The Steel Guitar Forum

I was just listening to Billy Walker's version of "Down To My Last Cigarette".
Very cool...shuffle with walking bass and cross-stick on the snare...swingin'.
And a really tasty steel part.
Anybody know who played it?

Skip...
I would bet my last dollar that it was Hal Rugg....Hal told me that Billy Walker was one of his accounts, and he also told me that one night a bunch of them were standing in a parking lot after a job and Hal mentioned that it was late and he needed to get home....he said and I am down to my last cigarette. I think Billy Walker wrote the tune, but Hal's remark was the inspiration.

Billy Easton
Casa Grande, AZ

Hey Billy...Que paso?
I think you may be right. A search turned up a YouTube clip of Hal playing the tune at the '94 convention in STL, and the title screen says he played on Billy's version, and also on KD Lang's version.
Written by Billy and Harlan Howard, so the parking lot story may very well be true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h3538VdY1o

Skip,

I think Bily's right, that it was Hal Rugg.

I also know that years ago, Zane Beck worked with Billy Walker. I wish that I could find a copy of Billy's Country Carnivasl Show.

Anybody got any ideas where a person could get a copy of that show?

Terry Wood

It was either Hal or Weldon, they both were on Billy's stuff back then... not sure which without being able to give it a listen right now, though...

Not to dispute that Hal Rugg or Weldon worked on Billy Walker's records, but I also have a couple old Billy Walker albums on RCA that are unmistakably Emmons. Produced by Ray Pennington. And if you doubt it was BE just look at his shirt (ha ha)!

Peter Freiberger

True, Buddy worked all of Pennington's sessions, the Step One stuff, RCA, etc. "Cigarette" was cut long before that time, though, I do believe.

Terry, I've got 2 or 3 carnival shows recorded from RFD. Keep me reminded of it and I'll find them and get you a copy.Larry Sassor played on the ones Del Reeves hosted.

Tony

Tony,

I'd love to get copies of the Billy Walker Country Carnival.

Thanks!

Terry Wood

When I worked with Billy (’71–’72) there were occasions when Lloyd Green was playing on the final cuts of some of Billy's songs! In fact, the only two names that I heard Billy mention during my stint with him were Weldon and Lloyd! Not to take anything away from Hal, of course! I think a lot of times they had to use who was available at the time! And also the style of the song was considered when choosing the steel-player! The best (2)-yrs. I spent here in Nashville!

I do not think I have heard the Billy Walker version but I have heard the K.D. Lang version. Hal Rugg makes the song with his steel playing and his tone is just awesome. I personally do not smoke and the song only appeals to me because of the steel guitar.

I recently stumbled on a You Tube of Billy Walker's "Charlie's Shoes" and the steel player was none other than the Big E. I later found a thread on here discussing that and it noted that the final cut that was released had Billy whistling instead of the steel solo.

Oh yeah, the whistling thing. That bug hit Guy Mitchell too. SAD.

The original record was Billy whistling, also, I believe...

I've often wondered whose (terrible) idea it was to whistle the leads....

I remember Hal and Weldon doing quite a bit of Billy's recordings too. Great playing !! But my all-time favorite Billy Walker hit is "Word Games" which I believe came out in late '73 or early '74. Buddy Emmons did the unmistakable, great playing on this recording. I've heard this was one of Buddy's first sessions back in Nashville after his return from L.A. and that he used the single-neck, 12 string, "basket weave" Emmons guitar on this cut. As soon as I heard the first steel guitar note when I initially heard the record on the radio I knew it was "The Big E." Man, the tone... superb !!!

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" Olson