Anthology of American Folk Music
Volume 2: Social Music, Track 28
SAIL AWAY LADY
"Uncle Bunt" Stephens 
Recorded New York: March 29, 1926
"Uncle Bunt" Stephens, fiddle
Originally released Columbia 15071D
John L. Stephens (1879-1951) was born in Bedford, Tennessee. He was orphaned at an early age and was raised in the town of Flatcreek. He was working on a construction gang when he decided to enter one of automaker Henry Ford's fiddle contests in 1926. Ford was a big fan of old-time string bands and wanted to see American music return to what he considered to be the "good old music." Stephens worked his way up through different levels of competition to reach the finals in Detroit as the South's representative. Two of the songs he performed that most impressed the judges were "Cacklin' Hen" and "Sail Away Lady." Stephens won and was awarded $1000, a new Lincoln car, and a new set of clothes. Stephens requested cash instead of the Lincoln. A small man at five feet tall and under 120 pounds, Uncle Bunt later appeared as a guest at the Grand Old Opry as "World Champion Fiddler." He died in 1951.
FOR ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS OF STEPHENS see: The collection, Nashville: The Early String Bands, Vol. 1 (CTY 541a) and The Wonderful World of Old Time Fiddles (VET 104a). For additional information on Stephens see Don Roberson, "Uncle Bunt- Champion Fiddler", The Devil's Box (No. 12, May 1970) and Linda C. Burman, "The Technique of Variation in an American Fiddle Tune: A Study of Sail Away Lady as it was Performed in 1926 for Columbia Records by Uncle Bunt Stephens," Journal of Ethnomusicology, January 1968.
OTEHR RECORDED VERSIONS include:
Folksong revival: as Sail Away Ladies: Harry Belafonte (RCA 3779a); Susan Cahill (KM 213a); Guy Carawan (FW 3548c); John Fahey (TAK 1008a); Bob Gibson (RVR 12-816a); The Holy Modal Rounders (PRS 7410a); The Kingston Trio (CAP 28498c, FKE 2036c); Spider John Koerner (RDH 12c); Leo Kottke (Oblivion 1a); Odetta VG 9137a); The Rooftop Singers (VG 9134a); Tracy Schwarz (FW 8350 c); The Wagoners (FW 7030c).
Post revival: as Sail Away Ladies: Ann Dodson (FR 172a); Brian Keane (SH 6013c); The Volo Bogtrotters (MMC 9024d; Way Out West (SH 6013c).
Country/String Band: as Sail Away Ladies: H.L. Bandy (Morning Star 45004a); Wally Bryson (DU 33006a); Peanut Cantrtell (Pine Breeze 003a); James Cottrell (Folk Promotions 11567a); Kyle Creed (MTN 304a); Dwight Diller (Augusta HRT 006a); J.P. and Annadeene Fraley (RND 0037d); Highwood String Band (RND 0074a); David Holt (HW 1255c); The Iron Mountain String Band (FW 2473c); Tommy Jarrell (CTY 756a); Grandpa Jones (CMH 9026a); Uncle Dave Macon (BR 80094b, BR 59000a, CRL 174a, CTY 3504c, CTY 521a, VOC 5155b); Rodney Miller (RND 0193a); The New Lost City Ramblers (FW 2395c, VG 77011c); Parker and Dodd (Romeo 5250b); The Plank Road String Band (KM 213a); The Roan Mountain Hilltopers (Cloudlands 009a); The Russell Family (CTY 734a); The Southern Mountain Boys (CTY 705a); The Tennessee Rail Splitters (Staff 3286 a)).
Bluegrass: as Sail Away Ladies: Jimmy Arnold (REB 1621c); Kenny Baker (CTY 730a); Country Ham (VET 522a); John Hartford (FF 259d); The Lundy Family (HRT 105c); Alan Munde (RND 0301c).
Rock: as Sail Away Ladies: Gerry Goffin (ADE 4102c); as New Sail Away Ladies: Banana and the Bunch (WB 2626a).
