Anderson, Virgil – ...On the Tennessee Line – New LP

Great set of hillbilly, 2024 pressing of 1980 album.

"Virgil Anderson is my favorite banjo player right now. He’s great. I picked up this old out of print County LP last summer when I was at the Clifftop banjo and fiddle convention and I’ve been listening to it a lot ever since. Virgil Anderson has such a mellow feel, very bluesy and laid back. This record is great for the early morning and late at night, or any time!  The material on this record was recorded, I believe in the late 1970’s, by folklorist Bobby Fulcher."

"Virgil was a one of a kind performer from Wayne Co. Tennessee, a region that produced a number of highly stylized fiddle and banjo players, dancers and personalities.  Dick Burnett, Clyde Davenport, The Troxell Brothers – just to name a few – are all from this area known as the Cumberland Plateau, a southern section of the Appalachian mountain range.  The thirteen tracks on this record were recorded by folklorist Barry Poss and Bobby Fulcher and represent the broad range and unique songwriting style that Virgil possessed. Virgil’s music is not only unique in its picking style, but also in how he learned the tunes,” muses Bachman.  “Virgil is one of few white banjo players that I can think of who was recorded by and learned directly from African American communities in Appalachia.  As a young man Virgil developed his sound from his relationship with the Bertram family, a family of black musicians close to him, which surely not only expanded his taste and style but also his views on race in his rural mountain community.  The result is a lighthearted and gorgeous blend of two-finger picking and voice, some blues, some hillbilly tunes, some his own compositions – but all undeniably his own unique expression.  Virgil’s music has made it directly onto one of my records.  I was so inspired by his version of Wild Goose Chase that I had to put it out myself.  He breaks the melody of the song with these high harmonic notes that are supposed to be the sound of wild geese honking while flying above – it’s beautiful.  Although I haven’t learned to play fully like Virgil I have a lifetime hopefully to get there and I am continually inspired by this seemingly kind and open-hearted man.”