Who's the steeler- Buck Owens

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 16 Oct 2002 7:12 am

I've got the CD re-issue of Buck's 'Together Again/My Heart Skips a Beat" album(s) and i have some sessionographic questions:

We all know "Together Again" is Tom Brumley.
Judging stylistically some other cuts are definitely Ralph Mooney.

But I'd like a definitive answer as to who is on "Close up The Honky-Tonks" and "A-11"

TIA

dva

J Fletcher · Post by **J Fletcher** » 16 Oct 2002 7:25 am

Not definitive, but I say it's Brumley on those two cuts. Some of the moves sound like what he's doing on "Together Again". I love the sound of that guitar, which I think is a Fender. Doesn't sound like Mooney to me. I'm a huge Mooney fan and listen to him a lot, that's him on "Save the last dance for me"....Jerry

Steve Allison · Post by **Steve Allison** » 16 Oct 2002 7:36 am

I believe that was Jay McDonald.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 16 Oct 2002 7:43 am

Both these songs came off the album Close-Up, which was released in '69. I'd have to say it was Brumley, though I haven't heard either of them in a few years.

Henning Antonsen · Post by **Henning Antonsen** » 16 Oct 2002 11:21 am

Dave Van Allen,

I have the Sundazed CD re-issue of "Together Again / My Heart Skips A Beat". According to the extensive liner notes, the steel player on both cuts in question is Tom Brumley. A close listen verifies this, even though his tone and style has changed a lot since then. This is Tom's first appearance on a Buck Owens album.

Jay McDonald and Ralph Mooney are also featured on some of the cuts.

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Henning Antonsen
Emmons LeGrande III

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 16 Oct 2002 11:25 am

that'll teach me to leave the cd case at home and put the disc in a folder for the car...

which cuts are Jay McDonald on??

Henning Antonsen · Post by **Henning Antonsen** » 16 Oct 2002 11:38 am

Hm...

I just started wondering if those liner notes are trustworthy after all... ?!

According to the liners, Jay McDonald is on:
"Over And Over Again",
"Getting Used To Losing You",
"Love's Gonna Live Here" (can't be heard),
"Act Naturally" (again, can't be heard),

and... "Truck Drivin' Man" ???

Which MUST be an error... that's gotta be Tom Brumley... What do you guys think? It's definitely Brumley's style, not McDonald's.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 16 Oct 2002 5:44 pm

Donny;

I also have that reissue CD as well as the original vinyl album.

I'm confused. Is there another collection that you are referring to?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 16 Oct 2002 6:06 pm

TDM sounds like Brumley to me. it's got the "BOUNCE".

but that's why I'm asking...
it's right at that cusp and they were all tapped into a heavy muse...[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 16 October 2002 at 07:10 PM.]

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 16 Oct 2002 7:20 pm

Hey Dave, while we're at it. Was it Jay who played the muted steel part on "Sawmill" ? I have loved that cut all these years.
Jim

Henning Antonsen · Post by **Henning Antonsen** » 16 Oct 2002 10:15 pm

Jim,

I'm not Dave, but I'll answer anyhow!
Yes, that's Jay McDonald on "Sawmill" - you can tell he's listened to Mooney a lot... or was it the other way around?

Anyway, great playing. Sounds easy but it's hard to get it right...
Anyway, it's from Buck's "On The Bandstand" which features Jay on most of the cuts. Mooney is on some cuts too.

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Henning Antonsen
Emmons LeGrande III

[This message was edited by Henning Antonsen on 16 October 2002 at 11:20 PM.]

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 17 Oct 2002 9:17 pm

Jim,...Henning is correct. That was Jay MacDonald and Jay was a master of the "Moonie" style of playing. As for who came first,Jay or Ralph,I don't know for sure,but I am pretty sure Jay was older than Ralph at that time.
W.C.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 18 Oct 2002 4:34 am

Ralph had to come first. I've got a CD called Buck Owens sings Tommy Collins which has Jay on steel and it's pretty good but he's not as polished or in tune as ol' Ralph. He's definately a Mooney clone but he can't touch Ralph. Ralph did some old stuff with Wynn Stewart which was awesome. One good cut I like is "One More Memory". Ralph was simple but at the same time he wasn't simple. He sounded like himself and no one else. He's a master of using those open strings along with barred positions up the neck. He'll always be my hero...

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 18 Oct 2002 3:59 pm

I love Ralph too...but Jay isn't as good as Ralph? I wonder. Listen to Jay's solo rendition of Release Me from "On the Bandstand" and you will know where I'm coming from. I've never heard a steeler play with the emotion Jay displays on that recording. It just could be the best ever.

Jay, where in the heck are you? Please come back and perform. We need you.

Stephen LeBlanc · Post by **Stephen LeBlanc** » 18 Oct 2002 4:53 pm

I might be posting this in the wrong place...maybe I should start a new topic? I dunno anyway...

I have some 1/4" reels of a Bakersfield Toys for Tots show from 1966(? I'll have to check the date tonight, might be earlier). It's got some really great picking on it. Does anyone know if there is Video of these shows that might have been archived? My Dad is playing in the house band for the whole show...a video of this or any information about it would mean the world to me.
[This message was edited by Stephen LeBlanc on 18 October 2002 at 06:06 PM.]

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 18 Oct 2002 5:47 pm

Stephen, I feel it's safe to assume you are the son of Leo LeBlanc.

Either way, please email me and I'll try to connect you with Bill Woods last manager Glenn Pogatchni who has info on some of the Toys for Tots gigs and might be able to help you out with more.
That's kingbuzzo@optusnet.com.au