Chet Atkins Vocal Debut

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 10 Apr 2001 7:17 pm

Hi guys,,,,who knows (if Iam Correct) the title of Chet's first vocal solo,,,and he sang good at that,,,,,?????

Not only a great guitarist but a good singer too,,,,Hey Chet are ya watchin this????
Dont let me down....Ill be mud to all these guys.......Jody [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 May 2001 at 10:03 AM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 10 Apr 2001 7:18 pm

Chet shhhhhh,,,,lie if you have to,,,dont make me look bad,,,,,,no body will ever know
cept 20 million people Jody

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 10 Apr 2001 7:32 pm

I'm probably wrong, but the first time I heard Chet sing was on the Neck and Neck album with Mark Knofler.

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 10 Apr 2001 7:33 pm

How about Frog Kissin?

Tim Rowley · Post by **Tim Rowley** » 10 Apr 2001 7:46 pm

Back in the early 1960's Chet had an album on RCA Camden. I can't recall the title of the album. One of the cuts was a number called "Solo Soul". The entire vocal of the song was done by Chet, and consisted of two words, "solo soul", at the beginning of each verse and at the end of the song. I don't know if it qualifies as his vocal debut, but it came out years before "Frog Kissin'" was released. The liner notes did state that this was the only vocal he had ever recorded (up to that point) other than a muttered "dog-gone it" that slipped through the mix on one of his earlier recordings.

Tim R.

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 10 Apr 2001 8:21 pm

I seem to recall a song by Chet back in middle 50's or late 50's called "I just dropped in to sit a spell" in which he sang the whole song. I remember having it recorded on an old wire recorder.

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Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 10 Apr 2001 8:55 pm

Wait ,,,I gotta think a minute,,,,,,,,,

OK the minute is up,,, I think( not sure) it was "Money Marbles & Chalk" But you guys are probably smarter than I ....and maybe you are right,,,but Chet did do that song by himself,,,,,I have the 78 speed recording.
Think it was his first vocal solo.
Did you guys know that Chet had a brother who was a guitarist and entertainer that did a show out of New york City,,,did you know his name?????? that is a TV show,,,,,,are you guys older than me???? no probably not ,,,,just smarter than me,,,, I like this kind of stuff,,,its better than "walkin the dogs,,,who sang Im walkin the Dogs????was it Webb Pierce????I dunno [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 10 April 2001 at 09:58 PM.]

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 10 Apr 2001 10:47 pm

I always understood Chet's first record (vocal or otherwise) was "Ain't You Tired Of Making Me Blue" (which is a vocal) and appears on some compilations...
His brother Jim Atkins played for a long time with Les Paul, I believe (pre-Mary Ford)
Nick

Janne Lindgren · Post by **Janne Lindgren** » 10 Apr 2001 10:59 pm

Hi Jody, I am just listening to Chet Atkins when he sings "Ain´tcha Tired Of Makin´ Me Blue, recorded in 1946 in Nashville. But he did a song earlier in 1940 with the title "Why Don´t You Leave Me Alone" recorded in Knoxville. This is probably his first vocal song he recorded. You´re right, he had/have a brother which name is/was Jim. If you buy the Bear Family box Galloping Guitar with Chet Atkins you´ll hear a lot of other songs that he sings. And he sings good! The box has 4 CD´s with 139 songs. It´s great! Bear Family is a German company!
Janne Lindgren

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 11 Apr 2001 4:25 am

Chet made a statement on an interview one time, that he sang (just a little bit above below average).

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 11 Apr 2001 4:43 am

Jody; I'm back but one of the brothers totalled my car while I was inside playing the last set. What a finale!! Chet did a
vocal on the Ralph Emory TNN show one night. It was about his Dad and get this, it had something to do with the hat his father wore.
His voice was perfect for this type of setting, not at all unlike Louie Armstrong's
It's a Wonderderful World. But what I like best about Chet was his reply to the question
Did he read music? "Not enough to affect my
playing!" Louie also made a classic reply to
the question; what is Jazz? "If I'd have to
explain it to you, you wouldn't understand!"
Where'd I leave my hat? I gotta go buy a car.
Regards Paul

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 11 Apr 2001 7:55 am

Hi Janne,,,
Ladies first,,,let those other wise guys wait
...yep Jim Atkins was as you describe,,I used to watch him here in the New York area & met him many years ago, boy you are smart
women usually are,,,my wife is always right too.
You are probably correct about Chets first vocal on records,,,,that Darned Regis Philbin
gave me the wrong answer,,,Ill never watch his show again,,,,,

