Annotation:Brickyard Joe (1)

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BRICKYARD JOE [1]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; northeast and central Kentucky (as per Titon), Missouri. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Christeson, Brody): AABBA'A'BB (Phillips). It is on Charlie Walden's list of '100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes'. Jeff Titon (2001) notes the low part of this tune is related to the high strain of "Martha Campbell (1)." He finds the title in Kentucky fiddlers' tune lists from the year 1915, kept at Berea College. According to Mark Wilson (liner notes to ) Kentucky fiddler George Lee Hawkins (1904-1991) learned “Brickyard Joe” from the well-known Mt. Sterling fiddler Sid Stone (see picture, right).

Elza Stone and his sons as the Happy Hollow Entertainers; from left, Sid, Howard, James, and Elza. [Old Time Herald, vol. 11, No. 9]

Early recordings are by Doc Roberts (1897-1978, Ky.) in 1928, and Captain McKinney (Texas) in 1929. "Dead Slave (The)," another Missouri fiddle tune, has a similar first strain, while fiddler Pete McMahon's (Missouri) "Fiddler's Hoedown" has a 'B' part that is similar to the 'A' part of "Brickyard Joe" (Beisswenger & McCann).

Sources for notated versions: Tony Gilmore (Jefferson City, Missouri) [Christeson]; Doc Roberts (Richmond, Indiana, August 24, 1928. Roberts was a Kentucky fiddler who probably learned from Owen Walker, an older African-American fiddler from Madison County, Ky. Gus Meade thinks 70% of Roberts' repertoire was derived from Walker) [Brody, Phillips, Titon]; Lymon Enloe (1906-1997, Missouri), who had the tune from Tony Gilmore [Beisswenger & McCann].

Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Tunes), 2008; p. 27. R.P. Christeson (Old-Time Fiddler's Repertory, vol. 1) 1973; No. 124, p. 89. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 56. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 36. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 17A, p. 50.

Recorded sources: County 412, "Fiddlin' Doc Roberts: Old Time Tunes" (1983). County 762, Lyman Enloe- "Fiddle Tunes I Recall." Davis Unlimited 33015, Doc Roberts- "Classic Fiddle Tunes" (1975). Gennett 6535 (78 RPM), Doc Roberts (1928). Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers' Association, Tony Gilmore - "Old Time Fiddler's Repertory" (1976). Morning Star 45004, Doc Roberts - "Wish I Had My Time Again." Okeh Records {78 RPM}, Captain McKinney (1929). Vetco 502, "Fiddlin' Van Kidwell."

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]