Eck Robertson
ListenSallie Gooden · 1922
Eck Robertson — “Sallie Gooden,” recorded in 1922 and issued on Victor 18956 in 1923.
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1923 · Victor
Sallie Gooden / Arkansaw Traveler
Texas fiddler Eck Robertson and the older Henry Gilliland travelled to New York determined to make records. Robertson’s contest-honed “Sallie Gooden” won him a hearing at Victor, carrying a rural fiddle tradition into the commercial recording studio. [1]
| Accession | OMMA-0121 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Eck Robertson; Henry C. Gilliland on “Arkansaw Traveler” |
| Release | 1923 · United States |
| Label | Victor · 18956 |
| Format | 10-inch shellac disc · 78 rpm |
| Issue | U.S. commercial issue |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | VG+ |
Release history and significance
Robertson was an experienced entertainer who had worked medicine shows, silent-film houses and fiddle contests. In June 1922 he and Gilliland travelled onward from a Confederate veterans’ reunion in Richmond. Gilliland’s acquaintance with lawyer Martin W. Littleton helped them reach Victor’s offices. [1]
The resulting single joins two different performances: Gilliland and Robertson recorded the fiddle duet “Arkansaw Traveler” on 30 June 1922; Robertson returned on 1 July for the unaccompanied “Sallie Gooden.” Victor’s catalogue dates the release of 18956 to April 1923. [2]
The playing brought the skill of the fiddle contest to listeners who could hear it repeatedly at home. “Sallie Gooden” became a touchstone for later fiddlers, and the two recordings were added to the National Recording Registry in 2002. [1]
Market context
Discogs records sales for this Victor 18956 edition from US$20 to US$40, with a median of US$35, as listed on 13 September 2026. The latest recorded sale was 25 August 2026. [3]
Physical Description
A ten-inch Victor shellac 78 with a fiddle solo on “Sallie Gooden” and a duet on “Arkansaw Traveler.” The catalogue number is 18956. [2] [3]
Condition
Graded VG+. The seller described a grainy pressing surface, light swishing during playback and light label wear, with a VJM grade of V+.
Provenance
Acquired on 8 June 2026 through eBay from Carolina Soul Records.
Sources
- Wayne Erbsen, Arkansaw Traveler and Sallie Gooden, National Recording Registry essay. Robertson’s performing background, New York journey and lasting influence.
- Discography of American Historical Recordings, Victor 18956. Session dates and performers; April 1923 release date taken from the Victor catalogue.
- Discogs, Eck Robertson and Henry C. Gilliland, release 4014410. Victor 18956 reference edition, coupling and sales history.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.