The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey everybody!!!

Who plays steel on this record?!?!?!?!

Some KILLER playin!

https://youtu.be/TtKGU8x8GoA

https://youtu.be/HNj_a4JmcmU

Jimmy Day, Buddy Emmons, Jim Baker, Dickey Overbey, Rick Price. Take your pick. They are all on the album.

HOLYYYYYYYYYYY MOLY!

Whiskey River - Weldon Myrick
Drivin' Nails - Buddy Emmons

Not a guess...A great example of stylistic musicians.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Similar idioms to those used by Weldon on "Whiskey River" likely debuted in this old Connie Smith song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLq7z0kRDG0

According to Johnny Bush, Weldon did the original cut of Whiskey River, but I do not believe that is the original cut.

Don Euton

The original Johnny Bush Whiskey River from '72/'73 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlVS9o4YG4k - is Weldon.

But the version from Amarillo Depot referenced in the original post - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtKGU8x8GoA - is credited to Rick Price - at least according to the credits I've seen, e.g., discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Bush-Arm ... e/12198283

If it ain't Weldon, he sure did a good job channelin' Weldon.

I don't know what to think. The steel on the 'Amarillo Depot' version of "Whiskey River" is definitely Weldon's style. Paul said it IS Weldon. Discogs states that it's Rick Price.

One thing that no one can argue; Rick's work with Johnny Bush is truly awe inspiring. Listen to Johnny Bush's album, "Live From Dancetown USA". Rick does an incredible job of duplicating Weldon's studio phrases on "Whiskey River" and Buddy's studio phrases on "Driving Nails in My Coffin".

So, I did a little test. I simultaneously played "Whiskey River" from the 1972 album with Weldon, and from 'Amarillo Depot' with (according to Discogs) Rick Price. There is a differentiation of Johnny's lyrical phrasing between the recordings and some of the guitar fills were a little different, but everything else was essentially the same. So, if Rick was playing steel, he precisely mimicked Weldon Myrick (in every way) from the original studio recording. Amazing!!!

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

"Whiskey River" from Johnny Bush's album "Live at Dance Town U.S.A." with Rick Price:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK_1aLaH1EY

From the same album, the medley, "Driving Nails" - "From Tennessee to Texas" - "John Henry":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJm_yKMh42w

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Tab to Weldon Myrick's part on Whiskey River:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... 859dae6df4

I play the parts at the 9th and 14 frets by partially moving to the 10th and 15th frets but gonna try it out again tonight.

Glenn Suchan wrote:Rick does an incredible job of duplicating Weldon's studio phrases on "Whiskey River" and Buddy's studio phrases on "Driving Nails in My Coffin".

I wasn't there, nor have I ever talked with the principals, so I can't say for sure that the available discographies are correct. But the discographies I've seen are consistent with what discogs states:

discogs.com wrote:A1 Amarillo Depot
A2 My Mind Is A Bridge For Your Memory
A3 Unchained Melody
A4 Whiskey River
A5 Play "Together Again" Again
B1 When My Conscious Hurts The Most
B2 Rainbow-Colored Words
B3 Put Me Out Of My Memory
B4 Drivin' Nails In My Coffin
B5 Ain't It Easy

Steel Guitar – Buddy Emmons (tracks: A5, B3, B4, B5), Dickey Overby (tracks: B1), Jim Baker (9) (tracks: A1), Jimmy Day (tracks: A2), Rick Price (11) (tracks: A4, B2)

So if this is to be believed, Drivin' Nails is in fact Buddy Emmons, not Rick Price. And I agree - if that is Rick Price on Whiskey River, he did a great job channeling Weldon (I think I said that before).

Hey - they could be in error. They say Al Gore engineered track A1:

Engineer – Al Gore (tracks: A1), Bert Frilot (tracks: A1, A4, B2), Charley Bradley (tracks: B3, B4), Chuck Carson (2) (tracks: A1, A4, B2), Mike Stone* (tracks: A5, B5), Mike Shockley (tracks: A1), Scotty Moore (tracks: A2, A3, B1)

(yeah, I know it's a different Al Gore)

Without a doubt Jim Loessberg would know the answer, but I think Jim is on the road this weekend and is probably sitting in Jody Nix's bus somewhere.

That said, I'm certain it's Rick Price on Amarillo Depot. He was a Bandolero in 1979.

Also, dig the energy of the band on the Dancetown album. Astounding. Rick's solo on Driving Nails is unfathomable at first listening.

Hey Herb,

I just saw this. Here are the players:

A1 Amarillo Depot Jim Baker
A2 My Mind Is A Bridge For Your Memory Jimmy Day
A3 Unchained Melody No Steel
A4 Whiskey River Rick Price
A5 Play "Together Again" Again Buddy Emmons
B1 When My Conscious Hurts The Most Dicky Overbey
B2 Rainbow-Colored Words Rick Price
B3 Put Me Out Of My Memory Buddy Emmons
B4 Drivin' Nails In My Coffin Buddy Emmons
B5 Ain't It Easy Buddy Emmons

Best wishes!

Jim

Johnny Bush came to my hometown in the north Georgia mountains in the early to mid 1970’s to play the local fair. I had just gotten my first Sho Bud. I probably worried Rick Price to death that day. He played all Weldon’s licks like the records. He told me he loved everything that Weldon did and that Weldon was probably his favorite. Interestingly, I asked him about one of Weldon’s contemporaries and he said that he didn’t care for his playing; it was too mechanical.

That day Rick was playing a white MSA, didn’t like it, and said he had a new Emmons coming the next week.

Hello everybody,

I didn't see Dave's post or I wouldn't have added the redundant information -- sorry!

Bill,

I saw Rick with that white MSA once too.

I hope everyone is surviving house arrest...

Best,

Jim

Speaking of Johnny.
He would come up to Wichita Falls in 84 or 85 to the club we played. I think Jim was playing then with him. We had the night off and enjoyed the great music. Always a packed house when Johnny was in the house.
Mike