♪ Criticize things you don’t know about… ♫
I was looking for the standup bit where he fires off a riff, stops, and says to the audience, “Hey! This guy’s good!” But that’ll do.
Yes, he can play. I have the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s compilation “Dirt, Silver, and Gold” and his picture is in it the liner notes. This article about John McEuen has Steve pictured (along with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead).
He plays (more seriously) even to this day…many dates cancelled due to COVID though.
I know that bit. I still say it jokingly in my head when I’m trying to convince myself I’m doing something well.
As for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, we (I have two brothers near my age) listened to that compilation many times back then growing up, even as Steve was making a name for himself as a comedian. The original album is a few feet away. But it wasn’t until years later that I noticed Steve in that one picture grinning alongside McEuen. Thanks for the memory.
Speaking of which, John McEuen doing a “classical” piece. I loved this song oh so much (still do), before I barely knew what a banjo was. Such tone and tecnique!
Yes, you don’t hear too many serious banjo pieces…his interpretation is very nicely done.
My brother originally owned the 3 LP set. I have the 2 CD version. I recently sold off about 250 CDs. I didn’t sell this one. I can’t make it out because it’s smaller on my liner notes but correct me if I’m wrong. Steve is fingering McEuen’s fret board and vice versa.
Readers if you think there is nothing redeeming about bluegrass and folk music, you need to listen to this album. @Fiddle_Peghead, can you believe it? My wife grew up in South Texas and actually once danced with Jerry Jeff Walker! But she said sometimes when he played he was drunk. And if you can believe it, we’ve driven through Bowlegs OK.
OK my personal favorites:
Uncle Charlie Interview/Mr. Bojangles
Interesting version of Battle of New Orleans:
Ripplin’ Waters:
Rocky Top:
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Mother Earth (Provides for Me)
And of course, Bowlegs.
Timeless stuff IMO.
One of my favourites is Emily Strayer/Erwin/Robison of the Chicks, formerly the Dixie Chicks. Smooth as butter and quite attractive too. Here she is with the Chicks doing one my favourites off the “Home” album, “White Trash Wedding.”
The one and only Pete Seeger
And of course his pal Woody Guthrie but far fewer quality recordings of his.
Thanks, all of you-given me some banjo avenues to pursue outside of folk. Will The Circle Be Unbroken made me mist up. And Steve Martin!-I sure didn’t know that.
Five String Soul Banjo – Paull Revere and the Raiders
Got to hear Livingston Taylor live. He told stories, played piano, guitar … and banjo (hilariously):
An aside from the song: “I gotta tell you, the seventies are a humor goldmine.”
Yes, that is correct. I had forgotten that, and didn’t notice it last night when I brought out the album.
All great songs you linked to. It’s been so many years, and great to be reminded of how much I loved those songs. And of course the singing dog before “Mr. Bojangles”. “Sit down, Teddy. Sing the Old Rugged Cross. Chord with this now, hyeah!” 
Priceless.
Funny stuff.
So, tell me anyone, should Elton John’s “Honky Cat” be played on the banjo (and fiddle)?
Elton’s, “Honky Cat,” has banjo in it, played by Davey Johnston (mostly strummed, very subtle).
If we’re talking banjo, nothing beats this cover of John Cage 4’33":
Which begs the question, why have a banjo if you are going for subtlety?! Anyway, I never noticed.
Definitely, and forever, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”
Ha!
Ah, the Gibson Mastertone with hearts and flower inlays, just like Earl Scruggs holds on the cover of his I Saw the Light album. If this guy doesn’t want it, he can send it on to me!
Sure. I mean, how can you beat it? It sounds as fresh and beautiful as the first time I heard it. The thing about this, and other Scruggs banjo tunes of the day, is a lot of people don’t realize the effect it had on people. Country music fans had long heard songs with banjo, but his energetic style, right out front, and popping out of an AM car radio station, was something new and astounding. John Hartford tells the story of how the first time he heard it, he had to pull of on the side of the road, it startled him so much.
Speaking of John, how about…
God, how I love to hear him roll that five-string.
A fair question and one that, in recent weeks, has been much on my mind. I’m guessing it’s for the novelty–“Banjo on an Elton John tune? Gnarly!” 
“Pickin’ the Sun Down,” by Steve Weisberg and John Martin Sommers (from, “An Evening With John Denver.”)
My almost-favorite, “Dueling Banjos”:
Pentangle - House Carpenter
Great banjo, sitar, Danny rocking out on double bass and Jacqui…always Jacqui.
Not sure whether I oughta admit that attending Midwest Banjo Camp is one of the highlights of my year. I was horribly disappointed when it had to be cancelled this year.
Check out that list of instructors. And check out the videos under the “Media” tab if you have any question as to the banjo’s versatility. Before I attended my first camp (as a bassplayer), I couldn’t have told you the difference between bluegrass and oldtime.
Now, I’m all the way oldtime. My wife plays fiddle, and some of my favorite time is spent w/ the 2 of us plunking away at a lakehouse we go to a few times a summer.
Same guy, more recently (2003):
