Heard CUPID’S ARROW? Well, prepare to be amazed!

[thereallyniceman]

My friend Rainier Lanselle has sent me probably the rarest find that I have posted on this website.

 

All enthusiasts of Fred Van Eps will be aware that, in the early 1950s, he made a comeback recording, entitled “5 String Banjo”, of him playing with his son Robert Van Eps on piano accompaniment.  The record was released by “Van Eps Lab” Plainfield N. J..

Fred Van Eps in 1954 

 

What I didn’t know was that in the late 1950s, not long before his death, Fred recorded another, extremely limited edition, LP of twelve tracks. The tracks are of his favourite pieces and also of some previously unheard recordings. 

 

Rainier has kindly offered to share his copy of the album through this website, so Rainier, here is a very big “THANK YOU”, from me.  The whole album is truly amazing, and I have never heard Van Eps play better.  I shall be adding a new track every week  :-)

 

For those who said that the early recording equipment was responsible for the snappy and dramatic Classic Banjo tone.. Think again!  This is how Classic Banjo really sounds  … and I love it :-)

 

Be amazed, as I was.  Here is Fred Van Eps at nearly 80 years old:

CUPID’S ARROW played by Fred Van Eps (late 1950s)

[thereallyniceman]

Hey Joel,

Remember:

1) Patience is a virtue.

2) As in romance and banjo playing:  Always leave them wanting more!

I assure you that it WILL be worth the wait !

:-)

[Richard William Ineson]

The strings attached to the van Eps banjos, at the time I played them, were made from hard nylon line, I don't know if it was fishing line, but it was on large spools and of regular thickness throughout its length. One spool would last a man a lifetime, and beyond.

Jody Stecher said:

Leader is hard for the fish to see. It is attached by a knot to the main line which is attached to reel and rod. Leader is said to lack the Coil Memory that the regular line has so it doesn't bunch up. 

Gauges in nylon do not match up with gauges in fluorocarbon. The latter is very stiff. So .017 fluorocarbon will feel stiffer than .022 nylon at the same gauge.  What were Van Eps strings made of? I don't know. Even if they were nylon, another factor to consider in their tension is that his banjos had a verrrry long scale. 

[Robert Dooley]

Jody Stecher said:

Whoops, this was one in A notation. Do you prefer C notation? Yes, Thanks!

[Jody Stecher]

The Really Nice Man has already posted C notation. Scroll up on page one of this thread and you'll see it. It's also in the library.

Robert Dooley said:

Jody Stecher said:

Whoops, this was one in A notation. Do you prefer C notation? Yes, Thanks!

[Dave Houle]

I read about this recording somewhere and I'm glad it will be available here. It's great hearing a studio recording of Fred's playing with just a piano and no hiss and crackles.

Another great addition to an already great site!

[Trapdoor2]

Well, that did work out. I bid what I considered an excessive amount...and got outbid!

RATS!
 
Trapdoor2 said:

I'd like to find a copy of the Victor disc he cut of 'Cupid's Arrow' on Feb 28, 1911. That would make a great comparison.

edit: serendipity strikes! I found a 2m Edison cylinder of "Cupid's Arrow" by FVE on ebay and it appears to be in excellent condition.

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Marc,

Pity that you missed that one!  I didn't see the auction..   what was the final price?

[Trapdoor2]

$52 and change. I've never paid more than $10 for a cylinder. My thought process was: "I'll bid something outrageous so I'm guaranteed to get it..."

Wrong again!

[Rob MacKillop]

That is astonishing playing, and I certainly can excuse him the odd fluff or hurried phrase! What a great player. I'm amazed he could get such a sound from such light strings. 

I get where your coming from, Ian, and understand why you want to emulate this sound. It's a million miles away from anything I can or want to do, but it doesn't mean I can't appreciate it. Wonderful banjo playing. Great photo too!

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Rob,

Good to see you back posting. As you know I have always played with a "heavy hand" in an attempt to play like my heros (mainly Van Eps!).

I have never said mine was the only way the instrument should be played as it can be played beautifully and produce lovely music, as we always heard in your videos, without all that dramatic drive and attack that characterises the players from the "Classic banjo" recording era.  I am sure that Ossman, Van Eps, Oakley, Jones et al. could all play softly and gently... but usually didn't, as we can hear from their records.

I hope that you are back playing Classic Style again, as I know that you moved away from the style for a while.

I have another few tracks from the Fred Van Eps album and I will be uploading them soon... watch (and listen to) this space!

;-)

This later set of Van Eps recordings are, to me, amazing and just how I like to hear classic style played. For a man close on 80 years old we can forgive the fluffs, but just wish that we could play like that