The Dirt Band

Bob Doran · Post by **Bob Doran** » 28 Oct 2003 3:22 pm

Anyone like the Dirt band?
Two of their songs are among my all time favorites: Shelley's Blues and Rave On (Buddy Holly credit)
There is some real nice PSG on Shelley's blues in one of their versions, and mainly banjo on the other version.
I love them both.
First saw them play in Aspen way back in about 1970 if memory serves me correct.
Saw John McKuen (sp?) and had to learn the banjo. What an obsession that was. Took it along on my honeymoon and played Mr. Tambourine Man to my sainted wife, all not long. Well maybe not all night long.
Bob

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 28 Oct 2003 8:46 pm

I hope someday those guys get the recognition they deserve.
You might like John McEuen's CD "String Wizards", with Bush, Clements, Douglas, Berline, Duncan, E. Scruggs, Graves, et.al

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 28 Oct 2003 9:08 pm

I don't believe the NGDB version of 'Some of Shelley's Blues' on the original recording (Uncle Charlie) had pedal steel on it. John McEuen played lap steel on that tune, along with a clawhammer banjo part. That's a really great Mike Nesmith tune. His version (First National Band) had the legendary Red Rhodes on pedal steel. Could have been Dan Dugmore on a later NGDB album I never heard -- I seem to remember that he'd recorded with them as well. I believe he recorded that song with Ronstadt (sheesh, that was a long time ago) but don't recall if he played steel or guitar. I bet Herb Steiner will know. Do you remember which NGDB album the version with pedal steel was on?

I was very partial to them when I was in college as well. They played at Vanderbilt every year for several years in a row and I made them all.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 28 October 2003 at 09:41 PM.]

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 29 Oct 2003 7:11 am

Going to school in Boulder, we saw the Dirt Band and various members solo a LOT. What a great band. They're a legend here...

JB

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"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
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Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 29 Oct 2003 7:29 am

The band I was in, "The Deputy Dawg Band," in '82-83 played at Paddy Bugati's in Aspen. Jeff Hanna and Jimmy Ibbotson were the "apres ski" band, doing happy hour as a duet. We sat in with them, they sat in with us, they helped us load the bus when we were done. Great guys and fabulous musicians.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Bob Doran · Post by **Bob Doran** » 29 Oct 2003 10:58 am

Mike yes i remember them there also but it was many years before.
At the end of the day at the Highlands this great band was playing music the likes of which i had never heard, and for free.
I didn't
even know who they were but right then and there i set out to learn the banjo.
Music of the gods.
I remember looking at my buddies and saying, "you know these guys are really good!"
Larry, i think you may be right, the PSG version of Shelley's blues might be Linda Ronstadt. I have it at home and will check.
Awesome steel on that one.
I also remember John Mceun at a concert playing a 15 minute solo classical music clawhammer banjo that would make Bobby Lee a believer-LOL
Bob

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 29 Oct 2003 1:05 pm

Yep, love these guys.
I just got Uncle Charle on CD last August.I missed not having the LP here. I wanted to do Rave On in the country band and they thought I was daft. I don't play with them no mo.

NGDB is one of my favorite bands.
I played Propiniquity as one of my 1st two songs ever played in front of an audience back when. (agnst filled coffeehouse stuff)

Great band, and the CD stands up well to my memories of it.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Oct 2003 1:28 pm

Moved to 'Music' section.

Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 29 Oct 2003 5:22 pm

There a great band, been a fan since the early days(all they need is a steel player,ME)........

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 1 Nov 2003 7:55 pm

Great band. I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with them for way over 20 years. Played steel on some of their early 80's records, and engineered a bunch of their 90's stuff, along with some Jimmy Ibbotson solo stuff, and a TV series with John McKuen.

Can you imagine being in one band for way over 30 years?....

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Nov 2003 3:57 am

Oh yea..

We went to the Opry last year and much to my suprise..

The Dirt Band was a special guest that night...

Been fan for a long long time...

T

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 2 Nov 2003 11:38 am

Great band. My favorite is "Stand a Little Rain". I have a ritual that I go through every time I drive to Reno. When I am starting the climb to Donner Pass, I put that song on, put it on repeat and crank it up as loud as I can, and listen to all the way over the pass. The guitar playing electrifies every nerve, muscle and vein in my body. I feel one with the universe at that time. OK, so I'm a little weird.

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 2 Nov 2003 2:27 pm

I rode in the back of a Chevy van from Salmon, Idaho to Ft Riley, Kansas with John McEuen.
He never put the banjo down the whole trip except to run into a gas station and buy some WD-40 to spray on a squeaky ball hitch.
What a talented guy. I enjoyed that tour.

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