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Salt Creek/Salt River
Old-Time breakdown. Southeast. Widely known
Learn to play Richard Matteson's solo insrumental version on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPEXCU2ndAg
TAB:
ARTIST: Lyrics from Richard L. Matteson Jr. For a video to help learn the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IGys1rJkxY
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: First recorded Clark Kessinger in 1929 as Salt River. Dates back to 1800s. Named after the Salt River in northern Kentucky circa 1773. Tune resembles Molly Maguire 1909. Derived from an Irish air similar to Red-Haired Boy/Little Beggarman tune.
RECORDING INFO: Salt River [Me IV-A18]
Rt - Horny-Knick-a-brino ; No Corn on (the) Tygert
Rm - Salt Creek; Red Haired Boy
Uf - Salt Creek
Brody, David (ed.) / Guitar Picker's Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1984), p128
Bird, Elmer. Home Sweet Home, Windy Ridge WR-10002, LP (1982), trk# A.01
Brody, David. Brody, David (ed.) / Fiddler's Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1983), p249
Bursen, Howard (Howie). Perlman, Ken / Melodic Clawhammer Banjo, Oak, Sof (1979), p36
Bursen, Howard (Howie). Building Boom, Flying Fish FF 441, LP (1988), trk# A.02
Chancellor, Jim "Texas Shorty". Texas Shorty and John Hartford. Old Sport, Small Dog A-Barking SD 494, Cas (1994), trk# A.06
Chapman, Owen "Snake". Walnut Gap, Rounder 0418, CD (1999), trk# 9
Connor, Sam. Old Originals, Vol. 1, Rounder 0057, LP (1978), trk# 5 [1974/98/12]
Cutler, Marty. Brody, David (ed.) / Banjo Picker's Fakebook, Oak, Fol (1985), p143b
Flippen, Benton. Old Times, New Times, Rounder 0326, Cas (1994), trk# 2 [1971]
Flippen, Benton. Old Times, New Times, Rounder 0326, Cas (1994), trk# 7 [1993]
Franklin, Lewis. Texas Fiddle Favorites, County 707, LP (1966), trk# A.01
George, Franklin/Frank. Traditional Music for Banjo, Fiddle & Bagpipes, County C 2703, Cas (1992/1967), trk# a.07
George, Franklin/Frank. Traditional Music for Banjo, Fiddle and Bagpipes, Kanawha 307, LP (1967), trk# A.06
Greene, Joe. Joe Greene's Fiddle Album, County 722, LP (1969), trk# B.05
Hammonds, Currence. Old-Time Banjo Anthology, Vol. 1, Marimac AHS 4, Cas (1991), trk# 7 [1977/02/08]
Hammons, Shermon. Hammons Family. A Study of a West Virginia Family's Traditions, Library of Congress AFS L65-L66, LP (1973), trk# 14 [1972/01/12] (Muddy Roads)
Hickman, John. Don't Mean Maybe, Rounder 0101, LP (1978), trk# A.02
Hughes, Delbert. Home Recordings., Augusta Heritage AHR 015, Cas (1994), trk# A.11
Kessinger Brothers. Old Time Fiddle Classics, Vol. 2, County 527, LP (1973), trk# 11 [1929/06/25]
Knopf, Bill. Knopf, Bill / Hot Licks and Fiddle Tunes, Chappell, Sof (1976), p63
Krassen, Miles. Krassen, Miles / Appalachian Fiddle, Oak, sof (1973), p37
Krassen, Miles. Krassen, Miles / Clawhammer Banjo, Oak, sof (1974), p59
Lieberson, Richard. Lieberson, Richard / Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Guitar, Amsco, Sof (1974), p111
Millar, Wade Hampton. Hornbostel, Lois / The Anthology for the Fretted Dulcimer, Mel Bay, Fol (1982), p167
Molsky, Bruce. Lost Boy, Rounder 0361, CD (1996), trk# 8
Roberts, John; and Tony Barrand. Mellow with Ale from the Horn, Front Hall FHR-004, LP (1975), trk# A.04a
Schultz, Barry. Silberberg, Gene (ed.) / Complete Fiddle Tunes I Either Did or Did Not., Silberberg, Fol (2005), p171
Smokey Valley Boys. Smokey Valley Boys, Rounder 0029, LP (1974), trk# 7
Trischka, Tony. Trischka, Tony (ed.) / Banjo Song Book, Oak, Sof (1978), p 90
White, "Doc" Frank. Krassen, Miles (ed.) / Masters of Old Time Fiddling, Oak, Sof (1983), p 71
Salt Creek [Me IV-A18]
Rm - Salt River
Barenberg, Russ / Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar, Amsco, Sof (1978), p40
Baker, Kenny. Fiddler Magazine, Fiddler Mag., Ser, 4/4, p39(1997) [1963]
Blake, Norman. Whiskey Before Breakfast, Rounder 0063, LP (1987), trk# 4 (Salt River) Blake, Norman; and Tony Rice. Norman Blake & Tony Rice. Vol 2, Rounder 0266C, Cas (1990), trk# B.06
Bottle Hill. Light Our Way Along the Highway, Biograph RC 6009, LP (1976), trk# B.01b Brentano, Ron; and Mike Russo. Pilgrim Life with Music, Oregon History --, CD (200?), trk# 7
Brody, David. Brody, David (ed.) / Fiddler's Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1983), p248 (Salt River)
Flat Mountain Girls. Flat Mountain Girls, Flat Mountain --, CD (2003), trk# 8b
