Memories from 1976

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Sep 2021 6:23 pm

This song by Tommy Overstreet really made us local steelers sit up and take notice! It was the first song I remember to feature the "One pedal, two finger, three string" descending scale lick by Weldon and Hal that became so popular with us wannabee "speed pickers".

Enjoy!

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

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 26 Sep 2021 6:56 pm

Those drums on the chorus would make me want to climb the walls.

Weldon was such a tasteful player. Thanks for posting.

RC

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 27 Sep 2021 12:28 am

That's a skip-to-the-ride recording for me. The steel playing clean and hot, though, and noticeable, as you observed.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 27 Sep 2021 4:23 am

Thanks for posting that link. Weldon was one of the very best at speed picking.

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 27 Sep 2021 6:43 pm

Thanks for posting Donny. I don’t remember that one. Weldon was great. I loved the tone of the lead guitar on the fat strings and all the layers of the rhythm section listening with some headphones. They sure put a lot into the rhythm section records back in my childhood.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 Sep 2021 6:56 pm

I never heard that song, but I did buy the tab for that descending speed pattern back in the day and I learned it well. I think I've played it on every gig I've played since then! It's not just for speedpicking. The pattern works well in medium tempo songs too. And if you start it three frets above the major position, it's minor scale pattern. Very handy for songs in minor keys. And it you start it a 4th above the key, it's a mixolydian riff. Very useful indeed!

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 29 Sep 2021 7:40 am

Smiley Roberts told me he thought "Oh crap, this is going to be interesting pulling this off!" when T.O. recorded that with Weldon. I've got a video of Smiley doing it in 1977 and he nailed it pretty good!

That lick was one of my favorites as well.

David Mitchell · Post by **David Mitchell** » 29 Sep 2021 7:53 am

I doubt there's very many players even today that could pull it off as slick as Weldon did it. Getting to be a lost art with all the funeral music that's played on steel today.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 30 Sep 2021 4:09 am

. . . with all the funeral music that's played on steel today.

"Play us somethin' we can die to!" roared the crowd.