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Topic: Tom Morrell info? |
Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 10 Oct 2004 8:12 am |
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I was just reading up on steel whiz Tom Morrell and a few questions came to mind.
Has Tom made any recent recordings, like in the last year or two?
I also heard that Tom played in Billy Gray's band alongside Bobby Koefer. Does anyone know when this was?
I'd guess the late 1950s or early 1960s, Gray split his band and rejoined Hank Thompson for a stint in the very early 1960s.
And did he record with Billy Gray, or for that matter with anyone in the 1960s?
In the 1970s he supposedly worked with country-rock band Calico. There was a band of that name who had a couple of okay albums fr United Artists in the mid 1970s, but not much in the way of wolfman steel playing, and although I don't have either handy, I'm pretty sure Tom's not on either.
Anyone know anything about Tom and this band?
Okay, that's my bit, my thanks to you all
Jase
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 10 Oct 2004 8:43 am
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Jason
A new installment of "how the west was swung" has recently been released. Volume 15 i think.
His career with Billy Gray has been written up somewhere--perhaps in the liner notes to one of the CDs? as i recall it was more like the mid 50s than late 50s/60s?
he did some demo recordings with johnny bush in the 60s that were released recently as part of bush's "green snakes" CD. I certainly assume he did other recording in the 60s, but i haven't seen it documented. Not sure when he did the series of LPs with Maurice and the Case Brothers (on Priority), but i suspect those are from the 70s, not 60s. |
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Graham Griffith
From:
Tempe, N.S.W., Australia
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Posted 10 Oct 2004 8:49 am
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Jason,
go to the WR records site http://westernswing.net/morrell/index.html
and you'll get plenty of information. Tom's phone number is also on the CD's ... none of this computer stuff for him!!
Graham
[This message was edited by Graham Griffith on 10 October 2004 at 09:51 AM.] |
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James Pennebaker
From:
Mt. Juliet, TN
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Posted 10 Oct 2004 2:31 pm
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I haven't spoken with Tommy in years but I do share mutual friends who still gig with him and his Time Warp Top Hands and I know they are still at it. I used to do the occasional job with Tommy and Leon Rausch, Don Edwards and several other regional acts when I was still living in the Ft. Worth / Dallas area from the 70's through the early 90s. (I would be playing fiddle usually) The albums he did with John and Jerry Case were done in the 70's as were the "Calico" LP's. I have copies of those Jerry Case records. Calico was a local Dallas group that tried to cash in on the "progressive country" scene in Texas during the early 70's. I believe their UA records were cut in Nashville and used mostly Nashville session players and not always actual band members, but Tom was the exception to that I think. I don't have either of the Calico records but I do remember them and I do believe Tom was on them or at least one of them. He always scared the Hell out of me. A true monster on the steel (pedals or not) or regular 6 string guitar.
JP[This message was edited by James Pennebaker on 10 October 2004 at 03:39 PM.] |
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Jelle Biel
From:
the netherlands
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Posted 11 Oct 2004 9:17 am
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 http://westernswing.net/morrell/vol04.htm
Tom Morrell is GREAT !!
but is there somebody who can help me how i can make CONTACT with the guitarplayer on this album CLINT STRONG
(e-mail)address ?
Thanks
Jelle[This message was edited by Jelle Biel on 11 October 2004 at 10:21 AM.] |
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Mike Black
From:
New Mexico, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2004 1:11 pm
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Jason, The WR Records website has all his CD's for sale. The latest from the TWTH is Vol 13 "Monkey Bizness". It's worth having just for his intro and solo on Fly Me to the Moon. All but Craig Chambers first CD have Tom on steel. Craig makes great records, he's one of the best. His latest is "Goin' to Town", came out last year I think.
The TimeWarp~TopHands are still active though I have noticed they aren't as busy as in the 90's. Craig stays as busy as a new father with a business to run can, and he uses Tom.
He's still doing recording dates too.
Bobby Boatright has 4 or 5 CD's out and has just released a new one, "Fiddle Swing". Leon Chambers recorded one finally last year also. He's done 3 cd's with Brady Boen. Nolan Bruce Allen is a singer from NY that makes some cd's in Dallas. More for kicks, the singing is, well, the playin's better. It's Tom, Tom Allsup, Rich O'Brien, Randy Elmore, Tim Alexander Mark Abbott, Greg Hardy. They recorded a second CD last spring.
Tommy Allsup has a new studio and Tom has recorded some stuff for him recently. Check www.commongroundrecords.com
Though it was recorded in 97 an overlooked recording is on the Sims label (SRBS-100), Leon Rausch and Tommy Allsup "A Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills" It's 50 of Bob's best played by the best in a 3 cd box.
That photo of Tom and Bob is only in the cassette version of "Let's Ride" it's not in the CD liner. If I remember right it was 58/59, Koefer stayed with the band for a month or something to make the transition.
In the early 60's he and Billy Braddy were on 2 records with Gary Van. I've never seen them but I'm still looking.
Calico, Volume 2 is the record he's on. He wasn't on the first one. The steel is mixed way behind the guitar player. He stands out on a nice version of Cold Cold Heart. At the time it was either Calico or the Little River Band, UA went with the latter.
The Johnny Bush CD Mitch mentions is kinda cool. Willie Nelson is on guitar. It's a bonus limited edition but I think it's still available.
Johnny and Jerry Case are exceptional. It was Johnny that suggested Tom make a Western Swing record. The first TWTH release was a cassette on Priority.
During the 80's he was with Leon Rausch and recorded some with him. Check Southland Records web site for Leon's records.
Tom was just in town playing guitar with the Texas Playboys. B. Koefer and H. Remington were the steel players. I know he has another gig with them Nov 5&6 in Abilene. |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 13 Oct 2004 4:59 am
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Wow, thanks everyone for chipping in on this topic, you've all been a big help and I'm checking out the links right now.
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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DeWitt Scott
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Oct 2004 2:35 pm
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Tom is now in the process of putting the final touches on a new CD. It was recorded "Live" in the Jefferson Room at the Millennium hotel at the International Steel Guitar Convention early Saturday morning, August 30th, 2003. Starting at 1:00 AM. Tom had his Top-Warp Tophands band with him so it should be a good one. It will be available at Scotty's Music. Scotty
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Mike Black
From:
New Mexico, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2004 7:38 am
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Can't wait to hear the CD recorded at Scotty's ISGC. I heard it was a great set.
Is that Common Ground link working for anybody?[This message was edited by Mike Black on 16 October 2004 at 08:41 AM.] |
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