Tunes Of The Week #22 - Hal Rugg

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 21 Jun 2011 9:28 pm

Steeler: Hal Rugg
Tune: Chicken Gumbo
Artist: The Family Jewels Featuring Hal Rugg & Buddy Spicher
Label: Agape 45-9010 Year: 1972

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/01ChickenGumbo.mp3

The Family Jewels were in the great tradition of Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry; session guys forming a band and playing some fun stuff. Apparently they recorded a whole album of this stuff that's locked away with whomever owns Pete Drake's holdings. Pete reputedly owned the masters.

I wanted to also post some videos of Hal playing instrumentals on the Wilburn Bros. Show. I know I used to see some on YouTube, but I'm not seeing them now....It was always exciting to watch Hal play because he was so good and had that smooth tone. It was also interesting to watch him constantly adjust his finger picks, yet always be in control. RIP Hal Rugg. A great player and a classy guy.

Tune: The Sinking Of The Reuben James
Artist: Country Joe McDonald
Album: Thinking Of Woody Guthrie, Vanguard VSD-6546, Year: 1969

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/15-20Sin ... nJames.m4a

Tunes: Jonesy, Cuttin' A Rugg
Artist: Hal Rugg
Album: The Best Of George Jones, United Artists UAS 6291, Year: 1963

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/01Jonesy.mp3
http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/02CuttinARugg.mp3

Ian Miller · Post by **Ian Miller** » 22 Jun 2011 1:41 am

Any idea who's playing the smokin' Tele on that Country Joe track? Sounds like it could be Jimmy Capps or Fred Carter, but some of the licks are pure Buck Trent!

Hal's the star, though.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 22 Jun 2011 8:29 pm

Hi Ian,

Good question, as the guitar is really nice. The guitar players are Grady Martin, Ray Edenton and Harold Bradley. They're all terrific players, but I don't know which guy plays like that. Any help?

Joe

BTW, it's the A team with Buddy Harmon, Norbert Putnam and Pig Robbins rounding out the line-up.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 23 Jun 2011 2:32 am

There's two more songs from the album to be listened to, if you go to Country Joe's place:
http://www.countryjoe.com/store.htm#RB1040
There is record by Joan Baez called
"Any Day Now" featuring a very similar line up, also including Hal Rugg.

Mike Poholsky · Post by **Mike Poholsky** » 26 Jun 2011 7:28 pm

Awesome blocking technique! Love Hals stuff!
Thanks Joe, never heard that before.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 26 Jun 2011 8:11 pm

Cool!

The second half of the solo on the Country Joe cut sounds like the prototype for Buddy Cage's signature style. I wonder if either was a direct influence on the other.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 22 Jul 2016 11:19 pm

Ian Miller wrote:Any idea who's playing the smokin' Tele on that Country Joe track? Sounds like it could be Jimmy Capps or Fred Carter, but some of the licks are pure Buck Trent!

Hal's the star, though.

Grady on the Tele.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 26 Jul 2016 10:06 am

The George Jones cuts remind me of the kind of instruments that Leon Rhodes and Buddy Charlton did with the Texas Troubadours:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZyM85ltQ1I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP9mDEri85o

Joe, thank you for posting the Hal Rugg sound clips. IMO, you can never hear too much of Hal's playing.

Here's a YouTube of a live broadcast with Hal playing an Emmons steel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5ruo6h6AGk

Keep on pickin'
Glenn

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 26 Jul 2016 1:15 pm

I'm confused by the tracks posted with the "Best of George Jones" album cover. The cover seems to say "composed and sung by George Jones" and says "Vocal accompaniment by the Jordanaires". I wouldn't normally expect to find two snappy all-instrumental cuts on an album with that presentation.
Least of all on a "Best of [singer]" album!

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 26 Jul 2016 7:00 pm

Here's the flip side of "Chicken Gumbo".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtehMXkxw68