Early Eddy Arnold is better ?

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 1 Jul 2004 4:49 am

I had always heard his later smooth & polished stuff and didn't really care for it. He did have a lot of songs i like though. I always considered him more a country-pop crooner. Recently I was listening to some of his songs from the 40's & 50's with a more rootsy style and it was so much better. I did read that his popularity increased in the 60's when his music became more polished & orchestrated. My favorite song by him is "I'll Hold You In My Heart(Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)".

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 1 Jul 2004 5:01 am

I was really surprised how many records he had out in the 40s. More than almost anybody else from what I could find in his early discographies.

EJL

Steve Pacholl · Post by **Steve Pacholl** » 1 Jul 2004 5:05 am

I agree. Some of those 78's from the 40's and 50's got a little kick in them. In my opinion a much better sound than the boring material from the 60's. Some of those old records even have a small touch of rockabilly to them. Listening to old 78's often reveals a few interesting suprises.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 1 Jul 2004 6:32 am

He always sounded better when he had "Mr. ting-a-ling" backing him up.
Erv

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 1 Jul 2004 6:37 am

Mr. Who?

J

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 1 Jul 2004 7:59 am

Mr Ting a Ling Roy Wiggins. The early stuff was much better country. In the 60s he wanted in the pop field and that is where he went. His music was then pretty pop but not country. Sadly Ray Price did the same. The record companies of course say that both Arnold and Price gained alot of fans but they of course don't mention the great number of fans they lost.

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 1 Jul 2004 8:00 am

Mr. Ting-A-Ling...Roy Wiggins.
Gere

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Jul 2004 8:33 am

There could be NO thread ever, on this beloved forum, dearer to my heart than this one. For it was Roy Wiggins (with EA and those classic 40's and early 50's recordings) that was part of my entry and training on the steel guitar. I bought or listened to every one of them hundreds and hundreds of times. Still have some of them. Sadly, I did not realize how much I would like to have kept them. So most are gone.

"Ve grrow too soont oldt; und too late shmart!"

"I'll Hold You in my Heart" is very sentimental to me because my girlfriend (my wife now of 53yrs) and I, used it as "our" song, because we only got to see each other 2 mos out of each year from 1947 til 1950.

I lived in Chicago; she lived in Tampa. I met her on my first visit back to Tampa at a boarding house my dad was living in. We instantly became sweethearts and during the other 10 mos of the year we wrote letters, dreaming and impatiently waiting for those precious 2 mos each year.

Eddy Arnold is a unique person. Soooooo different from ANY "country" music star ever been. In fact, according to Little Roy Wiggins, "he HATED country music." His idol was Bing Crosby. EA was truly the first Country crooner. Opting to not use any of the "hillbilly" styles very prevalent when he entered country music.

In fact the night he hired Little Roy at the back stage of the Opry, he told him, "I do NOT want you to sound like Oswald. You can trill (now called "ting-a-ling"), but mellow it up!"

And so, a 13 yr relationship unprecedented, began between two people; Eddy Arnold, the first NON country "country crooner"; and the epitome of a country steel player named Roy Wiggins (later tagged Little Roy Wiggins) with his now famous "ting-a-ling" began. NO other country star until this happening crossed over the charts like EA and his signature created by LRW.

So identifiable the world over was that ting-a-ling sound to Eddy Arnold (and soon to be hated by him) was this signature kick off-break-and ending to each recording, that Eddy one night about 7 yrs after Roy signed up, told him, "Tone down the trilling. The fans are clapping louder for you than for Eddy Arnold!"

There is soo much more that I could tell you, but I will leave it with this: It is my understanding that Eddy Arnold made in that 13 yrs over 70 million dollars, in a time that would be worth over a billion today; and Little Roy Wiggins barely made a living.

Eddy was a shrewed investor, and that 70 million is now worth many times that now. Yet sadly and tragically one of the true pioneers of the country steel guitar players, AND the player that MADE one of the richest non country singers in country music, died sooo poor his family could NOT even afford a grave marker.

Sad, I cry every time I think about it. May Jesus rest his soul and may Jesus bring his precious family joy untold. And as always, may he richly bless all of you,

carl [This message was edited by C Dixon on 01 July 2004 at 12:41 PM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 1 Jul 2004 9:12 am

I heard that at one time, Eddy Arnold owned 1/2 of downtown Nashville. Anything to this?
Erv

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 1 Jul 2004 9:33 am

Thanks Gere and CC, and as always, Carl(You ought to write a book with all of these memories and reflections of yours...it would be great reading)

Can someone post a short clip of a typical "Ting-a-ling?"
It doesn't have to be long, just the actual sound you guys are talking about

Thanks

Jay

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 1 Jul 2004 10:19 am

On a historical note the first country 45 released on RCA was Bouquet Of Roses b/w
Texacalli Baby.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Jul 2004 11:28 am

Erv,

I DO believe you are correct. And much more!

Thanks Jay, you are most kind.

To hear "I Hold You in my Heart, til I can hold You in my Arms", click on the following link, then scroll down to Country Music Archives #6. Click on it and then scroll down to the song. You may just listen to it (click on the "guitar" icon) or download it (click on the "boot" icon).

The famous "ting-a-ling" is scattered throughout the song. Also, the classic LRW ting-a-ling "ending" that was used on almost every song Eddy recorded, until he told Roy to tone it down. Roy even changed from a straight E tuning to an E7th tuning with a high G# and an added C#, to accomadate Eddy's request.

I seem to recall, if I am not mistaken, the first song Eddy recorded with this newer tuning was "Just a Little Lovin'"

http://recordlady.webgcs.com/main2.htm

Now you folks have really brought tears. I cannot begin to tell you what this song means to me. Also my wife just came into the room and she also is in tears.

If you only new what listening to this (my all time favorite song) did to me.

Thank you for this thread.

carl [This message was edited by C Dixon on 01 July 2004 at 12:40 PM.]

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Jul 2004 11:55 am

Oh my goodness Ray, ya gotta give a listen to the following link. I just found it:

Do as you did before only click on Real Country Archives #8 and then scroll down to

"Mr Ting-a-ling", by George Morgan.

http://recordlady.webgcs.com/main2.htm

Incidently, after Eddy got uppidy and began recording with his "strings" back up, Roy was let go and George picked him up. They became dear friends and both felt the other walked on water.

May Jesus rest George's soul as well. A truly beautiful person. For those that do not know, his daughter is the famous "Lori Morgan". You may recall one of her classics, "Ya had to be there, ya really had to be there",

carl

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 1 Jul 2004 2:45 pm

Hey Carl! How'd I do on Eddy's "Take Me In Your Arms and Hold Me"?

It's on Ray's page on the jerrybyrdfanclub.com site. I did the best I could.........and remember now, this done back in about 1960 +/-.

Take care. Truly enjoy your personal insites into the history of country music.

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 1 Jul 2004 2:46 pm

When Eddie Arnold refused to buy a headstone for Little Roy Wiggins' grave, I no longer have any use for him. Any time I see a clip of him, I think of that fact!

Thanks to Mike Weirauch we were able to pitch in on this Forum and get Little Roy a headstone!

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Frank Estes - 1978 Emmons D-10 8+7 #2441D

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 1 Jul 2004 3:08 pm

Ray,

Yer killin me. Now look pahdnah, wunst is enuf fer wun day

I am as of now, usurping a roole on this hyar ferum.

NO body is allow't ta sound lack Jerry Bryd or Little Roy, UNTIL I have lurnt ta do it!

Now is that clear? HUH???#$%^%$##@#$

Cuz if'n ya violate dat roole bubba, I am gunna brake bof lags, cut off yer arms and hade and poop in yo nack.

Love it precious friend, just loved it. More tearful nostalgia. You brought back a time when I would play that song, listening to Little Roy with those "C# minors, etc" and think of my sweetie down in Tampa.

Wow, don' think Ah cud take anuddern tuh day!

carl

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 1 Jul 2004 5:03 pm

I heard a story about Mr.Ed refusing to go on stage when he was introduced as the Tennessee Plowboy after he crossed over to pop. The M.C. had to re-introduce him before he would go on stage.
He owned most of Williamson County and Brentwood and he did own property on Music Row.
I never had any feeling, one way or the other,about Eddy, but after the head stone incident I lost all respect for him. Goes to show you how some artists really feel about their sidemen after they no longer have any use for them.

Little Roy and I were good friends when he had his music store on lower broad. I bought a lot of stuff from him. I never met a nicer man.

[This message was edited by Earl Erb on 01 July 2004 at 06:06 PM.]

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 1 Jul 2004 7:14 pm

I've heard that EA owned the South Side of Broadway between 4th and 5th, Developed the entire town/Village of Brentwood. EA wasn't the only artist to mistreat(for lack of a better word) his pickers. This is due to so many pickers all competing for so few jobs that it was a buyers market for a long time in Nashburg, probably still is, Earl Erb probably knows this as well as anybody. Pickers, especially those in road bands have been treated badly for so long that it became the normal way of doing business in Nashburg.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 2 Jul 2004 5:53 am

So that's what it's called!
I've been doing that for years, I always thought it was a cool way to add some drama to a song.
Thanks guys, another page has been added in my book of expierence

Jay

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 2 Jul 2004 8:04 am

Roy and most others called it Tremelo. That is what steel teachers taught in the 30 40 50s. Some people called it trilling. I prefer Roys terminoligy

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 2 Jul 2004 12:37 pm

FWIW, Little Roy and Eddie Arnold were working with the Golden West Cowboys prior to their move to the Opry.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 4 Jul 2004 8:38 am

For all of you who are interested in the early EA/Little Roy Recordings (the real deal!), check out "The Tennessee Plowboy", a five CD set from Bear Family Records under
www.bear-family.de

It has all the classic recordings, plus several unissued songs and features Little Roy at his best!

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 4 Jul 2004 10:01 am

I know that there was picture of Lil' Roy's monument but I'll be danged if I can find it!! I've done so many searches, I'm getting search weary. Mike Weirauch mentions that Bob Knight might post a picture on the Forum but I can't find that either. It may be that Mike sent a picture of it to all of those who contributed to the fund to make sure LRW got his richly deserved marker. Such a sorry performance by one who was so loved by the fans should be richly rewarded himself ! Heck, I don't even know if he (EA) is still alive nor do I care either...

Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 04 July 2004 at 11:03 AM.]

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 4 Jul 2004 10:07 am

Back when Roy had the music store in Pidgeon Forge, I had the opportunity to visit with him. I purchased a 90 minute tape of his early recordings with Eddy. This is one of my treasures. When I was there he showed me some notes where he was working on his biography with hopes of having it published.
Does anyone know if his family is following up on this? Thanks.