The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been listening to a box-set of old country music (1920s to 1950, 20 CDs for $15!! sorry, only available in French supermarkets as far as I know!).
Anyhow, there are very few liner notes, and NO musician details, but I'd be interested if anyone out there knows who played steel on the following tracks.
"You Doggone Son Of A Gun", T.Texas Tyler, 1946
"Drinking All My Troubles Away", Paul Howard, 1947
"Beer Drinking Blues", Rocky Bill Ford, 1950
"Beer Bottle Mama", Allen Reynolds, 1950
(subsidiary question: is this the same Allen Reynolds who was later such a successful producer with Don Williams, Crystal Gayle, etc?)
"My Baby's Just Like Money" and "If You've Got The Money", both Lefty Frizell, 1950

This will probably be only the first question of a whole series based on this box set...
Thanks in advance
Nick

Nick-Charley White played the steel guitar on the Lefty Frizzell sides in question (according to session notes,Bear Family Lefty Frizzell box set).I have no idea about the others...sorry.As for Allen Reynolds,I believe the producer is a different guy...he also produces Garth Brooks...Steve

Nick, The Steel Guitar Player on the Paul Howard cut was "Slim Idaho." A very great musician, very advanced for his time.
Sadly he died in an auto accident many years ago.

Tell us more about the box set, please!

OK, as I said, it's a French product, booklet in French, etc, and I've only seen it in one supermarket chain (Carrefour, Crowbear )
About half the CDs feature one specific artist (Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Moon Mullican, Maddox Bros & Rose, Hank Snow, Roy Acuff, Bob Wills...) and the other half feature a "style" (Bluegrass, Western Swing, Honky Tonk, Country Boogie, Old Time, Gospel, Cajun...) - 20 CDs, 25 tracks on each, $15. I guess the deal is that there is nothing newer than 1951, so copyright payments are probably zero...
The same company has also produced a Blues set and a Jazz set, both on exactly the same principle.
Hey, we have to get something good now and again - this is a musically underprivileged country (even if we are getting to see Sneaky Pete and Ricky Davis within the next month )
Nick
PS: Thanks for the info so far... any more much appreciated

this boxed set that Nick is refering to came out xclusivly through a French Wall Mart called Carrefour.
Like Nick says there is also a Blues edition and a Jazz edition.
all these tunes have fallen into the public domain concerning the rights.
They sold like hotcakes considering the low price. around 20$
i have neither of them cause they were sold out !
i got a couple of buddies that have the Blues and Country sets.

I think I remember reading somewhere that in or about that timeframe, there was a group of session players Jerry Byrd,Chet Atkins,and Dale Potter that did a great number of backup sessions together,don't remember what they called themselves...
Steve,Jody???

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Bill Ford

Bill, on recordings, they were billed as The Stringdusters, sometimes All Star Hillbillies too. Homer and Jethro were part of that group of musicians also.

They also recorded as "The Country All Stars with a Steel Player". As I understood it, due to contractual conditions, Jerry Byrd could not be listed as a performer since that group was recorded on the RCA lable and Jerry was exclusively on Mercury.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

I believe the title of the Bear Family CD release a few years back w/Jerry, Dale, Chet, Jethro/Homer, was called 'Jazz From the Hills'(w/the CAS's...). They all play their tails off, but Dale Potter/fiddle, whew! This is an expensive CD, but a MUST have.

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I've got the Jazz from the Hills CD and I agree it's a must have. What's amazing about these songs (except for a couple of corny offbeat ones) is the diverse and experimental nature of the musicians. It's a good example of the virtuosity and knowledge of country musicians at the time, despite the general public's perception that country players were an uneducated and unsophisticated lot. BTW, JB's playing on When It's Darkness on the Delta, is absolutely superb. Dale Potter's Fiddle Patch and Fiddle Sticks are hot.

How long until it becomes public domain (or does it?) in the United States. Will Johnny Cash's earliest songs or even Jimmie Rodgers (the singing brakeman) come into the public domain in my lifetime?
Thanks.
Melinda

I`m not for sure on this, but i believe it is ioo,years.

R L