Paul Franklin playing Nightlife with Willie Nelson ca. 1993

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 15 Nov 2010 6:39 pm

I came across a huge box of live recordings from way back--things I taped from the radio, at shows, etc.--and I remember taping this Willie show off the radio. This was Willie at The Roxy 3/22/93, with a band consisting of Reggie Young, Paul Franklin, Benmont Tench, Mark O'Connor, David Grissom, Mark Isham, Mickey Raphael, Stephen Bruton, Debbie Dobkin, Kenny Aronoff--what a band!

Willie had just released one of my favorites of his more recent records, Across The Borderline.

Anyway, here's Nightlife from that show--it was the second tune they played (everyone seems to know the changes 'cept Willie

). Just kidding, love you Willie! Paul, you play some lovely stuff here. My question is: do you use that much echo or is that coming from the house? Hope you don't mind me posting it.

Bill Cutright · Post by **Bill Cutright** » 15 Nov 2010 7:11 pm

any more where that came from...?

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 15 Nov 2010 10:05 pm

Wow, cool. Thanks for posting it, Mike.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 15 Nov 2010 10:23 pm

Paul Franklin has been an amazing player for a very long time. This is another example of his extraordinary talent.

I think his steel sounds a bit different than his current recordings. Was it the amp, or did he use a push-pull on this gig?

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 16 Nov 2010 8:58 am

Sound-wise, it's pretty consistent with the steel you'd hear in the early 90s. Listen to early Alan Jackson and Dire Straits. I may be wrong, but sounds like the mids are up higher than you might hear today and the bass is cut way back.

I was playing at church this past weekend and had a fairly warm tone dialed in at the amp to fit the music we were playing. The monitor board had a high pass filter on and some other EQ on my in-ears and it turned it into a similar tone.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 16 Nov 2010 9:52 am

I'd like to hear more!

Jeff Bradshaw · Post by **Jeff Bradshaw** » 16 Nov 2010 9:58 am

I'm agree with Theresa, I would like to hear more!!

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 16 Nov 2010 11:01 am

Great, like always !! Sounds like the "ole blue" Franklin guitar
Hook

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 16 Nov 2010 2:45 pm

I think I could learn to hate a Johnny One Note harmonica player as much as a banjo !!

Regrets, Paul

Bill Cutright · Post by **Bill Cutright** » 16 Nov 2010 3:27 pm

I thought I heard about 4, maybe, 5 notes from Mickey.

Tom Stolaski · Post by **Tom Stolaski** » 16 Nov 2010 7:24 pm

That is some great pickin by Paul. I love it. I was just wondering if Paul wished he had the ol Boo-Wahh change just for this show. I am not saying that I missed it, just for the fact that it is a great take on the standard Emmons turn around. I think I heard one little section that was copied from the Emmons version. Very nice.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 16 Nov 2010 9:39 pm

I had the pleasure of watching and hearing him pay for hours and hours at Jeff Newman's June Jams.(89 to 95). This was pretty much his tone back then. A tad too much delay on this clip. But I prefer it over the current tone he has on the Station Inn and Dave Peterson clips.

Disclaimer. Not saying his current tone is bad. Just stating my preference.
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