Annotation:Pretty Polly Ann (2): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:13, 1 August 2019

PRETTY POLLY ANN(A) [2]. AKA and see "Lonesome Polly Ann," "Sugar Betty Ann (1)/Sugar Betsy Ann (1)." Old-Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA, Texas. A Major. AEae or AEac# tunings (fiddle). AABBCCA'A'. Bob Carlin (1985) notes the tune is possibly a variant of the song "Little Betty Ann," and further notes that, as "Betty Ann," it was recorded in 1947 for Columbia Records by fiddler Jesse Ashlock (who credited the tune to the father of his former employer, Texas swing fiddler Bob Wills). The tune was recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph from the playing of Ozarks Mountains fiddler Bill Bilyeu (pronounced 'Blue', of Day, Missouri) in 1943 [AFS 06904 A02]. "Pretty Polly (2)", from the playing of Pete McMahon and other Missouri fiddlers, is a related tune.

Chilton County, central Alabama fiddler Fonza Smith was recorded in the field playing "Pretty Polly Ann" in a 1965 collecting trip by Bill Parker. While little is known of Smith, he was active in the county for more that thirty years, as evidenced by this mention in the Clanton, Alabama, Union--Banner of Nov. 5th, 1931:

PEANUT PARCHING

Mr. and Mrs. Hudson Crane entertained a large crowd at their home last Thursday night at a peanut parching and cake guessing, in honor of Miss Ruby Wells of Liberty Hill. Music was furnished by Mr. Fonza Smith and Ira Scott. Many games were played. They had a cake for matching paper dolls. Mr. Henry Smith and Ruby Wells won the cake. Miss Zonnie Hayes guessed what was in the second cake, a flag seed. The cakes were cut by the winners and served with peanuts to the guests. Every one had a jolly time, and plenty of peanuts and cake.

And, from March of that year (same paper):

Owing to the bad weather last Saturday the play “Two Days to Marry” at Vermont was postponed until next Saturday night, March 28th. Everybody is invited to come and bring some one with you. Admission 10 and 20 cents, and music by Mr. Gillman and Fonza Smith.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: -

Printed sources : - The Devil's Box, vol. 30, No. 3, 1996; p. 7.

Recorded sources: -Field Recorder's Collective FRC 714, Tom Fuller - "Traditional Fiddling from Oklahoma & Texas." Rounder C-11565, Brad Leftwich - "Rounder Fiddle" (1990. Learned from Tom Fuller). Rounder 0197, Bob Carlin - "Bangin' and Sawin'" (1985). Small Dog a-Barking SD 494, Texas Shorty and John Hartford - "Old Sport" (1995).

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear John Hartford & Texas Shorty's recording on youtube.com [2]
See/hear the Johnson Boy's version on youtube.com [3]
Hear Tom Fuller's version at Slippery Hill [4]
Hear Fonza Smith's (Clanton, Chilton County, central Ala.) 1965 field recording at Berea Sound Archives [5]

Back to Pretty Polly Ann (2)

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ''jolly time, and plenty of peanuts and cake.''
 </blockquote>
+And, from March of that year (same paper):
+<blockquote>
+''Owing to the bad weather last Saturday the play “Two Days to Marry” at Vermont was postponed''
+''until next Saturday night, March 28th. Everybody is invited to come and bring some one with you.''
+''Admission 10 and 20 cents, and music by Mr. Gillman and Fonza Smith.''
+</blockquote>
 {{break|2}}
 </div>