Christmas Roses

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 22 Dec 2022 3:38 pm

My pal Tim Weston, himself a great guitarist and producer of several terrific jazz records, knowing of my steel guitar obsession, sent this 1952 duet of his Mom, Jo Stafford, and Frankie Laine. An odd pairing I think, but it works! Who do you think the steel player is? Speedy West? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-LK2fm9er ... e=youtu.be

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 24 Dec 2022 12:56 pm

I’ve been told it was Speedy West. Makes sense. He was a popular studio call at that time.

Steve Cattermole · Post by **Steve Cattermole** » 30 Dec 2022 10:39 am

That's great Peter,thanks for posting it. 2 of my favorite singers, her because of her perfect pitch, and him for singing the Blazing Saddles theme song. Really cool your connection with Jo through Tim, you have to get him to tell us some stories about his mom . Speedy sounds great

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 30 Dec 2022 4:21 pm

She was a lovely woman. There are several interviews on YouTube, among them:

https://www.loc.gov/item/jsmith000127/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0w413bGHrU

Paul Weston was also a monster talent, happy to do so much great work out of the spotlight. He was always very encouraging to us youngsters.

Personally, I believe their careers continued to grow and develop, peaking finally in the late '70's. Some of their later, finest work were these interpretations of current pop hits, with a small group of young, hot, up and coming L.A. players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8do_Vsc4Frw

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWiWZn-T8aY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXNAjyhLxF8