A Serious Putdown

Redd V · Post by **Redd V** » 11 Aug 2002 11:27 am

Thanks Chris;
But I leave Thurs with Merle for a couple weeks, or I'd be there!

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 11 Aug 2002 12:44 pm

This brings up a serious point for discussion. Are(is)Alabama Marshall Tucker/Allman Bros. wannabees, or are they Eagles wannabes? And how many of y'all were playing bars in the early 80s, and wanted to PUKE if you played "Feels So Right" one more time? "Sweet Home Alabama," anyone?

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 11 Aug 2002 12:49 pm

Michael...What's wrong with small towns, beer joints, bass fishin,and poussum eatin. Sound like you don't get out our way much. Are you sure you play a steel guitar or a harp.

Oh and tralier parks. They are great places. Just ask our last President, Slike Willy.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Aug 2002 3:52 pm

Just one more thing Paul. I actually believe RO was right. I think that having Nashville session musicians on the scene caused alot of resentment in the band. I don't think they should have been there either. I'll bet someone like Chet Atkins had a hand in it. The old "our way or the highway" syndrome. Its why Waylon Jennings told Atkins and his control freaks to shove it and went back to Texas to make real music. I don't think Alabama or their music was ever friendly to steel guitar. Lloyd is in a class by himself above them. I can understand their resentment at the time. It just happened to be Lloyd that RO was using as an example at the time. Nothing personal. They were/are a good bar band that made it. I appreciate their music but its not really my brand of country. A little too commercial for me.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 11 Aug 2002 4:34 pm

Kevin: This entire conversation has been an eye opener for me. Especially so, when at my age, one begins to think you've seen it all. I, for one reason or another, have always enjoyed playing Alabama songs. I just like the flow of the chords and changes. I find the vocal harmonies very adaptable to pedal steel guitar.

I'm gradually beginning to see a lot of viewpoints where once I thought there was only one or perhaps two. I appreciate your intuitiveness in thinking I had over reacted since I know I am prone to do that. So I give a lot of credance to your other comments as well. I have gone back and reread everything in this thread in an effort to better understand all the angles I've been shown.

For that, I once again have this Forum and all of you to thank !!

Regards, Paul

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 11 Aug 2002 4:52 pm

Oh Well. Not much to add, except....
ALABAMA???????!!!!!!......yaawwnnnn.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Aug 2002 5:35 pm

Don't we have a great forum? Thanks Bobby Lee!

Lyle Bradford · Post by **Lyle Bradford** » 11 Aug 2002 5:36 pm

41 Hits and counting!! No one forced anyone to buy the material Al. did, but evidently someone out there likes music without a steel. I guess it shows we are a minority in the music world. Well back to practicing!!

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 11 Aug 2002 9:34 pm

Have you seen how many hamburgers McDonalds has sold?

James Winwood · Post by **James Winwood** » 11 Aug 2002 10:09 pm

5 Billion

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 12 Aug 2002 10:54 am

I don't buy any music without a steel...so needless to say, I don't own any of their's.

Bob.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 12 Aug 2002 11:20 am

I consider Alabama to be the origin of NCS. They were the first big act to incorporate pop/rock rhythms and mixing. The beginning of the end for real country music.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 12 Aug 2002 1:19 pm

I was in the opening band that opened for Alabama back when they got started, I was really dispointed when they used sound tracks for there music an some of the back up singing, I guess they needed them nashville players more then they let on. It was my thinking back at that time they could not do it by there self. Iam sure they carry more musicans now but back in the early 80's it was mostly sound tracks. Mabe they forgot that. Jerry

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 15 Aug 2002 8:35 am

Back in the 80's I played on a number of shows with Alabama, in the opening acts and on package tours. I often stood just offstage during their sets watching the Guitarist (Jeff Cook). I thought the band had great Harmonies and Jeff played pretty decent fiddle- but he was one of the worst guitar players I'd ever seen. I just couldn't seem to process how such a ham-handed player had gotten a gig with such national prominence... when I started running into the session guys who'd played on their records I heard many stories about Jeff coming to sessions and asking them to please "dumb down" the guitar parts so he could re-create them on stage. I'd have to say that was one of the sadder chapters in my education on the music "business". It ain't always about talent! (Randy was always nice me though!)[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 15 August 2002 at 09:35 AM.]

