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Origin of Steel Guitar Rag
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The Steel Guitar Forum
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Origin of Steel Guitar Rag
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This topic was originally posted in this forum: Wanted To Buy |
| Author | Topic: Origin of Steel Guitar Rag |
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Mark van Allen Member Posts: 2458 |
posted 29 February 2000 11:09 AM
I realize this might invite some serious flaming, but I have my asbestos pants on...Not surprisingly the most mentioned tune in the thread for "your most requested song" was Steel Guitar Rag. As Mike Perlowin mentioned, "SG rag was written and first recorded by blues singer and slide guitarist Sylvester Weaver in 1923 under the title "Guitar Rag". Somewhere I have a copy of his version, I know it's available on several acoustic blues compilation records. The main sections are so identical with the later McAuliffe version as to be indistinguishable. As far as I know Leon never acknowledged any authorship by Weaver-And I've always been fascinated with this part of steel guitar history. Most sources agree that McAuliffe was a bit "under the gun" to come up with an instrumental, basically as a signature tune for radio broadcasts, and that the first Bob Wills version was recorded in 1935 0r 36. Many people consider that a good deal of Will's popularity, and even much of the subsequent popularity of steel guitar in general, are a direct result of the widespread popularity of SGR. I've always wondered if it simply got to be too important to be discussed, and would have loved to hear Leon's take on all of this. It's certainly not a case of "similar musical ideas", even a cursory listening to Weaver's version shows it was entirely copied... of course many of the popular songs of the day were older melodies with new words, etc. But this being an instrumental, and one that became so "instrumental" in the development and acceptance of the steel guitar- I think makes this an interesting and relevant isssue. As most of the principles involved have passed on, I'm very interested in all of your thoughts on the matter. ------------------ |
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Jim Landers Member Posts: 1052 |
posted 29 February 2000 03:29 PM
Mark, I read an article about this very thing a while back. Leon was questioned about his claim to the tune, and his responce was that he was fully aware that his SGR was very similar to a tune that had been written quite a few years earlier. He said that however, at the time he wrote SGR he had never heard the other tune to the best of his knowledge, and was not aware of it's existance. He did acknowledge that his SGR was very very similar to the other, but that it was unintentional and strictly a coincidence. Personally I believe him. Jim P.S. Bob Wills was also accused of plagiarizing San Antonio Rose, but I believe he finally claimed legal title to it. I don't remember all the details on this though. I'm sure someone here can enlighten us. |
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Bob Shilling Member Posts: 469 |
posted 29 February 2000 04:02 PM
I have the Sylvester Weaver version on a CD called something like--"Slides, Bottlenecks ..." not sure of the exact title. I can well imagine that Leon heard this when he was a kid, and it stuck in his subconcious. Sort of like George Harrison and "My Sweet Lord." I seem to recall that "San Antonio Rose" was based on the lead line of another Bob Wills song played backwards -- or was it the other way around? Where's Dayna when ya need her? ------------------ [This message was edited by Bob Shilling on 29 February 2000 at 04:03 PM.] |
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Donny Hinson Member Posts: 9192 |
posted 29 February 2000 05:03 PM
I am amazed that there aren't more problems with songs of similar melodies. Yes, the "My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine" thing was a big deal, and I think the Ray Parker "Ghostbusters" song caused a stir too. But other songs that I've "noticed" haven't had problems. Apparently, it's not a big deal most of the time, even with "big hits". A case in point...when I first heard "Achey Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus, I thought wow, that's really close to the old Eddie Hodges tune "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door". But no one else noticed or cared. Most times, I think these things just slip by unnoticed. And you can hardly rule out the idea that Weaver borrowed "Guitar Rag" from some other long forgotten musician. These things are almost impossible to trace, once a few generations have passed. |
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Janice Brooks Moderator Posts: 2760 |
posted 29 February 2000 05:12 PM
I just had my copy of Townsends book with me today to check up on Ed Nayor's questions about Will's steel players. look for some detailed responces in the Country Music section. ------------------ |
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Jim Saunders Member Posts: 973 |
posted 29 February 2000 06:37 PM
I was in Herb Remington's store/studio not long ago and he told me two stories that might apply. One he said that San Antonio Rose was written as a waltz. He played it in 3/4 and I strummed chords on a flat-top. He also told a story that while with Bob Wills, they went to LA to record, and in the hotel Bob asked Herb to come up with a steel instrumental to counter Leon's SGR, which was then hot. He then wrote Playboy Rag. |
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B Bailey Brown Member Posts: 606 |
posted 29 February 2000 07:33 PM
I have heard several of those stories about “Steel Guitar Rag”. Maybe they are true, but nobody has ever seemed to pay a lot of attention to them, so I guess nobody is really very sure about where the tune came from. Many of these “melody lines” go back long before copy writes came into being and they were “Public Domain” type of things. (Read that as Folk songs if you wish) The “San Antonio Rose” has several stories about it. The one I have heard from several people that should know is that it was originally a waltz. Additionally, if I understand correctly, it was recorded as an instrumental. They played it that way for several years before Bob, or somebody in the band, put words to it. Is any of this factual? Darned if I know…but I have heard a lot of stuff over the years! The one thing I have learned about music is that there are a LOT more “stories” out there than truth. B. Bailey Brown |
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Jimmy Youngblood Member Posts: 352 |
posted 29 February 2000 07:55 PM
There are lyrics to SGR. Anyone know them...I think Rose Maddox had a version. |
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Jason Odd Member Posts: 2665 |
posted 29 February 2000 08:22 PM
Ike Turner cut a version of 'Steel Guitar Rag' in 1961. He's actually a very fine guitarist, I haven't heard it for years, but it was a good version. ------------------ |
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Kenny Dail Member Posts: 2583 |
posted 29 February 2000 08:29 PM
Writer's credits go to 3 people for the words to SGR. They were; Webb Pierce, Cliffie Stone, and Merle Travis. Of course the music was attributed to Leon. Also, Leon was the writer for "Panhandle Rag" and he got the idea from 'playing SGR backwards.' I'm not sure but, I think Speedy West recorded the SGR with words to it with a vocal group and Bing Crosby doing the lead vocal. It's been a long time since I heard it so I might be wrong on this point. I also think Merle Travis had a vocal on it. ------------------ |
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Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 29 February 2000 08:39 PM
Lyrics by Merle Travis and Cliff Stone. I sing it on my Quasar Steel Guitar album. ------------------ |
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ROGER MULLENNEX Member Posts: 124 |
posted 01 March 2000 04:29 AM
There are lyrics to SGR on Robby Turner's "Man of Steel". |
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Smiley Roberts Member Posts: 4424 |
posted 01 March 2000 12:43 PM
M.V.A., Check your e-mail.Enclosure,enclosed. ------------------ |
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Ray Montee Member Posts: 4090 |
posted 04 March 2000 04:25 PM
Joaquin Murphy did a fabulous job on SGR with Smokey Rogers Band on Okey Label. |
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Guess I can check it out when I get home tonight. It's on some compilation CD I have at home. 