Eli Smith is a singer, banjo player and guitarist who grew up in New York's Greenwich Village. Smith has recorded for Jalopy Records, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and Nonesuch Records as part of the soundtrack to the film "Inside Llewyn Davis." He regularly performs as a solo musician and with the string band the Down Hill Strugglers. This album features songs, ballads and instrumentals. "Wild Bill Jones" and "John Hardy" are two traditional American ballads. The Hong Kong Blues is a song from an old movie. Eli learned and adapted the banjo tune "Last Chance" from a recording by Hobart Smith, and the "Guitar Rag" from a 78rpm record of Sylvester Weaver. Smith's take on "Wild Bill Jones" is based out of Virgil Anderson's playing of the ballad. "John Hardy" is his own version.