Ray Price's steel player *before* Don Helms (circa 1950)

Daniel Baston · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Anyone know who played on Ray Price's records "Jealous Lies" and "Your Wedding Corsage" from 1950"? I believe this may have been Ray's first record. The steel has some Hawaiian flavour and a fat tone. It's pretty killer. Does not sound like Jerry Byrd, definitely does not sound like Don Helms, who played on a lot of Ray's early records after this point.

The Praguefrank site does not list the session personnel (right near the top of the page):
http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com/search/label/Price%20Ray

Jealous Lies (sounds like B11 tuning):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ1Avme18Eg&ab_channel=OkeSheMokeShePop

Your Wedding Corsage (sounds like a 6th tuning, I think maybe A6):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N853FEwTM7c&ab_channel=jeriw

For reference, Ray Price featuring Don Helms on steel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1yx0hrGFUM&ab_channel=RayPrice-Topic

Jim Fogarty · From: Phila, Pa, USA

Sorry I can't give you an answer, but thanks for posting those. "Jealous Lies", in particular is a GREAT cut, vocal and the steel. I would agree they sound like the same player and session.

I wonder if they used Helms on "Wrong Side of Town" because they were going for almost a total Hank imitation? Unfortunately, a fact of life for young artists who haven't had a hit of their own yet, back in the day.

Daniel Flanigan · From: Oregon, USA

You're correct that these tracks are from Ray's first recording session. If I recall correctly, the steel player on Ray's first session was Eddie Martin. Eddie was an excellent player, and very underappreciated.

And I agree, Mr. Fogarty. I've always felt the same, that 'Wrong Side Of Town' and a various other Ray Price tracks from that same period were somewhat shameless Hank homages, with the fiddles, Don Helms on steel and Ray doing voice cracks and other Hank-isms that we know aren't Ray's natural vocal style. Ray certainly wasn't the only C&W singer to try to cut songs that sounded like Hank, it was really just the thing to do in those days if you wanted to have a hit country single. After all, if you want to succeed as an up-and-comer, you imitate the best.
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Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

"Jealous Lies" featured Eddie Martin on steel guitar per this earlier discussion. Mainly linking to this discussion because of the cool steel that Mr. Martin is playing.
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David Weisenthal · From: Arizona, USA

Thanks for introducing me to the stunner "jealous lies". I had to listen to it twice. I never would have guessed its Ray Price singing. I Never heard of Eddie Martin either. A new steel hero for me.👍

Rich Sullivan · From: Nelson, NH 03457

Here is a 4 year old thread (updated recently) about Eddie Martin with some good info.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=359761&sid=50e062f72e7a0aa9074c0086dc479d2f

Be sure to watch both of Chris Clem's links. Both are Merle Travis "soundies" with many players from his usual coterie. In the first Martin is playing a lap steel (while standing with it hanging on a strap), and he displays excellent slant technique. In the second clip he is playing a console that he built, which may have been the world's largest console steel.

Daniel Baston · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Thanks for the assistance! I am glad that I'm not the only one that thinks this is good stuff. 😎

I am now an Eddie Martin fan. Rich, I can't imagine how Eddie moved that beast to gigs. Wow!

As for the Hank Williams connection, in addition to what has been said in this thread already, I believe that Ray essentially took over Hank's band for a time, after Williams' death.

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