Cotton-Eyed Joe is an important song in my life; it was the first record I ever bought. I was about ten years old, and heard it on the radio. It was played by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. I talked my Dad into going down to the Sears store to buy it for me. (It was a 78 RPM) We didn’t even have a record player at home. But, my Aunt and Uncle had a record player, so every time we’d go to visit them, while they sat in the kitchen playing cards & dominoes, I’d get to listen to it over and over in the living room. Later on in college when I became a folk singer, I learned a different and supposedly more traditional version of it. I’ve put the two together. The musicians: Mason Williams – vocal / rhythm guitar Byron Berline – fiddle / vocal harmony Rick Cunha – rhythm acoustic / lead electric guitar / vocal harmony Jerry Mills – mandolin John Hickman – 5-string Banjo Don Whaley – Bass / vocal harmony Hal Blaine – Drums Recorded at Boutwell Studios / Birmingham, AL 10/'84