The Steel Guitar Forum

On an old recording of Steelin' The Blues, I seem to remember that there was a vocal break with words like "I'm in a whole lot of trouble....just steelin' the blues. Does anyone know what recording that was on or how I can get all the words? Our band is doing the song and I would like to add the vocal.

Thanks

Stan,
The song your seeking is by Jerry Byrd.Vocal by,(I believe) Red Foley,but because Red was on Decca,& Jerry was on Mercury,(& later,Decca) they weren't allowed to mention Red's name on the album. I say Red,because I've been a Red Foley fan for,at least,50 yrs,so I think I know his singing. If you'll e-mail me your address,I'll run you off a short tape of the song.

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With much respect to Smiley, the most popular version was with Rex Allen. And during the end of Rex's break (literally), all the band members said "HEY!"

I have the recording and would be glad to send you a tape. Let me know.

God bless you,

carl

Carl,
I think you got me on that one.It was a 49/51% between Red & Rex. I guess I chose the 49. Sure sounds lke Red,though. There was no vocal listing on either (2) album.

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I always thought it was rex allen and the boys in the band vocalizing. However I sent Jerry a print out today and as Jerry always answers by return mail,unless he is in Japan, etc; we should have the answer in about 10 days. Keep your thumb pick hot!

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REX ALLEN SENIOR

Well, some of you are right...Rex Allen Sr
did the vocal on Steeling The Blues. Rex and
Red Foley are two of favorites, but I'm
sorry they don't sound the same. Also, Rex
did the vocal on another Jerry Byrd number
"Steelin' Is His Business, he likes to play
the steel guitar." Rex Allen and Jerry Byrd
did a lot of recordings together. I have
most of them on 10 " 78 rpm. All on tape.
Man, I am getting older by the the day but
I feel alot better since my heart surgery on
April 30. Al

The most recent recording with vocal is on Bobby Lee's Quasar CD, with the man himself doing the singing!

look here
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Don Walters
get "listed" at the World Wide Steel Guitarist Directory
www3.sk.sympatico.ca/waltd/
(aka On-Line Steel Guitarists of the World)

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Don Walters on 14 May 2000 at 12:37 PM.]</p></FONT>

"I'm in an awful mess of trouble,
Got my picture in the news
I've been running from policemen
'Cause I'm steelin' the blues

Sneakin' round a lot of corners
Wearin' out a pair of shoes
Gonna wind up in the jailhouse
'Cause I'm steelin' the blues"

The version with J. Byrd is on one of the
"Legends of Guitar, Country" but I can't remember if it's on Vol.1 or Vol.2.
One of those was on Rounder, the other I'm not sure.
These two CD's also have Roy Clark, the Texas Troubadours, Grady Martin, Bryant & West, Nashville West ("Corn Pickin'" with Ralph Mooney & James Burton), Hank Garland, Roy Lanham, and a lot of other great tunes on them.

Ok forumites, here is Jerrys answer dated 5/18.It was Rex Allen and here is the story. "It was my first solo record session.The producer and Wesley Rose tell me that wecannot sell just instrumentals, it has to have a vocal.At that time there had never been any istrumental listed in the charts in country music,pop,yeah but not country.I was not a happy camper but being told that at the last minute,I had composed steelin the blues on the spot and Fred Rose quickly composed some lyrics, 8 bars I think. Rex was already there to do his session following mine,so they asked him if he would sing it,he agreed and that s it.I had another version later w/o the HEY.It is still played and I get royalties. Chet Atkins I believe had the first instrumental listed in the country charts. They had to do it cuz he was selling more records than half the vocalists in the charts.Siunce I would never be listed, Fred Foster and I decided to release my stuff as a"POP" record and the first release went into the top100 as did the following,,#1 adventures in paradise,#2 Memories of Maria; Maria sold over 20000 copys in the LA area alone, and that is the story".My thanks to jerry for being so conciderate of all of us fans Hope all of you enjoy the above CC Keep your thumb pick hot!

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Steel the Blues is the song that inspired me to want to learn to play the steel guitar.
Not that anybody really cares, just thought I would throw in my 2 cents-I still love that song.

So, does that mean Grady Martin's "Pork Chop Stomp" qualifies as having a vocal?

Ive only heard Bobby do it and thats good enough for me. Kinda grabs you.

I saw Wesley Rose in our local Kroger store a few years before his death. I told him that I was the one who sold him a new "1958" Ford for his daughter. He remembered the sale and repied, "And she didn't take care of it." I delivered the car to his home and he, his brother and one of the Everly brothers were in the need of a fourth guy to play horse shoes. I agreed to play. (I play horse shoes about as well as I play guitar). I played until a car was sent to bring me back to the dealership.