Thumbpickers: Name That Tune! (Louvin Bros.)

scott murray · From: Asheville, NC

anyone know the name of THIS INSTRUMENTAL from the Louvin Bros. 'Live at New River Ranch' from 1956? Or who their lead guitarist might have been for that matter?

this is another case of "unknown instrumental" on the CD tracklist.
a really superb album... I love these guys.

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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster

Dave Harmonson · From: Seattle, Wa

I'm not familiar with that tune, but Paul Yandell played most of the Chet sounding leads with the Louvins from around that time. Good chance it was him.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

If memory serves correctly it's called "Blue Smoke" and was recorded by Merle Travis on his "The Merle Travis Guitar" album.
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Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
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scott murray · From: Asheville, NC

ha. right you are, Mike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6xsmSgttmQ

thanks guys!
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

And yes, it's Paul Yandell on guitar.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Jimmy Capps worked with the Louvin Bros and is very adept at "thumbpicking". I've heard some of his old stuff and it's very "Chet". Jimmy is older than Paul and could have been working with them in that era.

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Actually Jimmy joined Louvin Bros after Paul Yandell, around -58 or -59. And you're right his fingerpicking is very Chet sounding too, I have that old Starday LP Country Guitar with Jimmy's tune "Nazches Trace" which could fool a lot of Chet fans ( including myself ).

Drew Howard · From: 48854

Visited the myspace. Cool! Great tunes! Didn't know the Louvins has a live collection.

What a reminder: "At E's" so damn hip and swingin' I laughed out loud!

"Candy" - wow, never heard this. Is this John Hughey?

thanks,
CAP'N

Barry Blackwood · Posted 8 Jan 2008 11:34 am

My vote is with PY.

Bobby Caldwell · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.

Mike, Right you are. It is Paul Yandell on guitar playing "Blue Smoke" and he is playing the daylights out of it. What a great thumb picker his is. Jimmy Capps played great sounding thumb style guitar with the Louvin's but used a straight pick and fingers. You can't tell the difference. Jimmy still plays the Opry and plays as good as ever. I don't know what Paul is doing at this time. I love that Travis stuff. Has anyone heard Mose Rager? A mentor of Merle. Bobby

scott murray · From: Asheville, NC

Doyle Weigold · From: CColumbia City, IN, USA

I was lucky enough to work a country music park in N.E. Indiana 1957-58 the same day the Louvin Bros. worked there and Paul Yandell was with them. I was a scared 17-18 year old kid trying to steal all the licks I could. Paul actually sat down with me backstage and was showing me anything I asked him about and a whole lot of othar things that would go along with it. What I would have gave for a tape recorder right then,because needless to say there was no way for me to absorb it all. I've always thought he had to be one of the nicest and certanly one of the most taleted musicians in the buisness. Doyle

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Chet always said that Paul knew Chet's licks better than he did himself.

I love the comedy part on that cd, when Ira introduces "There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea" and turns to Paul with: "Paul ya know There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea?" and Paul goes: "There Is?" Very Happy

To which Ira then goes: "There iiizzzz?? No, no it's a title of a song". The whole cd is a wonderful documentary of a 50's country music live show where a band does everything from tunes for kids ( "we love kids, I used to go to school with them" / Ira Louvin )to gospels, ballads and uptempo numbers.

Keith Cordell · From: San Diego

Do any of you know of any cuts that have Garland Nash playing bass?

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

I was playing in a band with Jimmy Capps when he
auditioned for the Louvins. Paul had gotten his draft notice but hadn't left yet. Paul had the job
of conducting Jimmy's tryout and asked him to play
"Malguenia". Jimmy shyly admitted he didn't know it
and Charlie Louvin stepped in and said, "That's all
right son, Ira and I hardly ever sing Maleguenia!
Jimmy knew all the Louvin's songs though and was/is a
complete player. He could cop Hank Garland, Grady
Martin, Johnny Smith and all the greats of the day
and has a wonderful style of his own. The interesting thing about his work with the Louvins is he always played the "thumb" style with a straight pick.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Bobby Caldwell · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA * R.I.P.

Mike, I don't think Mose recorded any albums or CD's that I know of. I do have a video of thumb pickers that has a couple a clips of Mose playing. I'll have to look that up. I'll get back to you on that. I can tell you this, he sounds alot like Merle. I am sure thats where Merle got alot of ideas. There was another picker around in Kentucky that played great thumb style named Kennedy Jones. I am told he is the one that really wrote "Cannon Ball Rag". Love that thumb picken'. My best to all, Bobby

Dave Harmonson · From: Seattle, Wa

Mike, Yes indeed Ike Everly was another follower of Mose. I did see a video some years ago of Ike Everly playing on a local TV show from the 50's. He was playing that double thumb style quite nicely. He insisted that his sons concentrate on singing, because he thought that would get them further in the business. I guess he was right.

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Mose Rager did record with Texas Ruby and Curly Fox. I have a Curly Fox album somewhere and if I remember correct it has a Mose Rager instrumental on it too.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Cannon Ball Rag, recorded 9/3/52 Capitol 2245 had Merle Travis listed as the writer. The session also had one other musician, a bass player named Dale Warren.

On the back cover of Jimmy Crawford's "Ton of Steel" album I think there's a picture of Jimmy Capps with a thumbpick....Hmmm

I was in the US Army in Germany at the same time Paul Yandell was, I wish I'd have gotten to pick some with him. They used to play recordings that he'd done for them over the Armed Forces Radio and you thought you were hearing an Atkins record.

As far as Atkins/Travis style with a flat pick and fingers? I think the best I've ever heard was Phil Baugh! Just check out his old recording of "Country Guitar" Also, Joe Maphis was a master of it and even cut a tune called "A Little Bit of Travis" or something like that.

There's a guy in Bakersfield now named Brian Lonbeck who could really do justice to the style. I knew Brian pretty well in my old SoCal days and he was a jewel for sure. A Maphis clone if there ever was one, but for the Travis thing he's use his flatpick and ring finger mostly......JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Jerry, I will be playing at Deke's Guitar Geek Fest next Saturday in Anaheim, Brian Lonbeck will also be there, as well as Larry and Lorrie Collins with a host of others! Deke Dickerson who organizes that show knows Brian well, I haven't met him before yet. Knowing Deke, Brian and Larry there will be a doubleneck guitar blast off Smile

Really looking forward to it.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Jussi, tell Brian hi from me! I haven't seen or talked to him in over twenty some years. The last time I saw him, we did a benefit for an old boss of his (Tony Treece) who'd passed away. By the way, like Joe Maphis, Brian is also a pretty good fiddler. I'd like to be at the festival but it's just too far to drive right now from Virginia....JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Jerry, I sure will!! I have some old pictures of Brian when he played in Irby Mandrell's band; him playing a fiddle and Barbara Mandrell on steel, and also a photo of the two together playing Brian's double neck Mosrite Cool