Funeral for a Steel Guitar

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 22 Oct 2007 9:49 pm

It's happened. Music Row producers have finally killed the steel guitar.
Larry Cordle's CD cover Murder On Music Row pretty much says it all.

Ward Skinner · Post by **Ward Skinner** » 22 Oct 2007 10:08 pm

No more rehearsing - just hearse'ing

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 22 Oct 2007 11:18 pm

Like the chalk outline,,, need more of that if you ask me

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Oct 2007 2:13 am

Anyone figure out what brand "died"? Looks like it could be an Emmons.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Oct 2007 3:26 am

What a great song... it's the one that made me lose every ounce of respect I had for George Strait. He and Alan Jackson won an award for their cover of it, and when they got up to receive it, I thought here's their time to make a powerful statement to go with it. George stood back behind Alan, and muttered, "We just cut the song as kinda a joke..." I just looked at the TV and said to myself, "What a chicken----. Take a stand like a wormy weasel, ol' Georgie." I've turned his cuts off ever since.

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 23 Oct 2007 6:06 am

Michael You Said It. SONNY.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Oct 2007 6:46 am

Long live King George!!!!

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 23 Oct 2007 7:20 am

I agree with what Michael said!....

I saw Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time do this song a couple times at the Station Inn. It was performed with the normal Bluegrass instrumentation -no pedal steel. Even with that, I was knocked out that a Bluegrass songwriter/singer/performer would and did feel strongly enough about the then and still situation in Nashville to write, record, and convey this message with conviction.

I was way more impressed with Larry Cordle's writing, recording, and presentation than I was with George Strait's wimpy remark on the awards show.

Disc Jockeys pulled this song from a George Strait CD and started playing it and received an overwhelming response. Think about it: Song Of The Year - and was never released as a single!? Whats that tell you?....

Ok, I'm done now...

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 23 Oct 2007 8:28 am

Anyone figure out what brand "died"? Looks like it could be an Emmons.

Yes, it looks like an Emmons.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 23 Oct 2007 8:49 am

That Larry Cordle CD came out in 1999 or 2000 - this is old news. I sorta chuckled when I saw the steel guitar on my copy, since steel is hardly a staple in his or most other bluegrass bands. He did hit it on the nail, though. Fine song, fine bluegrass band, and bluegrass is plenty "country" to me - steel or not.

Ironic that Larry is definitely a mainstream country songwriter, with a Who's Who of Nashville country stars recording his songs, starting with Highway 40 Blues, recorded by Ricky Skaggs in 1983. Yup - even Garth Brooks (Alabama Clay).

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Oct 2007 12:20 pm

I have a "white" promo CD of David Frizzel's version (with Johnny Cox on steel). The copy I have, I got months before the other "two guy's" did it and is a much better version. I think David has that in one of his CD albums.

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 23 Oct 2007 2:11 pm

What a great song... it's the one that made me lose every ounce of respect I had for George Strait. He and Alan Jackson won an award for their cover of it, and when they got up to receive it, I thought here's their time to make a powerful statement to go with it. George stood back behind Alan, and muttered, "We just cut the song as kinda a joke..." I just looked at the TV and said to myself, "What a chicken----. Take a stand like a wormy weasel, ol' Georgie." I've turned his cuts off ever since.

Mega Dittos Michael

I thought the very same thing too!
I've not bought another George Strait CD since.

Thomas Stanley · Post by **Thomas Stanley** » 23 Oct 2007 3:08 pm

I Agree with Mikey D!!! I'm not chicken to take a stand. I just finished writing a side to record this Spring titled "Where In The Country Did Country Music Go" that pretty much says it all and points a couple of fingers in the process. Some will chuckle because they will understand the little nuances in the words! But I don't think it will get any airtime from at least one big Nashville station I can think of!! Stay tuned ... more to come!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 23 Oct 2007 3:51 pm

gee..i dunno...george strait always impressed me as a pretty decent guy!

Michael Strauss · Post by **Michael Strauss** » 23 Oct 2007 4:36 pm

On MSN home page today was this link titled:

10 reasons why country rocks

http://music.msn.com/music/cma2007?GT1=10491

Ben Godard · Post by **Ben Godard** » 23 Oct 2007 5:57 pm

Murder on Music Row sure got my attention. I perked right up, turned up the radio, and just wanted to salute. At last someone telling it the way it its. I was actually surprised to see George part of this. I know Alan jackson has a deep respect for traditional country. As some others like Randy Travis. AJ has always been on the top of my list.

And as for George I believe he is a traditionalist as well and he's definately got some great hits, but to me, his music has always seem to lack the umph and kick ass that country music sometimes needs.

I really like people like Dale Watson, Hank JR., Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, and others who stand up and say what they think.

