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maxmax - Posted - 01/15/2010: 00:28:19
Hi all!
My choice for tune of the week is "Rockingham Cindy", also known as "Way Down in Rockingham", "Where’d You Get Your Whiskey" and "Rocky Road Cindy". It's in the same family of tunes as "Cindy" and "Jinny Go Round and Around".
Unfortunately, I have not been able to find much history of the tune, but it is a well-known traditional tune. If any of you know anything about it's history, please chime in!
I've heard some people say that it's crooked and others say it's not, even though they are referring to the same version of the tune. I'm not good at counting bars to figure out what's crooked and not, but it sure does have kind of an extra thingy to it at the end of the A part (or maybe it's at the beginning of the B part?), which makes it very interesting to my ears. It's really not a difficult tune, you just need to figure out that transition between the A and the B part, than it's all down hill from there!
I originally learnt it from Tommy Jarrell and Kyle Creed's classic record "June Apple".
Brad Leftwich has tabbed out the way Tommy played it on the banjo, in his "Round Peak Style, Clawhammer Banjo" book.
It sounds cool, but to be honest, it kinda hurts my head to try play it the way Tommy played it on the banjo, because it's too many notes with too little melody for me to grasp. I needed to hear that fiddle (record mentioned above), but someone ells might have better luck though.
Kirk Sutphin and Eddie Bond
have a very nice, clean version of it here: (Eddie sings it so great!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfTFBtvIcSY
Adam Hurt
has a beautiful arrangement of it on his BHO page here:
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango....asp?id=2436
And I recorded a quick and dirty, fairly basic arrangement, of myself playing it in double D (gCGCD capo second fret) here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CekUPQ9bPQ8
Tommy Jarrell
sang these words:
Never loved old Cindy, don't expect I ever shall.
Never loved old Cindy, but I love old Cindy’s gal.
Chorus: It's come along home, Cindy, Cindy.
Knock along home Cindy, Cindy.
Where'd you get your whisky, where'd you get your dram?
Where'd you get your whisky at? Way down in Rockingham.
Where'd you get your whisky, where'd you get your dram?
Where'd you get your whisky at? (spoken) well it don't make a damn...
Earl Johnson
sang these words:
Where'd you get your whiskey, where'd you get your dram?
I got it from a little girl, way down in Rockingham.
Chorus: Rocky Road Cindy, rocky road to town.
Rocky Road Cindy, way down in Rockingham.
I went down to Rockingham, I did not go to stay.
I fell in love with a pretty girl and I could not get away.
Lips as red as a red rose, her hair was huckleberry brown.
The sweetest girl I ever saw, way down in Rockingham.
First I kissed Cindy once and then I kissed her twice.
I'll tell you where I kissed her, gonna kiss her there tonight...
I hope this will inspire some of you to learn this tune, it's a great one! And of course, I'd love to here if any of you have a recording of yourself playing it, or if you have any additional info or thoughts you might like to share!
Best,
Max
Edited by - maxmax on 01/15/2010 00:34:30
BRUNO25 - Posted - 01/15/2010: 04:36:58
Nice tune, Max. I am not familiar with it. Sounds like a good one to learn. I have that Brad Leftwich book, so it should be pretty easy to get started on. I'd have to agree with you though about the arrangements. I don't think I play any of the tunes in that book the way they are tabbed out. I just don't really care for the choice of some of the notes. But they do make for a good place to start. Thanks for all the links to other performances.
John
Don Borchelt - Posted - 01/15/2010: 05:12:03
Fine choice. I really like your version, great picking. I've been meaning to learn this for awhile. I'll be back. 
Edited by - Don Borchelt on 01/15/2010 05:13:22
ramjo - Posted - 01/15/2010: 06:16:17
Nice job, Max. Really enjoyed your playing.
This tune also gets played without the minor sound in the b part. One way is "Jubilee" in Lomax's Folk Songs of North America. Typical verse:
Hardest work I ever done was working on the farm
Easiest work I ever done was in my true love's arms
chorus:
swing and turn, Jubilee, live and learn, Jubilee (2x)
raybob - Posted - 01/15/2010: 08:29:18
Nice selection and good playing. Thanks for bringing this tune to the TOTW and providing links to Kirk's and Adam's versions. Good stuff.
