Somehow I missed the passing of George Jones yesterday. It seems like so many of the great bluegrass and country legends have passed over the last couple of years.
George’s song “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is perhaps the best country song ever written. No Show Jones unfortunately was not able to no show at his final act. RIP.
I’m no fan of country music, but these old school guys were pretty bad ass. They were certainly better than the mainstream bullshit being passed off as country music today.
Yep. It was the real thing.
That pedal steel is the most lonesome sound in the world. I used to hate country. But I love this stuff now. Outlaw country too.
I find the pedal steel able to make me cry if I’ve drank just the right amount of alcohol. I especially like the pedal steel in alternative country songs such as what Uncle Tupelo was doing. Something about the steel juxtaposed against punkish sounding electric guitars is really moving.
Saw this on another site. No idea if it’s true, but here you go anyway.
Anecdote from Keith Richards: Richards and Frank Sinatra are at some event and Sinatra says “George Jones is the second best singer alive.” Richards says “Who’s better?”
Story about the recording-
http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_george_jones_stopped/
Studio:
http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/may07/images/Classic2_l.jpg
Exterior:
http://wpln.org/wp-content/2012/03/The-Quonset-Hut-late-1950s1.jpg
Wow, excellent reading, there. Thanks for posting those. I used to run a studio out of my home, which was then moved to a basement in Richmond. It is amazing what happens sometimes in the studio. You can have great musicians make a mediocre recording. There is some magic that happens which makes all the difference.
I love George Jones and made to post about him myself this weekend on Facebook and my blog, but Geroge didn’t write that song. Written by R. V. Braddock and C. Putman, Jr. The song you mentioned and this one seems to Show Mr. George Jones the best : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi3GgoLtlWk
You are correct OldDix. George did not write it. Sorry for any confusion. Thanks for the YouTube link. I posted that one on twitter last night as George was asking the same question then as I was last night.
For you pedal steel enthusiasts and aficionados, this guy is one of the best I’ve ever seen with a pedal steel. He has a really wild delay thing going on in the song in both of the vids posted here.
The first link is just him playing, the second one is the same song, little variation and shows hands, knees and feet working the guitar.
For your info, the guy is a Brit who plays amateur and semi pro. I think he needs to come to Nashville.
Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6zkX_a9OQ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inWsEYuHIdI
Great song. Best country singer of all time.
George bet the producer of ‘ He Stopped Loving Her Today ‘ $100 that ” No one will buy this morbid piece of shit “. George lost the bet.
Amen on “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
RIP, Possum.