Steel on an old Porter Wagoner album

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 4 Nov 2008 6:34 pm

I was going through my stack of vinyl the other day and came upon an album "Y'all Come" by Porter Wagoner from 1963. Great old country music.

Does anyone happen to know who may be playing steel on the album? Great playing. No, I don't believe it's Don Worden, not his style or sound at all. Some of it kinda sounds like Weldon Myrick. Buddy Charlton? Jimmy Day? Heck if I know...

Any ideas out there? Needless to say, there are no credits on this oldie.

Tom Harris · Post by **Tom Harris** » 4 Nov 2008 7:31 pm

Just a guess,,could it have been "Felton Pruitt",he was with Porter at the "New Dominion Barn Danc" in Richmond Va,I believe it was around the late 50ies or early 60ies...Im hesitant to say this,,It's just a wild guess lol..
Tom Harris...........

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 4 Nov 2008 10:56 pm

I'm pretty sure that it's Buddy Charleton on the "Y'all Come" album, one of my all time favorites. His solo on the title song is still mind boggling in my humble opinion...

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 5 Nov 2008 11:28 am

I think Hal Rugg did some recording with PW also. I know Buddy C. did.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 5 Nov 2008 11:35 am

Don Warden played steel with Porter and Dolly Parton on Porter's show.

Brett

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 5 Nov 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks folks. I'm leaning towards Buddy Charleton too. A lot of what I heard sounded like him. There are a couple of slow songs that have a sound similar to Weldon Myrick, like on some of Connie Smith's early work, but most of it leans towards Buddy C.

It sure is nice that there are credits on albums these days - it keeps us from guessing.

Pete - I agree, this is a great old album. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore. I copied it to CD, scratches and all.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 6 Nov 2008 6:40 am

Porter had a slew of players he recorded and worked with over the years. Some of his earliest recordings were recorded at KWTO Springfield, MO and Don Warden and the late Speedy Hallworth played on them.

Pete Drake also recorded on some of Porter's biggest songs including the million seller the "Green Green Grass of Home" around 1965.

Buddy Charleton was on some of his songs as well as others. I remember later show dates that had the great Stu Basore on them as well.

As for myself I liked Porter. I think he done alot for Country Music and he helped start and span the careers of some other well known musicians and singers; Pete Drake, Buck Trent, Mac Magaha, Norma Jean and others. I remember seeing him introduce and talk about Pete Drake and actually featured Pete playing his talking steel on his weekly nationwide television show.

Let's not forget Dolly Parton. I heard Dolly state at the St. Louis Steel Convention this year when they presented Don Warden with his induction plaque to the SGHOF. She said "When I left Porter after 7 years, working together, I didn't know how to tell him, that I was going out on my own." She said, "I went home that night and wrote the song "I Will Always Love You."

The next day she came back and when she walked into his office, and sang that song. Porter said, "Well, I guess your going to leave me now?" Porter said, "Okay but on one condition, that you let me produce that song you just sang. The rest is history.

I hope this shed alittle more insight into the Country Star, the man we called "The Thin Man From West Plains, alias Porter Wagoner."

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

Bobby Caldwell · Post by **Bobby Caldwell** » 6 Nov 2008 7:34 am

Stu Basore played great stuff with Porter also. Maybe Stu could fill us in what those recordings were. Bobby

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 11 Nov 2008 6:44 am

Here are some of the listed Steel Players on some of Porter's recordings:

1) Company's Comin' - Bryan 'Doc" Martin
2) A Satisfied Mind - Don Warden
3) A Goot Time Was Had By All - Don Warden
4) Midnight - Don Warden
5) Misery Loves Company - Jimmy Day (listed guitar?)
6) Cold Dark Waters - Jimmy Day (listed guitar?)
7) Green Green Grass of Home - Pete Drake

Everything She Touches Gets the Blues-Don Warden guitar?)
9) The Cold Hard Facts of Life - Pete Drake
10) The Caroll County Accident - Pete Drake
11) Confessions Of A Broken Man - Pete Drake
12) Howdy Neighbor Howdy - Buddy Charleton
13) The Rubber Room - Pete Drake
14) The First Mrs. Jones - Pete Drake
15) The Life of The Party - Don Warden

Hope this helps!

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 11 Nov 2008 8:57 am

You can talk about all these other great players all day, but on the "Y'all Come" album it's Buddy Charleton...

Really!

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 11 Nov 2008 9:16 am

Hi Pete,

I read an article last night and Bobby Black played on the original Starday record label recording of the song "Y'all Come."

However, Porter apparently didn't have the original on it either.

Buddy, I'm sure did a great job on it. I always liked his "Almost To Tulsa, LP."

Terry Wood

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 12 Nov 2008 8:43 am

Porter sure liked steel guitar and he was Country to the core.

Terry Wood

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 12 Nov 2008 9:59 am

I have a nice interview on film showing Porter interviewing Smiley Roberts. A brief look down Memory Lane should have reminded someone of Smiley's contributions while working with Porter.

Joe Shelby · Post by **Joe Shelby** » 12 Nov 2008 1:28 pm

I've been told that 'E' played on the mid-'60's version of "Eat, Drink and Be Merry (tommorrow you'll
cry)."
Great song, great steel.

Tony Smart · Post by **Tony Smart** » 12 Nov 2008 2:10 pm

There's some great steel playing on "Porter Wagoner - In Person" L.P.

I got this in the 60's and it's got to be Curly Chalker.

Ray Riley · Post by **Ray Riley** » 12 Nov 2008 5:50 pm

Arley Duff First Version I think. ray

Chet Wilcox · Post by **Chet Wilcox** » 12 Nov 2008 6:03 pm

Ralph Mooney played on ,"I'V enjoyed as much of this as i can stand"

Bernie Gonyea · Post by **Bernie Gonyea** » 12 Nov 2008 6:24 pm

I'm in agreement with many of you that Porter was a true example of " Pure Country " talent, right to his core. If you didn't like him, you didn't like country music. I recall meeting them at a quest spot in Norfolk, Va, at a radio station back in the fifties [ early ] and the fine girl singer with him was " Norma Jean ". She was only 16 or 17 at the time. That was the first time I fell in love with a female C/W singer. I loved Porter, too..Bernie