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 Who played steel on Jim Reeves's records?
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| Author | Topic: Who played steel on Jim Reeves's records? |
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Per Berner Member From: Skövde, Sweden |
posted 12 June 2006 11:14 PM
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The other day I put some Jim Reeves CD's in the changer in my car. I began wondering who was playing steel on his 60's recordings, the really smooth and soft ones. Not many of those tracks have steel on them, but a few do and I thought I heard a hint of Jerry Byrd's sweet harmonies. Am I right or am I, as so often, wrong? ------------------ |
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Jussi Huhtakangas Member From: Helsinki, Finland |
posted 13 June 2006 12:08 AM
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Pete Drake did some 60's Jim Reeves sessions, the whole Good'n'Country LP is him. Jimmy Day did most of the 50's sessions. |
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Per Berner Member From: Skövde, Sweden |
posted 13 June 2006 02:08 AM
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If it's Pete Drake on the ones I'm referring to (cuts made later than "Four walls" or "He'll have to go", often with strings) then it's not Pete Drake sounding anything like he usually did. Two or three notes is all it takes to identify his style. In one of these cases, the steel sounded like a non-pedal, with very Byrd-like touch and tone. There is steel on "Blue side of lonesome", but it was a slightly different mix compared to the one mostly heard. Also, I once heard "I love you because" with steel and without the harp - a countrified version, but obviously with the same vocal tracks. Neither sounded "doctored" in any way, rather like alternative arrangements made at the time of the original recordings. ------------------ |
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Craig A Davidson Member From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA |
posted 13 June 2006 02:31 AM
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It could also have been Bobby Garrett or Jimmy Day. |
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Tom Harris Member From: Mississippi, USA |
posted 13 June 2006 06:42 AM
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Bobby Garrett played with Jim for about 2 or 3 years,i saw them in Meridian Miss in 54,dont know exactualy how long he stayed with Jim,he left Jim and went with Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys.... Tom Harris |
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Bill R. Baker Member From: Clinton, MS USA |
posted 13 June 2006 07:43 AM
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Tom, was this the first Jimmie Rogers Festival? I was at Mississippi State at the time and a friend and I rode the thumb to Meridian for the first festival but I do not remember if it were 53 or 54. I do not remember Jim Reeves at the festival that I attended. Thanks. Bill |
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Tom Harris Member From: Mississippi, USA |
posted 13 June 2006 09:40 AM
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Howdy Bill,,If im not mistaken,,it was 53 or 54,Jim was doing a show in the Temple Bar room,, behind the temple theater,the Guy that played Lead Guitar was "Leo Jackson",he was from Meridian,my buddy and me stood right next to Leo while he was playing,(as we knew him) ole Jim sho nuff put on a good show,,dont think he played anywhere else at the festivel,,I know Bobby Garrett was with Jim,but like i say,dont know how long he stayed with Jim,he was on some of Jim's earlier recordings.. Tom Harris |
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Rick Garrett Member From: Tyler, Texas |
posted 13 June 2006 09:54 AM
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Bobby Garrett played for Jim for around 9 years total if I'm not mistaken. I've got that information somewhere if I can find it. Thanks for remembering him. Rick [This message was edited by Rick Garrett on 13 June 2006 at 09:55 AM.] |
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Erv Niehaus Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA |
posted 13 June 2006 02:48 PM
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I believe that's the Stringmaster that the amiable Mr. Reeves kicked down the stairs.  |
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Rick Garrett Member From: Tyler, Texas |
posted 13 June 2006 04:04 PM
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Yessir Erv that's the one. That old Fender still sounds sweet. Rick |
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Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 13 June 2006 04:31 PM
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As I recall, most of Jim's later hits had no steel guitar. I have two albums of his greatest hits, and none of them feature steel guitar. That's the very reason I used them to play along with when I was learning to play steel guitar. |
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Erv Niehaus Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA |
posted 13 June 2006 05:16 PM
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I think Jim Reeves once made the statement that all steel players are crazy. Could be! |
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Jody Sanders Member From: Magnolia,Texas |
posted 13 June 2006 09:08 PM
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Erv, What Jim said was :all steel players have brain damage". He finally refused to put a steel player in his band. He said if a producer wanted a steel player for a session, let the producer deal with him, as he wanted no part in dealing with the steel player. That is sad too, as Jim had a great voice and excluded the steel guitar, which would have enhanced his music IMHO. Jim was not well known for tact and diplomacy. But as for his singing, he was one of the best. Jody. [This message was edited by Jody Sanders on 14 June 2006 at 08:52 PM.] |
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Jody Sanders Member From: Magnolia,Texas |
posted 14 June 2006 08:50 PM
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On Jim's first records, Billy Bob Turner was on "Chicken Hearted". Bobby Garrett was on "Mexican Joe" as was Red Hayes on fiddle. Bobby did a few more with Jim before Jim moved to Nashville. Jody. [This message was edited by Jody Sanders on 15 June 2006 at 01:52 PM.] |
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Tom Harris Member From: Mississippi, USA |
posted 15 June 2006 08:18 AM
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Sad to say,but i heard a lot of negetive stuff about Jim and the way he treated his band members,the man had a beauitful voice,,but to me a country song without a steel aint country,,his songs with steel on them were the best to me... Tom Harris |
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louie hallford Member From: denison tx |
posted 25 June 2006 08:57 PM
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Then there is the story about one "fairly" well known steel player who supposedly ask the driver to stop the car, as they were traveling to a gig ( not for a Reeves show)and got out and started running around the car shouting halleluh when he heard on the radio about the plane crash. From the story I concluded there were some musicians who did not like to work for Reeves.Whether the event really happened, I certainly don't know, and assume the story was told as a joke, and it's probably better off left at that. As for me I was at one time a big Reeves fan. Since I have been more involved in steel guitar I rarely listen to his music because most of it does not have steel guitar in especially in his most successful years. |
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Ron Elliott Member From: Madison, Tennessee, USA |
posted 25 June 2006 10:01 PM
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Sonny Burnett told me he recorded "According to My Heart" on the same old Bigsby he played with Kitty Wells & Johnnie Wright show. Thanks for letting me horn in. Ron |
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Terry Wood Member From: Marshfield, MO |
posted 26 June 2006 06:09 AM
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Jimmy Day, Bobby Garrett, Pete Drake, and others I am certain. There is a cool picture of Pete playing with Jim at the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman building but I can't remember where my copies at. Good possibility that Jerry Byrd was on some of Jim's recordings because Chet Atkins and Jerry were involved in several sessions and or productions of artists of that Golden era of Country recordings. Jim Reeves and all these steel players are some of my favorites. GOD bless! |
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