The Steel Guitar Forum

Anybody know for sure who played steel on "If Teardrops Were Pennies" by Porter & Dolly on the "Love and Music" album? Sounds like one of the guys who played on the Robert Altman "Nashville" soundtrack.

Frank, I have been wondering this very same thing. I have had to learn this intro for a show I'm doing. I was thinking maybe it was either Hal or Weldon....In any event, it sure is cool.....and in good ole C#!!!

I'm leaning twards Hal Rugg.....

So the mystery deepens...

Hey Tommy - great to hear from you. I tabbed out two versions of the "Teardrops" intro over in Tablature (in C major) - curious if either of them resembles what you play. Regards, FF.

kinda sounds like ol' ralph mooney also....

i think it was stu bashore (not sure of the spelling) that was on the nashville sound track. dont know about this particular recording. probably not ralph as he was recording on the west coast during this period.

Well I can tell you that to my ears; that is a Shobud Permenant. Don't think Weldon played a shobud??
Ricky

Sounds like Hal for sure. But I think Weldon played a Bud before he switched to Emmons?? Too young to remember.But I'm thinking that's what my dad told me. Actually, dad had saved money to buy a new Sho~Bud. But Weldon talked him into going with the Emmons. This was the summer of 65.........bb

LOVE AND MUSIC
RCA Victor APL1-0248
July/1973
Produced by Bob Ferguson



— http://www.lpdiscography.com/w/Wagoner/ ... dmusic.htm

Did Bob Ferguson have a go-to steel cat?

Sounds like Hal did the intro, and then to confuse us, Weldon slid in the fills at 00:24-00:26 and 01:20-01:22.

Does or could Stu sound like a Weldon-Hal hybrid?

Guess-the-steeler can be a fun exercise — it helps us recognize the styles and learn where these great stylists sometimes overlap.

It's the one and only Lloyd Green on his Sho-Bud pedal steel. I hate to name-drop (seriously), but Dolly Parton told me this herself. I asked her about it on the "Trio" sessions in 1986. She was as nice as she could be to everyone on those sessions.

Dolly was extremely deferential talking about Lloyd and seemed to be very proud of what he played on the song. I remember playing the intro for her that day, but only half as well as Lloyd played it. What an incredible steel track that is.

Steve Fishell

Thanks Steve for passing that nice info on; I was close to guessing Lloyd, but knew it was Sho~bud.
Ricky

Thanks to everyone for their input, esp. to Steve Fishell for providing that great story. A shout-out to Jerry L . Miller for triggering the discussion - and being right in the first place!

Ricky,Bobby I first saw Welden in Ohio around 62 or 63. He was with wispering Bill and was playing a D10 Sho-Bud. It was probably a permenant as that was the steel of the day. The Emmons guitar wasn't out yet. I would guess it was the same Sho-Bud he used on early Connie Smith cuts like "Once a Day" I was a 16 year old steeler with a Fender on the same show. Welden was very nice to me and gave me some tips and shared some of the things he was doing. Welden is top shelf as a player and a person. Roger

Here's a link to the intro... Thanks to Rebel!

http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel ... ennies.mp3

Here's a quick survey of Lloyd's guitars based on the Sept 2008 article in Vintage Guitar Magazine:

1961 Rickenbacker D-8 2 Pedals

1964 Bigsby D-8 6X4 (Shot conversion) “Bridge Washed Out” “Girl on the Billboard”

1965-1967 Sho-Bud Permanent (Pearl Heart Inlay)

1967- 1970 Sho-Bud Fingertip (over 2,000 sessions) “Charley Pride Live”

1970 – May, 1973 Sho-Bud Crossover (Mel Street, "Easy Lovin," etc.) (November 1972 C-6th neck & mechanics removed – Pad installed)

May 9, 1973 First production Sho-Bud LDG

AMPS:
(Studio amps could vary between studios)

To 1964 Ampeg Amp

1964-1968 ’65 Fender Deluxe w/ JBL (Little Darlin’ amp)

1968 Fender Twin w/JBL

Roger, I always assumed Weldon played an Emmons on Once A Day and the rest of the tunes on that Lp. Not so?? THanks in advance.......bb

I just checked and Once a Day was recorded in 1964, July I think. Released in August 1964. I don't which guitar Weldon was playing but it sure sounded like an Emmons to me.

Could have been either one.

George

13 February 1973 [10:00-13:00/14:00-17:00] RCA Victor Studio, 800 17th Ave. South, Nashville, TN – Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton (Porter Wagoner [vcl], Dolly Parton [vcl], James Colvard [gt], Dave Kirby [gt], Buck Trent [el banjo], Stuart Basore [steel], Bobby Dyson [bass], Kenny Malone [drums], Johnny Gimble [fiddle], Mack Magaha [fiddle], Ron Oates [piano], Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, June Evelyn Page, Hurshel Wiginton [bck vcl]. Producer: Bob Ferguson) [overdub sessions: [1] 21 March 1973: James Colvard [gt], Joseph Babcock, Dolores Edgin, June Evelyn Page, Hurshel Wiginton [bck vcl]; [2] 4 Septembet 1973: James Colvard [rl gt]; [3]: 23 November 1979 Fireside Studio, Nashville, TN: Bobby Dyson [bass], James Isbell [drums]; [4]: 7 December 1979 Fireside Studio, Nashville, TN: Dave Kirby [el gt], Fred Newell [gt], Stuart Basore [steel]; [5] 11 December 1979 Fireside Studio, Nashville, TN: Steve Callaway, Rita Figlio, Curtis Young [bck vcl]; [6] 14 December 1979 Fireside Studio, Nashville, TN: Sheldon Kurland Strings]
324 CWA4-1145 COME TO ME 74-0981/APL1-0248 BCD 16889
325 CWA4-1146/KWA5-8280 BENEATH THE SWEET MAGNOLIA TREE [2:] unissued/BCD 16889 [3,4,5,6*:] AHL1-3700
326 CWA4-1147 LOVE IS OUT TONIGHT APL1-0248 BCD 16889
327 CWA4-1148 IF TEARDROPS WERE PENNIES 74-0981/APL1-0248 BCD 16889
328 CWA4-1149 YOU APL1-0248 BCD 16889
329 CWA4-1150 THERE'LL ALWAYS BE MUSIC [1:] APL1-0248 BCD 16889
330 CWA4-1151 I GET LONELY BY MYSELF APL1-0248 BCD 16889

DANG! Thanks for setting me straight, Mr. Hinson.

Steve H. Where do you find that info? That is so cool.

The Porter Wagoner show that was broadcast from Opryland
Stu Basore was the steel played, so Porter certainly knew him at that time, and maybe before.I backed Norma Jean for a local show many years ago and in conversation, she asked if I knew Stu Basore. Seems like she said he played on at least one of her albums. My point being, we shouldn't rule out Stu too soon due to his history with Porter.

Richard Sinkler wrote:Steve H. Where do you find that info? That is so cool.

I have the Bear Family box set...it comes with a book with all the session info.

SH

Yes but "Live musicians" and "Studio Musicians" are usually different musicians...so which of the 3 to 4 different recorded versions of this song are you referencing to??
Ricky