ScottK - Posted - 01/15/2010: 09:45:40
Great call, Max! I learned this tune from Brad Leftwich's book. Took some getting used to, but I really like playing that version. Lisa Ornstein led this tune last night at the Portland Old Time Music Gathering jam at the Moon & Sixpence pub. She spent some time with Tommy back in her teen years and pretty much plays it the way Tommy played it, so it's a lot of fun to back her up on this one.
Scott
harvey - Posted - 01/15/2010: 10:37:42
Nice playing, Max, and a good suggestion for TOTW. I too have the Leftwich book -- I must have a look at this tune.
If I may ask (without derailing the thread): what banjo are you playing in the video? I don't seem to recognise the headstock. Sounds cool either way!
Edited by - harvey on 01/15/2010 10:39:34
unclekurty - Posted - 01/15/2010: 10:56:04
Yes excellent playing as always Max. I'm going to try it in g#C#F#BE. Adam Hurt's version sounds good too. What kind of dog do you have? That dog seems to like clawhammer for sure.
tomberghan - Posted - 01/15/2010: 12:48:04
Nice Max! And I like your dog too!
Now, here is my personal history with the tune. As a kid growing up in America in the 50's and 60s, the tune just seemed to be part of my DNA, but this scene in the move Rio Bravo made a big impact on a lot of us.
Check out Rick's hair! This was when he was a Rockabilly!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52GZtdCUj4U
harvey - Posted - 01/15/2010: 13:02:50
Yes, I must say you did well to keep you composure when your dog almost knocked over the camera!
vrteach - Posted - 01/15/2010: 13:54:05
What fun! Those are great versions that you provide, Max.
I'm bored with my work and the office is empty, and you inspired me. So, I closed the office door and recorded a quick version. I'm on the old aluminum banjo, and it's still in the more-or-less double C that I've had it in for a couple of months.
Oh and it's on the not-quite-refinished vrteach.org.
I also like the dog, and Rio Bravo is one of my guilty pleasure movies. I even like Dean Martin in it.
maxmax - Posted - 01/15/2010: 14:19:23
Thanks for all the positive feedback and info, and great playing vrteach!
quote:
Originally posted by harvey
If I may ask (without derailing the thread): what banjo are you playing in the video? I don't seem to recognise the headstock. Sounds cool either way!
Ah ha, that's because the headstock shape is my own design! It's a custom banjo that Brooks Masten made for me. quote:
Originally posted by unclekurty
What kind of dog do you have? That dog seems to like clawhammer for sure.
My bullmastiff Bea, is the one making the cameo appearance in the video. She has nothing against clawhammer, but I actually think she was looking at getting a game of tug of war going.  Best, Max
harvey - Posted - 01/15/2010: 14:35:33
quote:
Ah ha, that's because the headstock shape is my own design! It's a custom banjo that Brooks Masten made for me.
Ah! That also explains the short scoop, I presume? It looks (and sounds) like a fine banjo.
maxmax - Posted - 01/15/2010: 15:08:14
quote:
Originally posted by harvey
Ah! That also explains the short scoop, I presume? It looks (and sounds) like a fine banjo.
Good eye! Yeah, if I play over the scoop, I never play very far up in it and I wanted that 19th fret, so this short scoop suits me well. It's a great banjo, I love it! Nice link ramjo, thanks!
tomberghan - Posted - 01/15/2010: 16:23:18
This tune doesn't really sound like it belongs in the "Cindy family" to me, but it does have the words "Cindy," "Whiskey," and "Rockingham" in its title.
From the Fiddler's Companion (was in the key of A major. I transposed it G major to be banjo friendly).
Edited by - tomberghan on 01/15/2010 16:24:48
tomberghan - Posted - 01/15/2010: 16:53:39
VERY NICE version Dan!