AS for Alan's music, There's nothing better to me than hearing an old AJ song with Franklin on steel, and Brent Mason on the tele. And the fiddles of course. To me his band is the perfect concoction. It's not too modern sounding but its not to old sounding either. It's somewhere in the middle. But its still definately good old real country.

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 23 Oct 2007 8:27 pm

I have had the good fortune to meet and talk with Larry Shell on a few occations who co-wrote this song "Murder on Music Row" who is a true lover of Country Music, steel guitar and the Dobro. When we talked, I congratulated him on co-writting such a great song and winning song of the year on the country music charts.
Top 40 country wanted nothing to do with this song and it was just too great that it made it as song of the year ( what ever year that was) despite the strong hand of the Nashville's music industry's shunning of the song.
His story of accepting the award and looking into all the eyes of the folks in the audience was a memorable experience of mine , but I can't remember what his acceptance speach was

.
I never did hear George S' comments .... what a let down, he probably did not want to bite the hand that feeds him I guess

The original version by Larry Cordle was far better than George and Allans, tho I do respect them for taking it on. Plus Gene Wootens Dobro playing just killed it (no pun intended). Oh yeah this is the pedal steel section.
Todd

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 24 Oct 2007 3:28 am

Why would George Strait bite the hand that feeds him? Better to carry the big stick and make the good music that he has. How many is it now? 52 #1's.
He is responsible for millions of dollars being made by songwriters and others in the biz.
His organization has a fat payroll to meet.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Oct 2007 6:09 am

Boy, are we getting nasty.
Now you're hammering on George Strait.
He is just about as good as they come when it comes to good, old country music.
He has always featured steel guitar and his CD and DVD from the old Astrodome in Houston is great. He even thrrw in a few of Bob Wills songs.
When it gets to the point that you start throwing dirt at George Strait, it's no wonder the new artists are shying away from traditional country.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 24 Oct 2007 6:44 am

Nuthin' nasty about it Erv. George recorded the song - true enough, along with a lot of other good country music over the years. Fact is, when he accepted the award for Murder On Music Row, he commented that it was done as a joke. I don't for a minute believe that Larry Cordle or Larry Shell wrote the song to be presented as a joke. As a matter of fact, after witnessing Larry Cordle perform it live a couple times, I know "a joke" was not the intended message.
Taking the opportunity to re-think George's comment: maybe he meant that they recorded it thinking it was joke if they believed it would ever get airplay. I'd like to think that, but his comment sure didn't come off that way on national TV and until this very moment, it left a bad impression on me and evidentually a lot of others.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Oct 2007 6:50 am

I don't think it's hardly a "hanging" offense.

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 24 Oct 2007 7:22 am

Erv, No one suggested hanging anybody. My dissappointment lies in the fact that George had an opportunity to add to the strong statement that was made in the lyrics of the song and appeared to, intentionaly or not, "duck out the backdoor" when the spotlight was on him. I feel an artist loses credibility when they don't believe in the songs they record.
It really doesn't matter what you or I think, or if we agree. George & AJ received an award, Larry Cordle and Larry Shell received an award and a few hefty royality checks.
I purchased Larry Cordle, David Frizzell, and George and Allen's versions of this song. When I want to hear the song I'll play Larry or David's version.
Have a nice day!

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 24 Oct 2007 7:38 am

Sometimes, I can’t believe what I see on the forum.
However, it is interesting if not entertaining.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Oct 2007 8:05 am

I think everybody learned a lesson from the "Dixie Twits".
Sometimes it's just better to keep your mouth shut than wind up shooting yourself in the foot.

I find this quote to be totally disgusting:
"I just looked at the TV and said to myself, What a chicken ----. Take a stand like a wormy weasel, ol'Georgie."

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 24 Oct 2007 8:38 am

Alright... I've been out of pocket for a few hours, and just got back here. Erv, thank you for stating your honest opinion of my opinion. They are both nothing more than that, and everyone knows the story on "opinions."

My opinion regarded ONLY the way Mr. Strait chose to handle the opportunity he was handed to make a worthy comment on a musical state some of us agree with and some of us don't. In NO WAY, WHATSOEVER, was a commentary begun on his recording track record, his sales figures, whether he's a "decent guy" or not. I (me, myself), lost a measure of respect for him, and I choose to not dig into his catalog any farther. It in NO WAY reflects upon his musical achievements.

It makes it very difficult when someone cannot stay focused on the issue at hand, and veers off, extrapolating into areas that were in no sense addressed in the first place. I am just as guilty. This thread started as a comment on producers killing steel guitar, and the album cover shown and song involved elicited my original comment that has begat all this Strait phooey. Focus, and stop.

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Funeral for a Steel Guitar

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