The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey,

I've been really enjoy Buddy Charleton's videos on Youtube. Wondering if you have any suggestions of his best recordings......sideman, solo, whatever. Want to delve deeper.

Thanks!

I watched Buddy on the Ernest Tubb Show for years.I probably have all of them recorded.My favorite of all is "Waltz Across Texas." He could get more out of the A and B pedals than anyone I know of.A lot of his stuff was so simple but always tasteful.He was a master and one of the two players that motivated me to take up the steel,the other being John Hughey.

the Texas Troubadours did a number of albums showcasing the band. Buddy got his own album in the steel guitar album series that Tom Bradshaw released back in the 70s which is compiled of Troubadour cuts. and there's a collection of Troubadour instrumentals put out by Bear Family called Almost to Tulsa.

he also did a solo album called Playing Silk, beware of flute

I've been trying to find "Playing Silk" for a while.

I’ll second the recommendation for Almost To Tulsa. 36 tunes, all around two minutes each. Super playing by the whole band, featuring Leon Rhodes, Buddies Charleton and Emmons. I don’t know if the credits are listed per tune, but you get two or three songs into the record and you don’t really care who’s playing what because you’re just lost in the sound of great players stretching out with some very well arranged material.

Fred Treece wrote:I don’t know if the credits are listed per tune

like most Bear Family releases it comes with a detailed booklet full of great photos, liner notes, and complete personnel for every track.

scott murray wrote:

Fred Treece wrote:I don’t know if the credits are listed per tune

like most Bear Family releases it comes with a detailed booklet full of great photos, liner notes, and complete personnel for every track.

Thanks, Scott!
I have a cassette version that has almost no information on it. Maybe I’ll ask Santa for that Bear Family issue 😆🎅🏻

I believe he's on the 1963 Porter Wagoner LP 'Y'all Come'. I've always assumed it's him but could be wrong...that one is an all-time favorite for me.

Looking forward to seeing if more non-Ernest Tubb records come up!

can't forget Country Favorites - Willie Nelson Style recorded with the Troubs in '66

I believe the Troubs (and Buddy C) were also on every duet Loretta Lynn did with Ernest Tubb.

Buddy Charleton was Awesome!

He is one of my all time favorite Steel Guitarists. His recordings with Guitarist Leon Rhodes are Superb!

Almost Tulsa his original song is a Masterpiece!

Stayed tuned to Charleton, You will learn much!

The CD 'Playing Silk' should be available from Billy Cooper Music in Orange, Va. (he also recorded CD's together with Billy)..Buddy taught at the shop and I was fortunate enough to take a few lessons.

I loved Buddy. I visited him a couple of times and he came out to one of my gigs when I played in Fredericksburg. One of my favorite intros he did was on a Troubadours album backing Cal Smith on The Honky Tonks and You.

Full album, Country Favorites, Willie Nelson Style:


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 7ES824OsoA

IMO one of the great recordings, not just with Buddy but any country music of any ilk - Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours "Country Dance Time" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsTzPzYh_K0

This whole record just crackles from start to finish.

Hey, add this one too - Ernest Tubb Presents The Texas Troubadours - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsTzPzYh_K0

I bought this album when it first came out, and darn near wore it out. A lot of great Charleton stuff on it, and a great lesson on how to back up a singer tastefully. His ride on "Wild Side Of Life" was worth the price of the album! Beauty through simplicity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMW38na ... u4&index=1

porter's ive enjoyed as much of this as i can stand. love it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38I_pcHnu1E

It's definitely Buddy on Porter Wagoner's "Y'all Come" album. His solo on the title cut has always blown me away; the amazing phrasing of the hammer-ons and pull-offs, and then finishing with one of his little trademark phrases.
So cool...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3d9gjfv_Mc

Buddy's best recordings? All of them!

Kind Regards, Walter

Right on Walter..!! I loved Buddy Charleton's playing and tone on anything I ever heard him do.

When I was 5 in 1963 my dad bought ET Presents The Texas Troubadours. I wore it out as well as Pete Drake’s Forever and a couple of Hank Thompson LP’s. I was hooked on Buddy Charlton at a young age. It don’t get no better than that record!

The COOPER/CHARLETON duets are excellent!
As above….Check Billy’s online catalog.

The COOPER/CHARLETON duets are excellent!
As above….Check Billy’s online catalog.

Billy Cooper sells a great Buddy Charleton course 50 Intros/Turnarounds. Billy Cooper's Music sold it to me years ago .Just pulled it out after it had been in a drawer for years. It's a terrific course ! Tab book and cd. Might be Buddy playing on the instructional cd. Buddy was at Billy's store a lot , and I think they were very close.

I would strongly recommend checking out the Ernest Tubb & the Texas Troubadours album 'On Tour' for peak Buddy Charleton/Leon Rhodes action - there's a great mix of really sweet backup steel on ballads and red hot instrumentals.

https://www.bear-family.com/texas-troub ... ls-cd.html

Mostly Charleton