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Topic: Joaquin Murphy (or not?) w/ Jesse James--Rag Mop |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 1:24 pm |
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This is "Rag Mop" by Jesse James and All The Boys. Some say this may not be Joaquin, but possibly Jimmy Grabowske. I don't know for certain, but it didn't sound like Joaquin on his A game to me. However, it's raw and I like it and it's a fun tune that I've heard by a few other artists. Tell me what you think. Next I'll put up Swinging On The Steel, aka Joaquin Special.
Go to myspace and click on the last song in the player. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 1:52 pm
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It sounds good no matter who it is, but I'd agree that it doesn't have the lilting tone I associate with Joaquin. Thanks for sharing!
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 3:12 pm
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Jimmy Grabowske is a good friend of mine, and still a fine steel player. He was inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame last year.
Jimmy's originally from the Corpus Christi area, but relocated to Austin in the early 50's and played with Jesse James and the Boys, among many other bands, into the 70's. JJatBs were a major regional band in the early 50's and recorded for Four Star. Jimmy was one of the major players in Central Texas at that time and was the mentor of Bert Rivera, Doug Sahm, and others.
Jimmy G. is, additionally, the steel player that backed up Hank Williams on his last gig, at the Skyline Club in Austin TX, Dec. 1952.
He was very Joaquin oriented and was quite hot. He's in his early 70's, in good health, and still plays with the Texas Swing Pioneers here in the CenTex area.
"Ragg Mopp" was written by Deacon Anderson, a pioneer steel player from the Beaumont TX/Gulf Coast area. He's still playing in that part of Texas. I haven't seen him in a few years. I don't know if he recorded with Jesse, though. I'd bet it was Grabowske.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 3:42 pm
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| Thanks, Herb. Besides being a great player, you're a wealth of information, which is the only way that these traditions survive. |
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Colby Tipton
From:
Crosby, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 5:08 pm
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Herb is correct about Deacon writing the song "Rag Mop". My uncle Buck Henson used to play bass with him in bands around the Houston, Texas area during the 40's and 50's. You can also go to a web site called Western Swing Journal (do a search) for pictures. This is one of the band lineups. By the way some of these guys went on to play with Bob Wills and other famous bands of the time.
The Lineup.
Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers
Fall of 1949.
Deacon Anderson steel guitar, Richard Prine, Buck Henson bass, Cliff Bruner, Ben Mullins piano, and Lee Bell.
Photo #82 @ Western Swing Journal
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 5:21 pm
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I think the first 'hit' I heard of this tune was by Merle Lindsey and his Oklahoma Night Riders out of Oklahoma City in the late 40's - early 50's. Even Roy Acuff later did this tune in his Grand Ole Opry act in the 50's.
Thanx,
Jim
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 16 Nov 2006 9:19 pm
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| That tune is always fun to hear, and it's neat to listen to it with steel. That's a good player, and it's no reflection on any steeler to say he's no Joaquin Murphey. Ain't but one, and I don't hear him in there. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Michael Breid
From:
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
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Posted 17 Nov 2006 8:58 pm
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I remember when it was a hit back in the 50's. I've got an old Columbia 78 of Tommy Dorsey doing it. People couldn't get enough of it. They'd holler from the dance floor, "Rag Mop, play Rag Mop". What a song.
M |
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