Anthology of American Folk Music
Volume 3: Songs, Track 78

WAY DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD
Uncle Dave Macon

Recorded New York: April 14, 1926
Uncle Dave Macon, vocal and banjo; Sam McGee, guitar
Originally released on Vocalion 15321

(alternate title: My Wife Died Saturday Night)

David Harrison Macon (1870-1952) was one of the most popular early recording stars. Called "The Dixie Dewdrop," Macon was also one of the oldest people represented in the Anthology. Uncle Dave was the first star of the Grand Old Opry and one of its most beloved members for the quarter century he was on the air. Born in McMiniville, Tennessee, Macon's family owned a hotel in Nashville, which catered to many a passing vaudeville musician. Macon was undoubtedly influenced by many of these individuals; his performances were filled with enthusiasm, humor and numerous banjo tricks, which harkened back to the days of the medicine show (Bill Malone, Country Music U.S.A, pg. 72).

Always a colorful character, Macon was proprietor of the Midway Mule and Wagon Transportation Company. He hauled materials from town to town entertaining passers-by as he worked. His professional show business career did not start until he was middle aged. Many of his songs paint a picture of social and political life in the South. Macon's recordings have been extensively reissued over the years. "Down the Old Plank Road" is about working on a Georgia chain gang.

FOR ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS of Macon see:
Travelin' Down the Road (CTY 115c); First Row Second Left (BF 15518a); Fun in Life (BF 15519a); The Gayest Old Dude in Town (BF 12503a); Go Long Mule (CTY 3504c, CTY 545d); Wait Til the Clouds Roll By (HIS 8006a); Hall of Fame Series (MCA 10564c); Vol. 2: Over the Mountain (OH 183d); Hill Billie Blues, Vol. 3 (OH 184d); Just from Tennessee (OH 185d); Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy (OH 148d); Laugh Your Blues Away (RND 1028a); Uncle Dave Macon (FW RF51c); Uncle Dave at Home 1950 (TFS 101a); The Dixie Dewdrop (VET 101a); From Earth to Heaven (VET 108a); Early Recordings (CTY 521d); and the collections Listen to Our Story (BR 58001a); Mountain Frolic (BR 59001a); Maple on the Hill (CAM 898a); A Collection of Mountain Ballads (CTY 502a); A Collection of Mountain Banjo Songs and Tunes (CTY 515a); Old Time Mountain Guitar (CTY 523a); Nashville: The Early String Bands, Vs. 1 and 2 (CTY 541/2a); Old Time Mountain Ballads (CTY 3505c); Country Gospel Song (FW RBF19c); Dance Music: Breakdowns and Waltzes (LC LBC 3a); Solo and Display Music (LC LBC 14a); Going Down the Valley (NW 236c); Smoky Mountain Ballads (RCA 507a); Stars of the Grand Old Opry (RCA 0466a); Poor Man, Rich Man (RND 1028a) and Tennessee Strings (RND 1033a).

For additional  information on Macon see the biography and discography by Ralph Rinzler and Norm Cohen in JEMF Special Series No. 3 (1970); Jon Pankake and Paul Nelson, "Uncle Dave Macon- Country Music Immortal", Sing Out! No. 11.3 (Summer 1963); and the chapter on Macon by Charles Wolfe in Stars of Country Music, Malone and McCullough eds., Urbana. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1975).

OTHER RECORDED VERSIONS include:
Folksong revival: as Way Down the Old Plank Road: Pat Dunford (PRT 5012a). 

Country/String Band: as Way Down the Old Plank Road: The Highwood String Band (RND 11569c, RND 0045a); Grandpa Jones (CMH 8002a, CMH 9010a); The Scragg Family (SON 1001a); as The Old Plank Road: Luke Smathers String Band (JA 0024c); as My Wife Died Saturday Night: Humphrey Bate and the Possum Hunters (CTY 541a); The New Lost City Ramblers (SF 40040c, FW 2492c).

Bluegrass: as Way Down the Old Plank Road: Chubby Anthony (CMH 1779a).