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Topic: You Were Only Fooling |
Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 5:51 pm |
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If you are wondering what this is all about,
Im not suprised. I had to grab your attention
so I posted what was a title to an old song
that was popular many years ago.
The reason I recall everything from years ago
is because Iam from many years ago. Now do you understand?
This is something about someone I want to acknowledge. No he's not famous (that is how
he describes himself). No he not a great steel player (he makes reference to himself).
From what he tells me I get the feeling that
he thinks little of his ability as a steel guitarist. Like so many others in the past,I asked him for a tape of himself but like Ray Montee,Gene Jones, Paul Graupp.Everett Cox,
George "Keoki" Lake, Don Sulesky, Andy Zynda,
they have much in common.
They put their ego aside and play down their
abilities and pass themselves off as just "so so" YEAH RIGHT. But they were fooling with me I guess,with no intention other that explain they thought little of their playing.
Why do they send me tapes of themselves you ask??? because I ask them to.
First was Ray,then Gene,then Paul,then Don,then Everett,along comes Andy Zynda, and now comes another. But why me?? Im not a critic Im not a great player. But Iam someone who believes in people who dont "blow
their own horns".Not leaving out another favorite of mine Keoki Lake the guy they named "Lake George" after.
A few of them post very little and I would have never thought they play so well. In my words,they walk the walk,they dont talk the talk,they do what they do and they do it well
real well. Without bragging on themselves or being controversial on this sometimes Forum
full of contradictions and people who start a thread just to hear themselves talk.
No not these people. Each of them is one of a kind,but most of all they all play fine and have the modesty that is rare these days.
Im trying to hurry,but as that old Jimmy Davis song went "Makes No Difference Now What
Kind Of Life Fate Hands Me" I'll get along without you, just you wait and see" great old tune written and recorded by Gov.Jimmy Davis. Decca records circa 1940
So Im going to take my time and if you have the time OK,,if not,go tune your guitar. This
is for someone special as were the others whose name's I mentioned above.
The tape arrived yesterday and along with the
tape was a nice letter written by a fine human being.I could read as to what kind of a
MAN he is,and his words proved to me that he is genuine. Much of his letter was of a personal nature directed at me, and not for
publication.
He tells of how he feels he is inadequate and how difficult it is to get a gig. He asks
me questions regarding my opinion of his playing,he tells me he played the "Opry for 2
years and "Opry Land" for another 2 years.
Hell I never even saw the outside of the Ryman and he played there. But he goes on apologizing for what he calls his "so so" playing ability.
After hearing what this man did,I thought,,,,
now wait a minute,whats this all about? is this another one of those who claim they cant play?
So I play the tape and rewind here and there
to make certain of what Im hearing here. This
guy has got to be kidding me.
I fell in love with his style and his ability
to manuever his bar around a non pedal guitar
I marveled at his tone and ability to pull each tune off as though it were a recording
done in a studio. He plays his Yamaha acoustic and overdubs his (as he calls it) his toy" baritone UKE..he played a myriad of tunes,each different from the other.
His rendition of Tenderly floored me, his unique playing was obvious that he was a JB fan,,No not a copy cat,but with the tone and
feel of JB.
There are pop tunes,Hawaiian tunes which I think he prefers as it brings out the beauty
of his instrument and a style long since forgotten since the pedal guitar became first
and foremost.
Make no mistake,he plays great pedal guitar as well,but he made this tape expecially for me as he knows how much I enjoy non pedal steel when played in the manner of which he plays his non pedal guitar.
I cant post all the tunes,it would take all night,but I have time and you dont,so I'll post a few of what I liked the most,although
I thought all of his music was great.
Come a Little Closer
Tenderly which by the way, he plays in the low register and unlike any I have heard before,reminded me of Noel Boggs playing on his Quad using the bass tuning,,It was great.
Coconut Grove
My Tane
Slippery Elm (one of my all time favorites)
Sand
Hawaiian Sunset
Memphis Blues
Sweet Someone (another of my favorite songs done in good taste by this so called "so so" steel player( those are his words not mine)
Steelin the Blues,OK so we all do that.But he colors it and it sounds great.
I titled this thread because this fellow made
me think of that old song.
You Were Only Fooling,While I Was Falling In Love, a Story as Old as Adam and Eve.I Was having Fun While You Were Making Believe,,,and so forth and so on.
I know this is another long and to many a BORING thread,,but fear not my friends..Its one more down and two to go and,you will suffer no more. But for now Im here and you are there and you have only two choices.One
to pass me by,,the other to read what I wrote
and try to understand why I did this.
Because he plays great and deserves much more
than people are aware. I read many things on this Forum that dont interest me,but I dont
critisize anyone, I read posts and threads that run people down. Thats not me,you should all know that by this time.
You also know Im boring and I dont care what anyone thinks of me,because its not about me
Its about someone I have the utmost respect for.
His name?? yes Jody,,what is his name prey tell..His name is "BIG JOHN BECHTEL" and he plays his butt off and did so for myself and
my wife.
So,,If ya see him comin better step aside,cause a lot of men didnt and a lotta men died He's got One Fist Of Iron and The Other of Steel,if the right one dont getcha then the Left One will.
Wrong lyrics? from another song? I know it,but Jimmy Dean and Ernie Ford will have to
understand what I mean about "BIG JOHN" "BIG
BAD JOHN", Im the guy who loaded the "Sixteen Tons of words here not you,whats
your problem???
Im finished,,listen to that applause.Its deafening..he's finally finished,,yes,but Big
John has only just begun in my life.He's a friend to me with nothing to gain other than my friendship for him. I like the guy and he plays GREAT.
