Pharis & Jason Romero: Tell 'Em You Were Gold

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings – SFW CD 40246

Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2022
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk
[Tracklist]
01 Souvenir (3:23)
02 Cold Creek Shout (3:00)
03 Rolling Mills (3:58)
04 Sour Queen (3:35)
05 Pale Morning (2:33)
06 Train on the Island (2:34)
07 Lady on the Green (3:01)
08 Cannot Change It All (4:27)
09 The Dose (2:05)
10 SS Radiant (3:17)
11 Been All Around This World (3:30)
12 Black Guard Mary (3:08)
13 Going to Town (2:04)
14 Going Across the Sea (3:38)
15 Five Miles from Town (2:48)
16 Old Bill's Tune (3:05)
17 New Caledonia (Vinyl only) (3:23)
18 Backstep Indi (Vinyl only) (2:34)
19 Lost Lula (Vinyl only) (2:26)
20 Billy in the Lowground (Vinyl only) (3:05)
21 Old September (Vinyl only) (3:47)
22 Ballad of Old Bill (Vinyl only) (3:44)
[Credits]
Jason Romero (banjo/vocals) Pharis Romero (guitar/vocals) Grace Forrest (fiddle) Trent Freeman (fiddle) Marc Jenkins (pedal steel) Patrick Metzger (bass) John Reischman (mandolin)
Producer: Pharis and Jason Romero, Associate production: Marc Jenkins, Engineer: John Raham, Marc Jenkins, John Raham and D. James Goodwin
[Notes]
Pharis and Jason Romero are pure craftspeople. A renowned banjo builder, Jason spent years developing his own personal designs, and on Tell 'Em You Were Gold, his handmade instruments take center stage. Over a half dozen uniquely crafted banjos are played by the duo in the course of the album. There's conviction and delicacy in this music, which ranges from duets that showcase the pair's deep psychic and artistic connection to solo banjo meditations and full band romps. Recorded over six days in an old barn in Horsefly, British Columbia, the album displays the multiple Juno Award-winning duo playing music that is honest, direct, and reflective of life's beauty and knottiness. The double LP edition features six fan favorite bonus tracks including "Lost Lula," "Backstep Indi," and others never before available on vinyl.