Pick Me Up On Your Way Down-----Charlie Walker

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 29 Dec 2010 1:15 pm

Here's A Charlie Walker Tune From 1958, Which Made It To Number 2 On The Country Music Charts.

Does Anyone Know Who Played Steel On This Tune?
Was A Pedal Steel Guitar Used?
Which Tuning Was Used On This Session?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhwXahGzWPU

Here's A bit Of History On This Tune.

The song was inspired by an argument Harlan Howard overheard in a honky tonk between a young couple. According to Harlan, the two had worked up quite a fuss before the girl walked away, leaving the guy standing there--to which he yelled,"you can pick me up on your way down." Harlan carried the thought of that lovers quarrel and that line in the back of his mind for several months before deciding to use it as a basis for a song. The song was pitched to Charlie Walker for his first Columbia recording session in 1958. The record opened the door for Charlie Walker as a recording artist and it opened some doors for Harlan Howard as a songwriter. Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" made the country charts October 20th, 1958 and peaked at number two, where it stayed for 4 weeks.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 29 Dec 2010 1:21 pm

Pedal steel, yes. Jimmy Day, I think. Sounds like std E9th tuning to me.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 29 Dec 2010 1:39 pm

Thanks Jerry. I too was thinking it was Jimmy Day. In 1958 he must have been playing an 8 string guitar.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 29 Dec 2010 1:50 pm

Yeah, I don't know Roger. I was thinking the same thing. I'm not sure when they added the 2 "chromatic" strings..or split the pedals, but it sounds like the tuning to me.

I think some guys were tuning down a half or full step to keep strings on the guitar, but this one sounds like E to me.

Wonder what guitar was used? Bigsby? Sho-Bud?

Danny Letz · Post by **Danny Letz** » 29 Dec 2010 5:37 pm

I always heard that Charlie Walker used Ray Prices band for recording.

Don Euton · Post by **Don Euton** » 29 Dec 2010 5:56 pm

It was the great Jimmy Day on that recording. Charlie Walker is one of my favorite classic country singers. When I was a teenager, I use to listen to him when he was a DJ on a San Antonio, Tx radio station, in about 1960. (Am 680 kc) That station signal reaches out several hundred miles, and still plays classic country music.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 29 Dec 2010 11:38 pm

The song was recorded on June 5, 1958. Musicians were:

Jimmy Day - Steel
Ray Edenton and Sammy Pruett - Guitars
Tommy Jackson, Dale Potter - Fiddles
Lightning Chance - Bass
Buddy Harman - Drums

Classic Country for sure!

Kind Regards, Walter

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 30 Dec 2010 3:55 pm

Jimmy Day on his #1 1957 D-8 Sho-Bud
Key of F & Jimmy used a right slant on the 3rd note of the Intro, Just some Facts from, Father Time!