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A very early banjo & song recording, from 1891-1893, Saving Them All for Mary by Al Reeves.
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Al Reeves was a popular banjo-comedian of the 1890s whose blackface stage act, named "Al Reeves' Famous Big Company", was typically adorned with beautiful women (likely absent from this recording session . . .).
[Al] Reeves, "The World's Greatest Banjoist and Comedian", as he billed himself, [. . .] was not a particularly good banjo player, but his "big finishes" brought prolonged applause. As it faded, he would exclaim, "Give me credit, boys."
— Jolson: The Legend Comes to Life. Herbert G. Goldman, New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
With the stray string pluck prior to the announcement, various 'thunks',
and forward sound to the banjo, this master recording packs a lot of
This recording was made on a so-called "cuff"-length cylinder. One-half inch shorter than standard-sized cylinders, cuff-length cylinders were common in the early 1890's. See the June 1999 Cylinder of the Month for another example of a cuff-length cylinder recording.
Many thanks to David Sager for his assistance with this cylinder of the month.
For help playing these sounds, click here. |
Interested in hearing a few other wax cylinder recordings featuring the banjo?
| Key | Title | Category | Performed by | Circa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/2000 | Dixie Medley | Banjo solo | Fred Van Epps | 1908 |
| 01/2009 | Fun in a Barber Shop | Banjo | Vess L. Ossman | 1908 |
| 09/2001 | In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree (Medley) | Banjo solo | G. W. Kennedy | 1906 |
| 04/2007 | Make a Fuss Over Me | Banjo trio | Ossman Banjo Trio | 1905 |
| 01/2016 | The Mosquito Parade | Banjo duet | Vess L. Ossman & Bill Farmer | 1901 |
| 01/2011 | Ragtime Medley | Banjo solo | Vess L. Ossman | 1900 |
| 07/1997 | Stars and Stripes Forever March | Banjo solo | Ruby Brooks | 1902 |
| 10/2009 | Whistling Rufus | Banjo solo | Vess L. Ossman | 1899 |
To hear other examples of wax cylinders, see the
