Annotation:Back Up and Push (1)

Back to Back Up and Push (1)

BACK UP AND PUSH [1]. AKA and see "Rubber Dolly." Old-Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA, widely known. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Lowinger): AABB (Brody, Silberberg): AA'BB (Phillips): AA'BB' (Reiner). "Back up and Push [1]" was first recorded by the Georgia Organ Grinders in Atlanta in 1929 for Columbia Records. The group was one of the several Skillet Licker off-shoot groups, whose members combined and recombined in different formations for various ventures. The Organ Grinders featured fiddlers Bert Layne and Clayton McMichen, while another Skillet Lickers fiddler, Lowe Stokes, played the organ on this cut (more prominent in the second strain of the tune on the recording). The 1929 session was their only recording date, and they cut six side, all issued by Columbia Records

In the photo is Bert Layne, Lowe Stokes, unknown, Clayton McMichen and Claude Davis

A later Skillet Lickers ensemble, led by Gid Tanner, recorded a version in 1934 (backed with "Down Yonder") that became the third best-selling country music record for that year. Gid's son, 17 year old Gordon Tanner, played uncredited fiddle lead at the session, according to researcher Tony Russell. The jazz-influenced tune is now widespread, having been popularized by bands such as Bill Monroe's and Benny Martin's, and influential fiddlers Kenny Baker, Buck Ryan, and others. The second part of some versions is little more than a 'double shuffle' (aka hokum shuffle or OBS/Orange Blossom Special shuffle) on the chords F, C and G.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - Kenny Baker [Brody]; Curley Ray Cline [Phillips]; Floyd Engstrom [Silberberg].

Printed sources : - Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 31. Lowinger (Bluegrass Fiddle), 1974; p. 62. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 18. Reiner (Anthology of Fiddle Styles), 1977; p. 41. Silberberg (93 Fiddle Tunes I Didn't Learn at Tractor Tavern), 2004; p. 3.

Recorded sources: -County 770, Kenny Baker- "Frost on the Pumpkin." RCA Camden CAL-719, Bill Moinroe- "The Father of Bluegrass Music." Magg 3901, Marion Sumner and Jesse McReynolds- "Old Friends." Rebel 1552, Buck Ryan- "Draggin' the Bow." CMH 9006, Benny Martin - "The Fiddle Collection." Condor 977-1489, "Graham & Eleanor Townsend Live at Barre, Vermont." Fretless 101, "The Campbell Family--Champion Fiddlers." Fretless 103, "Clem Myers: Northeast Regional Old Time Fiddle Champion 1967 & 1970." F&W Records 6, The Fireside String Band- "Square Dance Tunes For a Yankee Caller." Bluebird 5562B (78 RPM), Skillet Lickers (Ga.) {1934}. Rounder 0005, Snuffy Jenkins & Pappy Sherrel - "30 Years of Pickin' & Pluckin'."

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear the Georgia Organ Grinders 1929 recording at Slippery Hill [2] and at youtube.com [3]

Back to Back Up and Push (1)