Mike Johnson, w/ Jimmy Webb on Letterman 7/26

Jeff Surratt · Post by **Jeff Surratt** » 26 Jul 2010 4:53 am

Mike will be appearing on Letterman tonight, with Jimmy Webb. They are doing " Witchita Lineman", and Mike is to do a solo. Stripped down band, just Jimmy, Mike, and Paul Schaffer.

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 26 Jul 2010 6:36 am

Great!! I hope I can get it. Mike is definitely one of my favourites. I was listening to his excellent steel CD last night.

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 26 Jul 2010 6:37 am

Thanks, Jeff. Will try to tune in.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 26 Jul 2010 7:04 am

Should be killer--there is a really great Jimmy Webb cd called "10 Easy Pieces" with him performing his hits stripped down like the show will be. Steve Smith from Canada plays steel on a couple of cuts and sounds wonderful...

David Griffin · Post by **David Griffin** » 26 Jul 2010 9:25 am

Just in case someone's missed it: there's a link to a great interview w/ Mike & Jeff in the "Steel on the Web" section.Killer solo clip of Mike w/ Gene Watson doing "Welfare Party"

Jim Hartley · Post by **Jim Hartley** » 26 Jul 2010 6:34 pm

Just thought I'd bump this one up to the top for those who might have missed it earlier. Plus, I'm trying to keep busy so I can stay awake to see it myself.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 26 Jul 2010 7:27 pm

I'm watching.

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 26 Jul 2010 7:29 pm

Only a few minutes before it starts. Get you DVD-R ready

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 26 Jul 2010 9:25 pm

Thanks for the heads up on this one, I haven't watched Letterman lately. Beautiful tone from Mike.

Herby Wallace · Post by **Herby Wallace** » 26 Jul 2010 10:24 pm

I just watched this and it was great as I knew it would be. I hope some of the people in my area watched this that think steel guitars are old fashioned and a thing of the past. This just proves that steel guitar is alive and well and more people need to become aware of that fact.

Herby Wallace

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 26 Jul 2010 11:38 pm

That was incredible!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 26 Jul 2010 11:40 pm

WOW! That was just incredible!!!

kevin ryan · Post by **kevin ryan** » 27 Jul 2010 12:07 am

Wow!! That was a big deal for the steel guitar.. Leave it to one of the all time sensational songwriters, Jimmy Web to add Mike on national TV. They essentially did a duo and he got to solo with 2 cameras on him.....Steel guitar and grand piano...OUTSTANDING MIKE!! We needed that.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 27 Jul 2010 4:05 am

It was just great. What an incredible touch and tone from Mike.

Credit also for a great song, delivery by Jimmy's vocals, piano and Paul's understated complement.

Thanks for the tip.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 27 Jul 2010 4:44 am

Don't forget that awesome Sho-Pro Mike was playing.

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 27 Jul 2010 4:53 am

Wow! it was all great!! Jimmy sang with lots of emotion, complemented with lots of tasty piano playing.Paul added uniquely on accordion.The steel was certainly loud enough in the mix, where it should be. Even the camera guy(I mean person) got it right.

That's a great looking Sho Pro Mike played and it sure sounded sweet. Mike's playing was as tasty and smooth as it gets with such a great tone and crystal clear harmonics.

** I've watched that break that Mike did again a few times with my morning coffee and I'm sure I will have that down by lunch time Aug 27, unfortunately it'll be 2014.

I'll add a few pictures from the show later today.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 27 Jul 2010 5:11 am

May I ask for the setlist? Thanks

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 27 Jul 2010 5:46 am

Herby,

Sorry, I missed this...I know Mike had to love playing for Jimmy....This new CD is great.....Jerry Douglas plays some killer dobro and Bryan Sutton slayed the dragon.....What really impresses me is hearing these songs as they were originally written. On the CD, Jimmy's composed intro to "Witchita Lineman" was more complex than Glen's version. He had written Classical harmonies descending as the telegraph rhythm occurs....The hit simplified the harmonic side of the intro.....Most of Jimmy's songs were massive pop hits, its interesting listening to these songs in their original style. Jimmy is in that elite group of writers who creates extremely successful art. I guess you can tell I'm a big fan of his writing.
Not to sidetrack the thread, Do you remember "E's" version on the "Suite Steel" lp?......How beautifully haunting that was! Jimmy's melodies make beautiful steel instrumentals.

Paul

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 27 Jul 2010 6:04 am

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 27 Jul 2010 6:24 am

Is there any way that this can be accessed on the web (I missed it)?

Tony Rankin · Post by **Tony Rankin** » 27 Jul 2010 6:30 am

Herby Wallace wrote: This just proves that steel guitar is alive and well and more people need to become aware of that fact.

Well said Herby!

It was great to see Mike and the steel guitar getting such focused national attention.

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 27 Jul 2010 6:36 am

Bob,

Thanks for the photo's.....Just as I expected.....Mike was having a great time!

Paul

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 27 Jul 2010 6:40 am

Re:Is there any way that this can be accessed on the web (I missed it)?

Jim,

It's been a while since we communicated last and I'll send you a email to see how your son made out with
the EPROM's.

I can convert the video (of the song)to a MP3 file.I can also convert the video(of the song) and upload it to YouTube but I don't understand the ethics or legalities (as they apply in Canada)of doing so. I'm not even sure who to ask to get permission. If I can get those issues sorted out I would be more than happy to upload it.

Larry Tracy · Post by **Larry Tracy** » 27 Jul 2010 8:33 am

You can go to the David Letterman show site and there should be full back episodes and there should be a section with just the music parts of old shows.

Joel Martin · Post by **Joel Martin** » 27 Jul 2010 8:51 am

looks like the full episode will be here in a few days :http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/

The most recent show as of now is 7/22

The Steel Guitar Forum

Mike Johnson, w/ Jimmy Webb on Letterman 7/26

Mike Johnson, w/ Jimmy Webb on Letterman 7/26

Mike Johnson

A few Pictures from the Show

Re: Mike Johnson

Lets put it on Youtube