Three down and two to go and YOU ARE FREE AT
LAST my friends.But that comes later. Stay tuned,,if not "Turn Me OFF," Cause "It Makes No Difference Now What Kind Of Fate Life Hands Me,I'll get along without you now thats
plain to see.Am I nuts?,,Maybe so,but I speak the truth and not with forked tongue.My word is my bond. Take that to the BANK.
What can they do? Fire Me? I dont get paid for making good people get acknowledged.
I do it because it makes me feel good and thats all that matters to me.
THE END.
[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 03 December 2002 at 07:27 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 6:07 pm
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Maybe now you will know where Im coming from.
I know where I have been. do you??? 
Let the flames begin..Im wearing "flame proof
clothing" and it dont bother me.Im used to it
by now. I dont throw curve balls, I throw fast balls right down the middle of the plate[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 03 December 2002 at 06:15 PM.] |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 6:41 pm
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| Jody, can you say that in 25 words or less for me? |
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R. L. Jones
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 8:09 pm
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You`re right Jody , it was long, but I had to read every word of it.
Very well said
Thank You
R. L. |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 8:23 pm
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Earnest
When a person is more,I say more,If a person
is less,I say less. If a person is less than
that,I say nothing. Does that satisfy your question?. |
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 8:35 pm
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| Jody, are you a song writer? If not, you might consider it, at least for a hobby. You have an interesting way of expressing your ideas in words. Not with fancy flourish, buy in sort of a combination of working-man, poetic terms. Far from boring, your posts, while lengthy, are attention-grabbing. Best to you. |
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Bob Carlson
From:
Surprise AZ.
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 9:02 pm
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As I keep saying Jody...if long is the only way your posts come, so be it. I read every word of it.
And as you keep saying....I don't have a gun to your head, no one has to read it.
Bob. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 9:55 pm
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You erroneously included me amongst an elite bunch of steel guitarists Jody...maybe your hearing aid is playing tricks on you...change the batteries. If I have told you once, I must have said it many times, I'm just a "Jack of all, Master of none" ... hell man, I'll be glad to carry your guitar case and same holds with Montee and the rest. But I appreciate what you said even though I know you had your fingers crossed as you were typing. I play too darned many instruments to be good on one, even though steel guitar is my passion. Luv ya pal...you're the steel guitarist whom we all look up to!
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 3 Dec 2002 11:20 pm
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| Thanks for the compliments, Jody! You're way to kind! I hope we can keep in touch for a long time. I just enjoy what little I can do, and I appreciate your advice! I've only been at it for 54 yrs. so I still have a lot to learn! "Big John" http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/doc |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 4 Dec 2002 4:05 am
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I've exchanged e-mail with Big John but still looking forward to hearing him play....but in the meantime I'll accept Jody's assessment without reservations.
Ditto what Jody said about those other guys too, except for one of them...Gene who?
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 04 December 2002 at 04:06 AM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 4 Dec 2002 10:10 am
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Hey John
No problem I was happy to do it for ya.
BTW,I just mailed you (50) 90 minute tapes of how I got started with Fender.
I'll send another (50) next week. Take care.
They are short stories. Anytime my friend. |
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Ted Solesky
From:
Mineral Wells, Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2002 9:36 pm
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| Jody, you're right about Big John. Everyone that knows him - likes him. I heard a tape of him playing and I enjoyed it. He puts his heart into it. That's what makes players unique and interesting. |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 5 Dec 2002 2:18 am
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| Hey Jody, how about that book or mailing me some tapes. Can't you spread yourself a little thinner? Smileys got an autographed record and I've got zip. Next time I'm over there maybe I'll steal it if he ain't reading this! |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 23 Dec 2002 7:28 pm
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This is the Last Of My series of Long Stories
Listen up.
I received another tape from Big John yesterday,it is better than the first one,so
all I can say is.
OH JOHNNY,OH JOHNNY,HOW YOU CAN PLAY
OH JOHNNY,OH JOHNNY,I COULD LISTEN ALL DAY
YOU MAKE YOUR STEEL GUITAR REALLY SING
I'D RATHER LISTEN TO YOU
THAN TO FRANKIE, ELVIS OR BING
OH JOHNNY,OH JOHNNY WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?
YOU MAKE MY POOR HEART JUMP FOR JOY
YOUR NOT HANDSOME ITS TRUE
BUT WHEN I LISTEN TO YOU
ITS OH JOHNNY OH JOHNNY OH
TAG,,I LIKE YOUR BEARD THOUGH,,,,,,
LA DA DA DA DA
ITS OH JOHNNY OH JOHNNY OHHHHHHH
OH YEAAAAAAAAAAHHH C9. Lets hear it For Big
John.
Happy New Year Big John.
So Im a Corn Ball SO WHAT. You got a problem with that?? as Smiley taught me T/S.I like the beard though. [This message was edited by Jody Carver on 23 December 2002 at 08:04 PM.] |
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Kenny Foy
From:
Lynnville, KY, USA
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Posted 23 Dec 2002 8:21 pm
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| OH JODY OH JODY OH JODY OH JODY!!!!!!! Got a patent on those lyrics yet. Jody if I knew you talked to Smiley I wouldn't have ever talked to you. You know he aien't rite!----------------- Just for laughs.------------ Merry Christmas to you BUDDY!!! [This message was edited by Kenny Foy on 23 December 2002 at 08:22 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 23 Dec 2002 9:18 pm
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Hey Kenny
Ya got any of those Louisville Slugger bats
around? I need one . Save me one with a
sweet spot,I have some batting to do
Here come the critics..
Kimo Sabe
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