The Steel Guitar Forum

Does anyone have the album 'Almost To Tulsa' by Buddy Charleton or know the story of it.
I noticed Tom Bradshaw issued it in the 1970s, but I believe it was recorded in the 1960s.
Does anyone know if it was actually released and recorded in the 1960s and if it was recorded with the Texas Troubadors?


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The future ain't what it used to be

Jason and Jim: That is the way I recall that song as well. I also remember a story that said Buddy was driving the bus and he got this tune stuck in his head. They were almost to Tulsa and hence the title. I wonder if Buddy is ever on here and could verify this. It was always one of my favorite stories from those days. If that isn't the way it should happen, it ought
to be !

Jason, Pushin' Pedals is on the way.

Regards, Paul

Jim,
Never let it be said by anyone that you don't have a good memory !!

You are exacty right about the album and it's content . I have a cassette tape I made from long ago that the Live From Cains' Ballroom album is on and those instrumentals by Buddy and Leon are on it . Some fine pick'n by them too ! I wish I had the tab for Almost To Tulsa . I could not get close to Buddy's playing but would like to learn
the method and runs he used to record it .


John

Hi Guys:

Buddy has tabbed out Almost to Tulsa\

You can reach him at Kayleec@erols.com
or on Sunday afternoons 301 297 4656
At C&W Steel Guitars

I agree that is a great tune !! I saw Junior Brown a few weeks ago at Billy Bobs in Fort Worth and he played it on his guit-steel-or whatever it is called. He did a great job on it and the drummer took a fantastic solo on it as well-it really brought the house down.

Jason, I thought the original tune was on an album by the Troubadours around '62. There were instrumentals and some vocals. Mine is in storage right now and as we prepare to move I will run onto my record collection. It really was a knocked out tune, Gary

Jason, Tom may still have some Almost to Tulsa. Contact him. All of the recordings made by the Texas Troubadours Are included on the Bear Family Box sets of E. T. Some great stuff there. I'm a little strange I enjoy the 5 E T boxes and I also enjoy Frank Sinatra. Oh Well, all Frank needed was a steel. Al

The first time that I saw that on record by Charleton was on the album "Country Dance Time", which was recorded in 1964, and was released in 1965 if my memory serves me correctly. These albums (I think I have 7 or by the Troubadours are classic, as nothing like this (big-star band without the star) is being done anymore.

I've got Almost To Tulsa...rite in front of me eyes..Musicians listed as "Johnny Johnson,rythym, Jan Curtis, drums, Leon Rhodes, Lead, Grady Martin, Bass, and Floyd Kramer,Piano.The album was cut at Cains Ballroom in Tulsa,Ok,in 1961. The crowd was so noisy that some of the songs were later recut in the studio."
This album was #6 of Steel Guitar Record Club.
Tunes:
Texas Troubadour Stomp Rhodes/Charleton
Almost To Tulsa Charleton
Cool It Charleton
Gardenia Waltz Johnny Gimble
Panhandle Rag Leon McAuliffe
Rhodes-Bud Boogie Leon/Buddy
Red Skin Rag E.T.
Red Top Bob Kynard/Lionel Hampton
Buddies Boogie B.E.
The Waltz You Saved For Me
(King/ Flindt/Kahn)
C-Jam Blues Duke Ellington
Cocoanut Grove Harry Owens
Big Beaver Bob Wills
Steel Guitar Rag Leon McAuliife

Thas'all folks... regards, fred

Jason, I just happen to have the album, "Almost To Tulsa", it was issue No.6 of the The Steel Guitar Record Club and issued in 1976, acording to the date on the cover, and was produced by Tom Bradshaw. The Record Cover has a good intro by Tom Bradshaw about Buddy Charleton and reads in part..."Buddy Charleton is a "method" steel guitarist. He meticulously plans what he intends to play, searches for it's proper expression, works and re-works it, then polishes it to a fine brilliance. Because of his determination, this album becomes one of the finest ever assembled. Now, here is Buddy, playing and recalling his years the steel guitar."
Songs on the album are: Side 1
1. Texas Troubador Stomp
2. Almost To Tulsa
3. Cool It
4. Gardenia Waltz
5. Panhandle Rag
6. Rhodes-Bud Boogie
7. Red Skin Rag
Side 2
1. Red Top
2. Buddies Boogie
3. The Waltz You Saved For Me
4. C-Jam Blues
5. Coconut Grove
6. Big Beaver
7. Steel Guitar Rag
If Tom Bradshaw still has this particular album, I would buy it,(which I certainly did!) if you want to know about Buddy Charleton's years with ET, and to hear some of the very best playing by a Country Band to EVER come down the Pike.
There is also Buddy's Pedal Arrangement he was using at the time the album was produced for E-9th and C-6th, illustrated on the back cover.
As far as I can tell, the tune "Almost To Tulsa" was released on an Album called "Country Dance Time Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadores". It could have been in the early to mid 60's?
I can send you a pic of the covers if you'd like?
Roger

