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"Stumptailed Dolly", also known as "Stumptown Dolly" or "Dolly" is an American reel in G Major.
The parts are played AA'BB.
"Dolly" is generally considered a regional eastern Kentucky tune. Jeff Titon (2001) says John Salyer (1882-1952) recorded a similar version of "Dolly" as "Stumptailed Dolly". Salyer lived not far from the home of Titon/Phillip's source, William Hamilton Stepp (1875-1947) and the two played together frequently, sharing some of their respective repertoires. Stepp was recorded for the Library of Congress by the Lomax's in October, 1937. The original title of "Dolly" may or may not have been "Stumptailed Dog" named so by Salyer's father Morgan, who had a bob-tailed dog named Dolly. Other Kentucky fiddlers simply knew the tune as "Dolly". Stump Tailed Dolly has another meaning--it is the slang name for the paddle and dolly tub employed when washing clothes the old-fashioned way. The banjo tablature is by John Letscher. His comments: Mostly from Bruce Molsky, reinspired by Dolly and the Devil. Play fast!It was printed in Phillips' Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1 (1994) and Titon's Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes (2001). It was recorded by John M. Salyer on Home Recordings 1941-42, vol. 2 (1993), Bruce Molsky & Bob Carlin on Take Me As I Am (2004), The Hoover Uprights on Known by their Reputation (2006), W.H. Stepp (1937) and Jerry O'Sullivan on The Gift (1998). |