There are at times weird tunes. An fiddle melody might be crooked, grinding in place for an extra measure or beat before snapping back in for another round. Then there’s this one, key of G and as straight as they get, offering a comforting eight bars and a warmly familiar fine part, then threatening to leap off the rails during the coarse part. It lurches hard (depending on the player) from C to C# and back down again, no warning or reason (except that it’s awesome).
I’ve been seeing it called the signature tune of the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers (of whom I only knew from the famous little documentary clip, linked here -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_XEeu1JrMU), a Tennessee family band that can really get down to business, pure old-time goodness. Unfortunately I learned that Bill Birchfield, who could not only shred on fiddle but could lay down a hefty banjo or guitar backup in his own lefty overhand style, passed just this May 15. I’d love to hear y’all’s memories or thoughts on the band!
The tune’s easy to pick up, but I had hell trying to figure out the coarse b-part from the Hilltopper’s version. As I refine this one I’d like to get it closer to what the Easy Street String Band does--really great take on it. Both versions can be heard in this excellent post (and check out the great picture of Bill and his dad Joe):
http://drdosido.net/fiddleclub/2012/06/tune-of-the-week-for-june-18-2012/
Couldn’t find a thing on Fiddler’s Companion (though I’ve read this tune was adapted from Old Granny Rattletrap), and there isn’t an abundance of versions on Youtube, but here are some great ones (first one offers a possible explanation for the term "rattletrap"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEJdI_T1SVc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRcaiuf-7Hk
Here’s my take on it (gDGBD), sharing the mic with the mysterious fiddler extraordinaire only known as GDGD, who introduced me to the tune.
I’d love to hear everyone’s renditions. I tried experimenting with a choke on the 1st string instead of the slide but decided not to use it in the video--it’s a fun move to do though. This tune might a cool one to do an arrangement of, Janet! That Easy Street rendition might be the clearest source, I really enjoy that one.
More info on the Hilltoppers:
Their website -- https://www.facebook.com/roanmountainhilltoppers1
Article on Bill’s passing -- http://bluegrasstoday.com/bill-birchfield-passes/
Some info from Old Woodchuck in an archived post -- http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/154507
Place to snag one of their albums -- http://www.countysales.com/products.php?product=ROAN-MOUNTAIN-HILLTOPPERS-%27Down-Home%27