The Steel Guitar Forum

Does anybody know who played steel on Ronnie's 'Cowboys and Clowns'? I know it was cut in LA - unusual for Milsap - but the steel part sounds as if it was written out rather than being improvised.

Could it have been our Earnest? He could have read a chart.

https://youtu.be/DA7RGxbV9w4
Whoever it was,that was a fabulous production. never heard it before. Thanks Roger for post. JK

Thanks for posting a link, Joe - that sort of wizardry is beyond me!

Yes, I think it's a remarkable cut, even if Milsap says he wasn't pleased with his performance. I've been binge-watching him on YouTube and am reminded of what a terrific singer he is.

Snuff Garret produced it, but I couldnt find any musician credits. I agree Roger, Milsap is top shelf.

Arranged and conducted by Steve Dorff.
"Hollywood Country"

It sounds like JDM to me...

SH

Weldon Myrick's played on several songs that Ronnie recorded

Not in LA, though, Brett, or I'd very much doubt it.

It's Jay Dee.

Nice stuff! Proves that vocals and steel lines can co-exist. And...it's a refreshing change from the S.O.P. (which is for the lead to duck into a hole and hide every time the singer opens his/her mouth.)

We used to hear that occasionally on west-coast stuff, but almost never from the Nashville-produced music. Of course, nowadays, we're lucky to hear any steel at all on the commercial country.

Skip is correct. Jay Dee.

The steel is so 'present' and jumps out of the mix! I think it's a fine recording. Interesting changes, too.

Nobody else in LA would have had such a great tone.

That's the post I was waiting for.

Thanks, Doug.

I realize that Jay Dee's name has been suggested before. My theorizing led me to assume it was a reader/player, given the structure of the part. Jay Dee, of course, has the ears and the chops to play anything.

Earnest makes it clear it wasn't him, even if one of his strengths is his reading ability.

I must say, though, that nothing about this steel-part is 'typical Jay Dee' (except, perhaps, the tone?) It's a lesson to me that I should never be surprised by the breadth of a truly great player.

Although Jay Dee isn't the sight reader Doug is (very few are) his unique tone and abilities make it more than worthwhile for producers and arrangers to take a little time to create a part like this with him. Probably true of other Wrecking Crew era players who were not great readers but had unique qualities no one else could bring to the party. Personally, I really miss records that were made this way.

Jay Dee wasn’t a first call in LA for nothing.

Here's another example of a movie soundtrack song from Steve Dorff and Snuff Garrett, sung by a Nashville artist and recorded in Hollywood. Eddie Rabbitt with some very prominent Jay Dee; it came out a year or two before before the Milsap track. Both were number-one records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1mcyj958HU

And from the same movie that the Milsap song came from (and apparently the same tracking session) is this Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood song. More great Jay Dee, and at least one of the singers is really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l0luZHf_yg

Hats off to all involved. There have been some terrific songs in Eastwood's movies. Charlie Rich, Eddie Rabbit, Glen Campbell and more.

I regard both Jay Dee and Ronnie as American treasures.

How about Jay Dee's solo in 'Barroom Buddies'???

Wow!

Roger Rettig wrote:How about Jay Dee's solo in 'Barroom Buddies'???

Wow!

at 1:10, a slice of pure genius, signature Jay Dee!