Chet knew that noone could tell by his voice that he was colored. Charlie has a great voice. I'm glad to learn all of this. Thanks Daffydoug. You're so good to answer & inform us of these things.
@pattykake19 That was exactly true. It's the way Chet tells the story. Chet knew they would not know he was black by his voice! His voice is such a great voice, but you can't tell his skin color from the voice. Chet was keenly aware of that, and it was quite strategic of him to sell him by his voice only. Clever! Oh so clever our man, Chet!
If it wasn't for Chet, Charley would never have gotten a start, and the world would not know what great music we all missed!
@pattykake19 Yes. he had Charley make a recording, and brought it to the record producers. They loved his voice and signed him up sight unseen. Then and only then did Chet tell them, (After they had signed), almost off hand, "Oh, by the way, he's colored."
Chet knew their prejudices would be a stumbling block, so he wisely sold Charley to them sight unseen. And as we all know, the rest is history, because ol' Charley went on to record a truckload of hits!
I guess he felt like he was sitting on top of the world many times. He must have been in heaven on earth to enjoy his playing as he did. Loved him. Thanks Daffydoug.
@pattykake19 You're welcome pattycake. For a long time Chet was indeed sitting on top of the world, when he was head honcho at RCA recording studios. Chet put Nashville on the map, and all those singers who have hits today owe him a deep debt of gratitude, whether they realize it or not.
This is a beautiful song, first recorded by the Mississippi Sheiks in 1930, the arrangement is great, the singing is some of the best I've ever heard, and Mr. Atkins plays superbly. Just remember who it was that taught him how to play that guitar:
I'm visualizing being locked in a room for 2 years with guitar music playing round the clock----am I going to choose Jim Hendrix music? or am I Going to listen to Chet music? I'll take the Chet music, and might stay an extra year for more.
"The first time I heard Travis I was living on a farm down near Columbus Georgia. I heard him on the radio from WLW, must have been 1939 or '40. When I heard him, I couldn't imagine why everyone didn't throw away their straight picks and start playing guitar like that. I thought it was a wonderful sound." Chet Atkins.
".. Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of my first finger-pickin' influences I guess, and then later on Merle of course, was a big influence." Chet Atkins. He named his daughter Merle.
People fight over things they shouldn't. Of course Chet Atkins learned from Merle Travis! Chet Atkins loved Merle Travis. Talk makes trouble. Listen to this awesome, strange old tune. Some of those late '50s Anita Kerr vocals are schmantzy, but this chorus sounds dark to me. Not all bouncy. They say "Sittin' on top of the world" like they're at a funeral. And Chet Atkins shines mysterious light, like a ruby-gold star you can't stop watching on a bitter cold night.
@nocomedyjokes he didnt ``learned`` from him. after they know eachother for some years, chet learned him! he said. why dont u use your pinky? and he laughed. google them. 1961. video! see my favs. u will like em;)
nonono. read b4 u speak. didnt need his pinky my ass. chet played it right. merle didnt. he could have if he didnt spend his time doing anything else. cartoons and stuff. he was 7 years older. he picked up alot from chet, not the other way around. wtf! read their fucking bio and stuff. see interviews with em. get some facts. merle was as close to chet as you could be.but without using his pinky is against guitar rules. you cant play it right without your pinky. its the main finger with the thumb
thats far from chets standard. cause of that there was aloot of tunes he couldent play as chet did. you are to clocked up to travis. study his right hand compare to chet. its a mess. but he was a natural. he and knopfler was the most talented guys he knew. he liked travis picking outside his own. they both say so in a number of interviews and on tv. hear it from merle and speak again. retard
lol. didnt need his pinky? the pinky and thumb is the two fingers you use the most retard. merle didnt teach him anything. it was the other way around. he was 7 years older thats all. read some facts man. you are just saying what u think or wanna think. retard. well atleast you know about the guys who actually can play.lol
smartass kid thats what you are. see chet about guitars. thats where i got it from. the right way of guitar usage (to play it as guitar) is to play the bassline,rythm and melody at once. why do i even answer. hope you have learned something. one thing is to play it after music and making music. to play it as guitar is something else. like chet does. you can be doing it after 30 years or so he says. see my favs. there you have playing and picking
if you cant play a guitar as a guitar without doing all of that, care to explain why he uses a backing band with rythm guitarists who do only one of those things about half the time he's on stage? tool.
