The Steel Guitar Forum

If I understand this right, the suggestion is that we send a Band-in-a-Box backing file out, and then we each add our own lead and submit it. We could add additional instruments if we wanted.

Is that the idea ?

Who would host the collection of entries ?

Sounds like a hoot.

Hank did it in D with 3 chords.
It became a mainstream hit soon afterwards when Tony Bennett and several others recorded pop versions.

So who's going to create the Band-in-a-Box backing track and post it on a website so that we can download it and orchestrate it ?

I would suggest "Hula Blues" for two reasons: It's a swinging Hawaiian song that is very cool to free jam in a jazzy kind of way over the changes and also, Craig Pryor has a wonderful version tabbed out here on the forum. I would love to hear Jeff's version of this classic along with every one else's version.

I thought Jeff had a dandy idea, so I slapped this rendition together.

COLD COLD HEART

Great to see the first step taken Rick! Sounds great - I especially like your way of playing that Lazy River!

I hope more recordings will follow! I will try to get my head around the tune as well (Rick's recording is the first version I've heard).

Fred

Thanks Fred!
I hope we hear more versions too.


If you'd like to hear the original, here's Hank Williams performing it on YouTube.

I play it using tab from Cindy Cashdollar's instruction video on eight-string, tuned ACEGACEG and on six-string I use this tab from Doug Beaumier's web site-
http://www.dougbsteel.com/CCHeartPage.htm

Hope this helps those that aren't overly familiar with the original Hank.

Jude

Thanks, Rick, for being the first to post a version of the song. I really enjoyed it. I plan to record my version during the next week.

Personally, I like the idea of keeping this as open as possible. The beauty of it lies in seeing how different each persons version is. Some people may use BIAB. Rick IS a BIAB . I think that there is plenty of time to record other songs in this manner so let's start with the initial suggestion of Cold Cold Heart and go from there. I'll do my best to have mine done by next weekend.

That should be really helpful Jude - thanks!
And thanks to Doug Beaumier for creating the tab.

Michael thanks for the kind words - I've been called an SOB before, never a BIAB
I'll look forward to hearing your rendition . .

Hey Jeff, this was your idea - so are you going to do your own version of Cold Cold Heart?
That I'd like to hear!

That is a very cool variety of instruments there Rick.

What did you use to create this? The Lazy River sounds nice. Did I hear a Ukulele in there too?

Thanks G-man!
Yep, there's a Martin soprano Ukulele in there.
Also a Taylor acoustic, Guild X500 archtop electric into a 47 Fender Pro amp, Fender P. Bass, and drums & percussion.
The Steel Guitars are - the Lazy River Hollowneck (good ears, guys!), the 53 Fender 26" Quad into a silver face Twin Reverb, and the Supro Supreme into a 53 Fender Deluxe amp. Menage a trois . .

Jeff,

Great idea! You first....

Drew

Yeah c'mon Jeff - let's hear that sweet frypan!

Great Idea. Song should be the control. Do it anyway you like. I would prefer Hank's "I Cant Help It If I'm Still in Love With You. I think this one is a bit more difficult.

Double post

Recording Update:

I finished recording my version of Cold Cold Heart last night. I should be able to mix it down and post it this weekend. Stay tuned...

That's great Michael, I'm looking forward to hearing that!

My buddy George Piburn called me and asked if he could use my backup track for his version, so I made 3 mixes to choose from.

There's one with Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele and Bass for the Hawaiian vibe, one with Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass & Drums, and one with all of the above.

So I figured I'd post the MP3s, in case anyone else might like to use them for their rendition.

HAWAIIAN BACKUP
SWING/ROCKABILLY BACKUP
FULL BACKUP

Rick...These tracks are GREAT!!!! Way to go...Terry V.

This sounds like fun. I wasn't sure of the melody so went to various sites online. The melody is different on all of them. Can you guys who really know the tune tell us which one is most accurate? Thanks.

sheet music: http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiCOLDHA ... DHART.html

http://home.ptd.net/~dotzang1/my_midis.htm

http://www.simplyangel.com/angelfiles/M ... t.S.A..wav

This is just my take on it, but it seems to me that the melody is open to interpretation. Have any of you heard Norah Jones' version of the song? It's a very interesting take on it. Personally, I'd be more into hearing everyone's personal interpretation of the song.

Hey Dan! There's nothing like the original source-- you might have missed the YouTube link Rick Alexander posted above (6/24). Hank's own straightforward version...

--Steve

Thanks Terry!




Dan, the sheet music is the most accurate.
As Michael pointed out, this is one of those melodies that's subject to interpretation.
Elvis and Jerry Lee certainly had their way with it!
Whoever created the midi file never heard this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig0pnGBtiSE
Hank done it this-a-way . .

Michael, I agree 100% about putting forth a personal interpretation of the song-- much more fun that way. But I think it's important to have listened to the original carefully once or twice at least. I love the Norah Jones version, for example, but would hate to see it taken as the "standard" just because millions have heard it who haven't heard Hank's performance.

--Steve