Just curious. WHO came up with that part? And who actually played the part on the recording?

[I was looking for lyrics to a song by Roger Miller, and a bit about Jerry Kennedy at the top of the page I entered said that Jerry played it].

But a friend told me long ago that Wayne Moss came up with it.

The serious answer is I don't know. I always thought it was Roy Orbinson.

Surely someone will know, though. (or can find out?)

I would feel silly for posting the question if it turned out to be Orbison who played it. Perhaps he had the idea of the part and just hummed it to the guitarist.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

The songwriter credits are Roy Orbison and Bill Dees. The riff is such an integral part of the song, that I find it fairly inconceivable that whoever came up with it wouldn't have shared songwriting credit, but you never know, I guess.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
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I'm not a big Orbison fan or anything, and 'pretty woman' was all I knew of his for years. BUT, I really like 'Only the Lonely'. Impressive lead vocal, for sure. And I just like the song, Even though I've never been a fan of BG gibberish such as 'dum-dee-doo-wah' or 'doo-wah-ditty' or 'bah-wit-da-bah' ba 'ding-ba-dang-dong' and other such 'yip-yip, moo-moo', 'oom-papa-maow-maow' shoo-boppin' bubble-poppery.

Dave, you may be on to something about possible imitation riffs. When I read the joke that Joey made, I thought "yeah that IS pretty similar." Then I went and listened to it, and sensed its striking resemblence to 'pretty woman' right at the point where everything drops out except a high-hat pattern and the guitar riff.
(You may not be familiar, but the rhythm of it copies 'PW' and shares the same 4 or 5 notes.

As for the Beatles, that's a good insight. I always really dug the riff from 'day tripper'. 'Birthday', I actually had to go listen to, sadly enough. I know what you mean, as they share use of the broken Dom7 chord in ascending melody, but who knows if the beatles had Orbison in mind while they themselves riffed.

P.S. Dave, (this relates to completely different topic, but...) If your being from 'state college' means that you attend college (and fit the according age group) Then I am surprised by your idea of 'Alt-country'. The kids I know that attend college give that title to bands like 'Wilco' and 'Uncle Tupelo' (whoever THEY are, right?). The artists YOU named seem country, or country-rock. I am NOT saying that you're wrong, by any means. I just thought that 'alt-country' was a newer term.

[edit: OH!! forgot to include this. Johnny, Thanks for the informative reply. It does make sense that the riff was written WITH the song.]

I don't know how I was intially so ill-informed. (???)

[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 31 August 2005 at 08:48 PM.]

PS: The bottom 6 strings on my extended E-9 tuning plays the riff perfectly without touching any pedals

[This message was edited by George Kimery on 01 September 2005 at 04:22 AM.]

That's my source/story, but whether or not I'm sticking to it, I care not one whit.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Once, back in the days of records, I needed a copy of "Pretty Woman" and the record store couldn't find it listed. THe clerk couldn't understand that, since we both knew the song was a classic. He eventually found listed under O.

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

(And you guys thought players like Steve Wariner, Ray Flacke, Ricky Scaggs, and Brad Paisley invented all them "hot licks"! )

Fantastic player! That all he'll probably be remembered for is that trite "Pretty Woman" lick is pretty sad. He did so much more!

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 01 September 2005 at 02:14 PM.]

Of course, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo play alt-country (I would argue that Wilco did for a while, but no longer do). But the moniker is applied pretty widely. Around here, many consider Johnny Cash to be alt-country.

Edit: Well, I guess Randy's response clears this all up.

(I wonder how Jon Z. knew that Herb was well-informed).

I guess it's such a great riff everyone wishes they played it, so they just claim credit.

[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 01 September 2005 at 03:32 PM.]

I find that lick to "Fast as You" alternately played by hack guitar players as either "Pretty Woman" or "White Lightning".

It's definitely neither one, (of course you know that..)

One of the things that drove me to get my Tele.

Three weeks and my fingers still hurt.

It's a good hurt though..

Just a pitch for good ol' extended E9!

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II/Lexicon MPX-110

Now I suppose a real hack could do the White Lightnin lick in "Pretty Woman". I'll try that.

I hate it when some bands make a medley out of songs with similar lick. Some think it's cool, but I feel it ruins both songs.

Maybe we could do a Tele Jam Medley of "Pretty Woman", White Lightnin", and "All You Ever Do ..." next time we get together. Twin Teles - see who can play the loudest. Good thing we live 3000 miles apart.

I'd better add a smiley to this ....

I would see if I could get away with playing all open strings, and playing the last 5 notes an octave down – like this

8 8 6 10 9 7 8 9
E E G# B D F# E D

If I wasn’t “allowed” to do this and had to stay true to the original voicing without changing octaves I think I’d opt for this:

All on the 5th fret:

Notes E E G# B D F# E D
String 10 10 8 7 6 5 5 6

I would keep the E to Eb knee lever engaged the whole time giving me the G# on string 8
I would keep the G# to A foot pedal engaged the whole time giving me the D on string 6
For the notes on string 5, I would engage the B to C# foot pedal for the F# and then release that pedal for the E note

I realize that I could still stay true to the correct voicing, and play the riff using all open strings, if I keep the knee lever that lowers Eb to D engaged, but the string selection needed to do it that way is out of my “comfort zone” at the present time. I think my 5th fret method works better, but for those who may want to try the all open string way, here it is: (don’t forget your 2nd string needs to be a D note, not an Eb)

String 8 8 6 5 2 1 4 2
Note E E G# B D F# E D

I don't hear it on the record either, but I've heard it one too many times on the old bandstand..

I Hear E-E-G-Ab-D-B-C#-B on the Dwight Recording, and I don't know how so may Guitar players have trouble with it..

I've been taking an intro or "easy instrumental break per night, and last night it was the "Turn it Up" from DY break. Like many other tele leads and breaks they're turning out to be loads easier than I'd thought.

I might never be an accomplished "Tele Man", bt I am sure finding that I'm able to play a ton of the little "simple passages" a lot more readily than I've accepted them across the stage over the years.

If it looks like a Tele, and quacks like a tele...

Add a couple Session 400s with a Fender Tweed Bassman model....

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 08 September 2005 at 07:08 PM.]

And, yeah, it is close to Pretty Woman...

quote:

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Around here, many consider Johnny Cash to be alt-country.

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And just as many consider Alison Krauss "bluegrass".

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association