RG - Posted - 01/15/2010: 19:38:18
Max - you play a really nice version of this tune which is one of my fav's!! Second the comments about Bea as well...cool dog!
maxmax - Posted - 01/16/2010: 00:54:32
Thanks for providing the music notation Tom! I can't read music, but as you said, the tittles right!
Great arrangement and playing Dan!
And thanks RG!
tfaux - Posted - 01/16/2010: 07:09:12
Great ol tune, and very nicely played on your video Max. Thanks for posting.
Matt Buckley - Posted - 01/16/2010: 07:18:47
In listening to all the versions, to my ear the tune is, pretty much, Cindy. So, how would you folks articulate the difference, i.e. Rockingham Cindy and Cindy?
dangibson - Posted - 01/16/2010: 09:07:39
quote:
Originally posted by Matt Buckley
In listening to all the versions, to my ear the tune is, pretty much, Cindy. So, how would you folks articulate the difference, i.e. Rockingham Cindy and Cindy?
Good question. The B part is pretty much the same as just plain "Cindy" in every version I have heard. The A part is subtly different, not only from the Cindy A part but also from version to version of Rockingham Cindy. Although I grew up in North Carolina, it was not around the center of OT music as we know it today, so I'm not steeped in the traditions and lore. And, no one I knew growing up played the music in any way shape or form. Consequently, all I know is what I began hearing and reading after I discovered OT banjo and its music after I had moved to Texas. I'd love to know more. maxmax's original post contains some good info. The CDs he cites may have some info. I'll do an archeological dig through my cassette tapes, LPs, and CDs and see if I can locate the track on which I first heard the tune years ago. There might be a useful liner note or two. Meanwhile, maybe someone who is closer to the source might be able to help us out. It is a puzzlement. Dan Gibson, Storyteller/Banjoplayer Dallas, TX; Burlington, NC www.dangibson.net
Bill - Posted - 01/17/2010: 09:12:25
Max -- Thanks for choosing this one. It was a most excellent choice.
Dan -- Thank you for posting your version. It was pretty, and played cleanly. I was able to learn the tune from it, though I did use Audacity to drop it 2 half-tones for the learning because I never seem to have my capo handy when I want it. Your mp3 is on my listening list, and Rockingham Cindy is now on my playing list.
Bill
Tamarack - Posted - 01/17/2010: 10:05:22
Great tune Max. The versions in my head and occasionally on my banjo are the high-energy version by the Red Clay Ramblers on thier Twisted Laurel LP/CD and a dulcimer version of Jubilee by Sally Rogers -- Jubilee tends to migrate further up the neck on the first and second strings.
bblizard - Posted - 01/19/2010: 13:58:36
Great tune choice. I can't really think of this tune without the "crooked" round peak bridge between the high and low parts. And I really enjoyed your video - nice version of the tune, and I love the dog interlude. It reminds me that my dogs are the only ones in my house who don't seem to care if I play the banjo!
LyleK - Posted - 01/20/2010: 18:35:58
As many others have said, great pick Max. This TOW really got me thinking, because I've been playing Rockingham Cindy since my late teens (so _quite_ some time ago), but was never very happy with how I played the A part. So I've rethought the whole thing following Eddie Bond's fiddling in the youtube link from the first post. I wanted a CH version that could stand on its own and was as close as possible (for me) to the fiddle. So here's what I came up with:
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...92&archived=
maxmax - Posted - 01/22/2010: 07:39:26
Nice playing Lyle! Thanks for sharing your version!
slabounty - Posted - 01/23/2010: 07:14:08
Max (and others) thanks for all the great versions you've given us. Also, everyone may want to check out the Tallboys from Seattle. They have a great version too. It's on (I believe) their Rubbur Dolly CD and also on at least one live recording that I have of theirs (can't find the link here, but ScottK may know as I think he's also a fan).
Scott
ELWOOD - Posted - 01/23/2010: 07:51:23
After hearing Adam Hurts' R. Cindy , I deleted my MP3 and Ill just go now to the wood shed..................Great Tune of the week..........Steve
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