Who were the Sir Douglas Quintet from the 70s

Scott Spanbauer · Post by **Scott Spanbauer** » 21 Mar 2022 2:16 pm

what a great thread

Norbert Dengler · Post by **Norbert Dengler** » 22 Mar 2022 9:24 pm

[/quote]I thought it might be Bobby, too on "Carol Jane"...
According to PragueFrank:
ca 1983 unknown, TX – Sir Douglas Quintet (Doug Sahm [vcl/gt/steel/piano], Louie Ortega [vcl/gt],
Bobby Black [steel], John Main [bass], Doug Clifford [drums/percussion], Augie Meyers [piano/accordion/synthesizer]. Producer: Kenny Denton)
311 CAROL JANE Sonet SNTF 897 06007 530956 0
many thanks, dave

Norbert Dengler · Post by **Norbert Dengler** » 22 Mar 2022 9:27 pm

another great vid of the golden times, all the good stuff is on there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOGDvDBEFj8

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 23 Mar 2022 5:44 am

The Tornadoes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZOC3En5uUk

The songwriter is credited as "Sir Doug."

Daniel Dickie · Post by **Daniel Dickie** » 23 Mar 2022 12:05 pm

Thanks for sharing all the YouTube clips. There is some great music there.
Also everyone else who shared their memories.
Glad there was so much music recorded for future generations to watch. I like how he was influenced by Bob Wills and how he plays with such diverse groups

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 23 Mar 2022 8:33 pm

As far as the original post from years ago, "Be Real" is Pete Drake on steel along with a bunch of the "A Team," produced by Jerry Kennedy in Nashville in 1970. They cut three other tracks that day but that is the only one which was released back then, on the Sir Douglas Quintet album "1+1+1=4," which otherwise features the later California version of the Quintet along with other musical guests.

First heard of them through Freddy Fender. He wrote Wasted Days and Wasted Nights as a tribute to Doug Sahm.

This is not correct, and in fact has it backwards. Freddy Fender had a modest hit with the song in 1959 before going to prison for a tiny amount of marijuana and having his career stalled. In 1971 Doug Sahm, who'd been playing in bars in San Antonio when the song first hit, recorded it as a tribute to Freddy who had been largely forgotten, saying on his recording "...Freddy, this is for you wherever you are..." Not long after that Sahm hosted Fender at some of his Austin gigs. Then Freddy got signed to ABC records and with Doug's producer Huey Meaux had a huge hit with "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" which he followed up with a remake of "Wasted Days." Together the two records made him a country star. Freddy always gave Doug credit for reviving his career, and of course they later joined forces in the "Texas Tornadoes."

Doug Sahm's 1971 version of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgRl_kmwhpo

Credit to my old friend Tommy Detamore for producing one of Doug's best ever albums, full of Tommy's amazing
steel playing!

Daniel Dickie · Post by **Daniel Dickie** » 24 Mar 2022 6:01 am

LOL
On The Great Freddy Fender CD Catalogue number GLD 63124 made in Portugal in 1993. Freddy actually says on the CD prior to Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.
I would like to dedicate this song to my partner,soul partner Mr Doug Sahm better known as Sir Douglas Quintet from San Antonio.... Wherever you are brother!
I just played the CD and listened to what he said.
I think I may have made an incorrect posting originally. Thanks for picking up on that Pete and clearing that up.

Maybe he was just dedicating that particular version of the song. I can't find it on YouTube.
I looked the album up on Discogs. I think it could be quite rare... Only 30 people have it.... And none want it... Has some great songs on it though

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 24 Mar 2022 7:27 am

Pete Finney did an extended interview with Otis Gibbs a while back about his experiences with Doug - definitely worth a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vetSfhr3zKQ

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 25 Mar 2022 2:41 am

A young Larry Campbell shows his steel and fiddle licks with Doug in Sweden .
https://youtu.be/iOGDvDBEFj8

Joe Alterio · Post by **Joe Alterio** » 7 Apr 2022 12:45 pm

Always loved Tommy Detamore's playing on Doug's revisit of "Beautiful Texas Sunshine": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry4XZ8la9QI

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 11 Apr 2022 9:23 pm

My favorite Sir Douglas Quintet Album is "Honkey Blues." Many great soulful tunes. However, no steel as I remember.

Joe

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 12 Apr 2022 4:45 am

The typical great guitar of Doug on this Boz Scaggs number:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F03_r6sjzz4

One of my favorite recordings and an absolutely classic arrangement, I had no idea that brilliant guitar work was Doug's.

Also I was under the impression that Dan Dugmore contributed the great steel work on Doug's "Return of Wayne Douglas" album, but more knowledgeable folk than I have posted here without mentioning him. Did I miss something?

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 12 Apr 2022 7:01 am

Dave Grafe wrote:
The typical great guitar of Doug on this Boz Scaggs number:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F03_r6sjzz4
One of my favorite recordings and an absolutely classic arrangement, I had no idea that brilliant guitar work was Doug's.

Doug Simril is the guitarist listed in the album credits. He also played in the Steve Miller Band

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 12 Apr 2022 7:49 am

I knew that from a friend who read this in the booklet to some Boz Scaggs reissue. Yes Doug Simril is the guitar player officialy listed on the album.
Fred I rather think it was Curly Cooke, instead of Simril with Miller.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 12 Apr 2022 8:22 am

Dave Grafe wrote:Also I was under the impression that Dan Dugmore contributed the great steel work on Doug's "Return of Wayne Douglas" album, but more knowledgeable folk than I have posted here without mentioning him. Did I miss something?

That would be one Tommy Detamore. And yes, he plays great.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 12 Apr 2022 8:44 am

Jimmy Day played on the Texas Tornado album...surprised he didn't play more with Doug over the years since they were both in Texas...or did he? They seem like they would have been a good match!

Daniel Dickie · Post by **Daniel Dickie** » 12 Apr 2022 4:11 pm

Thanks for sharing the audio interview with Pete Finney, Frank.
I liked how it was recorded on cassette.
Some funny stories on there.... Reminded me of some of the characters that I rented with back in the day....

Arty Passes · Post by **Arty Passes** » 17 Apr 2022 8:54 am

There's a great documentary called "Sir Doug and the Genuine Texas Groove"
I saw it on Amazon a while back but now says unavailable and I can't find it anywhere.
Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kpXZ6i9cE