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Topic: Swingin' on the Strings".......West & Bryant |
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 18 Oct 2005 8:47 pm |
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I just found this CD in a second-hand store. Needless to say I'm blown away.......any fans of this recording here on the forum?
These tunes in my opinion are the ultimate in cool, stylish playing. There is a sense of humor here in the playing that is delightful. I found a few threads on Speedy, but just wanted to chime in and say that he's just got a new fan.
I've been listening to Hank Thompson a lot in last few months as well. I think I'm starting to prefer the western swing and early steel over 60's -'70's country now. I'm only 34, so I have no connection at all with this era, but I'm really getting taken in by the steel of this period. The players had a sense of personal style in their image as well - their name on the guitar, wearing a slick western outfit, grinning from ear to ear....
I'm getting sucked right in by it!
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Bob Strum
From:
Anniston Alabama
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 3:13 am
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Chris you have just locked into the best!!
"Solid Jack!!" |
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Roger Kelly
From:
Bristol,Tennessee
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 3:44 am
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| Everything that "Speedy" West and Jimmy Bryant recorded during the 50's and beyond was strictly "Top Drawer" in my opinion. I still have many of their 45's that I bought during that time. |
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Mike Gross
From:
Manchester, Connecticut, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 5:15 am
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Congratulations Chris!
That is what my "Swingin' West" radio show and web site is all about. www.swinginwest.com
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Mike
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John Ummel
From:
Arlington, WA.
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 6:16 am
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Speedy is THE coolest.
Listen to Stratosphere Boogie. |
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Chuck S. Lettes
From:
Denver, Colorado
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 6:26 am
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I love both Speedy and Jimmy Byrant, two of my favorite musicians. I asked Speedy a few years ago if he ever thought of Jimmy and the recordings that they made together. Speedy simply said, "Everyday." Check out their recordings on a collection of CDs from Bear Records, which includes a great booklet of commentary and pictures.
Chuck[This message was edited by Chuck S. Lettes on 19 October 2005 at 07:27 AM.] |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 6:33 am
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The thing about hot "swing", whether it's western swing, big band, or whatever, is that it is always ageless and always very hip.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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John Ummel
From:
Arlington, WA.
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 6:53 am
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Hey Chuck,
Do you know if the CD set from Bear (Family) Records is available to buy in the U.S. or do I have to order from Germany? |
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Fuzzy Plant
From:
Winter Haven, Florida, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 7:16 am
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Chris:
Check your email. I sent you a photo I'll bet you never saw before. Jimmy Bryant was one of my favorite pickers of all times too.
Fuzzy |
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Walter Stettner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 8:47 am
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Great comments, boys. I'm just loving these tunes. I have to get that compilation.
Was all of jimmy's playing in real time? A tune or two sounds like it's got the Les Paul vary-speed treatment - "Frettin' Fingers"? What a picker! And Speedy sounds like he's trying to make Jimmy laugh all the time. What a refreshing set of instrumentals.
What is that bwwrrrrr!! sound on the Bigsby? It's like a growwwl. Is that one of those tone pedals?
Fred, I didn't get your pic.....dying to see it. Can you try resending it? |
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John Ummel
From:
Arlington, WA.
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 9:10 am
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| Thanks Walter |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 9:17 am
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| There's an old story about Jimmy and the tune "Little Rock Getaway". Evidently some DJs didn't think it was real, they thought it was speeded-up. Jimmy had to take his guitar with him to radio stations and play the tune to quash those rumors! The only tune of Jimmy's that I can play is "Boogie Man." I'm a huge Speedy fan. And I just love some of the strange sounds he made! My friends would ask me, "What's that weird, thwack-a-thwack-a-doo sound? I'd just say, "Speedy." [This message was edited by John Billings on 19 October 2005 at 10:18 AM.] |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 9:29 am
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"hey speedy!" shouted Tennessee Ernie Ford one one CD I have of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant. excellent stuff.
I also have Stratsophere Bogie too. you cant beat the energy. Jimmy is so jazz oriented. and Speeddy is beyond words. those two were a match made in heaven.
I grew up with country swing. my dad listened to it all the time while I was learning to walk.
I am listening to Spade Cooley's stuff now. the King of Country Swing it is said....nno wait, he said that himself. |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 9:45 am
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| Chris, I think the "bwwwrrr" is a rapid hammer-on on a lower string, Speedy did a lot of those crazy effects. There are some rare film footage of these two fine gentlemen together, both on telescriptions and from a tv-show, and they were even more crazy live than on the record. |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 9:52 am
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Chris-Glad to hear that "Only 34" is going for this Hot Swing sTuff by Speedy and Jimmy.
As Jeff says it is "ageless", like me , I hope. LOL..It looks like the future of the steel guitar is still in good hands...al 
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 11:09 am
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| I think it testifies to Speedy's talent that a lot of the other steel guitar stylings of the time have been refined, rehashed and recycled over the years so much that the originals sound dated, yet Speedy pops out of the speakers still sounding fresh (and insane, but a good insane). |
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Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 12:01 pm
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Two Great Musicians Speedy and Jimmy both deceased now. Speedy was my friend and neighbor. I was fortunate to get to spend some time with him. He taught me some very important things about the music business and was always helpful on steel guitar pointers. I miss him dearly! I miss him and our mutual friends Zane Beck, Julian Tharpe. Speedy was creative and an original. He loved steel guitar, show business and steel players! No other like him. Listen to him and hear a GOD given talent! Like Julian Tharpe no one can duplicate either of them.
Woody |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 12:02 pm
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Al,
It's in good hands with me, FWIW. I shouldn't have said "only 34", that's not exactly young. But I wasn't even a twinkle in my young daddy's eye when these guys laid down these recordings. Everything I absorb is from the old school. Not taking away from the hot new players, but I'm constantly after that old sound. My Sho-Bud and '76 Session bring me very close to what I'm looking for, as does my '62 National lap. And I find myself honking away using 6th's for a good portion of a show now, "wha-wha-wha-a", just like on the Hank Thomspon tunes. A lot of these older players are becoming legends in my mind now; I'd love to sit down with a player from the old school. One of these days I'll make it a point, but I guess I shouldn't wait too long. (I didn't know Speedy had passed away until I looked it up here recently.)
David,
You are sooo right. That's exactly what caught me: the freshness and excitement of the playing. There is, interestingly, no reverb at all. It's so dry, yet so full of tone and guts.
I'm turning my 'verb off for a while. |
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Fuzzy Plant
From:
Winter Haven, Florida, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2005 12:48 pm
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Chris, check your email now. I made an adjustment.
Fuzzy |
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