in the first place and Old Homestead corrected it, 'cause UB is right, that's definitely Old 97 and not Gospel Ship. Alan, thanks for checking with Tony -- seems like we still have a bit of a mystery though!
Chris

[frailer24]

This reminds me of the Hutchison disk my great-grandfather made around 1940 or so. Frank played guitar behind him on a few numbers, then played a few banjo tunes. I have a tape copy and the original disc.

[banjochris]

Frailer-- tell us more about this disk! Who was your great-grandfather (is he playing fiddle on the disk) and how did he know Hutchison? If you share the musical content I would guarantee an appreciative audience here!
Chris

[frailer24]

My great-grandad was Willard Eveland, yes he did play fiddle on the tracks. The most I can say is that, now, the record is nearly unlistenable. I rarely have access to a computer, so I can't upload anything at this time. Great-grandad, from what his son told me, was in West Virginia from "about 1935 until the war broke out." He made friends with quite a few musicians around there, including one of his favorites, Frank Hutchison. From what I can gather, Frank and him met up at a dance one night when there was no guitar player. They remained good friends until Frank's death. When I can, I shall do my best to put a copy up somewhere, as well as transcripton, if needed.

[westside ryan]

I rarely have access to a computer, so I can't upload anything at this time.

Maybe you could (snail) mail it to one of us forum members and one of us could upload it somewhere?

[uncle bud]

My great-grandad was Willard Eveland, yes he did play fiddle on the tracks. The most I can say is that, now, the record is nearly unlistenable. I rarely have access to a computer, so I can't upload anything at this time. Great-grandad, from what his son told me, was in West Virginia from "about 1935 until the war broke out." He made friends with quite a few musicians around there, including one of his favorites, Frank Hutchison. From what I can gather, Frank and him met up at a dance one night when there was no guitar player. They remained good friends until Frank's death. When I can, I shall do my best to put a copy up somewhere, as well as transcripton, if needed.

Very interesting, frailer. Keep us posted. It would sure be great to hear, as Chris says! So was the recording session led by Willard Eveland then? I.e. not a Hutchison session?

[frailer24]

As far as my uncle knows, it was just a jam session at the home. When I make another copy of the disc, I will find a way to get it here.

[nobocaster]

Wow Frailer...  that's pretty cool family history there.  I look forward to hearing that session sometime!

 ~Devin

[frailer24]

And, in addition, for any autoharp enthusiasts, Grandad was also Neriah Benfield. When he did get recorded commercially, he always assumed a name and backstory. Never wanted the fame, just to share the music!

[alyoung]

And, in addition, for any autoharp enthusiasts, Grandad was also Neriah Benfield. When he did get recorded commercially, he always assumed a name and backstory. Never wanted the fame, just to share the music!

I'm sorry, but I have a bit of trouble accepting this claim. I am an autoharper -- probably one of the few on the list (who will admit it anyway) -- and I'm familiar with Neriah Benfield, who seems to have a  fairly solidly documented non-fictional life story ... born in Catawba, Co, NC in 1893, moved to Rowan Co, NC, World War I vet, died in 1983, many other details also known. He didn't have to make up a "backstory" for his commercial recordings as he was never recorded commercially, only by Mike Seeger for Folkways in 1961 (he also played at the Newport folk Festival in 1964; I don't know if this was recorded). He recorded for Seeger on his own and with his son, Kenneth Benfield ... who I guess must be your uncle or your daddy?

[frailer24]

Maybe something went wrong in the family history. Grandad only truly documented his life after the second stroke. I was young and my memory is sometimes faulty as well. I do, however remember his son, my uncle, mentioning the Benfields quite a bit. There is no doubt that my  family's harp playing is uncannily similar. And the Hutchison disc is very much a true thing, as I do know my grandad's voice. Nice to see another harper here!

[frailer24]

Ok, just started copying the discs. Recording date confirmed as 4/12/1940. Working on the tracklist. On a sidenote, the family history did get garbled a bit. Seems great Grandad was a neighbor to the Benfields growing up, and learned a great deal from them. Apologies to alyoung. Never knew that mis-remembered info could cause so much uncomfortableness.

[Gumbo]

this is exciting!

[alyoung]

Ok, just started copying the discs. Recording date confirmed as 4/12/1940. Working on the tracklist. On a sidenote, the family history did get garbled a bit. Seems great Grandad was a neighbor to the Benfields growing up, and learned a great deal from them. Apologies to alyoung. Never knew that mis-remembered info could cause so much uncomfortableness.

Well.... I didn't think I was *that* uncomfortable, but it is a bit awkward when you're challenging someone's information, especially when the challenge is fairly much saying "bill shut!" (or something like that; I may have the vowels wrong) But wrong information can't be allowed to stand, and at least my query got the matter sorted.  Thanks for that. (BTW, although I play a fair bit of diatonic harp today, I started from those old Folkways recordings and that hard-edged driving style of the Benfields et al remains a favorite.) 

[frailer24]

No trouble there, Al. I'm glad I got the info correct at last, since in the back of my mind, 1+1 did not add up right to me. I have to get another harp next year, not easy when you haven't played one in 5 years.