Harper Valley PTA... Is that James Burton on that dobro?

rrangler · April 15th, 2005, 10:26 AM

I picked up a "Sun Country" collection the other day and "Harper Valley PTA" is included. I always thought it was a catchy tune over the radio, but I'd never listened to it closely until now. It sounds like it was cut live in the studio and there are very smoooooth dobro fills all the way thru that sound a lot like James to me. Just wondered if anyone knew who the player was...

Thanks...
matt

Bill Hullett · April 15th, 2005, 10:33 AM

If my memory serves me....which it sometimes doesn't

I think that it was Jerry Kennedy....he and Harold Bradley co/owned that dobro together (i guess neither thought that a fretted Dobro was cool enough to have your own...) Also if I remember right Harper Valley PTA was just a demo! (That happens every so often .....)

Bill Hullett

PS....you know that studdering lick that re occurs on H V PTA......

Listen to the Deric and the Dominoes Jam outakes in the Eric Clapton box set Crossroads (which was recorded about two or three years after Harper Valley PTA Eric is all over that same lick.....proof that he was checkin C&W radio out at the time!!!!!!!

Dave Brophy · April 15th, 2005, 01:06 PM

I always wondered if the idea for that stuttering lick came from "Skinny Legs And All" by Joe Tex.And if Joe Walsh borrowed from both and slowed it down for the intro to "Funk 49."

rrangler · April 15th, 2005, 01:13 PM

Thanks Bill...

That makes me wonder if Jim Gordon influenced Eric Clapton to check out a little country music... Gordon had done some country sessions on the west coast and my James Burton / Ralph Mooney "Corn Pickin" CD has some updated liner notes which credit Jim Gordon for those sessions.

Derek and the Dominoes Live is one of my favorite albums ever; as much for Gordon's drumming as anything. I wasn't aware there were outtakes on that box set. Appreciate that!

matt

flyingb54 · April 15th, 2005, 04:33 PM

Harper Valley was recorded in Nashville and definitely did not feature James on the session.
JB
www.johnbeland.com

Bill Hullett · April 16th, 2005, 03:42 AM

I can't speak to what degree Jim Gordon influenced Eric C .....BUT....I know he likes C&W .......remember "tulsa Time" was written by Danny Flowers.....He was Don Williams lead guitar player durring most of the 70's

Bill Hullett

flyingb54 · April 16th, 2005, 03:55 AM

I worked with Jim on a few dates in the mid 70's. Kind of a quiet strange guy, but a great drummer. Once on a session he got me cornered in the studio and went off on a roll about EC screwing him on Layla. I just listened as he went on and on...then I left as the first opportunity. He was a very intense, troubled person...but my second fave drummer, next to Jimmy Keltner.

I seriously doubt if he had any influence in Eric whats so ever. By the time Gordon got with Clapton Jim was playing very aggresive full tilt hard rock and roll with Bonnie and Delaney...his country dates were pretty far behind him.
Clapton was very influenced by Don Williams. During the Tulsa Time period you could hear it in his song selection and singing.
JB
www.johnbeland.com

Skully · April 16th, 2005, 04:30 PM

Quote:

I worked with Jim on a few dates in the mid 70's. Kind of a quiet strange guy, but a great drummer.

Well, given that he went crazy and killed his mother with a hammer, it's safe to say he's a little more than "kind of a quiet, strange guy."

rrangler · April 17th, 2005, 08:43 PM

Don Williams.... now there's a great country singer.

I remember owning a Delaney and Bonnie live album in the early 70's that was a favorite of mine. I believe EC, Carl Radle and Gordon were all in the band. That was a good album. Don't remember the title but that makes me wanna search around for it.

Thanks for the responses!

Matt

April 15th, 2005, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
rrangler TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pipe Creek, TX Posts: 55	Harper Valley PTA... Is that James Burton on that dobro? I picked up a "Sun Country" collection the other day and "Harper Valley PTA" is included. I always thought it was a catchy tune over the radio, but I'd never listened to it closely until now. It sounds like it was cut live in the studio and there are very smoooooth dobro fills all the way thru that sound a lot like James to me. Just wondered if anyone knew who the player was... Thanks... matt __________________ Old stuff is cool

April 15th, 2005, 10:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bill Hullett Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Tn. Posts: 1,217	well...... If my memory serves me....which it sometimes doesn't I think that it was Jerry Kennedy....he and Harold Bradley co/owned that dobro together (i guess neither thought that a fretted Dobro was cool enough to have your own...) Also if I remember right Harper Valley PTA was just a demo! (That happens every so often .....) Bill Hullett PS....you know that studdering lick that re occurs on H V PTA...... Listen to the Deric and the Dominoes Jam outakes in the Eric Clapton box set Crossroads (which was recorded about two or three years after Harper Valley PTA Eric is all over that same lick.....proof that he was checkin C&W radio out at the time!!!!!!!

April 15th, 2005, 01:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
rrangler TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pipe Creek, TX Posts: 55	Thanks Bill... That makes me wonder if Jim Gordon influenced Eric Clapton to check out a little country music... Gordon had done some country sessions on the west coast and my James Burton / Ralph Mooney "Corn Pickin" CD has some updated liner notes which credit Jim Gordon for those sessions. Derek and the Dominoes Live is one of my favorite albums ever; as much for Gordon's drumming as anything. I wasn't aware there were outtakes on that box set. Appreciate that! matt __________________ Old stuff is cool

April 15th, 2005, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
flyingb54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: BRENHAM TEXAS Age: 59 Posts: 811	Not James.. Harper Valley was recorded in Nashville and definitely did not feature James on the session. JB www.johnbeland.com __________________ "Son, that has nothing to do with nothin'"....Bill Monroe

April 16th, 2005, 03:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bill Hullett Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville Tn. Posts: 1,217	hi rrangler I can't speak to what degree Jim Gordon influenced Eric C .....BUT....I know he likes C&W .......remember "tulsa Time" was written by Danny Flowers.....He was Don Williams lead guitar player durring most of the 70's Bill Hullett

April 15th, 2005, 01:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dave Brophy TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 81	I always wondered if the idea for that stuttering lick came from "Skinny Legs And All" by Joe Tex.And if Joe Walsh borrowed from both and slowed it down for the intro to "Funk 49."

April 16th, 2005, 03:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
flyingb54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: BRENHAM TEXAS Age: 59 Posts: 811	Jim Gordon I worked with Jim on a few dates in the mid 70's. Kind of a quiet strange guy, but a great drummer. Once on a session he got me cornered in the studio and went off on a roll about EC screwing him on Layla. I just listened as he went on and on...then I left as the first opportunity. He was a very intense, troubled person...but my second fave drummer, next to Jimmy Keltner. I seriously doubt if he had any influence in Eric whats so ever. By the time Gordon got with Clapton Jim was playing very aggresive full tilt hard rock and roll with Bonnie and Delaney...his country dates were pretty far behind him. Clapton was very influenced by Don Williams. During the Tulsa Time period you could hear it in his song selection and singing. JB www.johnbeland.com __________________ "Son, that has nothing to do with nothin'"....Bill Monroe

April 17th, 2005, 08:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
rrangler TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pipe Creek, TX Posts: 55	Don Williams.... now there's a great country singer. I remember owning a Delaney and Bonnie live album in the early 70's that was a favorite of mine. I believe EC, Carl Radle and Gordon were all in the band. That was a good album. Don't remember the title but that makes me wanna search around for it. Thanks for the responses! Matt __________________ Old stuff is cool