Johnny Cash Steel Tunes

Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Sep 2003 2:56 pm

Johnny did most of his magic without a Steel player.

I'd be interested in what songs he included Steel on, and the player if possible.

Here's one:
"I'd just be fool enough (to fall)"
[Corrected per Ron's next post.][This message was edited by Joey Ace on 17 September 2003 at 02:13 PM.]

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 12 Sep 2003 3:46 pm

You must mean WITHOUT a steel player... I can't think of any off the top of my head.

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Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 12 Sep 2003 4:34 pm

Dobro on "When Daddy Played the Dobro". Possibly on Nashville Skyline w/Pete Drake but I can't get my hands on my copy.

Also any time a band I'm with plays them. Does this mean they're exempt from BMI with steel.

You're right for the most part.

Kinda spooky huh?

Wonder why..

EJL

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 12 Sep 2003 4:49 pm

He Never used a steel player that I can remember.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 12 Sep 2003 8:12 pm

Here's one:
http://soundhost.net/jc-sgr.mp3

Warning: 2 MB download will take a while!

The steel player is Robby Turner.

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David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 12 Sep 2003 8:36 pm

"Understand Your Man" has a lot of what sounds like dobro.

I think it was one of our Forumite's who related that J.C. said he liked the sound of a steel, but it didn't fit in with his stylings, so he didn't use it, or something to that effect. Come to think of it, I can't recall any J.C. tunes with a fiddle either.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 13 Sep 2003 12:29 am

His early Columbia album "Now There Was A Song" has steel ( Don Helms ) and fiddle all over it. [This message was edited by Jussi Huhtakangas on 13 September 2003 at 10:12 AM.][This message was edited by Jussi Huhtakangas on 13 September 2003 at 10:13 AM.]

Roland van Beveren · Post by **Roland van Beveren** » 13 Sep 2003 4:26 am

On his mid fifties Sun recordings one A.W. Kernodle plays steelguitar on "Wide Open Road".

Much later Cash sings "Steel Guitar Rag" with Robby Turner on steel.

Roland
[This message was edited by Roland van Beveren on 13 September 2003 at 05:27 AM.]

Lynn Owsley · Post by **Lynn Owsley** » 14 Sep 2003 9:28 am

Thanks Roland, I was not aware of A.W.Kernodle playing a cut on Sun...to my Knowledge there are only 4 more, Robbie Turner and Don Helms already mentioned,then Jim Vest, only one cut and I dont remember the title.Jim told me once that he did play on additional cut or cuts but they were never released, and I played on one cut of "Soldier's Last Letter" where he did a resitation.
Johnny was certainly a stylist and the steel guitar did not ever make prominence within JC's music...IMHO I think because the steel players were not readily available at Sun Records, and around Memphis when JC was creating this style.
I had the chance to speak with JC's brother, Tommy last year and this subject came up and he assured me that John was very fond of the steel guitar.
Robbie Turner spent a lot of time with JC on the road and I suspect he could tell us much more about the man who sang "The Steel Guitar Rag."

Heiko Aehle · Post by **Heiko Aehle** » 14 Sep 2003 12:40 pm

I can remember "It was the night Hank Williams came to town" and the steel was played by Lloyd Green.

Don Patterson · Post by **Don Patterson** » 14 Sep 2003 3:26 pm

"The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" has some nice steel in it. Oops didn't see the above post for some reason. Must be old age![This message was edited by Don Patterson on 14 September 2003 at 04:28 PM.]

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 16 Sep 2003 5:11 pm

Shot Jackson played the dobro on "Papa Played the Dobro" 2/15/60

It is still avaiable on CD (Columbia CK-86332) "Johnny Cash Ride this Train"

Vance Monday · Post by **Vance Monday** » 16 Sep 2003 6:00 pm

If I remember right, my brother, Jerry Monday played Dobro on Understand Your Man. He played a lot of sessions in the late 60's and early 70's.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 17 Sep 2003 1:11 pm

Bobbe Seymore posted somewhere that Johnny liked steel.

I was glad to read that because I've heard stories that the opposite was true.

He sure didn't record a lot with it though.

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 17 Sep 2003 3:30 pm

You're right, Joey, but some of what he did with steel is real nice. Get the time I will put up Lloyd's break from The Night Hank Williams Came To Town, from 1987.

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Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 17 Sep 2003 9:29 pm

The only song I heard JR do with a steel is "Seasons Of My Heart" and it was a dandy. Early 60's. I mean it was down right rural.

Bob

Michael Miller · Post by **Michael Miller** » 18 Sep 2003 9:00 am

I remember years ago hearing a quote that Johnny Cash said he loved the steel guitar, just not on his stage.

Brandon Housewright · Post by **Brandon Housewright** » 18 Sep 2003 11:09 am

Lloyd Green played on Johnny's "I'll Go Somewhere And Sing My Songs Again" off The Mystery Of Life album, too. Pretty cool!