*rolls eyes* its like arguing with a christian over the existance of god. once you get prooved wrong, you just say "nope, your point doesnt have any credibility because your wrong"
i've won this argument, your wrong, accept that and think about how stupid your comment was, or keep being a child and arguing an invalid point in a place where it really doesnt matter.
leave me alone ok. you are 17 and dont know shit. u are not alone. see chet talks about guitar ok. type clive visiting chet atkins or something. wake up boy. you can be doing it after 30 years maybe he says. if u want it bad enough and not doing anything else. then u can learn the guitar playing it RIGHT. the bassline, rythm and melody. he has many vids about it. those 3 points is how you play it as its ment to be. and focus on him not the band in the background ok. you must be confused by em
Chet atkins did not invent the guitar itself, it was invented long, LONG before he was born. Chet knew ONE way to play it, not THE way to play it. if your so conceited that you believe chet was the only person on the planet that could play a guitar right, you need to get your head checked, and maybe pick up a guitar for yourself before someone you preach to in person breaks one over your head "The right way"
did i say he invented it? no. did i say he was the only one? no. so u are saying that the thumb isnt ment for the bassline and then fill in the rythm and melody? do you think chet knows more about that than you? thats where i got it from. his own words you piece of shit.. and its written in every guitar book you can find. the standard way to play the guitar. wtf is wrong with u. learn junior. thats the way you play it right, yes! as guitar. im not talking about styles here ok. its a tool.use it
a guitar is an instrument, not a tool. music is made for enjoyment, not mechanically produced notes to be used just to make money. not saying chet is mechanical, but the way you put it, it sure sounds like it.
so i suppose, to you, jose felliciano is a terrible guitarist, or doc watson for flatpicking? they're not doing it "right"?
also, Chet's dead, get over it allready. you didnt ask him directly, you heard him say something and felt important. perhaps you should grow up.
@3439ra Django, Eddy Lang, Hendrix ,Robert Johnson, Blind Blake, Tal Farlow, Buddy Guy, Segovia, Barney Kessel, Chuck Berry These are all great guitar players. Obviously Atkins was a very good player but there is no way anyone person can be the best of all. We just have our personal favourites.
@goatface1000 u think you know much about guitar?do you know the teori how to play it the right way? after the book he wrote?yes! you mention hendrix.a boy that died at 27.all he could do was jam after a tune.you can do that after 5 years. hendrix is the best ex of a overrated guitarist.and it sounds awful. i am better my friend!! to play it right, the thumb is ment for the bassline. then fill inn rythm and melody. 30years not doing anything else. we have had a handful. most dont know shit!
@goatface1000 its not my view of hendrix. its a fact. thats what im givin you. just remember. i am much better than him and most serious guys are too, he is overrated ass hell! also he died at 27, he didnt acomplish anything. to play it like chet takes 30 years. you must see more of chet then. he has some boring tunes but alll have it. find the good stuff. rare stuff. he sat the standard of guitar playing! u talk about taste. fair enough. but i see right trough hendrix. not good at all
@3439ra You seem to be a little fixated on Chet, listen to Hendrix's first version of Red House to see what a superb straight blues player he was. Also in this style I think that Merle Travis was a more interesting player. There were and are many very talented players yet you seem to think that Chet Atkins is the only one worth listening to
@goatface1000 no thats not right at all. i like everything thats good no matter who its from. see my favs. i have listen enough of hendrix. lol. crazy
@goatface1000 i have seen robert. bigger reason to like chet. if you dont like my favs, you dont like guitar. or i can say, if you dont like my favs, you like jimi hendrix. you are missing out a lot in guitar. see my favs. all the brilliant playing and picking! wonderful guitars. perfection. they dont play with their teeth. type chet atkins about guitars. 30 years maybe. but most likely not. listen to the end of a tune called mostly mozart. then you get another taste
@goatface1000 Yes, but remember, what you heard on his albums was somewhat sterized to make it commercial enough so that Chet and Leona could EAT. Chet's everyday picking was very soulful, down-to-earth, and very flawed. Remember, this is a guy who was never satisfied with a single performance. He was good, but above all, he just loved to play.....just play. Thanks, Chet. (We miss you a bunch!!)
