The Steel Guitar Forum

Here’s some Weldon Myrick from an album that Michael Nesmith recorded in Nashville with Nashville players in 1976. As you might tell from the title, “From a Radio Engine to a Photon Wing,” it's definitely not country, or even “country-rock.” It’s hard to describe the musical style of the album, but the whole album has Weldon playing “out-of-the-box” cool stuff, though often in a supporting role.

On the first track here Weldon doesn’t do a lot at first but then there’s a long, double-tracked solo-outro.

The second song here features Weldon on his 8-string dobro with palm-pedals. The single was an international hit, and the elaborate short film Nesmith did for it helped jump-start what became MTV (can’t blame Nez for all the horrible trends that MTV later contributed to though!).

Wisdom Has its Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nho1QLsL1e0

Rio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUv89kx7Yo

(The whole album can be streamed on Youtube if anyone wants to dive deeper.)

So good. Thanks!

A few years before Weldon passed, I spoke with him at the Gospel Steel Convention in Indianapolis and specifically asked him about the sessions with Mike Nesmith.

His response: "Michael WHO?"

I then went on about "Rio" (which was a big hit in Australia and made the charts in other parts of the globe), hoping to jog his memory.

His response: "You sure that was ME?"

He was dead serious - but yes, it was him and his dobro work on "Rio" is pretty phenomenal.

Since the first LP from the First National Band, I've been a huge fan of Michael Nesmith. Red Rhodes' work with Nez was a major influence in my beginning years on pedal steel.
FROM A RADIO ENGINE started off as a disappointment, with Red absent. I also couldn't warm to some of the songs, but WISDOM HAS ITS WAY has always been a favorite. Weldon rises to the challenge and doesn't just settle into his stock licks - he seems really tuned into Michael's vibe. Much lovely playing from Weldon on this album.

It sounds almost unbelievable Joe. I wonder if he also could not remember Jake Holmes if he was asked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lfIDoqijpE

I have often wondered why Weldon was called on to do this album. Mike had a special reverence for Red Rhodes, and Red had played on every Nesmith solo album -even the instrumental big band Wichita Train Whistle album from 1968.

Nesmith recollected that he wanted to do a proper Nashville-based album - yet, he pulled on a friend, California-based David MacKay, to come with him to Nashville to keep things grounded, so to speak. I'd have brought Red, too!

There also used to be a rumor that the Nashville musicians walked off the sessions at some point, thinking that Nez was somehow ridiculing their musical backgrounds by having them play "Navajo Trail." I kinda doubt that occurred, but....who knows. Maybe Shane Keister or David Briggs can speak to it. They both played keyboards are are the two remaining musicians from the sessions.