A composition by fiddler Vassar Clements (1928-2005), originally written in 1948 and first recorded by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1972 with Clements as a guest musician on their influential album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Clements later released his own version on his self-titled 1975 album, on which Charlie Daniels played guitar. The tune is written in D minor and became the foundation for Charlie Daniels Band’s famous “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (1979). Vassar Clements originally wrote the basic melody an octave lower and The Charlie Daniels Band moved it up an octave and put words to it. The tune features characteristic blue notes and bending techniques that Clements was famous for incorporating into traditional fiddle playing.
Key: G major
Tradition: Bluegrass