@jimirsaysbuddy Ok a very good player but I find this too bland. I would like to hear him playing the down to earth flawed playing. I love Django Robert Johnson Blind Blake Broonzy Hendrix Buddy Guy and loads of the gysy jazz players,Stay warm
You know Chet did the great solo flights LP in which he put bass strings on his tow top or low strings and you could hardly distinguish between that and the guitar parts as if two people where playing, it sounds like he's done that on this track, put then it may be a bass player with Chet one never knew...he was amazing...!
hey Daffy Doug, I remember this one from the "Hometown Guitar" album! Do you know where I can get a copy?
heycolslaw 5 months ago
@heycolslaw I can try to send you an MP3 , but I am getting close to unplugging my internet because I am moving 650 miles to another state.
daffydoug 5 months ago
Pay attention all you deadheads!!!! Jerry and the boys knew where to cover their tunes !!!! From the masters.........
wuss81 6 months ago
Chet knew that noone could tell by his voice that he was colored. Charlie has a great voice. I'm glad to learn all of this. Thanks Daffydoug. You're so good to answer & inform us of these things.
pattykake19 11 months ago
@pattykake19 That was exactly true. It's the way Chet tells the story. Chet knew they would not know he was black by his voice! His voice is such a great voice, but you can't tell his skin color from the voice. Chet was keenly aware of that, and it was quite strategic of him to sell him by his voice only. Clever! Oh so clever our man, Chet!
If it wasn't for Chet, Charley would never have gotten a start, and the world would not know what great music we all missed!
daffydoug 11 months ago
I didn't know about that. So really he's helped many, many we don't even know about.
pattykake19 11 months ago
@pattykake19 Yes. he had Charley make a recording, and brought it to the record producers. They loved his voice and signed him up sight unseen. Then and only then did Chet tell them, (After they had signed), almost off hand, "Oh, by the way, he's colored."
Chet knew their prejudices would be a stumbling block, so he wisely sold Charley to them sight unseen. And as we all know, the rest is history, because ol' Charley went on to record a truckload of hits!
daffydoug 11 months ago
That's for sure. He helped a many person get their start.
pattykake19 11 months ago
@pattykake19 Yup. The list is long and reads like a "who's Who" My favorite story, though, is the story behind how he got Charley Pride started.
daffydoug 11 months ago
I guess he felt like he was sitting on top of the world many times. He must have been in heaven on earth to enjoy his playing as he did. Loved him. Thanks Daffydoug.
pattykake19 11 months ago
@pattykake19 You're welcome pattycake. For a long time Chet was indeed sitting on top of the world, when he was head honcho at RCA recording studios. Chet put Nashville on the map, and all those singers who have hits today owe him a deep debt of gratitude, whether they realize it or not.
daffydoug 11 months ago
I really love this. Thanks ever so much.
pattykake19 1 year ago
Oh, and I almost forgot: that sure sounds like Mickey Raphael on harp.
theoriginalbadbob 1 year ago
This is a beautiful song, first recorded by the Mississippi Sheiks in 1930, the arrangement is great, the singing is some of the best I've ever heard, and Mr. Atkins plays superbly. Just remember who it was that taught him how to play that guitar:
LES PAUL.
theoriginalbadbob 1 year ago
I'm visualizing being locked in a room for 2 years with guitar music playing round the clock----am I going to choose Jim Hendrix music? or am I Going to listen to Chet music? I'll take the Chet music, and might stay an extra year for more.
brucew44guns 1 year ago
Buster B Jones plays (played) a mean instrumental version of this song.
Thanks for posting this.
birdie399 1 year ago
"The first time I heard Travis I was living on a farm down near Columbus Georgia. I heard him on the radio from WLW, must have been 1939 or '40. When I heard him, I couldn't imagine why everyone didn't throw away their straight picks and start playing guitar like that. I thought it was a wonderful sound." Chet Atkins.
".. Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of my first finger-pickin' influences I guess, and then later on Merle of course, was a big influence." Chet Atkins. He named his daughter Merle.
nocomedyjokes 1 year ago
People fight over things they shouldn't. Of course Chet Atkins learned from Merle Travis! Chet Atkins loved Merle Travis. Talk makes trouble. Listen to this awesome, strange old tune. Some of those late '50s Anita Kerr vocals are schmantzy, but this chorus sounds dark to me. Not all bouncy. They say "Sittin' on top of the world" like they're at a funeral. And Chet Atkins shines mysterious light, like a ruby-gold star you can't stop watching on a bitter cold night.
nocomedyjokes 2 years ago
@nocomedyjokes he didnt ``learned`` from him. after they know eachother for some years, chet learned him! he said. why dont u use your pinky? and he laughed. google them. 1961. video! see my favs. u will like em;)
3439ra 1 year ago
I don't remember hearing any schmaltzy vocals on any of Merle's rekkids. That's cuz Merle was the real deal
wilbur45 2 years ago
Merle Travis IS god
wilbur45 2 years ago
chet is. merle forgot to use his pinky. he was as close to chet as u can get still. he did many other things to. cartoons and stuff
3439ra 2 years ago
Merle was 1st & didn't need his pinky. Chet learned from Travis...Merle IS god.
wilbur45 2 years ago 2
nonono. read b4 u speak. didnt need his pinky my ass. chet played it right. merle didnt. he could have if he didnt spend his time doing anything else. cartoons and stuff. he was 7 years older. he picked up alot from chet, not the other way around. wtf! read their fucking bio and stuff. see interviews with em. get some facts. merle was as close to chet as you could be.but without using his pinky is against guitar rules. you cant play it right without your pinky. its the main finger with the thumb
3439ra 2 years ago
thats far from chets standard. cause of that there was aloot of tunes he couldent play as chet did. you are to clocked up to travis. study his right hand compare to chet. its a mess. but he was a natural. he and knopfler was the most talented guys he knew. he liked travis picking outside his own. they both say so in a number of interviews and on tv. hear it from merle and speak again. retard
3439ra 2 years ago
lol. didnt need his pinky? the pinky and thumb is the two fingers you use the most retard. merle didnt teach him anything. it was the other way around. he was 7 years older thats all. read some facts man. you are just saying what u think or wanna think. retard. well atleast you know about the guys who actually can play.lol
3439ra 2 years ago
your kind of an idiot. there are NO rules to pickin a guitar aside from make it sound good, and enjoy it. if your doing both your playing right.
jessupar 2 years ago
smartass kid thats what you are. see chet about guitars. thats where i got it from. the right way of guitar usage (to play it as guitar) is to play the bassline,rythm and melody at once. why do i even answer. hope you have learned something. one thing is to play it after music and making music. to play it as guitar is something else. like chet does. you can be doing it after 30 years or so he says. see my favs. there you have playing and picking
3439ra 2 years ago
if you cant play a guitar as a guitar without doing all of that, care to explain why he uses a backing band with rythm guitarists who do only one of those things about half the time he's on stage? tool.
jessupar 2 years ago
oh no. you got it all wrong, that they are there hasnt anything to do with it
3439ra 2 years ago
*rolls eyes* its like arguing with a christian over the existance of god. once you get prooved wrong, you just say "nope, your point doesnt have any credibility because your wrong"
i've won this argument, your wrong, accept that and think about how stupid your comment was, or keep being a child and arguing an invalid point in a place where it really doesnt matter.
jessupar 2 years ago
leave me alone ok. you are 17 and dont know shit. u are not alone. see chet talks about guitar ok. type clive visiting chet atkins or something. wake up boy. you can be doing it after 30 years maybe he says. if u want it bad enough and not doing anything else. then u can learn the guitar playing it RIGHT. the bassline, rythm and melody. he has many vids about it. those 3 points is how you play it as its ment to be. and focus on him not the band in the background ok. you must be confused by em
3439ra 2 years ago
Chet atkins did not invent the guitar itself, it was invented long, LONG before he was born. Chet knew ONE way to play it, not THE way to play it. if your so conceited that you believe chet was the only person on the planet that could play a guitar right, you need to get your head checked, and maybe pick up a guitar for yourself before someone you preach to in person breaks one over your head "The right way"
jessupar 2 years ago
did i say he invented it? no. did i say he was the only one? no. so u are saying that the thumb isnt ment for the bassline and then fill in the rythm and melody? do you think chet knows more about that than you? thats where i got it from. his own words you piece of shit.. and its written in every guitar book you can find. the standard way to play the guitar. wtf is wrong with u. learn junior. thats the way you play it right, yes! as guitar. im not talking about styles here ok. its a tool.use it
3439ra 2 years ago
a guitar is an instrument, not a tool. music is made for enjoyment, not mechanically produced notes to be used just to make money. not saying chet is mechanical, but the way you put it, it sure sounds like it.
