"Old Dog," released in 2010 as a self-produced recording, is the debut solo album of Toronto-based clawhammer banjoist, guitarist, and singer Chris Coole — widely regarded as one of Canada's most accomplished old-time banjo stylists. Coole, a co-founder of The Foggy Hogtown Boys and longtime collaborator with Appalachian fiddler Erynn Marshall, performs 12 tracks: eight original compositions alongside traditional material. Accompaniment is spare, with Andrew Collins contributing mandolin, mandola, and mandocello. Reviews in Exclaim! and across the old-time community praised Coole's songwriting and his command of both instrumental tradition and original form. The album documents an artist who had spent years deepening his roots in the Appalachian tradition while developing a distinctive Canadian voice within the old-time revival.
Tracklist
- 1 Old Dog 2:40
- 2 The Bottle Got the Best of Me 4:02
- 3 Hell to Pay 2:44
- 4 Cole Younger 4:06
- 5 Hangman’s Reel alt version 3:03
- 6 Daniel and the Sacred Harp 3:41
- 7 Six Days on the Road alt version 2:14
- 8 $100 3:06
- 9 Wasn't that Fine 4:44
- 10 Wild Boar 1:59
- 11 Wish We Had Our Time Again alt version 2:23
- 12 Camp Meeting on the 4th of July 3:08
