Steel Player On This 1962 Johnny & Jack Album?

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Walter Stettner
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Steel Player On This 1962 Johnny & Jack Album?

Post by Walter Stettner »

Johnny & Jack usually had plenty of Dobro accompaniment on their songs (Shot Jackson!) but this album is full of great steel playing. Anyone knows who the player is? Sometimes I can hear some licks that Walter Haynes used to use but I am not sure. Also, I thought of the Big E...

Here's the link to the album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgBao7eY8g&t=27s

Kind Regards, Walter
Chris Brooks
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Post by Chris Brooks »

Great stuff, Walter! I hadn't heard of these guys ... Remind me a bit of Jim & Jesse.

I hear some Mooney in the steel--but I wonder if it isn't Shot Jackson playing both dobro and steel on the session.
Steve Hinson
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Re: Steel Player On This 1962 Johnny & Jack Album?

Post by Steve Hinson »

Walter Stettner wrote:Johnny & Jack usually had plenty of Dobro accompaniment on their songs (Shot Jackson!) but this album is full of great steel playing. Anyone knows who the player is? Sometimes I can hear some licks that Walter Haynes used to use but I am not sure. Also, I thought of the Big E...

Here's the link to the album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgBao7eY8g&t=27s

Kind Regards, Walter
If this is the album I'm thinking of,I think it's Buddy Emmons...I'll listen again...

SH
Dave Magram
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Re: Steel Player On This 1962 Johnny & Jack Album?

Post by Dave Magram »

Steve Hinson wrote: If this is the album I'm thinking of,I think it's Buddy Emmons...I'll listen again...
SH
Once again, Mr. Hinson has nailed it!

The audacious steel guitar solos in "The Moon Is High And So Am I" and "Thirty Six-Twenty Two-Thirty Six" (plus many others) should convince anyone it was The Big E--who also does a great Mooney-esque version on "Fooling Around".

According to PragueFrank, the album was recorded in three sessions: 30 November 1961, 27 March 1962, and 28 March 1962--with Mr. Buddy Emmons on steel in all three.

What a treasure!

- Dave
robert kramer
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Post by robert kramer »

I started my reply before the other replies were posted. I don't mean to contradict anyone or say I have the answer, but I did a morning's work on this, so I'll just go ahead and ramble on anyway, for what it's worth:

This is some seriously awesomely great singing. To name drop: I had the great honor and privilege to know Johnny and Kitty. Johnny was hilarious! I've been listing to "Smiles And Tears" to hear what Walter Stettner is hearing on these Johnny & Jack cuts regarding Walter Haynes. Thanks, to both Walters and the great Jack Anglin.

The sessions for "Smiles And Tears" Decca DL-4308 were recorded over a period of 2 years at Bradley Film and Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South on December 30, 1961, March 27, 1962, and March 28, 1962. Both the Bear Family Records "Johnny and Jack And The Tennessee Mountain Boys" BCD 15553 and Praguefrank list Buddy Emmons but now listening back to it again, it does sound like some cuts could possibly be Walter Haynes. The Bear Family and Praguefrank are essential resources but not always 100% infallible and it's very possible Walter Haynes could have called in on some of these dates. By 1962, Haynes was certainly working sessions and possibly producing. By 1965, Walter Haynes was playing pedal steel and rhythm guitar in the house band of "The Bobby Lord Show" and several clip are posted on YouTube.

"Bobby Lord/Don Bowman/The Stoneman Family" YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGHTlFnr6IE&t=160s.

The turnaround on "I Overlooked an Orchid," (5:47) is reminiscent of Haynes's turnaround on Dickens's "We Could" (Columbia – 21434 Aug. 1955), which Emmons certainly would have copied when he followed Haynes on the Country Boys Band:

Little Jimmy Dickens"We Could" (Columbia – 21434 Aug. 1955), Walter Haynes: stl gtr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmNvEbIEgw

Haynes could possibly also be on "A Little Bitty Tear," and maybe more, but most cuts are Emmons all the way.

1962 was Emmons' last year with Ernest Tubb. His last date was Friday, February 9, 1962, at the Evergreen Ballroom on the Old Tacoma and Olympia Highway in Olympia, WA. Buddy Charlton joined ET the next night, Saturday, February 10, 1962, at Division Street Corral (D. Street Corral) 171 S.E. Division in Portland, OR.

Image

Image

The same month Emmons left ET, Jimmy Day left Ray Price. Day was working on a package show throughout the upper Midwest, Northwest, and Canada with Price, Faron Young, Helen Carter, Tommy Jackson, Darrell McCall, and Willie Nelson. Day's last date was Saturday, February 10, 1962, in Duluth, MN. It is likely Emmons joined Ray Price on the Thursday, February 15, 1960 date, at the Maverick club in Corpus Christi, TX.

Image

Image

On Wednesday, February 28, 1962, 13 days after he joined Price, Emmons appeared on the "Pet Milk Grand Ole " with Ray Price, T. Tommy, Jean Shepherd, and Billy Grammer. In addition to Pete Wade, Shorty Lavender, and Darrell McCall, the drummer was Steve Bass, Big Jeff Bess's son. Big Jeff was married to Hattie Tootsie Bess, and Steve was Tootsie's stepson. It was Steve who, along with Jimmy Day, instigated the early jam sessions on Broadstreet in downtown Nashville at "Mom's Place" (later called "Tootsie's Orchid Lounge).

"Ray Price I Wish I Could Fall in Love Today," YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03I8XoZfxw

"Jean Shepard the biggest cry," YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IYu2taQ7BI

In 1962, Emmons worked sessions, in addition to John & Jack on Decca, with Hank Cochran (RCA), Melba Montgomery (Nugget), Ray Price (Columbia), Duane Eddy (RCA), Shot Jackson (Starday).

Another source for how Emmons sounded in 1962 is the ca. early 1962 Ray Price date at the New Milford Theater in New Milford, CT. Jan Kurtis, Price's drummer (1961-1962 generously shared this show with everyone. Listen for Pete Wade's vocal harmony on Price's hits medley @ 3:36," Shorter Lavender and Emmons's Pete Drake type harmony part @ 8:44), a very early live example of "chromatic strings," Emmons's new innovation. Also check out the C-6th lick Emmons sneaks in on "Caravan" @ 18:04, 14 years after he attended the Honolulu Conservatory of Music in South Bend, Indiana.

Susan Skugstad, "The Cherokee Cowboys," YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbXK720_jcY&t=850s
Last edited by robert kramer on 29 Dec 2024 6:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ron Funk
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Post by Ron Funk »

Thank you Robert Kramer.
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Ken Pippus
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Post by Ken Pippus »

“Headaches by the Number?!?!”

Hilarious.
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Walter Stettner
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Post by Walter Stettner »

AWESOME!!!!!!!

Thanks so much, guys for your time and expertise! Isn't it fun to rediscover these old records and try to dig up the history behind it?

I just listened to Walter's "Steel Guitar Sounds" album on Mercury again and hear some parts that also can be heard on the Johnny & Jack album but of course some other parts seems to be pure BE. Maybe both were playing on the three different sessions?

Anyway, a great album that is really worth to be rediscovered by us Steelies! :D 8) :D 8)

Thanks again, Walter
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Walter Stettner
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Post by Walter Stettner »

Found this pic of the two Walters from 2003, when Walter Haynes was inducted in the SGHOF:

Image

Kind Regards, Walter