"Country Dance Time" was the album that turned this jazz/blues snob into a true country/steel guitar music lover! I feel really fortunate to have been exposed to that shortly after I took up steel. "Almost to Tulsa" was my first attempt at learning anything on C6 note for note. It opened up alot for me. I'd love to hear other versions!

Buddy also put Almost to Tulsa on his 1993 album "Playing Silk." However, the arrangement is vastly different from the version on the Troubadours Country Dance Time album and the Record Club album.
Personally, I prefer his sound on the earlier LPs to the 1993 record.

Hi guys, I really appreciate everyone's replies on this topic.
I've had some perosnal replies to this as well as all these forum posts, more on the compilation 'Almost To Tulsa' from Danny Spinks.
The selections on this album were originally recorded on six albums
by the Texas Troubadours from 1961 until about 1966. They include:

"On Tour" Decca DL 74321
"Ernest Tubb Presents The Texas Troubadours" Decca DL 74459
"Country Dance Time" Decca DL 74644
"Hittin' The Road" Decca DL 74681
"Ernest Tubb's Fabulous Texas Troubadours" Decca DL 74745
"The Terrific Texas Troubadours" Decca 74071

A few people have mentioned that the Troubs material was also issued in the Tubb Box Sets, I kind of wish they got their own release, but at the same time it's nice to see that they've been recognised as an integral part of the Tubb sound.
Thanks Everyone!

There is something that confuses me here. I don´t have that LP, but according to Fred Jack´s post the liner notes say that it was originally recorded at Cain´s Ballroom in Tulsa in 1961, and some of the tunes have been re-recorded later. Now, Buddy Charleton didn´t join the Texas Troubadours before February, 1962. They still played with Emmons in ´61.
Also, from Jason´s last post I get the impression that none of the original live recordings made it to the album but instead it has been compiled from the six records he mentioned. So, what is true?
I have the Bear Family box set which contains the material from practically all their regular records from ´61 to ´66, as well as it´s follow-up, "Another Story", I just wonder if the versions of the tunes on the "Almost To Tulsa" LP are different. If that´s the case, I guess I really should try to get a copy. All of those tunes are terrific, but "Almost To Tulsa" might easily be my favorite steel instrumental of all. It´s so haunting, so very...different! Unfortunately it seems that nobody these days wants to listen to that kind of stuff. Somehow, I managed to figure it out. Maybe I´ll play it during the soundcheck at the gig I´ll be playing on New Years Eve just to impress that beautiful female bass player that´s in the band...
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Henry on 15 December 2001 at 04:47 PM.]</p></FONT>

joe:

a reading of the liner notes to the "almost to tulsa" lp reveals this:

all tracks come from one of the 6 texas troubador lps.

charleton first learned that he might go to work for ET as early as the summer of 1960 when jack drake told him emmons might be quitting. drake again said the same thing to charleton in october 1960 in nashville at the disk jockey convention.

charleton says "about 5 months later" (e.g. late winter or early spring 1961) he got the offer and flew to join the troubadors for a gig in oregon. he stayed for 13 years.

the first troubador lp was cut at cain's in tulsa, later in 1961. charleton says the crowd was so loud that some of the cuts had to be re-recorded in the studio--so not everthing on that first troubador lp is a live recording from cains.

Mitch, I agree.. I found this last night listed on a site, apparently these credits were off a version of the album.

ERNEST TUBB ON TOUR (Decca DL 74321) '62
Produced by Owen Bradley
Recorded: Sept 1961 - Apr 1962 in Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa and Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville

Leon Rhodes, Grady Martin - lead guitar
Johnny Johnson - rh.guitar
Buddy Charleton - steel
Jack Drake - bass
Jan Kurtis - drums
Floyd Cramer - piano

From the Ronnie Pugh book "Ernest Tubb - The Texas Troubadour"

