The Steel Guitar Forum

I absolutely LOVE Curlys playing, he’s the man when it comes to the back neck (on the front for him) in my opinion. Bruce Bouton is my hero on E9th, but for C6th it’s definitely Curly. Something about his pickin just lights a fire under me. I hope when I upgrade to a D10 later in the year, I can learn some of that stuff.

I’ve been hunting for all the Chalker stuff I can, I’ve got his “Big Steel” record, I ordered the “More Ways to Play” record, and I’m trying to get the Lightfoot record. Is there any other albums of his I can find? Any live shows besides the Wilburn Bros show?

There is a DVD of him that was on the forum store. Check there or put in wanted to buy section.

Larry Dering wrote:There is a DVD of him that was on the forum store. Check there or put in wanted to buy section.

It is still listed in the forum store.

Counterpoint might be my favorite Curly album:
Side A
Side B

there's also Nevada Breaks and the S'Wonderful album with Joe Venuti, Jethro Burns, and Eldon Shamblin: https://youtu.be/GHuh0rzeC4Q

and check out the ISGC '76 recording on archive.org if you haven't yet: https://archive.org/details/1976_St_Lou ... o.SBD.flac

Here is a "live" audio recording that I made at the International Steel Guitar Convention MANY years ago.

It features Jimmy Day and Curly Chalker on stage at the same time.

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

There is a 1960’s (I am guessing) Capitol LP by Merle Travis titled “Travis” where Merle recut his 1940’s and 50’s hits. For me, it is some of Curley’s best picking on record. It was played on a Fender 1000 we are told.

I have had a scratchy cassette copy from a LP since the early 1970’s and am always on the lookout for the original LP or hoping for a CD re-release some day.

The Dick Curless “Live At Wheeling” is another good one along with his “Shadow Of Your Smile” cuts with Stan Hitchcock and Charlie McCoy.

I agree Bill, I think Curley's best instrumental was "Shadow of your smile", his second best, in my opinion, was "Danny Boy" with Charlie McCoy. I've tried to imitate his "Danny Boy" solo ever since I heard it the first time.

Appreciate all the suggestions n things fellers, I’ll definitely check em out. I’m jonesing pretty hard on Chalkers cut of “King of The Road”, he’s grooving on that pretty good!

I want to play like Curley Chalker when I grow up.

While not a Chalker per se this is one of my all time favorite recordings:

'S Wonderful: 4 Giants of Swing
Joe Venuti/Eldon Shamblin/Curly Chalker/Jethro Burns.
https://www.amazon.com/SWonderful-Giant ... B01G65Y7QU

I don't know if it is still in print but seems to be available from a few places.

The record puts Chalker in a cool laid back setting along with some of the greatest players ever playing iconic tunes.

Jamie, Bob Hoban, the producer/piano player on the S'Wonderful LP had some unreleased cuts from those sessions. After he died, his wife was selling homemade CDs titled "Joe Venuti & Jethro Burns, Curly Chalker 1977".

Curly does some seemingly simple but profound playing on their version of "Embraceable You."

http://sndup.net/ggny

Hi David. If you have the Big hits on Big steel lp,could you look and see if Bill Purcell played piano on King of the road. Thanks,joe

The Forum Store has the E9 LP of Gord songs on cassette for only $2.00 (a great bargain).

https://www.steelguitarshopper.com/cate ... ?q=chalker

Chalker is universally acclaimed for his C6 work, and for good reason. The Nashville Sundown LP is nearly as astounding, in my opinion. Kudos to Chris Clem for posting the entire record on YouTube. Thanks, Chris!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9lvwQHvO1w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwIabER0Q2w

Gotta say......as much as I enjoy Chalker's pedal steel playing, his NON-pedal playing is what really knocks me out!

https://youtu.be/CMMzwQi07vs

Joe Krumel wrote:Hi David. If you have the Big hits on Big steel lp,could you look and see if Bill Purcell played piano on King of the road. Thanks,joe

no credits listed on the LP but the Praguefrank website says it's Bill:
http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/ ... alker.html

Pursell also played on Buddy's black album. what an exquisite player!

Thank you scott for your effort. Bill Purcell was a monster pianist for sure. Thanks so much.

Managed to snag these on eBay! Getting ready to break open a new bottle of Rum I’m trying and spin these suckers. Cheers!!

This reminds me that the Nashville Sundown lp is great! Love Alberta Bound. Although the album is all E9, you will soon realize that Chalker is also one of your favorite E9 players.

Count me in. Curly was absolutely great, on either C6 or E9 - his E9 playing is totally under-rated, IMO. Of course, he was inimitable on C6.

Definitely look at the praguefrank website linked. He also has a long discography of session work. If you google curly chalker site:http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com you'll get a lot of links.

Gotta say......as much as I enjoy Chalker's pedal steel playing, his NON-pedal playing is what really knocks me out!

https://youtu.be/CMMzwQi07vs

Yeah, anything he touched was great. That is an excellent clip, also featuring the great Thumbs Carllile on lap non-steel guitar.

Another bonus from Chalker's Nashville Sundown LP is that it's one of the finest (if not the finest) album Charlie McCoy ever made.

I grew up on Curly, My Dads favorite player ever..He is one of my 3 steel players heros ever...

Yessir David W., he could flat cut it!

I love the Nashville Sundown album, my favorite cut is “If You Could Read My Mind”, it’s so good!