This is a last minute fill-in for TOTW, so I won't get windy here.
Buffalo Gals sourced to John Hatcher is not quite the same as the well known Buffalo Gals of American folk music tradition. This tune is often called the Mississippi version of Buffalo Gals (Hatcher was from Mississippi). I have also heard it called the Kentucky version, but I’m not sure why (any clues out there?). Also, it is sometimes called Buffalo Girls.
I don’t have much tune background—I just love this tune and it is popular in jams in my area. John Hatcher (1886-1958) was from Iuka, Tishimingo County, Mississippi. He was recorded playing Buffalo Gals in 1939 by Herbert Halpert for the Library of Congress (it is archived in the LOC of as Buffalo Gals). The tune is notated in the Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes.
Thanks for jumping in on short notice, Jack. This is a tune that comes up every once in a while in our jams. People distinguish it from the more popular "song" by calling one "Buffalo Gals" and the other "Buffalo Girls" (though I'm not sure which is which). I never knew the source.
Buffalo Gals sourced to John Hatcher is not quite the same as the well known Buffalo Gals of American folk music tradition. This tune is often called the Mississippi version of Buffalo Gals (Hatcher was from Mississippi). I have also heard it called the Kentucky version, but I’m not sure why (any clues out there?). Also, it is sometimes called Buffalo Girls.
I don’t have much tune background—I just love this tune and it is popular in jams in my area. John Hatcher (1886-1958) was from Iuka, Tishimingo County, Mississippi. He was recorded playing Buffalo Gals in 1939 by Herbert Halpert for the Library of Congress (it is archived in the LOC of as Buffalo Gals).
A notation for the Hatcher version titled "Buffalo Girl" also appears in "Mississippi Fiddle Tunes and Songs from the 1930s" by Harry Bolick and Stephen T. Austin, University Press of Mississippi, 2015, p. 289. A page about John Hatcher is on p. 283.
The tune we know well as "Buffalo Gals" was published in 1844 under the title "Lubly Fan Will You Come Out Tonight?" by Cool White.
That was a nice one from you, Jack. I like how you begin the tune with the "Galax lick." I used John Hatcher's 1939 recording and added the traditional melody to it. Some information about his life is in the attachment from the long liner notes of Great Big Yam Potatoes.
Versions of the tune which in most cases goes by the name Buffalo Gals goes also by other names. One example is Maxwell Girl by the Taylor's Kentucky boys. Some material about the band is in
Love this tune. Jammed with an accordian player and came up with a version based on his to play along with. Don't think I had the chance to play along with him after. Here it is, posted it awhile back. This is the first tune of the week in awhile I've recognized the tune. To many tunes. ha
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Banjo
content: Taylor's Kentucky Boys featured the amazing Marion Underwood on banjo.
quote:
Originally posted by Yigal Zan
Versions of the tune which in most cases goes by the name Buffalo Gals goes also by other names. One example is Maxwell Girl by the Taylor's Kentucky boys. Some material about the band is in
Nice choice! Thanks for the nudge to make this one of my porch tunes. I've been having a lot of fun experimenting with it. I don't have a polished version but I'll add a short practice recording as my contribution to the thread.
The version I learned from the acordian player is definitely the other version after listening to a few more takes, The A parts are pretty much the same..the B part is a little different, The lyrics seems to fit both parts of each version though.
