Lloyd Green - Panic and other badass songs

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Colin Swinney
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Lloyd Green - Panic and other badass songs

Post by Colin Swinney »

I've been kind of obsessed lately with Lloyd Green's song Panic (A Trip) heard here. It's such a great Link Wray-esque kind of guitar jam, like something you'd soundtrack a knife fight with. Does anyone know anything about the authors Thatcher-Doheny-Reid? On Discogs, that's the only writing credit for all three of those guys, what's their story, have they done anything else?

What other pedal or non pedal steel songs elicit a similar kind of vibe? What's the most "badass" song you can think of?
Gil James
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Post by Gil James »

Sounds like he was dipping his toes in the surf craze that was happening then. Enlightening for sure! Would be interested what Guitar/amp set up he used for this. Thanks for posting .
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Ricky Davis
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Post by Ricky Davis »

"Lloyd Green Steel Guitar Day For Decision"
Well this album was released in 1966; so he had his Sho~bud "Lightening Bolt" Fingertip at that time; or he was playing his last months with his Sho~bud Permenant with the Heart on the middle front apron.
I'm sure it was some sorta effect to get that spacy sound..I'm sure he'll email me and tell me when he sees this; So weird I've never heard of this Album.
Ricky
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Brint Hannay
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Post by Brint Hannay »

Original YouTube poster says " Listen to the even weirder flipside!" and then doesn't post it! :?
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Kenny Davis
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Post by Kenny Davis »

Not at all surprising it being an "edgy" song since it was produced by Aubrey Mayhew. Lloyd has often talked about him and his recording philosophy. With the date of the recording, I wonder if they were looking for a psychedelic feel? ;-)
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..."
Bobby D. Jones
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Post by Bobby D. Jones »

Sounds like something from a Bond 007 Movie score. Someone in the comments said it was the theme from the movie "Something Else".
Tiny Olson
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Post by Tiny Olson »

I have the "Day for Decision" LP. Got it well over 50 yrs ago. Like Ricky said, "Panic" was a cut on that album. The photo of Lloyd on the back of the album jacket shows him sitting at the Permanent with the heart. Behind him in the photo is a Standel amp. That doesn't mean he used those on that record but he may have. There are a number of military-branch, theme songs on that album.
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Ricky Davis
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Post by Ricky Davis »

Thanks Tiny. Ok Lloyd just filled in the story and specifics to me; just INCREDIBLE...Thanks Lloyd:
Hi Ricky –
This will be uncharacteristically brief…for me. Trying to get out of Nashville for some Blackjack this week-end.
“Day For Decision” on Little Darlin’ Records 1966. “Panic” was included.
It was Summertime and folks were walking into RCA B just to see the recording action. I insisted Aubrey have the doors locked or I wouldn’t continue the project. He did.
It was the most uneasy, uncomfortable instrumental album and tune (“Panic”) I ever cut.
I had just a few months earlier, in 1965, recorded instrumentally the James Bond theme “Goldfinger” for United Artist’s Records on a released single with Kelso Herston’s name being used instead of mine. That was surreal enough.
“Panic”, the single, single released same year (1966) on Big A Records with the reverse side a total plagiarizing of a “Beatles” tune idea which was recorded backwards. We did the same with “Panic”. We even have the label information printed backwards on the ‘B’ side.
Neither Aubrey Mayhew nor I used drugs or psychedelics so we were sober, (maybe a little crazy).
Steel used – Sho-Bud ‘Lightning Bolt’ Fingertip
Amp used (never again after this album) – Baldwin Custom solid state
Effects – lots of reverb, distortion and anything else Al Pachucki (RCA recording engineer) could find to give it that ‘effect’ in 1966.
Picture of the Baldwin amp and keyboard used are pictured on the flip side of the album.
Picture of me with the heart Sho-Bud Permanent and Standel amp was shot in 1965, over a year earlier, at the very first session ever recorded in Bradley’s Barn by Hubert Long. In return for 10 “The Hit Sounds” albums he gave us permission to use that photo.
Probably raising more questions for the historically inquisitive than this answers, I’m outta here and off to Tunica for some good Blackjack!