so i suppose, to you, jose felliciano is a terrible guitarist, or doc watson for flatpicking? they're not doing it "right"?
also, Chet's dead, get over it allready. you didnt ask him directly, you heard him say something and felt important. perhaps you should grow up.
jessupar 2 years ago
lol. go to bed ok
3439ra 2 years ago
@3439ra Django, Eddy Lang, Hendrix ,Robert Johnson, Blind Blake, Tal Farlow, Buddy Guy, Segovia, Barney Kessel, Chuck Berry These are all great guitar players. Obviously Atkins was a very good player but there is no way anyone person can be the best of all. We just have our personal favourites.
goatface1000 1 year ago
@goatface1000 u think you know much about guitar?do you know the teori how to play it the right way? after the book he wrote?yes! you mention hendrix.a boy that died at 27.all he could do was jam after a tune.you can do that after 5 years. hendrix is the best ex of a overrated guitarist.and it sounds awful. i am better my friend!! to play it right, the thumb is ment for the bassline. then fill inn rythm and melody. 30years not doing anything else. we have had a handful. most dont know shit!
3439ra 1 year ago
@3439ra @3439ra I am a reasonable blues player and do know something about the
guitar. I disagree with your view of Hendrix but as I said earlier it
is all about personal taste. To be honest this type of stuff does very
little for me, it is bland and sterile. Chet Atkins was a veryy good
player but not to my taste. I prefer Django, Buddy Guy and Robert
Johnson. As I said it's all down to taste
goatface1000 1 year ago
@goatface1000 its not my view of hendrix. its a fact. thats what im givin you. just remember. i am much better than him and most serious guys are too, he is overrated ass hell! also he died at 27, he didnt acomplish anything. to play it like chet takes 30 years. you must see more of chet then. he has some boring tunes but alll have it. find the good stuff. rare stuff. he sat the standard of guitar playing! u talk about taste. fair enough. but i see right trough hendrix. not good at all
3439ra 1 year ago
@3439ra You seem to be a little fixated on Chet, listen to Hendrix's first version of Red House to see what a superb straight blues player he was. Also in this style I think that Merle Travis was a more interesting player. There were and are many very talented players yet you seem to think that Chet Atkins is the only one worth listening to
goatface1000 1 year ago
@goatface1000 no thats not right at all. i like everything thats good no matter who its from. see my favs. i have listen enough of hendrix. lol. crazy
3439ra 1 year ago
@goatface1000 i have seen robert. bigger reason to like chet. if you dont like my favs, you dont like guitar. or i can say, if you dont like my favs, you like jimi hendrix. you are missing out a lot in guitar. see my favs. all the brilliant playing and picking! wonderful guitars. perfection. they dont play with their teeth. type chet atkins about guitars. 30 years maybe. but most likely not. listen to the end of a tune called mostly mozart. then you get another taste
3439ra 1 year ago
@goatface1000 Yes, but remember, what you heard on his albums was somewhat sterized to make it commercial enough so that Chet and Leona could EAT. Chet's everyday picking was very soulful, down-to-earth, and very flawed. Remember, this is a guy who was never satisfied with a single performance. He was good, but above all, he just loved to play.....just play. Thanks, Chet. (We miss you a bunch!!)
jimirsaysbuddy 11 months ago
@jimirsaysbuddy Ok a very good player but I find this too bland. I would like to hear him playing the down to earth flawed playing. I love Django Robert Johnson Blind Blake Broonzy Hendrix Buddy Guy and loads of the gysy jazz players,Stay warm
goatface1000 11 months ago
wow. Bob Dylan has a good version too.
fastabulus 2 years ago
You know Chet did the great solo flights LP in which he put bass strings on his tow top or low strings and you could hardly distinguish between that and the guitar parts as if two people where playing, it sounds like he's done that on this track, put then it may be a bass player with Chet one never knew...he was amazing...!
TJTele 2 years ago
What's amazing is how the melody is totally independent of the bass line....as has been said, you'd swear it's 2 or 3 people are playing.
hoaryhoary 3 years ago
My pleasure!
daffydoug 3 years ago
i first listened to this song from Pat Travers's album...
thanks for sharing..
adipresley 3 years ago
I love this song!! so lively
krissygirl333 3 years ago