RV6 - Posted - 03/23/2018:  05:30:02

In the hopes that TOTW can go to the ten year mark, Jack Buethin suggested that I participate with a contribution.  I'm a beginner when compared to most of those who post to TOTW so, if this one isn't "up to snuff", blame Jack

  I always read the TOTW threads and am amazed at the knowledge and musical ability of those who contribute.  Thanks to all of those who have participated in the past.



Here's some history of this tune "of many names": tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:F...ttle_Miss



And here's a  link from the Fiddle Hangout about the tune and lyrics: fiddlehangout.com/archive/10903



I'm not really into the history of tunes much and lyrics aren't of much interest to me as I let people who can actually sing, do so.  Whatever the name, I like the tune and it's probably the first tune I learned after (mostly) getting through "Clawhammer from Scratch" about 5 years ago.  It seems like we play it quite a bit at our Mon. nite jam and some other jams I've been to.



Anyway, here's some of the renditions that I like (no particular order of preference).



My fiddle buddy Mitch and I at one of our Mon. nite jams: banjohangout.org/song/41065



Kirk Sutphin –Kevin Fore – Andy Edmonds: youtu.be/OXzJFKs6wxo



Bode & Jarrell:  youtube.com/watch?v=23sV3_Yi3kk



Dwight Dilller (Blue Eyed Girl): youtube.com/watch?v=WFT4CF8Uf3o



Rex McGee (just fiddle but I liked it): youtu.be/9LeH5gdR-qw



Kirk Sutphin & Riley Baugus: youtube.com/watch?v=oGPkn8yb87o&t=89s



Benton Flippen and the The Smokey Valley Boys: youtube.com/watch?v=EZPMmdqdVJU



From the Banjo Hangout music files.



lazyjohn: banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=



Steve Arkin: banjohangout.org/song/26766



 

Cyndy - Posted - 03/23/2018:  05:43:00

This was one of the first fiddle tunes I learned to play because it was a popular jam and open band tune where I was living. As I progressed, my way of playing it changed without conscious thought and it was interesting to me to see the progression. I hadn’t thought about it in a long while—until yesterday, when I was wondering how I might bow it now. So, for me, these examples are timely and I will listen with a focused ear. Thanks for pulling together the post!

jack_beuthin - Posted - 03/23/2018:  06:57:51

Well Bob, this TOTW is most definitely up to snuff, so you get the credit! Thanks for stepping up as a TOTW volunteer. Maybe this will inspire a few more "beginners" to do the same.

Edited by - jack_beuthin on 03/23/2018 06:58:13

flailing - Posted - 03/23/2018:  07:44:04

Great tune. Hear is another version with Tom Collins that I like.

youtube.com/watch?v=acbn0Y8rsS0

banjukebox - Posted - 03/23/2018:  09:03:38

I agree! Great tune and great first post. Thanks!

Tractor1 - Posted - 03/23/2018:  10:02:49

here is what made me try it in my 3 fimger attempt

hweinberg - Posted - 03/23/2018:  17:06:44

To borrow from the album title of Ken Perlman and the late Alan Jabbour, "You Can't Beat the Classics".
One of my favorite verses from all of old time is from Tommy: "How you make your livin' now, Susananah Gal? Making whisky, playing cards, Susananah Gal." I assume that Tommy, who was known for making what Riley Baugus describes as "liquid folk product" back in the day, made up this verse, so this a great example of what the ethnomusicologists call the folk process. 8-)

janolov - Posted - 03/24/2018:  08:01:20

One of my favorite versions of this tune is by Hobart Smith playing Fly Around My Blue-Eyed Girl on piano (!): youtube.com/watch?v=ksUPMGns3EA

JanetB - Posted - 03/24/2018:  11:38:04

Great old-time pick, Bob, and it's great to hear you and your fiddling buddy play together. I chose Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham's duet to arrange one and am enjoying reading about their lives in the Round Peak region of North Carolina. Fred's slides influenced me to use more than I normally do. Their B part is unique to other versions I've heard.

Adam Hurt was amused that Susannah is also pronounced Susananna, the way Tommy sang it and Tom Collins called it in the video above. Adam taught me the Emmett Lundy version. You can hear it on Slippery Hill with lyrics from Western Country and Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss:  slippery-hill.com/recording/susannah-gal.



Thanks, Jack, for encouraging Bob to post. Bob, you did a wonderful job and I hope you'll volunteer again!

Susannah Gal (CH) tab

Susannah Gal (TOTW)

Don Borchelt - Posted - 03/24/2018:  19:37:33

A very fine job of picking, Janet, love that languid Fred slide you put in there, for sure. Great choice for TOTW, Bob, one I learned many years ago, and still play all the time with my pals. I've attached a video we made last October, busking in Brattle Square.  The last time through, I finally get around to using one of those chokers that is original equipment on my 1964 Ode Model 42.

- Don Borchelt

Edited by - Don Borchelt on 03/24/2018 19:39:40

jack_beuthin - Posted - 03/25/2018:  10:55:56

Wish I had a fiddler hanging around this morning to play this tune with, but here is my clawhammer rendering anyway. No particular source to this version, just the usual bits and pieces from here, there, and everywhere.

Susannah Gal (aka, Fly Around, Western Country)

 

jack_beuthin - Posted - 03/29/2018:  08:19:59

Here is one more. This from the the Southern Folklife Collection video archives. Bertie Dickens of Ennice North Carolina knocking out Susannah Gal (starts at about 10:00 on the video). 

blogs.lib.unc.edu/sfc/index.ph...therford/



 

jack_beuthin - Posted - 03/29/2018:  09:58:47

I should mention that the fiddler in the Bertie Dickens video is Alice Gerrard.