It seems that I always have a project going around the Christmas holidays! (Just ask Debbie J) Last year I recorded music in my home studio for a CD that I called “Singing Strings”. This year, having never recorded much steel guitar music (other than what was on my “Merry Christmas” CD), I embarked on yet another project…and I’m still not finished with it. (Where did those holidays go?!) And, having not blogged in a long time, I thought I’d give you a few details…in case you MIGHT be interested in it.
Name? Well, I haven’t decided on that yet. It might be “Steel Guitar Favorites”, or something like that. Here’s how the idea came about. I can count on two hands the number of instrumentals I play on the steel…and that’s almost enough to put on a CD. There’s a few folks at my church who keep bugging me to record another CD. Seems as though several of them go to bed at night listening to my dobro CD. (I find that hard to believe, but that’s what they tell me.) I also get the notion that they’re getting tired of listening to the same old songs over and over and won’t go buy a REAL CD. I also think about the reason why my band from the 70’s, Bois d’Arc Bottom, decided to record a CD. For posterity! We wanted something to share with our grandchildren and great grandchildren. (It bothers me to think about what kids will be listening to in 20 or 30 years! What comes after rap? Maybe, and I say MAYBE, they’ll appreciate a little Country & Western!
So, after having trouble with a couple of the instrumentals I had thought about recording, here’s what I came up with. I’ve added a note about some of the great steel guitarists who have recorded and performed each song. And, I’m honored to say that I have been friends with all but two of them.
Steel Guitar Favorites (maybe)
“Panhandle Rag” – I first heard Tommy Morrell (Dallas) perform this as an instrumental at Granny’s Dinner Playhouse in Dallas with Ray Price somewhere around 1980. I had never heard it played any better! Tommy filled in for me when I made my first trip to Nashville to study at Jeff Newman’s school. My band at the time was “Southfork” and the lead singer knew Tommy.
“Last Date” – Debbie and I were honored to be friends with the late John Hughey who played steel for Conway Twitty for so many years. In the mid 80’s, after opening for Conway at the Crystal Chandelier, south of Dallas, Robert Joe Vandygriff and the Shades of Country had to play one last set after Conway finished. As I was performing with Robert, one of my fellow band members, probably Terry Downs, tapped me on the shoulder and pointed back-stage. There was John, giving me the thumbs-up as he listened to ME play! WOW!.
“Today I Started Loving You Again” – What country musician hasn’t played this one? And, RJV and SOC also opened for Merle Haggard at Sulphur Springs in the 80’s. Merle’s steel player, Norm Hamlet always did this one justice!
“I Love You So Much It Hurts” – I’ve heard two particular steel guitar greats plays this at the International Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis. It seems that Buddy Emmons or the late Jeff Newman would usually perform this number. But I have to give a lot of credit to my teacher, Jeff Newman, for showing me everything I need to know to figure out a song like this.
“I Love You Because” – Along with Jeff Newman, Buddy Emmons was my other teacher at Jeff’s school. Buddy taught us the intricacies of the C-6th tuning. I still have a recording of Buddy performing this instrumental with Ray Price on Austin City Limits in the 80’s. It doesn’t get any better than that cut! I always enjoy playing this one when I perform live.
“San Antonio Stroll” – I fell in love with this instrumental when I first heard Lloyd Green play it on one of his instrumental albums. You probably remember Tanya Tucker singing it. Debbie and I always spent some time visiting with Lloyd and his wife Dot in St. Louis. He always kept me informed about his studio friend and one of my banjo heroes, the late Bobby Thompson of Nashville. Bobby performed all of the background music for the TV show, "Hee Haw".
“Your Cheatin’ Heart” – This is one that I’ve never really played as an instrumental, but Debbie suggested it and I thought it was a great idea. After all, I just played the role of “Shag” (Don Helms) at Texas A&M University Playhouse in the production of “Hank Williams – Lost Highway” during the last year.
“There’s Just Something About That Name” – This is one of my favorite Gospel/Praise songs. After all, it IS about the greatest name of all, Jesus!
Stay tuned! Hopefully I’ll finish this project in a few more weeks.
Boyd
If you would like to have a copy, just mention the CD next time you see me. I'll be playing dobro with Hard 2 Git Bluegrass band at various places this year (check their schedule at http://www.hard2git.com) and I'm sure our 1970's band, Bois d'Arc Bottom, will be performing in 2011 also. Sometimes I play steel guitar for Southern Cross (Bonham) and Ace Deuce (Paris).