Haley, Ed. Forked Deer, Rounder 1131/1132, CD( (1997), trk# 1.17 (Salt River)
Hartford, John. Devil's Box, Devil's Box, Ser, 30/2, p33(1996)
Johnson, Herman. Herman Johnson - National Champion, Gillian, LP (1978), trk# A.06 (Salt River)
Keith, Bill. Wernick, Peter (ed.) / Bluegrass Banjo, Oak, Sof (1974), p104
Kessinger, Clark. Clark Kessinger, Fiddler, Folkways FA 2336, LP (1966), trk# 4 (Salt River)
Lilly, Mike. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1974/12,p 7
Lowinger, Gene. Lowinger, Gene / Bluegrass Fiddle, Oak, fol (1974), p15
Lundy Family. Back in Galax Again, Heritage (Galax) 105, Cas (1992), trk# B.02
McClurken, Peter. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1974/11,p 9
Michael, Walt; & McCreesh, Tom. Dance Like a Wave on the Sea, Front Hall FHR-017, LP (1978), trk# A.01b
Millar, Wade Hampton. In the Days I Went A-courtin', Acoustic Revival AR 33005, LP (1981), trk# A.01b
New Deal String Band. More Goodies from the Hills, Union Grove SS-3, LP (1969), trk# 12 (Salt River)
Petteys, Mark. Country Blue, Roadrunner 29823, LP (1976), trk# B.04
Rice, Tony. Guitar, King Bluegrass KB-529, LP (197?), trk# 3
Rice, Tony. Rice, Tony / Tony Rice Guitar, Rice, fol (1984), p 7
Stover, Don; & the White Oak Mountain Boys. West Virginia Coal Miner Blues, Old Homestead 90011, LP (197?), trk# 10 (Salt River)
Thomasson, Benny & Jerry. Jam Session with Benny & Jerry Thomasson, Voyager VRCS 309, LP/ (1973), trk# A.02
Trischka, Tony. Banjoland, Rounder 0087, LP (1977), trk# A.02
Watson, Doc. Doc Watson on Stage, Vanguard VSD 9/10, LP (1970), trk# 24a
Wright Sisters and George Chudecoff. Born Wright Sisters and George Chudacoff, Wright --, CD (2005), trk# 4
RELATED TO: Molly Maguire; Red-Haired Boy; Horny-Knick-a-brino; No Corn on (the) Tygert
OTHER NAMES: Salt River;
SOURCES: Kuntz; Folk Index; Meade.
NOTES: Salt Creek is a two part fiddle tune in the mixolydian mode reminiscent of the Red-Haired Boy. It was called Salt River in 1929 after the recording by Clark Kessinger. In 1963 when it was recorded as Salt Creek by Bill Monroe- possibly to avoid copyright problems.
The title is possibly from the Great Salt River (now Licking Creek) and more likely from the Salt River in northern Kentucky which provided salt from Bullitt's Lick to the Ohio River in 1779 and recently formed Taylorsville Lake in 1983.
The lyrics were composed by Richard Matteson in 2009, based on the traditional melody and form.
Notes from Kuntz: SALT RIVER [2]. AKA and see "Salt Creek." Old‑Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA; West Virginia, Virginia, Texas. D Major {Krassen}: A Major/Mixolydian (Brody, Phillips, Silberberg). Standard tuning. AB (Krassen, Silberberg): AABB (Brody, Lowinger): AABBAA'B'B' (Phillips). Popular in central and southern West Virginia (Krassen). Guthrie Meade thinks it reminiscent of an old tune called "Horny‑knick‑a‑brino,” but is "probably derivative of some Irish air.” In the headnotes to “Salt River” in the volume Country Music Sources, Meade mentions a ‘distant relationship’ to P.W. Joyce’s (1909) tune “Molly Maguire [1].” Charles Wolfe (1997) also believes it to be Irish in origin. Other writers have similar opinions: according to one source the West Virginia version bears a resemblance to "Red Haired Boy" (Gilderoy)—Gerry Milnes suggests that many tunes from that state (including “Jack o’ Diamonds” by Melvin Wine, Sarah Singleton, and others; “Guilderoy” by John Johnson; “Soldier with a Wooden Leg” by Lee Tripplet and others) and the many variants of “Red Haired Boy” all stem from the same root tune. Bayard (1981) believes the tune to be associated with sets of the American/Irish tunes "Ducks on the Pond," "Molly Maguire [1]," "The Mills Are Grinding [1]," "Pigeon on the Pies," "Paddy on the Turnpike [2]," "Down the Hill," "The Flowers of Limerick," "The Telephone," and "A Rainy Day [1]." Hobart Smith called his variant by the name of “Pateroller,” although this is not the tune that usually goes by the name of “Pateroller,” “The Pateroller (Song) [2],” or “Run, N....r, Run” and permutations of that latter title. Mike Yates (2002) believes Kentucky fiddler John M. Salyer’s “Lonesome John” to be related to this tune family. Kerry Blech finds an untitled tune by African-American fiddler Williams Adams (AKA Will Adam) to be a variant (Adams was recorded by Mike Seeger in the early 1950’s in Kengar {now Kensington}, Maryland).