I have a story about my first meeting Chet,,but as time allows will tell that story
happened back app 1947 I was just a youngster
I will post it,,,,gotta help my wife now,,the puppies are getting the Easter Egg coloring dye all over the floor,,,

Thanks for the info,,,you win 2 Dozen Easter Eggs Jannne,,,I wont ship them UPS they will break,,,,Ill figure something out,,,,stay well Happy easter to you,,,,,man you are smart,,
That ( Regis Philbin) I know him ,,,pulled another fast one on me......where was he when I needed him???? Those 2 other wise guys Gene Jones and Paul Graupp are gettin on me,,,,all the time...they dont get any eggs,,Ill save them for you,,,let them color their own eggs....Im calling Regis right now
"collect"[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 April 2001 at 08:57 AM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 11 Apr 2001 11:41 am

* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:14 PM.]

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 11 Apr 2001 3:50 pm

Speaking of Chet Atkins relatives, does anyone have any Homer and Jethro stories ?

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 11 Apr 2001 4:32 pm

Hi Janice,,
Yes I have one quickie,,,,I was called into RCA Victor for a recording date with a gentleman by the name of Texas Jim Robertson
Jim was a 'deep throated" baritone and a big tall cowboy looking guy.

When I arrived at the session....RCA had the usual side men there,,,but great guitar players,,,,Tony Mottola, Bucky Pizzerelli, Roy Horton on bass,,,Lil Horton on piano & organ and there was these two guys,,,one had a Gibson mandolin,,,the other a Stromberg guitar,,,these two fellows were on
the session as they were in town to do their own session at RCA that week.

I didnt know who they were,,,Tony Mottola said to me,,,Jody,,,,did you hear these guys play,??,,I said no,,, Tony explained that he got to the session early as he was doing the Peter Gunn sound track as he always played
"Danger" on that show,,,,he said he got there early and thought these two guys came out of the mountains,,,

The mandolin player was messing around during I guess was a warm up and the guitar player was sort of playing some basic open chords,,,,,Tony started fooling around with Bucky on "Lover Come back to me" when all at once ....all hell broke loose,,,the mandolin player started playing Jazz,,,,,the guitar player was doing jazz chord work,,,flatted 9th 13ths suspended chords etc,,,they looked at each other,,,and I looked as well,,,
They played like hell,,,,

Roy Horton said to me Jody ,,,I want you to meet Jethroe Burns and Homer Haynes...I said ,wow for the minute I thought you were those two corn balls who sing those pop tunes
in a country way,,,,Temptation etc,,,

They laughed out loud and said....Jody we are those two corn balls,,,,they thought that was really funny,,,I was embarrsed...

Homer said to me,,,how come you play so good for a city fella,, I said Im not a city fella
Im from Mississippi and I went to school here to lose my New York accent and that I really had that southern drawl,,,nice guys and great great musicians.

When I remember these and other stories I realize how old Iam getting,,,but I was just about 18 years old then.

I did many other dates with them at RCA in New York over the years,,,,,had enough for now,,??? I hope so Im tired,,I do one finger typing and it takes me forever,,,,thanks PS

You should have heard them play The William Tell Overture Unbeleivable......And I said this would be a "Quickie" bOb is after me [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 11 April 2001 at 05:34 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 11 Apr 2001 7:13 pm

* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:15 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 12 Apr 2001 7:14 am

Janice,,,,you cant find smarter guys anywhere
than Gene Jones or myself,,,"or is it that cause we are OLD??? dont think so,,,,we both love lhasa apso pups ,,,we both have a triple neck
Fender Custom....Gene is a good looking guy but Im not ,,,too many hours on the Forum,,,time to cut back,,,and "get a life"
I look at him as "The Clint Eastwood" of the steel guitar,,,oughta see his "Harley" he's a cool cool guy,,,,,

Shortest post ever,,,,they will get shorter as I get older.....Jody

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 13 Apr 2001 3:38 am

*[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 May 2002 at 05:16 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 13 Apr 2001 6:43 am

Gene ,,,who said you never amounted to anything??? I think you are everything you think you are.

Who do you think you are??? let me know I can
still be your press agent....Im Ray Montee's talent scout ,,,,I also specialize in "pooper scooping.....You are too modest my friend,,, I know people who still think there are the greatest,,,,when they look in the mirror in the morning...they ask the mirror. And I think and know You are a GREAT Steel Player and my granddaughter of you as well..

Mirror, Mirror. on the wall ,,,who is the greatest steel player of all"? they ought to look in the mirror less,,,and forget it....You are the "Clint Eastwood of the Steel Guitar thats your image to me,

Post by **b0b** » 13 Apr 2001 6:49 am

Since Chet isn't a steel player, I'm moving this to the Music forum.