The Great Curly Chalker

David Barnett · Post by **David Barnett** » 8 Jul 2022 4:41 pm

I absolutely LOVE Curlys playing, he’s the man when it comes to the back neck (on the front for him) in my opinion. Bruce Bouton is my hero on E9th, but for C6th it’s definitely Curly. Something about his pickin just lights a fire under me. I hope when I upgrade to a D10 later in the year, I can learn some of that stuff.

I’ve been hunting for all the Chalker stuff I can, I’ve got his “Big Steel” record, I ordered the “More Ways to Play” record, and I’m trying to get the Lightfoot record. Is there any other albums of his I can find? Any live shows besides the Wilburn Bros show?

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 8 Jul 2022 5:13 pm

There is a DVD of him that was on the forum store. Check there or put in wanted to buy section.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 8 Jul 2022 5:18 pm

Larry Dering wrote:There is a DVD of him that was on the forum store. Check there or put in wanted to buy section.

It is still listed in the forum store.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 8 Jul 2022 10:35 pm

Counterpoint might be my favorite Curly album:
Side A
Side B

there's also Nevada Breaks and the S'Wonderful album with Joe Venuti, Jethro Burns, and Eldon Shamblin: https://youtu.be/GHuh0rzeC4Q

and check out the ISGC '76 recording on archive.org if you haven't yet: https://archive.org/details/1976_St_Lou ... o.SBD.flac

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 9 Jul 2022 6:46 am

Here is a "live" audio recording that I made at the International Steel Guitar Convention MANY years ago.

It features Jimmy Day and Curly Chalker on stage at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQwRjqeKaQQ

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 10 Jul 2022 5:14 pm

There is a 1960’s (I am guessing) Capitol LP by Merle Travis titled “Travis” where Merle recut his 1940’s and 50’s hits. For me, it is some of Curley’s best picking on record. It was played on a Fender 1000 we are told.

I have had a scratchy cassette copy from a LP since the early 1970’s and am always on the lookout for the original LP or hoping for a CD re-release some day.

The Dick Curless “Live At Wheeling” is another good one along with his “Shadow Of Your Smile” cuts with Stan Hitchcock and Charlie McCoy.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 10 Jul 2022 7:50 pm

I agree Bill, I think Curley's best instrumental was "Shadow of your smile", his second best, in my opinion, was "Danny Boy" with Charlie McCoy. I've tried to imitate his "Danny Boy" solo ever since I heard it the first time.

David Barnett · Post by **David Barnett** » 14 Jul 2022 5:48 pm

Appreciate all the suggestions n things fellers, I’ll definitely check em out. I’m jonesing pretty hard on Chalkers cut of “King of The Road”, he’s grooving on that pretty good!

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 15 Jul 2022 5:56 am

I want to play like Curley Chalker when I grow up.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 15 Jul 2022 7:35 am

https://www.reverbnation.com/stanhitchc ... -hitchcock

Jamie Howze · Post by **Jamie Howze** » 15 Jul 2022 8:29 am

While not a Chalker per se this is one of my all time favorite recordings:

'S Wonderful: 4 Giants of Swing
Joe Venuti/Eldon Shamblin/Curly Chalker/Jethro Burns.
https://www.amazon.com/SWonderful-Giant ... B01G65Y7QU

I don't know if it is still in print but seems to be available from a few places.

The record puts Chalker in a cool laid back setting along with some of the greatest players ever playing iconic tunes.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 15 Jul 2022 9:40 am

Jamie, Bob Hoban, the producer/piano player on the S'Wonderful LP had some unreleased cuts from those sessions. After he died, his wife was selling homemade CDs titled "Joe Venuti & Jethro Burns, Curly Chalker 1977".

Curly does some seemingly simple but profound playing on their version of "Embraceable You."

http://sndup.net/ggny

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 15 Jul 2022 10:02 am

Hi David. If you have the Big hits on Big steel lp,could you look and see if Bill Purcell played piano on King of the road. Thanks,joe

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 15 Jul 2022 1:04 pm

The Forum Store has the E9 LP of Gord songs on cassette for only $2.00 (a great bargain).

https://www.steelguitarshopper.com/cate ... ?q=chalker

Chalker is universally acclaimed for his C6 work, and for good reason. The Nashville Sundown LP is nearly as astounding, in my opinion. Kudos to Chris Clem for posting the entire record on YouTube. Thanks, Chris!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9lvwQHvO1w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwIabER0Q2w

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 15 Jul 2022 1:51 pm

Gotta say......as much as I enjoy Chalker's pedal steel playing, his NON-pedal playing is what really knocks me out!

https://youtu.be/CMMzwQi07vs

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 15 Jul 2022 4:04 pm

Joe Krumel wrote:Hi David. If you have the Big hits on Big steel lp,could you look and see if Bill Purcell played piano on King of the road. Thanks,joe

no credits listed on the LP but the Praguefrank website says it's Bill:
http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/ ... alker.html

Pursell also played on Buddy's black album. what an exquisite player!

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 15 Jul 2022 4:26 pm

Thank you scott for your effort. Bill Purcell was a monster pianist for sure. Thanks so much.

David Barnett · Post by **David Barnett** » 20 Jul 2022 7:12 pm

Managed to snag these on eBay! Getting ready to break open a new bottle of Rum I’m trying and spin these suckers. Cheers!!

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 28 Jul 2022 7:37 am

This reminds me that the Nashville Sundown lp is great! Love Alberta Bound. Although the album is all E9, you will soon realize that Chalker is also one of your favorite E9 players.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 28 Jul 2022 7:51 am

Count me in. Curly was absolutely great, on either C6 or E9 - his E9 playing is totally under-rated, IMO. Of course, he was inimitable on C6.

Definitely look at the praguefrank website linked. He also has a long discography of session work. If you google curly chalker site:http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com you'll get a lot of links.

Gotta say......as much as I enjoy Chalker's pedal steel playing, his NON-pedal playing is what really knocks me out!

https://youtu.be/CMMzwQi07vs

Yeah, anything he touched was great. That is an excellent clip, also featuring the great Thumbs Carllile on lap non-steel guitar.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 28 Jul 2022 8:29 am

Another bonus from Chalker's Nashville Sundown LP is that it's one of the finest (if not the finest) album Charlie McCoy ever made.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 28 Jul 2022 11:02 am

I grew up on Curly, My Dads favorite player ever..He is one of my 3 steel players heros ever...

David Barnett · Post by **David Barnett** » 1 Aug 2022 6:08 pm

Yessir David W., he could flat cut it!

I love the Nashville Sundown album, my favorite cut is “If You Could Read My Mind”, it’s so good!

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The Great Curly Chalker

The Great Curly Chalker

David Barnett,curly chalker lp

Re: David Barnett,curly chalker lp

Bill purcell