janolov - Posted - 10/17/2025:  10:13:38

TOTW 10/17/25  Sallie Gooden – Eck Robertson

This TOTW will focus on Eck Robertson’s 1922 recording of Sallie Gooden (or Sally Goodin). Sally Goodin (A.K.A. Sally Goodwin, Sallie Gooden and so on) has already been TOTW 11 years ago, presented by Don Borchelt . Don made an excellent write-up about the tune and presented several interesting recordings of Sally Goodin.  For information and history of Sally Goodin, and recordings,  just visit this older TOTW. This week’s TOTW will be focused on Eck Robertson’s version  youtu.be/z8EXiUzTuRo.

Long ago I became interested in Eck Robertson’s version of “Sallie Gooden” recording from 1922 . I had the recording on an old vinyl 33 rpm record that I bought in the mid 70’s. Robertson's rendition of "Sallie Gooden" has become a classic since he played:the traditional fiddle tune followed by a lot of variations (according to Eck Robertson there were 14 variations). I became interested in this recording just because of these variations, and I have tried to understand all variations for 50 years now, but it is only during the last years I really focused on this tune.

Traditional Tune archive gives the following story about Eck Roberston’s Sallie Gooden:

• “Texas fiddler Eck Robertson was the first person to record the tune in 1922 when he was aged thirty-four (Robertson played the tune at variously in both AEae and standard tuning, although on his early and famous recording he played in AEae). Robertson was by accounts a colorful personality, who used to introduce the tune in performance something akin to the following (wrote fiddler Byron Berline, Frets Magazine):
  
  
  
  
  • There was a girl named Sally who had two boyfriends. The two boys were both fiddle players, and one of the boys had the last name of 'Goodin.' Sally couldn't decide which one to marry, so she thought a fiddle contest between the two would be a good way to make her selection. Of course, the fellow Goodin won the contest, and Sally became Sally Goodin. They were very happy and had a productive life with 14 children, so I'm going to play 'Sally Goodin' 14 different ways.”
  
  
  
  

I have spent some time listening and dissecting the recording. I have made a tab with fiddle notation (as played by Eck Robertson) and a suggested clawhammer version plus guitar accompaniment, see the tab archive:  .

• Tab (fiddle, clawhammer banjo and guitar), TablEdit 


• Tab (fiddle, banjo), pdf 


• Tab generated mp3 (fiddle, banjo, guitar)  


• Midi file (fiddle, banjo, guitar)

The recording from 1922 is unaccompanied, just the fiddle. The tempo is about 270 BPM, and I think it is difficult to play at that speed.

For accompaniment there are two options:

• Just play an A chord throughout the whole tune.


• Play three measures A, and every fourth measure play first an E and then an A chord: AA/AA/AA/EA/ and so on throughout all variation.

This is my own interpretation of the structure of the variations. When summarizing the parts I discovered that I identified 16 different variations (but it can be discussed what is a variation and what is a repeat)

• Part A (four measures). This is the main part. I think this part has some resemblance to the first part of the Bluegrass version. Part A is played again later in the tune. I've noted some clawhammer variations in the tab; the fiddle part remains mostly unchanged.


• Part B1 and B2 (four measures each). I think the B part starts similar to the second part of the Bluegrass version (Scruggs). The B1 and B2 parts start the same but the last halves are different.


• Part C1, C2, C3 (four measures each). The C1, C2 and C3 are very similar but there are some small differences.


• Part D (eight measures). This is probably an important part since it is is repeated later in the tune.


• Part E (four measures). The E part has some similarities to  the A part, but the rhythm is different.


• Part F1, F2 and F3 (four measures each). These two parts have some small differences and are still another variation, or development, of the A part).


• Part G1 and G2 (four measures each) present some new melody lines. G1 and G2 are very similar to each other, and the differences are the first note of the first three measures,


• Part H1 and H2 (four measures each) are development or variation of G1 and G2.


• Part J (eight measures) is still another variation or development of the A part.

On the recording the parts are played in the following order (every part is repeated once):

• A B1 B2 C1 C2 C3 D A E F1 F2 F3 D G1 G2 H1 H2 D A I J A

In the beginning I thought that that this version of Sallie Gooden was very complex and difficult to understand. After making this analysis it became easier to understand the tune, and even possible to memorize the tune.

I am sure most of you have an own version of Sallie Gooden, but it would be nice to see/hear  some versions that are based on Eck Robertson’s version, or at least some of the variations.

Edited by - janolov on 10/17/2025 10:18:13

RG - Posted - 10/17/2025:  12:56:56

Great choice Jan! Sally Gooden (in all it's spellings) was one of the old-timers canon of tunes, everyone had a version and the song was ubiquitous amongst them, and sadly only rarely heard at jams these days. Always one of my favorites, I recorded this on my iphone 15 years ago when I first joined the BHO, can't believe how time flies! My version of the tune based on the fiddling of the late great Missouri fiddler Bob Holt who played it at BREAKNECK speed and called the tune "Bear Creek Sally Goodin'."

Edited by - RG on 10/17/2025 12:58:05

Bear Creek Sally Goodin'

 

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 10/17/2025:  13:27:34

The audio quality of that recording is stunning, given that it was recorded mono in 1922 (if I'm reading it right).
Thanks!

dbrooks - Posted - 10/17/2025:  14:54:40

Another outstanding write-up, Jan, with generous examples.This is worthy of publication - if there were any journals or magazines left for old-time.  Perhaps a state history journal or web site.

David

JanetB - Posted - 10/18/2025:  12:30:59

Your research and analysis of the playing of Eck Robertson deserve an A+ from this retired teacher.  Reviewing Don Borchelt's TOTW showcases another example of how remarkably impressive our TOTW presentations have been over the years.

I listened to the 1920's recording and chose my favorite variations to arrange, plus add my own at the end of the mp3.  Naturally, it's much slower and less complete than your impressive midi with all 16 variations.

Sallie Gooden (Eck Robertson)(TOTW)

Sally Goodin (CH) tab

Sallie Gooden (Eck Robertson) (CH) tab

 

Eric A - Posted - 10/19/2025:  11:45:55

When I want Sally Gooden I usually go to Monroe's version with Byron Berline on fiddle, or JD and New South with Ricky Skaggs.