The British Steelies Society

by **mick hearn** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:07 pm

Being involved with internet radio stations has given me access to a lot of independent artists. Bret Raper in particular is a brilliant fiddle player and I was over the moon when I found his version of Orange Blossom Special. The only player I have heard in a long time getting the lick correct as I remembered it from many years ago. But also listen to the sterling steel work from Doug Jernigan. Bret was telling me that on the day of the recording he put forward his ideas as to arrangement and everyone went along with it. His own regular steel player was unwell on that day and Bret was introduced to Doug Jernigan to fill in.

In my view this is the best version I have heard in many a year.

https://soundcloud.com/braper/orange-blossom-special?fbclid=IwAR3Z8JUc9t8tqy5EuhZIaH5PzdqKOGv6fvGVWNW-8qbcv9NVmuVZ63_flmw

by **Danny Mitchell** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:32 pm

Holy moley! That is scarily good. Killer chops from all involved.
Great find Mick.

by **Ken Byng** » Wed Jan 20, 2021 3:50 pm

That's excellent. My favourite version is off of one Doug's albums where the great Brent Mason does an incredible break on lead guitar, and I mean incredible. But Doug actually keeps with him and just burns it up.

I was in Bobbe Seymour's store in North Nashville one time, and Doug walked in. Bobbe went and grabbed Doug by his curly hair and marched him over to an Emmons push pull and sat him on the seat. He introduced poor Doug to me who didn't know me from Adam. Doug was then forced to play for an hour while I sat 2 feet from his guitar. Anyway, Doug was ordered to play OBS and he ripped through it at 200 mph! I asked Doug why he re-recorded OBS, as it was on his first album, Uptown to Country. He just shrugged and said that he was a lot younger then, and could play it better now than then. I'll say this, Doug Jernigan is one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Bobbe told me that there had been a jam session the night before, and included in the jammers were Doug, Tommy White and Paul Franklin. According to Bobbe, Doug blew those two top dogs away. I was skeptical, as Tommy and Paul are supersonic when it comes to speed. Bobbe was adamant, and said that the two young dogs had left sulking because Doug has smacked their arses as Bobbe put. When Bobbe went into the other room, I asked Doug about the evening, and he smiled, shrugged his shoulders and whispered "They made a mistake and allowed me to call the tunes!" :lol: