Butch Baldassari, Wayne Benson and Alan Bibey at Monkey Finger Studio

We had originally hoped to include a more heavily orchestrated number for three mandolins but, between artist schedules and our limited recording time, we had to let that idea go. Butch suggested a triple mandolin version of Golden Slippers and he, Wayne and Alan cooked up the arrangement the morning of the session in Alan's hotel room.

I love the key changes and the contrast in the styles of the three mando boys. Each player has a different take on the tune, culminating in a massive triple mando attack.

Butch Baldassari at Monkey Finger Studio

The individual mandolin solos are not credited on this (or Carter's Blues) so all the mandomaniacs out there can have a go at figuring it out for themselves.

Dave Freeman, president of Rebel Records, is a huge fan of old time music and both Tim and I knew of his fondness for "Golden Slippers." When Tim came back into the control room to listen to this finished track, he looked up with a grin and said, "This one is for Dave." When we turned over the finished master to Rebel, Dave mentioned how much he had enjoyed it. Hopefully, everyone else will share our enthusiasm!

"For some reason, I thought Wayne Benson was the designated mandola player on this tune, but when I arrived at the early morning rehearsal with he and Alan Bibey, my memory was refreshed that I was going to play the 'dola parts. I did have quite a nice Gilchrist 'dola on loan from Andy Owens who was on his year long world tour. After Tim Stafford straightened me out on the baritone part of the chorus, the tune came off quite nicely!"

Butch Baldassari

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