Take It Away Leon

[JeffM]

I have to agree with Jeff on this one, check out YouTube for the Leon McAuliffe Steel Guitar Rag Story. I don't understand how he "never heard" the earlier version of Guitar Rag. Everyone listened to radio in those days and it must have been played.
Keith.

And it's funny that he chose almost the exact same title for his "original composition" as the one he had supposedly never heard - just adding the word "Steel".

I've added Leon's version to my previous post

[chris]

Could well be Its a good little tune either way, I doubt it got much radio play though because of the segregation at that time.

[mick hearn]

Thanks for the replies lads. Unfortunately the music has had to take a back seat as the wife was in hospital for six weeks and now she is out she has no left hip so confined to bed and yours truly is the carer for a while. What with that and trying to rebuild the kitchen as well there is very little time left. Never mind - will get back to it. The lap steel is out but just have not had the time to sit down with it.

As for the debate on Steel Guitar Rag - I reckon its easy to stumble upon those opening phrases as its a roll on the C6. Steel guitar Rock opens exactly the same way and I guess you could go through lots and still pick out the opening phrase. Even listen to Buddy Emmons on 4 Wheel Drive and you will hear it again except slightly different phrasing.

Anyway - no arguing. It's all good stuff.

[JeffM]

As for the debate on Steel Guitar Rag - I reckon its easy to stumble upon those opening phrases as its a roll on the C6.

I'd agree with you if it was just the opening phrase but it is the whole tune - both parts.

[mick hearn]

Would have to go with you on that one. In todays world he'd be like George Harrison and others and end up in court.

[Ken Byng]

Mick - I have to tell a story about Leon McAuliffe told to me by Maurice Anderson a few years ago.

Reece and his band were doing a gig somewhere in Texas, and he was approached by a guy in the interval while he was tuning his steel. The fellow complimented Reece on his playing and asked him if he had ever heard of Leon McAuliffe. Reece confirmed that he had, and the guy puffed his chest out and told Reece that he was talking to him. It just so happened that Leon and Reece were in fact very good friends, but Reece didn't let on. He merely called the band leader over and told him that they were in the presence of the legendary Leon McAuliffe. Reece was aware that the bandleader also knew Leon, and gave him a sly wink. The band leader played along with Reece.

When the band went back on stage, Reece announced to the audience that the one and only Leon McAuliffe was in the hall, and said that he had a non pedal guitar set up with Leon's tuning on it. He asked the audience if they would like 'Leon' to come up and play a couple of numbers. Well the place went absolutely wild. Apparently the guy ran out of the place as quickly as was humanly possible, to the background of the band killing themselves laughing.

[Uncle Roy]

What a great story Ken

[mick hearn]

Brilliant - A good lesson there - never pretend to be someone you are not - it backfires eventually.

[sabatica]

That story is hilarious.

The cheek of some people.