Early Weldon Myrick Studio Sound

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 10 Aug 2015 6:37 pm

Was reading this article on Weldon Myrick:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville ... dies-at-76

which led me to this gem of an early 1964 Connie Smith recording with a neat little solo and intro by Weldon. It's just a little more surprising, and twisted and creative than the average studio steel player and the beginning of a trademark sound. Listen to the perfection of the singing (no AutoTune), background singers and rhythm section:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ0rLatoE_U

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 10 Aug 2015 7:46 pm

Thanks for posting. I love all the stuff Weldon did with Connie Smith. The fast staccato, almost chickin pickin he does on this cut is so awesome. I love that he always throws something slightly off kilter in to keep your ears on their feet, so to speak.

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 11 Aug 2015 1:06 am

Thanks for posting Greg.

Dave Campbell · Post by **Dave Campbell** » 11 Aug 2015 2:36 am

i love weldon's stuff with connie. my girlfriend and i were playing this one last night.

Douglas Bone · Post by **Douglas Bone** » 11 Aug 2015 9:14 am

Thanks Greg. When I was trying to learn, still trying, second book I bought was Anthology of PSG by Dewitt Scott. Weldon played a song called "Hot Foot". Thought no way. Never even tried to learn that song. Smokin fast.

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 11 Aug 2015 11:09 am

Great stuff. Reminds me of how Roy Nichols would through in a curveball or 2 and really make things interesting.

Tim Tyner · Post by **Tim Tyner** » 12 Aug 2015 3:05 am

THANKS GREG!OUTSTANDING!

David Mitchell · Post by **David Mitchell** » 17 Aug 2015 11:55 pm

For many years Weldon and only about 5 others were the Nashville Sound. He's one of my all time favorites and I have all those Connie Smith vinyl albums and everybody elses album from that time period. The renaissance era of Country Music where fiddles and steels took the lead role. I miss those days.

james sluder · Post by **james sluder** » 18 Aug 2015 10:19 am

Thanks for posting this Greg. Weldon had great playing style .

He could sing too. He has 1 song on u-tube { walk me to the door } do you know if he has any other song's ??

Thanks.

Jim !

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 18 Aug 2015 11:24 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o02f4ArNcWA

This is one I really like. I can do the kick but it doesn't have that flowing sustained sound like Weldon's. Don't really know how he gets that sound. It's almost like he's not picking strings.

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 20 Aug 2015 10:12 am

Thanks for bringing Mr. Myrick's playing up, Greg. I've been getting deep into his playing the last few weeks or so. I even adjusted the shape of my picking hand like his a little to see if it would do anything for me.

Dave Campbell, thanks for the tab for "Hinges on the Door". I'm not sure if Connie and the Sundownders have performed that particular one on Marty Stuart's show, but the way Gary Carter works out the steel parts for Connie's older stuff is fantastic. He obviously has a healthy respect for the music and I can't think of anybody else who would fit the bill as well in regard to tone, execution, phrasing, etc. "Cry Cry Cry" mentioned above is a perfect example of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-w-v1nnaEA

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 20 Aug 2015 10:40 am

Yes Daniel, Gary does have Weldon's parts worked out to a T. Gary's touch and execution is perfection. He even has tone like Weldon had when needed.
Everybody does it sorta different but does anyone have the tab for that Cry Cry Cry?

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 21 Aug 2015 6:08 am

One of my favorite recordings with Weldon's im-pick-able playing (hey! I just coined a new word

) is from Paul Siebel's amazing first album, Woodsmoke and Oranges, released in 1970. The song is "She Made Me Lose My Blues":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1HhjfJeIzY

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 21 Aug 2015 6:26 am

Nice one Glenn. Another nice one but sounds like Emmons on the hot C6 solo later in the cut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HH4PnM2NLk

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 21 Aug 2015 7:17 am

Greg, Weldon was on Woodsmoke and Oranges and Buddy was on Jack-Knife Gypsy, which contains the song you linked, "Nervous".

