Katy hill -- sally johnson

**Bernie Daniel** · May-27-2008, 5:23pm

I was surpised that this tune has not been the focus of a discussion on this forum. #But a search brings up only 6 or 7 strings each with only passing refernce to the tune. #

Couple of days ago I thoght I really should figure out how I want to play this tune so I started listening to various versions of it. #I soon found that few versions of the tune are exactly same and some very a lot from performer to performer.

I picked up on Bill Monroe's version from his DVD set but after listening to other versions I decided it might not be exactly what I'm looking for -- no real reason to stick with Monroe anyway as the song came before him.

Anyone have some strong feelings about a definative version of Katy Hill that they like for the best all around version? #I realize it is all subjective but I'd be interested in other views. #

Anyway its a great tune but its also pretty easy to play and very easy to improvise so its not hard to see that it has many versions.

The four part version by Jim Herd was pretty good I thought and I do like our own Brigadier on the Cafe also has a good one on YouTube.

Katy Hill -- Bill Monroe

Katy Hill -- Jim Herd

Katy Hill -- Mandlnpickr (Monroe like)

Katy Hill -- Second Generation

Katy Hill -- KT Briggs

Katy Hill - Ashley Hull

Researching the song I find other names for the tune or a similar tune are: "Going Around the World," "Sally Johnson" and "Piney Woods Gal" #

Seems like it is always played in G-major.

Here is some of the recordings mentioned on the Fiddle Companion: Alan Block [Phillips]: Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson]: Kenny Baker [Brody, Phillips]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 154. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, Vol. 1), 1973; pg. 100. Lowinger (Bluegrass Fiddle), 1974; pg. 20. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; pg. 25. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 130. Caney Mountain Records CEP 213 (privately issued extended play LP), Lonnie Robertson (Mo.), c. 1965‑66. CMH 6237, Paul Warren‑ "America's Greatest Breakdown Player." Columbia 15620‑D (78 RPM), 1930, Lowe Stokes (North Georgia). County 538, Charlie Monroe‑ "On the Noonday Jamboree‑ 1944" (appears as "Going Around the World"). County 745, John Ashby (Va.) ‑ "Down on Ashby's Farm." County 750, Kenny Baker‑ "Grassy Fiddle Tunes." Document 8045, “Lowe Stokes, vol. 1: 1927-1930” (reissue. Appears as “Sally Johnson”). Heritage XXIV, Smokey Valley Boys ‑ "Music of North Carolina" (Brandywine, 1978). Heritage XXXIII, The Puryear Brothers Band ‑ "Visits" (1981. Learned from the Ithaca, N.Y., Correct Tone String Band). RCA Camden CAL‑719, Bill Monroe‑ "The Father of Bluegrass Music." Rounder 0089, Oscar and Eugene Wright ‑ "Old‑Time Fiddle and Guitar Music from West Virginia" (learned from Fiddlin' Arthur Smith). Rounder CD 0371, Mac Benford & the Woodshed All-Stars - “Willow” (1996). Voyager 301, Bill Long‑ "Fiddle Jam Session." Voyager 340, Jim Herd - "Old Time Ozark Fiddling." Edden Hammons Collection, Disc 2.

Are there some favorites here?

**f5loar** · May-27-2008, 7:53pm

My favorite version of Katy Hill was on the Area Code 615 instrumental album from early 70's. With Bobby Thompson on melodic banjo and Buddy Spicker on fiddle(both Monroe sidemen)it's the fastest and fanciest version I've heard to this day. Way faster and more complex then Monroe.
I'm sure Jim Shumate has recorded it on some of his solo recordings since it has become his signature song over the past 69 years.
You would need to go back to JE Mainer to find the defintite version of Sally Johnson. Were Sally and Katy sisters? His version mostly fiddle and banjo with maybe one washboard break in there.
The Osborne Bros. recorded a version of Katy Hill on their live in Germany CD. Bobby took a break on the mandolin so it's a good one to learn a mandolin break from.

**Bernie Daniel** · May-27-2008, 9:09pm

Originally Posted by

f5loar: My favorite version of Katy Hill was on the Area Code 615 instrumental album from early 70's...Bobby Thompson on melodic banjo and Buddy Spicker on fiddle...fastest and fanciest version.... You would need to go back to JE Mainer to find the defintite version of Sally Johnson...The Osborne Bros. recorded a version of Katy Hill on their live in Germany CD. Bobby took a break on the mandolin so it's a good one to learn a mandolin break from.

These are some great leads -- I always been a big fan of Bobby Osborne and I will find that German record and also get the Area Code 615 cut. I remember seeing that AC 615 LP years ago -- I don't have it but I think it has been transcribed to a CD version.

I forgot all about JE Mainer -- I'll bet I have that LP in the basement -- lately we have been converting LP to digital when we have time. Thanks.

**f5loar** · May-27-2008, 10:14pm

Whoops! Had to go back and listen. It was Monroe Live 1956 to 1969 CD that had a mandolin break on Katy Hill live. The Osbornes live in Germany is straight fiddle all the way through like Monroe's original version. But I bet Bobby Osbrone could cut it live if he wanted to.