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 15 Aug 2002 8:55 am

Bobby Lee: I agree! I don't always agree with your opinions, but I certainly do on this topic.

I applaud your observation!

And you saw this all the way from California?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic. I'm just trying to solidify how correct I believe you are!

------------------
Tommy Minniear
www.ntsga.com

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 20 Aug 2002 8:57 am

Mark,
I too played on a couple of shows back in the early 80's with Alabama. Back in the era when they were travelling in the same type of used 28' RV with a box van for their equipement that my band was. I thought their tunes were pretty good and they all seemed to be pretty good guys, a good bar band that made it with their own tunes which is what my band was aspiring to at the time. The guitar player's ego was as big as his stomach which I couldn't understand because I thought he was barely adequate. He talked like they had done all their own playing on those sessions which I wondered about at the time so I am not surprised to hear hear he had a little help. I know he and I had a discussion about steel guitar but it's been 20+ years so I don't remember what he said, most likely something like "sure I can play one but it doesn't fit our music" or something to that effect. In any event at that time they were doing all their own playing and singing on stage-no recorded stuff, this was around 81. It's kinda funny we opened for them around a year later at some festival in the DC area and they each had their own bus to travel in, we were still in the same RV and box van! I think we were better musicians but their original tunes were catchier. [This message was edited by Jay Jessup on 20 August 2002 at 10:00 AM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Aug 2002 9:13 am

And you saw this all the way from California?

Believe it or not, most of California is not like Los Angeles or the Bay Area. I live in a small town. About half of the businesses here have top 40 country music on the radio all day long. I hear the trends with my morning breakfast at the Star or McDonalds.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 20 Aug 2002 10:07 am

I hear the trends with my morning breakfast at the Star or McDonalds.

b0b,are you joining the lawsuit against "Fast Foods"?

Ray

------------------
Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 20 Aug 2002 10:09 am

Believe it or not,most of Los Angeles is not like Los Angeles.And naw,I have nothin against trailor parks - hell,they even have em on the beach in Malibu.And nothin wrong w/bass fishin - as long as it's 40 pound white sea bass we're talkin about.And why settle for beer when you can have a fine California Chardonnay.But seriously,the best country music comes from right here in California.Always has....Still does...Spade Cooley,Buck,Merle...hell,even Dale Watson hung his hat here for a few years - till the '94 quake ran him off. -MJ-

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 20 Aug 2002 11:28 am

I have met Randy Owen and Jeff Cook a number
of times at Leo Fender's office. They were one of the very first endorsers of Music Man
guitars,basses and amps.

They always seemed friendly and proffesional
in my eyes. My experience with them has always been of a positive nature.

When Leo introduced me and told them I used to play steel,,,they praised some of the players we know.

Maybe they did a style that wasn't what you would call country,,,but with all the awards
they have won, and their popularity "country
roots or not" I dont think anyone should refer to them as "trailor park" type people.

Many would like to have the money they earned
over their career. I did not see what you refer to as putting steel guitar down in particular,,,,I take people as I find them,,
and I found them to be fine guys with a good
amount of talent and appeal to the music industry.

You dont win awards as they did for being nothing. The nothings are those who critisize
those who are something..nothing aimed at anyone,,Its not a compliment to who and what
we are,,,are we the judge and the jury? or are we people who can sit behind a keyboard and sound off? If that floats the boat,,fine,
but this topic has been overblown.

Its a waste of time,,,,,Alabama is still ALABAMA,,,,,like it or not. Bam Im gone.