The Steel Guitar Forum

That's Zally, of course, but I'm pretty sure he was just miming.

Ya think?

They were indeed lip-syncing to the album track on this Hollywood Palace video, but it does sound like some A and B pedal stuff in there.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/509469776582464625/

The album “Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful” does credit Sebastian with some psg, but not Zally.
Always loved their stuff!

Always liked them. Nice guitar on "Butchie's Tune".

One thing I never liked about the 60s was most bands lip-synced on TV variety shows, with few exceptions, like the Beatles.

We had a lengthy discussion about this several years ago.. Zal did not play steel as far as was known, but John did play that part on Rain on the Roof,.

[I ADORE that song!] I think he had very limited ability, and basically learned it that day at the studio or something.

Nashville Cats also seems to have some very rudimentary steel as well, but I thought I remembered reading that John thought that part was done by Zal on a Gibson ES335. I dunno, sounds a lot more like a steel to me.

That weird little harp John was "playing" in the video showed up a few years ago as a battered old wreck and was being sold at a vintage guitar shop somewhere for a LOT of money.. They don't make groups like the Spoonful any more... sadly.... bob

A very cool and talented group. I admired the Spoonful and the music they offered.

Really the first “Americana” band. They did Folk, Country Blues, C+W, Chuck Berry style Rock+Roll, Blue-Eyed Soul and had a great Singer/Songwriter at their core who wrote not just Pop hits but songs with introspective lyrics. Zal could play electric blues guitar like Mike Bloomfield, Dick Dale style Surf or Chet Atkins finger picking. John is a great harmonic player, blues or “jailhouse style” and an excellent Miss.John Hurt type fingerpicker, also. They played on their own records, too!! Can you tell that I loved this band and that it was a major influence on my playing Music as a (dare I say it) career?

masters of "melody". a talent that is fading fast.

That setup in the picture looks like it was for Rain on the Roof.

John Sebastian was here at the City Winery in 2018. I asked him specifically about Nashville Cats and the PSG, who played. His answer and this is just about a quote...I played only a small part, Zally did the rest on guitar with pedal steel type licks.

He went on to explain his part on psg by singing only the words of the songs where played and holding his hands in the chord structures as would be played on a 6 string. The words he sang were, “Nash-ville Cats.” Then Zal.took over. So he played psg only on a phrase or 2 of the chorus when it came around.

Thank you for that definitive factoid, John.
🙂

If you haven't seen this version of "Nashville Cats" by Tony Jackson, you should. It will do your heart good! Joe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryTH3KR ... cksonMusic

Thanks for posting this Jim. I've been a big fan of the Lovin' Spoonful since they first came onto the national scene. A while back it occurred to me that the very first time I can remember seeing a Gibson Les Paul was a picture of John Sebastian playing his legendary '59 LP in a picture that was featured on their first Greatest Hits album. I always loved the guitar work in all of their songs.

Nashville Cats was written after the Spoonful witnessed Danny Gatton play in a small club in Nashville, or so I have read.

The tune, 'Nashville Cats' was also recorded by the 'Del McCoury Band' and may by now have become a Bluegrass staple much like 'Fox on the Run' (originally recorded in the '60's by the English group, 'Manfred Mann'). The McCoury band performed it at various times in live T.V. appearances. Video is available on Youtube.

Flatt and Scruggs also did "Nashville Cats" way back in 1967; I have a picture sleeve 45 of it around here somewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC8_YpYy80k

Rich Upright wrote:Always liked them. Nice guitar on "Butchie's Tune".

One thing I never liked about the 60s was most bands lip-synced on TV variety shows, with few exceptions, like the Beatles.

On that tune, I think Zally's sound with the tremolo (and the licks) are heaviely influenced by the great Billy Byrd.
Heartaches By The Number:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwtUGafi20A

Joachim Kettner wrote: On that tune, I think Zally's sound with the tremolo (and the licks) are heaviely influenced by the great Billy Byrd.
Heartaches By The Number:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwtUGafi20A

I get "Video Unavailable"

Sorry Jim, I tried to find another post, but there's none.

Joachim Kettner, Is the version of “Heartaches By The Number” you refer to by Ernest Tubb?

Robert it's on this compilation album

Joachim, Great ear. Thanks very much. I will be getting that Billy Byrd. LP. An interesting study could be Rock guitarist solos influenced by Country guitarist solos with a CD along the lines of those "Roots" compilations: "Roots of the Grateful Dead," Roots of the Allman Brothers," "Roots of Robert Johnson," etc.

"And every one on them can play twice as better than I will."

He sure got that right.