Topic: Guitarists who were recorded playing in only one position/tuning

[Lastfirstface]

Aside from Spoonful, did Charley Jordan do other tunes outside of his regular E position style? Seems like almost everything I have sounds like E position capoed at various places.

[Johnm]

Hi Lastfirstface,
Charley Jordan played "Raiding Squad" out of G position in standard tuning.  And I think the way the category is defined, even one song recorded out of the dominant playing position/tuning would disqualify a player from fitting in the category.  This occurs to me re Big Joe Williams playing what looks like an A7 in standard tuning: He very well may have known how to play in E position in standard tuning, but did he record in anything other than Spanish?
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Charley Jordan played "Raiding Squad" out of G position in standard tuning.

"Spoonful" too, of course. I'd suggest Joseph Spence for drop D but I think "I See Mary and Joseph" is in C.

edited to add: Oops, just saw "Spoonful" was mentioned already.

[lindy]

Does Smokey Babe qualify for doing everything in Spanish, and Blind Connie Williams for Vestapol?

Lindy

edited to add: Whoops, Connie Williams has already been mentioned.

[Johnm]

Hi Lindy,
It had been nagging at me that Smoky Babe recorded a song in a position/tuning other than Spanish tuning, and I found it--"Two Women", recorded with Lazy Lester on harmonica on the Arhoolie "Louisiana Country Blues" CD that is split between Smoky Babe and Herman E. Johnson.  "Two Women" turns out to be a version of "Catfish" which Smoky Babe played, as did most folks, out of E position, standard tuning, the only recorded piece of his not played in Spanish that I know of.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Rev. Edward W. Clayborn had thirty titles, and I just checked them.  Every blessed one of them was played out of Spanish with a slide.  That's a lot!
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Sister O. M. Terrell's entire recorded repertoire was played out of Vestapol tuning.
All best,
Johnm

NOTE: 9/19/16, I was wrong about Sister O.M. Terrell playing everything in Vestapol.  She recorded one or two tunes in cross-note.

[chickenlegs]

How about King Solomon Hill in Vestapol. Although he barely qualifies with six known sides.
                             CL

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Does anyone know of anything recorded by Arthur Crudup that he did not play in cross-note tuning?  I think he may qualify for this category.
All best,
Johnm

[Rivers]

Did Big Bill Broonzy ever record out of standard tuning? I can't think of anything but I bet there's something out there [he said, hedging his bets].

[Alexei McDonald]

Did Big Bill Broonzy ever record out of standard tuning? I can't think of anything but I bet there's something out there [he said, hedging his bets].

Big Bill plays "Joe Turner Blues" out of Vestapol, I think.

[alyoung]

Beaten to the draw! You must have posted while I was checking, Alexei. But after that check, I agree -- Joe Turner Blues in Vastapol.

[Rivers]

I'm glad I hedged. The exception that breaks the rule.

[Johnm]

Yes, and Broonzy played in numerous different playing positions in standard tuning, E, A, D, C, G, so he wouldn't have qualified in any event.
All best,
Johnm