ELMER "BUDDY" CHARLETON
Very early in 1962, the second tenure of Buddy Emmons as Texas Troubadour steel guitarist was drawing to a close. No one denied Emmons's genius on the instrument, or the pivotal role he played in bringing steel guitar to the fore in Ernest Tubb's sound. But his free-spirited personality had caused more than one clash with his fellow musicians and, more importantly, with the boss. As his successor Buddy Charleton remembers, "Buddy had a reputation for being the type who'd get to jamming around and wouldn't come back for a job. So they were getting a little aggravated with him." And for his part, Emmons told Charleton at a Tubb date in Virginia that he was chafing under Tubb's stylistic restrictions: "I'm getting a little burned out with the way I have to play." So the discontent was mutual.
That same night, to Charleton’s surprise, Jack Drake asked him if he'd be interested in playing steel guitar for the Texas Troubadours. Charleton was "the Buddy Emmons" of Hunters Lodge near Fairfax, with several years’ experience in Virginia club work. A self-admitted disciple of two earlier Buds on the steel guitar-Isaacs and Emmons-young Elmer "Buddy" Charleton was a bricklayer by day. The Grand Ole Opry's female sensation at the time, Patsy Cline, had once been backed up by a Winchester band, the Country Crackers, which included Charleton, and as the Emmons situation deteriorated for Tubb, she recommended Charleton to him. Two months after Drake's initial offer to Charleton at Hunters Lodge, Emmons was fired after an angry confrontation with Tubb and his brother C. R. That very night, Drake made the long distance call to Virginia and the contact number that Charleton had given him. Charleton had no phone at the time; his contact was Hunters Lodge impresario and well-known area disc jockey Eddie Matherly. For Tubb, Matherly was willing to part with Charleton immediately; the next day, despite a snowstorm, he was on a plane to Oregon for a Tubb show date. Of the great sixties band members, steel guitarist Buddy Charleton had the longest tenure, staying more than eleven years, from the spring of 1962 to the fall of 1973.

"ON TOUR -- ERNEST TUBB and his TEXAS TROUBADOURS"

Side One
01) WOMEN MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME
02) GO ON HOME
03) STEEL GUITAR RAG
04) OLD LOVE, NEW TEARS
05) TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
06) LOVER'S WALTZ

Side Two
07) DRIVIN' NAILS IN MY COFFIN
08) OUT OF MY MIND
09) REDSKIN RAG
10) WATCHING MY PAST GO BY
11) BANDERA WALTZ
12) IN AND OUT (of every heart in town)

{Session info from bear family box set -- "WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS"
BCD = Bear Family issue numbers
DL = Decca LP numbers
ED = Decca 45EP numbers}

[TRACK 12]
SEPTEMBER 14, 1961 (19:45-22:45); Bradley Film & Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
ERNEST TUBB: vocal; HOWARD G. 'Johnny’ JOHNSON: rhythm guitar; THOMAS GRADY MARTIN: 2nd lead guitar; LEON RHODES: lead guitar;
BUDDY GENE EMMONS: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums; FLOYD CRAMER: piano

008. NA 11713 IN AND OUT (OF EVERY HEART IN TOWN) ------ BCD 15929-1/8
008A. NA 11713 IN AND OUT (OF EVERY HEART IN TOWN) ------ DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.

[TRACKS 3, 4, 9]
MARCH 1, 1962 (19:15-22:15); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
Poss. HOWARD G. 'Johnny' JOHNSON: duet vocal*; LEON RHODES: vocal*'/duet vocal*
Poss. HOWARD G. 'Johnny' JOHNSON: lead guitar; THOMAS GRADY MARTIN: 2nd lead guitar or electric bass; LEON RHODES: lead guitar;
BUDDY CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums; FLOYD CRAMER: piano
009. NA 11936 STEEL GUITAR RAG ---------------- BCD 15929-1/9
009A. NA 11936 STEEL GUITAR RAG ---------------- DL 74321
010. NA 11937 REDSKIN RAG ------------------------- BCD 15929-1/10
010A. NA 11937 REDSKIN RAG ------------------------ DL 74321
011. NA 11938 OLD LOVE, NEW TEARS* ---------- BCD 15929-1/11
011A. NA 11938 OLD LOVE, NEW TEARS* --------- DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.

[TRACKS 1, 7]
MARCH 2, 1962 (21:30-00:30); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
ERNEST TUBB: vocal; HOWARD G. 'Johnny’ JOHNSON: rhythm guitar; THOMAS GRADY MARTIN: 2nd lead guitar or electric bass; LEON RHODES: lead guitar; ELMER LEE’ Buddy' CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums; FLOYD CRAMER: piano
013. NA 11940 THE WOMEN MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME ------------ BCD 15929-1/13
013A. NA 11940 THE WOMEN MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME ----------- ED 2739 DL 74321
014. NA 11941 DRIVIN' NAILS IN MY COFFIN --------------------------- BCD 15929-1/14
014A. NA 11941 DRIVIN' NAILS IN MY COFFIN -------------------------- DL 74321
01 5A. NA 11942 INTRODUCTION TO ERNEST TUBB (WALKING THE FLOOR OVER YOU) ----------- DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.

