Good For Nuthin String Band CD #2
Released - May 20, 2008

A great selection of traditional-style instrumental tunes:

1. March to Dingley’s Acre*
Written by band member Michael Vickey to commemorate the 1860’s rush to extract black gold from the Allegheny slopes of Warren County, Pennsylvania. Dingley’s Acre had the largest concentration of wells per acre than any other drill site in history.

2. White Springs*
This hard driving, haunting Appalachian dulcimer tune was composed by Michael while sitting on the banks of the Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida late one night in February, 2007. White Springs is the home of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, where Michael has played hammered dulcimer and Appalachian dulcimer on the stage at the Saturday Coffeehouse several times.

3. Rock the Cradle Joe
How can you rock that baby to sleep with music played so fast?

4. Fare Thee Well My Darling*
Instrumental version of an obscure World War I tune with the 2nd part added and arranged by Michael.

5. Old John Tate
The band’s good friend Karen Croot brought this unusual old-time tune from southern California and plays her fiddle for this special guest appearance.

6. Mississippi Sawyer
Our version of a circa 1830’s tune, well known in the USA and Canada. Some historic sources say that a “Mississippi Sawyer” is thought to be a river “snag” - a sunken tree that is a hazard to navigation. Others say the tune is from a fiddling sawmill owner who’s mill was at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. We like the dangerous sunken tree theory.

7. Spring in the Valley
Nothing is as soothing and healing as the singing birds and greening trees after a long northern winter. Can you smell the flowers?

8. Colonel Drake’s Reel*
Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the first commercially viable oil well on the banks of Oil Creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1858. How would life be different today if it had not been for this single event in America’s history? This is Michael’s hammered dulcimer dance tune written especially for the band’s concert during the Colonel’s 187th birthday celebration.

9. Spotted Pony
An old-time West Virginia / Southern breakdown favorite.

10. Step Around Johnny
Everyone loves it when Michael brings back tunes collected during his winter travels in the South. This one was learned from some friendly north Georgia musicians. Listen for Roger’s thumps on the side of Leon the bass.

11. Over the Waterfall
During her college years in West Virginia, Sue watched as those whitewater raft folks tumbled down the mountain rivers, but not at this spot. One of our favorites.

12. Good Idea Bad Location*
We are all in favor of alternative energy - but not if the proposed wind generators will wreak havoc on our migrating feathered friends as they travel over the Allegheny foothills. We came up with this tune around the time when local folks who were questioning the location of these windmills were posting signs on their properties stating “good idea - bad location”.

13. Zimfir’s Accordian Tune*
Mark plays his jumble-aye-a tune on the Cajun accordian with Sue on triangle, Michael on the Clix Stix, and Roger on Leon the bass.

14. Zims Knocks Over Mike’s Dulcimer
At a party at Roger’s Idora Road Men’s Club in Sherman, NY - everyone saw it falling, but nobody was close enough to do anything about it.


*Music Credits:
1, 2, 8: Michael J Vickey; 4 (arrangement): Michael J Vickey; 12: Good for Nuthin String Band; 13: Mark Zimmer


AVAILABLE NOW! Good for Nuthin String Band #2.
Our CD # 2 features 13 Instrumental Old-Time and Mountain Traditional-style tunes, including 5 Good for Nuthin String Band originals.

$15.00 AVAILABLE NOW at Drake Oil Well Museum Gift Shop in Titusville, PA, The Erie Book Store in Erie, PA, Hazen Manor in Sherman, NY, Penn Shore Vineyards and South Shore Wine Company in North East, PA, and at The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park gift shop in White Springs, FL or order online:

Secure online ordering:


You can also order the Good for Nuthin String Band CD's by mail.
Send check or money order along with your mailing address and choice of CD(s) to:

M J Vickey
PO Box 367
North East, PA 16428

$15.00 each + $3.00 shipping in USA (any quantity) - Make payment to: "M J Vickey"

OR Listen to sound clips and Buy our CD #2 or Upload MP3 files for the CD at:

GOOD FOR NUTHIN STRING BAND: #2 Traditional American Roots Music



What others are saying about our CD #2:

Kathy F. from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania says "Wow!!! I picked up a copy of your latest CD when I was in the Shop on Friday, and I tried to listen to it while I was folding laundry over the weekend. I don't recommend that! A lot of foot tapping happened, but not much laundry got folded. It is amazing!! I listened to it on the way to work, and plan to make my boss listen later today when we travel to WV for a seminar tomorrow. Your CD is FUN and showcases the talents of all the various string players. I can't seem to get enough! The group sounds so tight - masterful. I am in awe. . . . The mandolin is incredible. I love your notes on the insert, too. Full of fun and personality. Congratulations on an excellent collection!"

Andy B. from Portland, Oregon says "Outstanding CD! We have listened to it twice and shared it with some folks from Canada while we had some beers and a tour of our RV. The engineering and quality are very professional . . . and it sounds sweet on my player without any adjustment as we go from tune to tune."

Jodie von G. from New York says "We are listening to your CD as I write. We are thrilled with it! The sound is excellent and the playing is top notch. It is my favorite CD as of now!!!!"

Al P. from Ligonier, Pennsylvania says "So what do I do? I put on Number Two for the first time. And, I am enthralled. It is terrific. I love the Vickey compositions, I love the traditional, I love it all. And, from someone who mostly listens to Bach, and, when it can be found, good New Age, it is simply delightful! Many, many thanks . . . have a great evening. You have made mine a lot better!"

Charlie B. from Clearwater, Florida says ". . . nice work - nice graphics - nice music - very pleased - its a great album! Much respect."

Kate G. from Arlington, Virginia says "Oh, this is good stuff, Michael! I am listening to the cd as I write (even though the computer speakers don’t do it justice.) I have gone back twice to Dingley’s Acre. It is haunting and beautiful. White Springs called to my Irish and Scot ancestors. OK, most of them do for good reason. . . .You guys have too much fun while you are playing. When I heard the spoons I almost fell out of my seat - haven’t heard them in years."

Master Instrument Maker, Dennis Dorogi of Brocton, NY says "I am enjoying your very lively CD. It is a nice group effort. Best I have heard in a long time. It is going to be played a lot. I like the way your group integrates the dulcimer with the other instruments. It seems to fit in as if it belongs there."

Go to the Good for Nuthin String Band home page.

The c.1866 Dingley's Acre photo used on the back cover of our CD #2 is from the archives of the Drake Well Oil Museum in Titusville, Pennsylvania and is used with permission.

Email Contacts:
Michael

Web Page contents C. 2008 - 2010 Good for Nuthin' String Band