Devil's Dream--Reel

78RPM Columbia disc recorded in 1916. Don Richardson fiddles an old tune on a disc that pre-dates Eck Robertson's records. The label on this record says Violin Solo, but it sounds like he had the Fiddle Switch turned on.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 78RPM
• Columbia
• disc
• Don
• Richardson
• Fiddle

[schpoingle]

i wonder if the recording engineer had him play extra fast to fit it on the record? this is something i've heard about with other tracks not something i'm throwing out there randomly.

[DavidN23Skidoo]

@schpoingle I think you are spot on. Artists were limited to just over three minutes on these discs, and that shapes the content.

[kspm01]

Remarkable!

[DavidN23Skidoo]

And remarkably worn! These old fiddle records were obvously favorites of the old timers. I just put up the flip side, and The Arkansas Traveler. I will post Old Zip Coon next week. Thanks for writing!

[ivanrorick]

@DavidN23Skidoo A lot of people play Devil's Dream super-fast. This version is pretty typical. Check out Jean Carignan's version on YouTube for a similar but more recent version (plus some insane pizzicato work).

[ottlakerambler]

Man is he flying through this one. No special effects -- he's playing melody on one string while droning on another, and as such it can sound something like two fiddles playing together, or like a fiddle and bagpipe!