**Ivan Kelsall** · May-28-2008, 12:55am

Whoa Tom !! - You just brought back a memory there re.Area Code 615. That's as good a version of Katy Hill as you'll get albeit a 'modernised ' one, & how about Bobby Thompson's version of "Classical Gas", it took me about 2 weeks to get that one sorted. I have BOTH the AC 615 LP's "Area Code 615" & "A trip in the Country" & i think that you're right in saying that the first one is on CD now. Katy Hill's a tune that i'd forgotten about - NOT ANY LONGER,
Saska

**Don Stiernberg** · May-28-2008, 2:22am

Didn't Tex Logan record Katy Hill?With Monroe? or possibly The Lilly Brothers?

Byron Berline did Sally Johnson with The Dillards on his Pickin' and Fiddlin' LP. In the liner notes by Ralph Rinzler, the "subtle differences" between Katy Hill and Sally Johnson are mentioned.

Mark O'Connor's very first LP on Rounder, made when he was 12 or so, includes Sally Johnson. I would think he did it again as his career went on....is it also on the record on the OMAC label that has guest appearances by Byron, Sam Bush, Benny Thomason, Texas Shorty?

I got to play that tune with Mark a few times years ago on gigs and at jams. I can remember a unique swing, not wanting the tune to stop, and Mark pointing out which variations came from Benny Thomason.Hammering out the the rhythm on a tenor guitar or mandolin was great fun. The flowing jazz-like melody lines seem to pull the right chords out of you...

You might also enjoy a Kenny Baker tune, I think it's called "Freda", as played by the Yellowjackets. Wow.

All the cats here who go to Winfield should be able to turn up more versions of Sally Johnson. I'd be surprised if that wasn't still a staple of the repertoire there for the fiddle contestants..

Maybe someone should write tunes of this nature again. They could be called Katie Holmes. Or Sally Field. Or Magic Johnson. But not Benny Hill.

Best of luck and thanks for reminding us of these great tunes and recordings..

**swampstomper** · May-28-2008, 2:28am

A tremendous mandolin version is Ronnie McCoury's break on Bobby Hicks' Fiddle Patch project. It opens the set. Of course Bobby has a pretty definitive version here -- I would say it's the pure bluegrass (Monroe) interpretation. Ronnie is just stunning. And Bryan Sutton sizzles. The whole project is great -- with Del anchoring it (and singing a nice Marty Stuart song), and the McCoury boys in the lead, how can it fail?

Tex Logan played it quite differently with Monroe, with his hoedown style, you can hear that on Off the Record from Smithsonian Folkways,

**Bernie Daniel** · May-28-2008, 5:23am

Thanks for all the great comments! #I am really having fun with this song.

Originally Posted by

f5loar: #It was Monroe Live 1956 to 1969 CD that had a mandolin break on Katy Hill live. The Osbornes live in Germany is straight fiddle all the way through like Monroe's original version.

Thanks again -- I just dug out a CD I forgot that I had entitled "Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys the early years 1940 - 1949" and it has an inspiring but kind of repeative version of Katy Hill with Tommy Magness on fiddle -- not much variation but you can really get into the song! #By the time it was done playing on one pass of the song at least 3 minutes I had it.

Originally Posted by

Don Stiernberg: Didn't Tex Logan record Katy Hill?With Monroe? or possibly The Lilly Brothers?...Byron Berline did Sally Johnson with The Dillards on his Pickin' and Fiddlin' LP. In the liner notes by Ralph Rinzler, the "subtle differences" between Katy Hill and Sally Johnson are mentioned.

I need to look through my Lilly Brothers stuff -- I love both Tex Logan's fiddling and Everett Lilly's mandolin work -- if I can find that it would be a big plus. I've heard about the Rinzler comment but never read it.

Originally Posted by

saska: I have BOTH the AC 615 LP's "Area Code 615" & "A trip in the Country" & i think that you're right in saying that the first one is on CD now. Katy Hill's a tune that i'd forgotten about - NOT ANY LONGER,

Yeah I just ordered it from CD Baby and also the Osborne Brothers in Germany from Pinecastle (it includes a DVD of the performance in Germany!). #

Also, I did listen to the version on of Katy Hill on the AC615 record from the sampler cut -- and that stuff is a little more jazzy than I like to play (read too good for me) but it is great to listen to for ideas.

This song has been a trip -- thanks to all.

HOw about this version from this guy from India!

Katy Hill --diptanshu from India

Cool!

**Mark Seale** · May-28-2008, 2:47pm

In Texas fiddling we play Sally Johnson which is VERY similar to Katy Hill but has a 'E' that gets thrown in every now and then. One of the all time great recordings of that tune was mentioned above that included Mark O'Connor, Benny Thomasson, Terry Morris, and Shorty Chancellor the original album was recorded in '76 and this cut is still available on O'Connor's "Heroes" CD. My favorite versions of Katy Hill would be by Byron Berline or Kenny Baker.