Both albums are excellent and are the only studio albums released by Paul Siebel. He left the music business and was a baker for awhile and I believe he later on he was working for a county in Maryland taking care of community parks.

In my opinion, Paul Siebel's songwriting was on par with the likes of Bob Dylan or John Prine in that his songs tell poignant stories, and at the same time, have memorable melodies.

Some of the session players on these two albums are:
Woodsmoke and Oranges: Waylon's harp player, Donnie Brooks; David Bromberg-Dobro, guitar; the great Richard Greene-violin and of course, Weldon Myrick-steel guitar.

Jack-Knife Gypsy: David Grisman-mandolin; Doug Kershaw-violin; Bernie Leadon-banjo; Russ Kunkel-drums; Bob Warford-guitar; Clarence White-guitar and Buddy Emmons-steel guitar.

I've had the vinyl copies of both albums from the time they were released and a good friend recently gave me the double-album CD version of them:
http://www.amazon.com/Woodsmoke-Oranges ... aul+Siebel
I highly recommend them to anyone who appreciates great songwriting and performance.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 26 Aug 2015 1:26 pm

Weldon Myrick's solo on Right or Wrong by
George Strait. OMG amazing playing. Every time I hear it he just blows me away. If I could only play like that. LOL.

Bas Kapitein · Post by **Bas Kapitein** » 5 Sep 2015 6:26 am

Dianne Davidson cut two albums in the early seventies that featured Weldon;
Mountain Mama and Backwoods Woman.

Both are good but the last one contains two terrific solos by Weldon; Country Comfort and Appalachian Boy.
Only the last one is available on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhVxoSUUXXk

(go to 2:20)
If someone has the album and can publish on youtube (I cannot), do the younger forum members a favor and let them hear Weldon at his very best

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 5 Sep 2015 7:53 am

Here's a few from Weldon when he was still in Big Spring, 1957-1960. He allegedly plays both steel and standard on the first two:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpEEwQjRRtw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEh-lViAIsA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGgLouL0N5g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zea2scUYm2M

Bobby Rountree · Post by **Bobby Rountree** » 5 Sep 2015 3:11 pm

Here is a recording from 1961, recorded at Ben Hall's studio. Weldon on steel..the late Buddy Smith, Guitar, player, one of the musicans killed with Claude Gray's band.....I played bass on this one. Other musicians included, Billie Fletcher, Piano, Lee Simpson, fiddle, Pee Wee Williams, AKA Donnie King Harmony singer and I don't remember the drummers name. Don Ricketson was supposed to be on the session...but car trouble caused him to miss it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJlxQ6iHjDU

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 5 Sep 2015 4:27 pm

weldon is such a huge influence on us all. gary stewart, connie smith, johnny bush, reba, on and on...he's been the mainstay of country music that made us love it!!

Don Ricketson · Post by **Don Ricketson** » 5 Sep 2015 9:47 pm

Actually Rountree there was more to it than that. It's kinda complicated though

.

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 8 Sep 2015 3:08 pm

Thankyou Mitch Drumm!

Roger Miller · Post by **Roger Miller** » 8 Sep 2015 6:05 pm

Looking for someone to tab out the lick on Cry Cry Cry about 149-153. Any takers?

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 10 Sep 2015 6:58 pm

Weldon and Johnny Bush...doesn't get any better.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 64070fd1ad

Joe

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 11 Sep 2015 10:56 am

Glen, I have the vinyl's somewhere, too, and I have not heard them in years...Found the double cd set on ebay last week for 12 bucks and grabbed it--wow, I had forgotten how good they both were...so great to see Weldon featured in the Hall of Fame exhibit...a big influence on me for sure!!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Early Weldon Myrick Studio Sound

Early Weldon Myrick Studio Sound

Weldon Myrick

Weldon Myrick

Well Done, Weldon!!!

Weldon Myrick