The Armstrong Twins – Hillbilly Mandolin on vinyl LP. 1947-56 recordings compiled by Arhoolie founder Chris Strachwitz. Ships from Germany.
About Hillbilly Mandolin
A vinyl compilation of vintage recordings from twin brothers Floyd and Lloyd Armstrong, compiled by legendary folk archivist Chris Strachwitz.
Hillbilly Mandolin is a 1979 compilation album by The Armstrong Twins, released on Old Timey Records. Gathering 16 tracks recorded between 1947 and the mid-1950s, the album was compiled by Chris Strachwitz, founder of the influential Arhoolie Records, preserving the close-harmony mandolin and guitar duo work of twins Floyd and Lloyd Armstrong. This listing is a vinyl LP pressing from a Berlin based eBay seller.
- Who were The Armstrong Twins
- About Hillbilly Mandolin
- The Chris Strachwitz connection
- Pressing details and buying advice
The Short Version
- Artist The Armstrong Twins were a bluegrass and country duo consisting of twin brothers Floyd (guitar, vocals) and Lloyd Armstrong (mandolin, vocals).
- Release Hillbilly Mandolin came out in 1979 via Old Timey Records, compiling recordings originally made between 1947 and the mid-1950s.
- Compiler Assembled by Chris Strachwitz, the influential folk archivist and founder of Arhoolie Records.
- Style Close-harmony mandolin-guitar duo music influenced by the Delmore Brothers, Blue Sky Boys and Roy Acuff.
- Legacy Their 1946 recording Mandolin Boogie, inspired directly by the Delmore Brothers, became a regional favourite and career highlight.
The Armstrong Twins – Hillbilly Mandolin (LP, Album)
Vinyl LP, Old Timey Records
Vinyl LP pressing of Hillbilly Mandolin, sold by a Berlin based eBay seller with 100% positive feedback.
Pressing Specifications
Who Were The Armstrong Twins?
Floyd and Lloyd Armstrong drew their primary musical influences from the great country brother duos of the 1930s and 40s, particularly the Delmore Brothers, whose Hillbilly Boogie directly inspired the twins' own 1946 recording Mandolin Boogie, along with the close-harmony gospel style of the Blue Sky Boys and the emotive fiddle-driven traditionalism of Roy Acuff. Working in an acoustic mandolin-guitar duo format with heartfelt, unadorned vocals, the Armstrongs represented one of the final waves of pre-rockabilly country acts, their resistance to electric instrumentation eventually clashing with the amplified trends of the 1950s and 60s, which contributed to a temporary retirement by 1969.
About Hillbilly Mandolin
The twins' recordings were originally issued primarily as 78 rpm singles between 1947 and the mid-1950s for the Four-Star label, focused on promoting live performances rather than chasing national chart success. Their debut single, Mandolin Boogie backed with Three Miles South Of Cash In Arkansas, released in February 1948, became their most notable commercial success and helped establish their reputation in California dance halls and on regional radio. In 1979, influential folk archivist and Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz compiled 16 of these tracks for Hillbilly Mandolin, preserving a body of work that captured the twins at the height of their close-harmony, mandolin-driven sound before rock and roll reshaped country music entirely.
- Compiled by influential folk archivist Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records
- Preserves rare late-1940s and 1950s country recordings
- Authentic close-harmony mandolin-guitar duo music from a genuine historical era
- Features the twins’ commercially successful Mandolin Boogie
- A used, vintage compilation; condition should be checked in the listing
- Niche appeal outside vintage country and bluegrass collectors
- Fixed shipping cost from Germany
What is Hillbilly Mandolin by The Armstrong Twins?
It is a 1979 compilation of late-1940s and 1950s recordings by twin brothers Floyd and Lloyd Armstrong, compiled by folk archivist Chris Strachwitz.
Who were The Armstrong Twins?
A country and bluegrass duo of twin brothers, Floyd on guitar and vocals and Lloyd on mandolin and vocals, active from the 1940s.
What was their most notable recording?
Mandolin Boogie, a 1946 reworking of the Delmore Brothers’ Hillbilly Boogie, became a regional favourite and their most notable commercial success.
Who compiled this album?
Chris Strachwitz, the influential folk archivist and founder of Arhoolie Records, compiled the tracks for Old Timey Records.
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
Worth The Spin?
- A carefully preserved archival document of vintage country duo music
- Compiled by respected folk archivist Chris Strachwitz
- Best suited to collectors of vintage country, bluegrass and mandolin music
Hillbilly Mandolin offers a genuine window into pre-rockabilly country history, and this listing offers a vinyl pressing from a highly rated German seller.