Annotation:Bug in the 'Tater

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X:1 T:Bug in the Taters S:Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters, Charlie Bowman fiddle M:C| L:1/8 D:Brunswick 182-B (78 RPM), Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters (1927) F:https://www.slippery-hill.com/recording/bug-taters Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:D +slide+[F2A2]-|[F2A2][F2B2][FA][FA][FB]A|[FA][F2B2][FA] [F2A2][F2A2]-|[F2A2][F2B2][FA][FA][FB]A|[FA]FEF D2[F2A2]-| [F2A2][F2B2][FA][FA][FB]A|[FA][FA][FB]F [F2A2][F2A2]-|[FA][FA][F2B2][FA][FA][FB]A|[FA]FEF D4|| +slide+f2f4+slide+f2-|fAdB A4| a2 a2- aage|dBAF D4| +slide+f2f4+slide+f2-|fAdB A3e| a2 a2- aage|dBAF D4|| afdf afdf|afbf a2 a2-|afdf a(fe)g | fdec d2a2-| aadf afdf|afbf a2 a2-|afdf a(fe)g | fdec d2e2-|| fdBd A2[=F2A2]-|[^FA]EDB, D2(e2|f)dBd A2[FA]E|[FA]E[DA]E D2(e2| f)dBd A2[=F2A2]-|[^FA]EDB, D2(e2|f)dBd A2[FA]E|[FA]E[DA]E D2||

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BUG(S) IN THE 'TATER(S). AKA and see "Ragtime Annie (1)," "Sister Ann." American, Reel (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABCD: AA'BCC'DD'. "Bug in the Taters" was recorded for Brunswick Records in New York City in May, 1927, by Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters, with fiddler Charlie Bowman who was credited on the label. The group's lineup changed from time to time (as did the name; they are also called The Hill Billies), but for this session it was Bowman and Elvis "Tony" Alderman on fiddles, Jack Reedy on banjo Elbert Bowman on guitar and John Hopkins on ukulele. Dance calls were vocalized by Al Hopkins. Only Bowman is credited on the label for this tune, but on the flip side, "Boatin' Up Sandy," both Bowman and Alderman are credited with the fiddling.

Charlie Bowman

Folklorist/musicologist Vance Randolph recorded the tune for the Library of Congress from Ozarks Mountains fiddlers in the early 1940's. The tune is similar to the old-time standard "Ragtime Annie (1)," particularly in the first strain. See also North Carolina Piedmont fiddler Bert Edwards' version of the tune as "Sister Ann."