Record #0004: Dueling Banjos / End of a Dream – ERIC WEISSBERG

Warner Bros 7659 (original), USA, 1972
Words & Music by:  Side A – Arthur“Guitar Boogie” Smith, arranged by Eric Weissberg; Side B – Trad. arranged by Eric Weissberg
Musicians:  Eric Weissberg (banjo), Steve Mandell (guitar), others unknown
Recording sessions: unknown
Highest chart positions:  US #2 (#1 in US Adult Contemporary Charts) in 1973

Dueling Banjos is a bit off the mainstream and was so at the time of the release, too. Still it almost hit the top of the US charts, failing only to get past Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song".

Dueling Banjos was made famous by the film “Deliverance”. It was actually used there without the composer’s permission, which led to a (successful) lawsuit. The credits on the label do not even show Arthur Smith and I wonder if this was handled in the court as well.

List price:  “Very Good+” is $2 and “Near Mint” is $4.