The Steel Guitar Forum

A few years ago Kunihiko Suzuki sent me some
traditional Japanese music and the subject
song is on one of the CD's. It is a haunting melody and it sent me out to my shed to get a
steel size peice of Bamboo which I used on this cut to get the sound of the KOTO.
So I send this out to Kuni and Buck Grantham. http://freefilehosting.net/?id=pd/2k6jb

Roy, that's beautiful.

That's wonderful. Of all the pretty things you've posted this is the most beautiful.

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Howard

Mr. Roy that is very beautiful. the koto mimic was awesome.

R J Buras

Roy,
You never cease to amaze me. That is BEAUTIFUL!! If you ever record an album,I would,DEFINITELY,include that on it!

Dick Curless,also,recorded that,back in the mid 50's. I guess,when he was in the service in the far east,he fell in love w/ the song too. He used to broadcast over AFN,& was known as "The Rice Paddy Ranger".
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<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 15 June 2006 at 06:51 PM.]</p></FONT>

Many thanks! I am glad it brought some enjoyment.
Smiley, the Dick Curless
cut was one of the references I used.
I was amazed that he recorded and did such a fine job.I always associated him with truckdriving songs and his live performance with Curly Chaulker.

Back to China Nights....
The delicate voice of Detty Kurnia and the
orchrestration in her rendition gave me
a better sense of the timing and the chord structure. No doubt because the singer and all musicians were Japanese.

I play China Nights virtually every gig. I first played this in 1946 at the Union Jack Club in downtown Tokyo. In 1953 Dick Curless was in Taegu Korea and he and we played several gigs together at GI Clubs. I was in Taejon so he was only a hop, skip, and a jump to Taegu. CC

That is so unique, exotic, creative, and superb playing Roy. You did enhance the Japanese Chinese (Shina) exotic melody. As always I have to take my hat off to you for your creativeness. The tune was written during 1930s in Japan and was originally sung by Hamako Watanabe from Yokohama, Japan. Years later the movie SHINA NO YORU was made, and Hamako Watanabe sang the theme song SOSHU YAKYOKU.

The Rice Paddy Rangers. Is that the same group that had "The Soba Song??

Thanks Roy for a beautiful interpretation of a beautiful song. It was one of our most requested when I was working the clubs in the Yokohama/Tokyo area in the 1950's.

Most of the GI's, who could not correctly pronounce the Japanese name of the song, usually requested it as "She Ain't Got No Yoyo".

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www.genejones.com

Roy, you are incredible. You MUST do a CD. Your masterful and expressive way of simply stating a beautiful melody recalls Jerry Byrd at his best. The great technique it takes to do so is transparent to the average listener but obvious to anyone who knows what it takes to play a steel guitar well. Cool koto effect - and never overused.

Meushii

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http://www.clictab.com/RoyT/Roy_Thomson_Steel_Courses.htm

Roy: All I can say is..." ADI GOTO GOZAWE MOS. Lee

Thanks Roy for China nights. It was 1948 I think since I heard that song. It is very beautiful.

That's a beautiful tune Roy, The effect you get with that piece of bamboo is awesome.

Thank you fellas!

Before going to the Bamboo I tried and got
close with a felt marker encasement . The Bamboo has a natural "shiney" finish ...very smooth and gives a little more sustain and
life to the sound.

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http://www.clictab.com/RoyT/Roy_Thomson_Steel_Courses.htm

I haven't been able to get the sound yet. What you did is very close to what I remember. Sure brought back a lot of memories. Brought some tears to my eyes too.

Buck...to email.