The Steel Guitar Forum

Please help! I’ve contracted the “Rugg Bug”

Please share w me a few “essential” recordings from Mr. Rugg. I’m interested in records mostly where he’s a sideman backing up a singer but would be interested in any and all that feature his playing.

Thanks!
NF

Altered Ego is a must have!!

Hal played on 99% of Loretta Lynn's recordings from 1965 until the mid 80s.

before Loretta, he was on several George Jones sessions.

he was on a lot of Osborne Bros records too, and a later album I enjoyed was KD Lang's Shadowland.

the Praguefrank site is a great resource: http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com

also check out the Wilburn Bros shows, there's a lot on Youtube. Hal was in the staff band for a few seasons in the mid/late 60s

Sammi Smith,"My window faces the South" Hal plays some cool stuff.
https://youtu.be/Di2udvslrjM

he was on a lot of Osborne Bros records too, and a later album I enjoyed was KD Lang's Shadowland.


I thought Buddy Emmons played on Shadowland, but I could be wrong.

Andrew Frost wrote: I thought Buddy Emmons played on Shadowland, but I could be wrong.

wiki says Greg Leisz but I recalled it being Hal. I checked the Praguefrank site which lists Hal and Buddy both
http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.co ... lang%20k.d.

Right- that makes sense Scott. I know Leisz played on kd's later records. This is likely Hal Rugg on Down to My Last Cigarette. He's got a pretty crisp instrumental version of this too.

https://youtu.be/2Vf8VH9M4Ng

I found this site which has images of the actual liner notes. the steel duties are split pretty evenly between the 2 of them, with Buddy on the title track. no sign of Mr. Leisz

http://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/9257242au

Hal played on Jack Ward's records...here's some of them...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCdI-nzJuOo

SH

Clem Schmitz has some CDs available of two live shows featuring Hal Rugg from 1979 and 1983. Great stuff; highly recommended.

Great call on Jack Ward Steve!...wow!!

broke out Hal's LP for Tom Bradshaw which includes a bio in his own words.

he recorded with Dave Dudley in Minneapolis before coming to Nashville.

he went on the road with George Jones in '62 (lasting 8 months) with the condition that George would use him on sessions. Hal got to know Pappy Dailey who was producing George at United Artists Records and later Musicor. Hal recorded with a lot of Pappy's other artists like Melba Montgomery, Moon Mullican, Gene Pitney, Benny Marnes, etc.

Hal hung around the Opry a lot in those days to pick up slots, like so many other steel players. eventually Hal became the staff steelman, joined by Weldon Myrick and later Sonny Burnette. the 3 of them cut an album in 1975. Hal also played steel on Ralph Emery's Nashville Now show in the 80s.

Hal's sessions with the Wilburn Bros are what got him on their show, and presumably on Loretta's sessions since they were helping produce her in those days. here's a version of Hal doing Bells of St. Marys in Curly Chalker style, with the Wilburns on the Opry:
https://youtu.be/aBcOZq9jidc

Hal also mentioned being on some Porter Wagoner sessions and working out some twin parts with Buck Trent.

Hal cut an album called Resocasters in 2002 with Mike Auldridge and Jim Heffernan, and played pedal dobro exclusively.

he also recorded an album with Buddy Spicher that was sadly never released, but a couple tracks appear in this old thread by Joe Goldmark along with some more Hal cuts and info: https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... t=hal+rugg

looks like some of Hal's albums are still available on his daughter's website: http://mattysvision.com/shop/
a good bio there also: http://mattysvision.com/about-hal-rugg/

As far as I know, his first recordings were circa 1955 with Leo Ogletree......recorded in Tucson.

Hal was about 19 at the time.

Loretta Lynn

"When The Tingle Becomes A Chill"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMM42ILPkRA

"Trouble In Paradise"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHWWM5gsxwU

K.D. Lang

"Down To My Last Cigarette"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uxx8DshRE8

Pete Drake did the studio version of Loretta Lynn's "Fist City" but there's a live TV version with Hal Rugg that is incredibly creative. Google "Fist City" and you'll find it.

Scott Murray wrote:

Hal recorded with a lot of Pappy's other artists like Melba Montgomery, Moon Mullican, Gene Pitney, Benny Marnes, etc.

Ah Gene Pitney! I have his "The Country Side Of..." and wondered who the steel player was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruZViCKM3dg
On the back of the album cover is a small picture of the crew where I now recognice Hal's face.

Listen to the Wilburn Brother albums, many on YouTube.


Also: Click here

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Ron

Mitch Drumm wrote:As far as I know, his first recordings were circa 1955 with Leo Ogletree......recorded in Tucson.

Hal was about 19 at the time.

Hal's solo at 1:55
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfTdepBpKJw

With Country Joe - The Sinking Of The Ruben James

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WtPZfikafo

I always liked Nat Stuckey's "The Devil Made Me Do That" with Hal enlisting some Loretta licks and introduces hammer-ons for the pedal steel.

https://youtu.be/QrJdQUwID-k

Following...

Did not know Hal played a Sho-Bud?

If you dissect his instrumental of Last Cigarette, there are a lot of gems on it.

i had a joan baez 2 record set album recorded 1969-70 with lots of hal on it.