Mandolin Boogie

• Artist: Armstrong Twins
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 27, 2004
• Genre: Country

Review

Mandolin Boogie combines the Armstrong Twins' first recordings from the late '40s and early '50s with their reunion session recorded specifically for the Arhoolie label in 1979. It's amazing that the brothers' sparkling close harmonies and Lloyd Armstrong's unique and nimble mandolin runs were sustained almost 30 years after they started making records; the only real difference between the sessions is the recording technology that was used. Tinged with a combination of bluegrass and traditional country, these 17 tracks include Floyd Armstrong's original compositions "Mandolin Boogie," "Alabama Baby," and "Arkansas Special," as well as Americana standards such as "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" and "Greenback Dollar" and religious material that includes "Address From Heaven," "Why Not Confess," and "Mother's Only Sleeping." As a side note, the Arhoolie sessions also feature Zane Beck on Dobro and Monte Avery on bass. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Mandolin Boogie	Floyd Armstrong	Armstrong Twins	(3:00)
Three Miles South of Cash	Carolina Cotton	Armstrong Twins	(2:30)
Mother's Only Sleeping		Armstrong Twins	(2:39)
Mandolin Rag	W.S. Stevenson	Armstrong Twins	(2:38)
Sparkling Blue Eyes	Bill Cox	Armstrong Twins	(2:57)
Beetle With the Boogie Woogie Beat		Armstrong Twins	(2:16)
Address from Heaven		Armstrong Twins	(2:31)
Alabama Baby	Floyd Armstrong	Armstrong Twins	(2:28)
It's Never Too Late	Carter Stanley	Armstrong Twins	(2:15)
Arkansas Special	W.S. Stevenson	Armstrong Twins	(2:41)
Eight Thirty Blues	Lester Blackwell	Armstrong Twins	(2:09)
Silver Haired Daddy of Mine	Gene Autry, Jimmy Long	Armstrong Twins	(3:13)
Just a Country Boy		Armstrong Twins	(3:18)
Greenback Dollar		Armstrong Twins	(3:10)
Old Three Room Shack		Armstrong Twins	(2:38)
Why Not Confess		Armstrong Twins	(2:19)
Beautiful Brown Eyes		Armstrong Twins	(2:38)

Credits

Armstrong Twins (Main Performer), Chris Strachwitz (Liner Notes), Floyd Armstrong (Guitar), Floyd Armstrong (Vocals), Lloyd Armstrong (Mandolin), Lloyd Armstrong (Vocals), Monte Avery (Bass), Zane Beck (Dobro), "Oscar" Billy Hughes (Fiddle)