''The Speed of the Old Long Bow'' (or more completely ''The Speed of the Old Long Bow: A Tribute to Ed Haley'') is an album by

John Hartford John Cowan Hartford (December 30, 1937 – June 4, 2001) was an American folk, country, and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive kno ...

of traditional American fiddle music, released in 1998. It is a tribute to the legendary Kentucky/West Virginia old-time fiddler Blind Ed Haley.

Reception

In his review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, critic Steve Leggett wrote "Hartford quite wisely doesn't try to replicate Haley's takes (Hartford admits in the liner notes that he doesn't play like Haley, but that he enjoys trying), but instead interprets them, and the result is pure loose-jointed fun. Everything here is like a patch in a quilt, and the trademark Hartford wit, joy and energy is everywhere apparent. Highlights include the set opener, "Hell Up Coal Holler," "Bonaparte's Retreat" (which is practically the fiddler's national anthem), and a pair of vocal excursions, "Cattlettsburg" and "Boatmen." Although Long Bow is very much a tribute to Ed Haley, it is also very much a John Hartford album, and Hartford's fans will surely treasure it."

Track listing

All songs written or arranged by Ed Haley. # "Hell up Coal Holler" – 3:13 # "Yellow Barber" – 3:02 # "Lost Indian" – 4:44 # "Dunbar" – 4:42 # "Brushy Fork of John's Creek" – 3:15 # "Bonaparte's Retreat" – 4:50 # "Forks of Sandy" – 3:49 # "Cattlettsburg" – 4:03 # "Half Past Four" – 4:36 # "Blackberry Blossom" – 2:42 # "Pumpkin Ridge" – 4:19 # "Brownlow's Dream" – 4:24 # "Rebel Raid" – 3:58 # "Boatman" – 3:38 # "Ida Red" – 2:38

Personnel

– fiddle, vocals *

Bob Carlin Bob Carlin (born March 17, 1953 in New York City) is an American old-time banjo player and singer. Carlin performs primarily in the clawhammer Clawhammer, sometimes called down-picking, overhand, or frailing, is a distinctive banjo playing ...

– banjo * Mike Compton – mandolin *Rob Gateley – string bass *Darrin Vincent – guitar, percussion

Production notes

*Bob Carlin – producer, mixing *Mark Howard – engineer *Wes Lachot – engineer, mixing *John Hartford – art direction, liner notes *Luanne Price Howard – art direction *Brandon Kirk – research, liner notes *Billy Adkins – research

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Speed Of The Old Long Bow, The John Hartford albums 1998 albums