Smoke and Speedy

Al Braun · Post by **Al Braun** » 11 Mar 2003 6:33 pm

Anybody know where I can get a copy of "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette" with Speedy West, of course.
I'm asking for our ancient accordion, now keyboard player. Lee Pankratz in McGregor, TX. His email is TEXACANER@aol.com
Thanks a bunch, AL

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 12 Mar 2003 6:25 am

Hey Al,
Columbia Historcal series has a CD out by Tex Williams and the Western Caravan which is the original recording of that song. It's a great CD with other steel players including Noel Boggs and Joaquin Murphy. The song was written by Merle Travis and was given to Tex as his lable was about to cut him loose. This was a monster hit and lit a fire which really put Tex's career back on track. I might have made a mistake in the label it's on but when I get home tonight I'll look at the CD and put the number on here tommorrow if no one else has by then..Have a good 'un, Jerry H.

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 12 Mar 2003 7:01 am

The song is at this site. It is on the archive page ten. http://clik.to/recordlady

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 13 Mar 2003 5:10 pm

It was Joaquin that recorded the original recording of Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette on Captiol records back in 1947.

It may have been on Columbia records as for the original But in any event it was Joaquin
on steel guitar. You got me thinking,why did you do that.?

I dont recall Tex recording that with Spade Cooley who was on Columbia back then. I'm almost certain it was my first pick.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 13 March 2003 at 05:29 PM.]</p></FONT>

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 13 Mar 2003 5:49 pm

The album: Capitol Records ST-1463Smoke!Smoke!Smoke!, by Tex Wiliams with Orchestra conducted by Jack Marshall No other credits are shown on the album cover. I'll listen to it tomorrow and see if there are any steel players on the album! www.genejones.com

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 13 Mar 2003 5:58 pm

Lets wait for Gene's reply.He's older than I am

He may be older but he sure plays better than I do,and then again maybe I'm older? I dont really know.

It may have been on Columbia records orginally, I'm confused. Help Gene.I wont be able to sleep tonight.

Phil Harris had a recording of that as well,who played second fiddle on that recording??

Hurry Gene I cant stand this.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 13 Mar 2003 7:37 pm

Jim
Thanks for posting that web site,,Its really
great. I have been looking for some of those tunes on there..appreciated very much.

Thank you

Jody

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 13 Mar 2003 8:07 pm

gene:

haven't played it in ages, but i am pretty sure that capitol LP you mention is unfortunately a bunch of re-recordings done around 1961--many years after tex's glory days with joaquin. not the original hardcore stuff.

far as i know, capitol never issued the original 40's and early 50's masters in LP form. some of them are available on import LP and on that capitol collector's series CD.
bear family could do a lot worse than issue a boxed set of the complete tex williams capitol recordings, like they did with speedy, faron, etc.

i don't recall a steel ride on the original version of "smoke", and wouldn't be surprised if the LP version doesn't have one either.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 13 Mar 2003 10:54 pm

The original version doesn't have a steel solo, and liner notes on the Capitol Vintage Classics ( Capitol is the original label )lists the steel as "possibly Eddie Mitchell".

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 13 Mar 2003 11:53 pm

The original was on Capital. It was recorded on March 27, 1947. Capital Records was a new label(5 years old) at the time, and were losing money big time. They were ready to get rid of some of the artist and told Tex that his next session had to have a hit or he would be gone. At the time Tex had only recorded about six songs for Capital and they were all polka's. One, "California Polka", made it on the charts. So one day Tex told Merle travis that he was going to lose his deal if he didn't get a hit, so Merle told him he would write him a hit and when "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!" came out it went to number one on the country charts and on The Pop Hit Parade. It was Capital records first Million-Seller and saved them from going broke.
Like Jussi said the only Steel player listed on the original liner notes says "Eddie Mitchell-Possibly Steel Guitar" and there isn't much steel on that recording, but Johnny Weis plays some great fills on guitar.

I very proud that I got to play at Tex Williams birthday party just before he died. To top it off I was playing for Hank Penny. Everybody that Tex knew or worked with over the years showed up to his birthday party because they knew he had cancer and was about to leave us.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 14 Mar 2003 7:32 am

Alvin
Thank you for that story. I have always admired Tex Williams. And one of his biggest
fans was Leo Fender.