Melodic Clawhammer Banjo – Chief O'Neill's Favorite on vinyl LP. 1977 Kicking Mule compilation, Perlman, Cahan, Carlin, Sapoznik. Ships from Germany.
About Melodic Clawhammer Banjo
A VG+ vinyl pressing of a 1977 instructional compilation showcasing four leading players of melodic clawhammer banjo, released via Kicking Mule Records.
Melodic Clawhammer Banjo – Chief O’Neill’s Favorite is a 1977 compilation album released on Kicking Mule Records, gathering performances from four accomplished clawhammer banjo players: Ken Perlman, Andy Cahan, Bob Carlin and Henry Sapoznik. Each demonstrates the melodic clawhammer style, adapting Irish, Scottish and old-time American fiddle tunes for the five-string banjo. This listing is a VG+ vinyl pressing, including booklet, from a Berlin based eBay seller.
- What is clawhammer banjo
- About this compilation
- The players featured
- Pressing details and buying advice
The Short Version
- Format A 1977 compilation on Kicking Mule Records, showcasing four players performing melodic clawhammer banjo.
- Players Ken Perlman, Andy Cahan, Bob Carlin and Henry Sapoznik, each contributing multiple solo performances.
- Repertoire Adapts traditional Irish, Scottish and old-time American fiddle tunes, including the title track Chief O’Neill’s Favorite, a classic Irish reel.
- Style Melodic clawhammer emphasises the melody within the traditional down-picking clawhammer technique, distinct from standard rhythmic frailing.
- This copy Very Good Plus (VG+) condition, includes original booklet, shipped from Berlin, Germany.
Melodic Clawhammer Banjo – Chief O'Neill's Favorite (LP, VG+, With Booklet)
Vinyl LP, Kicking Mule Records, includes booklet
Very Good Plus condition vinyl pressing including the original instructional booklet, sold by a Berlin based eBay seller with 100% positive feedback.
Pressing Specifications
What Is Clawhammer Banjo?
Clawhammer, also known as frailing or down-picking, is a distinctive banjo playing style central to American old-time music, in which the hand forms a claw-like shape and strikes the strings with a downward motion using the back of the fingernail, rather than the up-picking motion common to bluegrass Scruggs-style playing. While traditional clawhammer emphasises rhythm and percussion, the melodic clawhammer style developed by players featured on this record pushes further into bringing out clear, singable melody lines within that same rhythmic framework, often adapting tunes originally composed for fiddle.
About This Compilation
Released via Kicking Mule Records in 1977, this compilation brings together four of the style's leading practitioners: Ken Perlman, known for adapting Irish harp tunes to banjo and guitar; Andy Cahan, who contributes the title track Chief O'Neill's Favorite, a well documented Irish reel first published by collector Francis O'Neill in his landmark early 20th century tune collections; Bob Carlin, a respected old-time banjo scholar and performer; and Henry Sapoznik, later renowned for his work preserving klezmer and old-time music traditions. Together their performances move through Irish reels, Scottish tunes and old-time American fiddle standards, each reimagined through the melodic clawhammer approach, with the album's accompanying booklet offering further context on the playing style and tune sources.
- VG+ condition, includes the original booklet
- Features four highly respected clawhammer banjo players
- A genuinely educational document of the melodic clawhammer style
- Adapts a rich variety of Irish, Scottish and old-time repertoire
- Not a sealed or mint copy
- Niche appeal outside old-time and clawhammer banjo enthusiasts
- Fixed shipping cost from Germany
What is Melodic Clawhammer Banjo – Chief O'Neill's Favorite?
It is a 1977 compilation album on Kicking Mule Records showcasing four players performing in the melodic clawhammer banjo style.
What condition is this vinyl copy in?
The sleeve is graded Very Good Plus (VG+), and it includes the original instructional booklet.
Who are the featured players?
Ken Perlman, Andy Cahan, Bob Carlin and Henry Sapoznik, four respected performers of the melodic clawhammer banjo style.
What is the title track about?
Chief O’Neill’s Favorite is a classic Irish reel documented by collector Francis O’Neill in his early 20th century tune collections.
Does this listing ship outside Germany?
The seller is based in Berlin and lists a fixed shipping cost; check the current listing for up to date international shipping options and rates.
Where To Buy This Pressing
In Brief
- A valuable educational document of melodic clawhammer banjo technique
- VG+ condition vinyl including original booklet
- Best suited to banjo players and old-time music collectors
This compilation preserves a genuinely useful cross-section of melodic clawhammer playing from four respected artists, and this listing offers a VG+ pressing from a highly rated German seller.