[TRACK 6]
MARCH 4, 1962 (19:15-22:15); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
ERNEST TUBB: vocal; HOWARD G. 'Johnny’ JOHNSON: vocal*
HOWARD G. 'Johnny' JOHNSON: rhythm guitar; LEON RHODES: lead guitar; THOMAS GRADY MARTIN: 2nd lead guitar or
electric bass; ELMER LEE’ Buddy' CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums; FLOYD CRAMER: piano

018. NA 11945 LOVER'S WALTZ ------------------------------------ BCD 15929-1/17
018A. NA 11945 LOVER'S WALTZ ------------------------------------- DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.

[TRACK 2 & 5]
MARCH 19, 1962 (19:15-22:15); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
ERNEST TUBB: vocal; BILLY GRAMMER: 2nd lead guitar or electric bass; HOWARD G. 'Johnny’ JOHNSON: rhythm guitar; LEON RHODES: lead guitar;
ELMER LEE 'Buddy' CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums; HARGUS M. 'Pig' ROBBINS: piano

021. NA 11957 GO ON HOME---------------- BCD 15929-1/20
021 A. NA 11957 GO ON HOME --------------- ED 2739 DL 74321
022. NA 11958 TRY ME ONE MORE TIME ---------------------- BCD 15929-1/21
022A. NA 11958 TRY ME ONE MORE TIME -------------- DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.

[TRACKS 10 & 11]
APRIL 4, 1962 (23:00-02:00); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
ERNEST TUBB: vocal; HOWARD G. 'Johnny’ JOHNSON: rhythm guitar; THOMAS GRADY MARTIN: 2nd lead guitar or electric bass; LEON RHODES:
vocal*/lead guitar; ELMER LEE’ Buddy' CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums; FLOYD CRAMER: piano
023. NA 12011 WATCHING MY PAST GO BY ------------ BCD 15929-1/22
023A. NA 12011 WATCHING MY PAST GO BY ---------------- DL 74321
025. NA 12013 BANDERA WALTZ* ----------- BCD 15929-1/24
025A. NA 12013 BANDERA WALTZ* ----------- DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.

[TRACK 8]
APRIL 19, 1962 (19:00-22:00); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
ERNEST TUBB: vocal; HOWARD G. 'Johnny’ JOHNSON: rhythm guitar; THOMAS GRADY MARTIN: 2nd lead guitar or electric bass;
LEON RHODES: vocal'/lead guitar; ELMER LEE 'Buddy' CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JAN KURTIS: drums;

030. NA 12024 OUT OF MY MIND* ----------------- BCD 15929-1129
030A. NA 12024 OUT OF MY MIND*----------------- DL 74321
NOTE: DL 74321 'On Tour' is a faked live LP; therefore, we have issued the original undubbed recordings without the overdubbed applause.


"ALMOST TO TULSA"
OCTOBER 19, 1964 (22:00-01:00); Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee; Producer: Owen Bradley
CAL SMITH (GRANT C. SHOFNER): vocal*; LEON RHODES: vocal **; JACK GREENE: vocal##
LEON RHODES: leader/guitar; CAL SMITH (GRANT C. SHOFNER): rhythm guitar; JERRY W. SHOOK: rhythm guitar;
JOHN WIGGINS: guitar; ELMER LEE’ Buddy' CHARLETON: steel guitar; JACK DRAKE: bass; JACK H. 'Jack’ GREENE: drums; JERRY D. SMITH: piano
099. NA 13135 OKLAHOMA HILLS* De 32185 DL 74644; BCD 15929-4/10
100. NA 13136 JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY (*/**/##) DL 74644; BCD 15929-4/11
101. NA 13137 ANOTHER BRIDGE TO BURN ## DL 74644; BCD 15929-4/12
102. NA 13138 ALMOST TO TULSA De 32185 DL 74644; BCD 15929-4/13

Kevin;
Now THAT was a lot of typing! Thanks for the extra effort!
I have that book, too. It has a very detailed discography in it.

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Buddy recorded it twice, but Norm Hamlett paid Buddy a compliment by recording it also on one of the Instrumenmtal Albums of "The Strangers" in the late 1960's I believe.