An influential early recording was by Kanawha County, West Virginia, fiddler Clark Kessinger (1896-1975) as part of the Kessinger Brothers for the Brunswick label in 1929 (Kessinger later re-recorded the tune). West Virginia natives Doc White, fiddle, and Currance Hammonds on the banjo (played in a modal tuning) both had versions. Another West Virginian, Franklin George, said he learned the tune from northern Indiana fiddler John W. Summers, who told Joel Shimberg that he himself had learned it from an old friend, Judge Dan White, also from northern Indiana. “Salt River” was later separately recorded by bluegrass musicians Bill Monroe and Don Stover under the title "Salt Creek." Sources for notated versions: Doc White (Clay County, West Virginia) [Krassen, 1983]; Frank George (W.Va.) [Krassen, 1973]; Kenny Baker and Benny Thomasson (Texas) [Phillips]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 249. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pg. 37. Krassen (Masters of Old Time Fiddling), 1983; pg. 71. Lowinger (Bluegrass Fiddle), 1974; pg. 15 (appears as "Salt Creek"). Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1994; pg. 212. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 139. Brunswick Records (78 RPM), the Kessinger Brothers (1929). County 527, Clark Kessinger‑ "Old‑Time Fiddle Classics, Vol. 2." County 733, Clark Kessinger‑ "The Legend of Clark Kessinger." Decca 31596, Bill Monroe. Document DOCD-8055, The Kessinger Brothers (reissue). Front Hall 017, Michael and McCreesh‑ "Dance Like a Wave of the Sea" (appears as "Salt Creek"). Rounder 0087, Tony Trishka‑ "Banjoland" (appears as "Salt Creek"). Rounder CD 0418, Snake Chapman. Vanguard VSD 9/10, Doc Watson‑ "On Stage." Voyager 309, Benny and Jerry Thomasson‑ "The Weiser Reunion: A Jam Session" (1993).
SALT RIVER [3]. AKA and see "Shady Grove [2]." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, southwestern Virginia. A Mixolydian. Standard or AEae (Norman Edmonds) tunings. AABB. A tune and title common in the Franklin/Floyd County area of southwestern Va. Tom Carter and Blanton Owen (1976) say the high part of this version resembles the standard "Salt River" versions, the lower "more closely approximates" versions of "Shady Grove." The tune was in the repertoire of Norman Edmonds, a fiddler from the Round Peak area of western North Carolina/southwestern Virginia. Source for notated version: Armin Barnett [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, Vol. 1), 1994; pg. 213. Rounder 0057, Sam Conner (Floyd County, Va.) ‑ "Old Originals, Vol. 1." Rounder 0361, Bruce Molsky – “Lost Boy” (1996. Learned from the playing of “Uncle” Norman Edmonds of Hillsville, Va.).
LYRICS:
Salt Creek
by Richard L. Matteson Jr. C 2009; To help learn the song Richard made a video of him playing the song on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IGys1rJkxY
VERSE: Salt Creek runs through them ole Kentucky hills,
Just a peek 'round the bend from Uncle Jim's still.
Salt Creek woman, she's lookin' mighty fine,
Looks even better with a swig of moonshine.
VERSE: Headed on home to my cabin on Salt Creek,
If you want, stop on by, anytime this week.
The creek's all muddy and the pond's gone dry,
And the big cat spit in the little cat's eye.
CHORUS (2X): Come on down with a bucket or a jug,
Set here a spell and fill your mug.
Shake your little foot Sally Ann,
Jump back, turn around, catch her if you can.
VERSE: Salt Creek runs through the middle of Kentuck,
Stop on by, pick awhile, it'll change your luck.
They say the Creek's named by an injun lad,
Who stuck his finger in the water, thought it was bad.
VERSE: We all learn from the salt of the earth,
Written down, for all time, tells you what they're worth.
Po' folk dance until the break of day,
Put out the fire till the next time we play.
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