Skeeter Davis - who's the steel player?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 7 Feb 2020 4:48 am

'Never Ending Song of Love' is a mildly irritating record but the steel playing is wonderful.

Does anyone know who it was? Weldon, perhaps?

(Sorry - I don't know how to post a link.)

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 7 Feb 2020 5:18 am

Steel break at 1:24 is AWESOME!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RisWLa41CDM

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 7 Feb 2020 5:49 am

I'll guess Curly Chalker.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 7 Feb 2020 6:37 am

Sounds like classic Weldon to me. Album credits list Pete Drake, Weldon Myrick, Curly Chalker, and Jimmy Day. And I wouldn't put it past Chalker to pull it off just like that.

To post a simple link that isn't real long, simply copy the youtube link and either paste it in or enclose it in the url tag - i.e., for this particular link:

Code: Select all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RisWLa41CDM
or
[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RisWLa41CDM[/url]

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 7 Feb 2020 7:01 am

Great break!

But more importantly: who's playing the Magic Twanger in the background?

Chris

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 7 Feb 2020 7:20 am

As Dave said, there are four steel players on this album, and this sounds a lot like Weldon. Chalker also came to mind when I heard this. Killer blocking, that's for sure!

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 7 Feb 2020 7:30 am

I assume the Magic Twanger is a Jew's Harp and I'd wonder if Charlie McCoy was playing it but not shown in the credits. What a great fit for this arrangement.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 7 Feb 2020 7:41 am

If I had to guess I'd go with Weldon (by process of elimination). Definitely not Chalker's tone, and not in Jimmy's or nor Pete's style bag.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 7 Feb 2020 8:39 am

Out of the four, Weldon seems the most likely to me. Not Pete Drake, I'd say, and not the tone I'd expect from Chalker (although I'm sure he could have pulled it off with ease).

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 7 Feb 2020 9:06 am

Out of the 4 its more likely Weldon for sure, although Chalker could certainly have played it exactly like that if he wanted.. It just wasn't his tone .

I would not call that particular song mildly annoying Roger.. Irritating, VERY annoying, pretty bad, grating , dreadful are terms I might use instead..

It WAS a really good steel break though wasn't it?... bob

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 7 Feb 2020 9:23 am

Well, I was being polite, Bob.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 7 Feb 2020 10:11 am

It's Weldon.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 7 Feb 2020 3:07 pm

Bob Carlucci wrote:Out of the 4 its more likely Weldon for sure, although Chalker could certainly have played it exactly like that if he wanted.. It just wasn't his tone .

I would not call that particular song mildly annoying Roger.. Irritating, VERY annoying, pretty bad, grating , dreadful are terms I might use instead..

It WAS a really good steel break though wasn't it?... bob

LOL

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 8 Feb 2020 8:46 am

Although I find the Delaney and Bonnie version much more palatable, the song itself may not be destined to become a standard (IMO). Oddly enough, many northern Bluegrass bands adapted this tune as part of their set lists in the '80's.

Jimmy Campbell · Post by **Jimmy Campbell** » 8 Feb 2020 2:32 pm

I would vote it is Weldon.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 8 Feb 2020 5:05 pm

I think the song did become a standard of sorts, it's been done by all sorts of folks from George&Tammy to Ray Charles to John Fogerty and many more. but Skeeter's singing on this one is pretty bad.

and yes it's gotta be Weldon. not only because it sounds just like him but because Steve Hinson said so dang it

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 8 Feb 2020 8:35 pm

When my friend Steve Hinson tells you who the steel player is on a recording, you can take it to the bank.

It is absolutely Weldon Myrick. In that era, Russ Hicks and Weldon Myrick played in a very recognizable style . Check out Russ Hicks on Barefoot Jerry and Charlie McCoy recordings.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 8 Feb 2020 10:41 pm

Written By Delaney Bramlett. I first heard this song by the New Seekers and then a few months later I heard the original on Motel Shot from the artist and his wife himself. I like the Skeeter version.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 8 Feb 2020 11:35 pm

Weldon did some great stuff on Skeeter's recordings, "I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter" is famous, but here's another one from the "A Place In The Country" album:

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

Kind Regards, Walter

Mike Harris · Post by **Mike Harris** » 9 Feb 2020 6:08 pm

Nice solo, whoever it is.

As for everything else, I put it on the producer. I can't imagine what Take Me Home, Country Roads and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down sound like on this record...and I"m better off not knowing, I'm sure.