Red Skinned Gal – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 162

Red Skinned Gal is a fun and swingy tune (at least the way I play it.) I originally learned the melody from Tony Ludiker, but there is some Orville Burns in my arrangement as well.

Red Skinned Gal is a variation based on the tune “There’s a Brown Skinned Gal Down The Road Somewhere,” which was recorded by Eck Robertson, and Dick Barrett among others.  The main difference according to my understanding and experience is that when people play Brown Skinned Gal, they typically don’t play the third part (C Part). Either way you play it Red Skinned Gal is a fun tune, (although not the most politically correct title by today’s standards.)

Red Skinned Gal according to Fiddler’s Companion

RED SKIN GAL. American, Country Rag. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Gary Lee Moore (Seattle) [Silberberg]. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 125.

BROWN SKIN GAL. See “There’s a Brown Skin Gal (Down the Road Somewhere),” “That Brownskin Gal [2].” Old‑Time. USA, Texas. In the repertoire of Texas fiddlers, especially Eck Robertson who recorded the tune in 1929 as “There‘s a Brown Skin Gal Down the Road Somewhere,” nowadays shortened to “Brown Skin Gal.” Yazoo Records, Curt Massey – “Times Ain’t Like They Used to Be, vol. 2.”

THERE’S A BROWN SKINNED GAL (DOWN THE ROAD SOMEWHERE). AKA ‑ “Brown Skin Gal,” “That Brownskin Gal” [2]. Old‑Time, Country Rag. USA, Texas. G Major. Standard tuning. AABC. Some sources insist the tune is original withTexas fiddler Eck Robertson, though Charles Wolfe (1997) states it is generally credited to Robertson’s contest nemesis Lefty Franklin. Sources for notated versions: Eck Robertson (Texas) [Brody]; Alexander Robertson [Phillips].  Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 275. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 147. American Heritage 515, Junior Daugherty‑ “You Be the Judge.” Stoneway 148, Howdy Forrester‑ “Fiddle Hoedown.” American Heritage 516, Jana Greif‑ “I Love Fiddlin.'” American Heritage 1, Herman Johnson‑ “Champion Fiddling.” Victor 40145 (78 RPM), Eck Robertson {1929}. Sonyatone 201, Eck Robertson‑ “Master Fiddler.” Folkways 31062, Ship in the Clouds‑ “Old Time Instrumental Music” (1978. From an Eck Robertson recording). June Appal 024, Luke Smathers String Band‑ “Mountain Swing.”