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Topic: Billy Tonneson's solo on Sunflower |
Einar Baldursson
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Joe Cook
From:
Lake Osoyoos, WA
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Posted 22 Jan 2022 7:29 am |
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Nice, Einar! Thanks for posting this. Your playing inspires me practice in A6 a little more, well...a LOT more.  |
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Einar Baldursson
From:
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted 24 Jan 2022 12:32 am
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Thanks Joe, I usually play C6 or C13th but A6 is great for some sounds. I wrote it down in case anyone is interested.
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https://youtube.com/@steelguitar |
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Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2022 6:02 am
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| I love that solo. Great job, Einar! |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 24 Jan 2022 10:35 am
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Billy T shared some very interesting details about that session here on the forum a few years ago. Sinatra liked Billy's solo and he told him it was "fat"... meaning good!
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First, I am not posting this to impress anybody! This took place sometime I beleive in 1948. I was the Steel Guitarist with the Ole Rasmussen band playing at the 97th Corral Dance Hall in South Los Angeles, Ca. At the time our upright bass player was Dickie McBride ... One night he approached myself and our guitar player, Earl Finley.
He said he wanted us to learn a song called "Sunflower" (not the Glen Campbell one) and particpate in making a record in a Hollywood studio.
Of course Earl and I agreed and a short time later we arrived at the NBC Radio studios on Sunset Blvd.
Besides myself, Earl, and Dickie, a drummer named Monte Montjoy and pianist Vic Davis all arrived for the session. Then we found out that the vocalist that wanted to cut the record was "Frank Sinatra".
We rehearsed the song for about an hour and then Frank arrived dressed in his tuxedo along with his arranger. Frank knew we were all pretty nervous and immediately did everything to put us all at ease. We probably did about four or five takes and he picked out the one he wanted. I was fortunate enough to have a little solo chorus in the middle. When listening back to the take with my little contribution, Frank came over and put his hand on my shoulder and said "that was fat", meaning he liked it.
The song was released on a Columbia record as the "B" side of "Once In Love With Amy". It was on a 78" record and "Sunflower" got quite a bit of play on the local radio stations. Do any of you "Old Geezers" ever remember hearing it? I have a copy on an old cassette tape but it is very scratchy. Perhaps "Mike Gross" could track this down! This was an experience I will cherish and never forget! |
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25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Daniel Baston
From:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2022 10:42 am
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This song is a recent discovery for me and it is a great one.
Great playing Einar! And thank you for sharing Billy's take on it, Doug. What a great story. |
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