Recorded on October 29, 1929 in Atlanta. The Skillet Lickers on this rendition of "Soldier's Joy" feature what is considered to be the classic line-up of this crazy string band: Gid Tanner on fiddle, Riley Puckett on vocals and guitar, Clayton McMichen on fiddle and Fate Norris on banjo. "Soldier's Joy" is probably the best known fiddle tune of all, with versions being found in Scandinavia and France. It has been known as "King's Head," "King's Hornpipe," "I Love Somebody" and "Payday In The Army." Just about every old-time and bluegrass fiddler and banjo player knows a version. The title could refer to payday for soldiers or even opiates in light of the verse: "Well twenty-five cents for the morphine, and fifteen cents for the beer. Twenty-five cents for the old morphine, now carry me away from here." It appears that the extra ten cents for the morphine could have been well worth it.
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