Lloyd Green -
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Kenny Davis
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Post by Kenny Davis »

Here's the Goldfinger theme Lloyd mentions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLZv3SxZKuc

We are fortunate to have a living human Google/Wikipedia/Legend in our midst named Lloyd Green! Getting such detailed behind the scenes first-hand information is priceless!
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..."
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Colin Swinney
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Post by Colin Swinney »

Wow, thanks Ricky for passing along Lloyds email (and thank you Lloyd if you’re reading this!). Perhaps all that uneasiness ended up being good for the record, a song like that should kick in your body’s natural fight or flight response and get your adrenaline going a bit.

The guitar sounds great on that Goldfinger record too, though I think I’d prefer it played over the Santo and Johnny version where the backing band isn’t so loud in the mix.

Too cool, what a great song and a great story!
Gil James
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Post by Gil James »

Fascinating story! Thanks Ricky, and Lloyd for feeding our inquiring minds.😁
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scott murray
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Post by scott murray »

1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster
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Colin Swinney
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Post by Colin Swinney »

Hey, now we're talking Scott! Great tunes, that John Hughey number is fantastic, exactly the kind of song I was hoping to hear.

Another great entry from Lloyd too. I'm loving these songs where he's rocking out and letting his freak flag fly. He's really giving Sneaky Pete a run for his money with that fuzz tone too, just awesome.
Gil James
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Post by Gil James »

Who knew there was a "Steel Underground " scene in the 60,s ! Not me! These songs show the great creativity these guys had when they could cut loose from the mainstream. Keep em coming, fun,fun.
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scott murray
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Post by scott murray »

thought of a couple more...

this instrumental by Buck & the Buckaroos live in London 1969 is very 60s "surf a-go-go" with a unique single-note solo by JayDee Maness and a truly weird solo by Don Rich that almost sounds like a guitar solo played backwards, a la The Beatles. both come later in the song:

Buck Owens - A Happening in London Town


and I'm not sure how'd you'd classify this crazy instrumental by the great Terry Crisp, but some of the steel parts actually sound like they were recorded then played backwards. audio is courtesy of our friend Joe Goldmark who himself is famous for out-of-the-box steel guitar instrumentals!

Terry Crisp - Kitten O' The Bar
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster
Gil James
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Post by Gil James »

Wow,Terry Crisp! More like "Cat by the Tail".
Crazy in a good way.
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Post by Tiny Olson »

Hey Ricky:
Thanks for posting the comments from Lloyd. And thanks to him as well. I love learning about the details, stories and gear involved with recording sessions like this. So cool.


Hope you're well and thanks again man !!
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Ricky Davis
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Post by Ricky Davis »

OH you're more than welcome Tiny. Lloyd has such a great memory and for all details and stories behind what has become history, many times nobody has ever heard.
I'm blessed that he shares with me; and to share to all that are interested, as he is thrilled that folks do want to know.
To me; that is how we all progress; and NONE of us can progress without Knowledge, and I love that my Mentors have passed it along.
Ricky
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Donny Hinson
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Post by Donny Hinson »

Surf Music! (Shades of where I started.)

Lloyd's "Panic" is a cover of an old (1961) surf-rock song of the same title done by the group Palais Royals...which was a takeoff on the old 1960 song "Harlem Nocturn", by the rock instrumental group The Viscounts...which was a rework of the old (1939) theme song (Harlem Nocturn) written for Ray Noble's orchestra. And something tells me that this song was probably inspiration for the (1961) song "Comin' Home Baby", done by whole bunch of pop, rock, and jazz groups

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro7y39tk0u8
(the original "Panic")
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Colin Swinney
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Post by Colin Swinney »

Thanks for posting Donny, that’s a really cool original. I love surf. I know Doug Beaumier has some great surf on his YouTube but I feel like I don’t see enough steelers playing it.
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