Junior Barnard was my great uncle. My grandfather, Gene, was his brother, 17:33 partner in crime and a quite accomplished singer and guitar player himself. My grandpa always spoke fondly of his brother and their time with the Playboys. Grandpa taught me how to play (on Juniors guitar) when I was very young. Gene was fighting Parkinson’s disease. It was bittersweet as my grandfather lost his ability to play as he was building a guitar player out of me. My grandmother Wanda, who raised me most of the time, would often have Bob Wills tunes playing in the house and each time a new musician started playing, she would tell me his name and a wild story about their hay day.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, That is Junior Barnard on his standard guitar… that is 3 more payments it’ll be his…” Another Tele addict. Big fan of the channel 👍🏻👍🏻
For me, Junior Barnard wasn’t my “gateway drug” to Western Swing; Western Swing was my gateway to Junior Barnard! I started listening to Western Swing around 1970, and the first Western Swing record I bought was A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World-Bob Wills, by Merle Haggard, which had several Wills alumni featured on it, including Eldon Shamblin on guitar. Loved it, and I started snapping up all the Bob Wills albums I could find. When those Tiffany Transcription albums came out, I jumped on ‘em, and got into Junior’s playing big-time. Big influence on my playing! I can’t say I prefer him over Eldon Shamblin-I guess I dig them both equally. And right around the time I was listening hard to those Western Swing albums, I got to sit in with Tiny Moore! Would have been around 1973. He was a really nice guy, and complimented me on my playing! He was another big influence, as on some of the records, it was sometimes hard to tell if the “guitar” solo might have been Tiny Moore on electric mandolin! When I started playing real country cover-band gigs, especially in the Midwest, I was really disappointed that they played very little Western Swing.
Growing up in Tulsa early 80s i discovered Bob thanks to my parents. I had always heard that Bob was an early influence on rock and roll. And frankly i wasn't hearing it. And then.... Those marvelous Tiffany transcriptions came out. When i heard those i was floored. Junior was laying down tracks that led (in my opinion) directly to rock. Chuck Berry's tone and hard driving style was not unlike Juniors. Thanks for this video .
I love these mini documentaries. All I knew of Junior up until now is he is an early grandfather of the fuzz tone. But my great grandfather did listen to the Texas Playboys! Awesome thanks Zac!
Nice to see you put Worried Mind in your Junior playlist. That one also caught my ear. Melodic and funky guitar solo. And just a great song overall Though there is a bit of hiss, a lot of the Tiffany songs have good audio quality, at least a lot better than my idea of what 40s production sounds like in my head.
Dude you’re such a great catalyst to this style. You’re dedicated years are appreciated. I gather lessons like this. Checking him out to steal away! Thats why I only went to Roberts western world when I was there. Those cats I saw never run out of licks.
Great video Zac! I will be checking out Junior Barnard from the links you gave us. I’m pretty sure you mentioned Guitar Player magazine. I got it every month for all of the 1980s. My sister would give me a 12 month subscription every year for my birthday. It was always a good day when it showed up in the mailbox.
Thanks for talking about the Wills' bands. I have a real fondness for western swing...in part because my grandfather subbed with the Texas Playboys on occasion at the house gig in Tulsa in the 40s and early 50s
I particularly enjoy Ask Zac player history episodes, and this was one of your best, Zac. Clearly you have a great affinity for Junior’s playing and your “lick steals” are awesome. I’ll be diving in to the “Tiffany Transcriptions” thanks to this episode. Also - can’t recommend highly enough the Guitar Player/Rhino Legends of Guitar series. I got ‘em all and they are a fantastic introduction to so many great guitar players of the past.
Thanks for posting this. Junior is probably another one of the most under rated unknown geniuses of his era. It's like Charlie Christian meets the guy from Bill Haley & the Comets. I loved Western Swing when I was a little kid because my folks played those records all the time, but then I drifted off into rock and forgot about Bob & the boys for a while, but years later I got drawn back into the country stuff, and Western Swing in particular, by Asleep at the Wheel on Austin City Limits. Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band with Albert Lee also helped to reawaken my interest in country music, and I began to appreciate what I was hearing on a deeper level. When that happens, the thing to do is become a sort of musical archaeologist and look backwards, and that's when you start to find more cool stuff. Have you ever seen an old black and white cowboy movie with Tex Ritter called "Take Me Back To Oklahoma?" The Playboys have a big part in it, there's lots of performances by them, and Bob has an acting role as well. Arkansas Slim is the comedy relief, and he's a riot. You'll love his suit. If you haven't seen this movie, try to find it and check it out, you'll like it. Another little jewel that I found in my searches was "Oklahoma Stomp" by Spade Cooley. It was recorded in 1946, and one urban legend says that it was cut in Les Paul's garage in L.A. and that Les played the lead guitar on the track. This is unconfirmed, but there's a guy talking at the beginning of the take and he sounds a lot like Les. You know way more about all this stuff than I do, and I'd bet you're probably familiar with both of these examples. But sometimes the really good stuff slips through the cracks and gets lost. I've enjoyed your videos immensely, and I have huge respect for your knowledge and skills, and so I thought if maybe you might have missed these, I could be the sign in the road with the arrow pointing to them. If you are already familiar with both of them, go back and check 'em out again. You won't be disappointed. Cheers!!!
@jpalberthoward9 Guitarist Johnny Weis played those wonderful solos on "Oklahoma Stomp". He's also credited with co-writing the instrumental with Spade Cooley. :)
@@Damianblf OK, cool. My next guess would have been Jimmy Bryant. It sounds like it could have been him. The steel player was Leon Mc Caullife, and the tune itself sounds like "Stormy Weather" at double tempo. The melody fits like a glove. It's been a personal favorite for a long time, and it's really great to know that I'm not the only person on earth who's ever heard it. It really is a great piece.
Excellent video Zac! For decades I have thought Junior Barnard was an original and amazing early innovator of the electric guitar. Junior's playing swung like crazy. His legacy needs to be acknowledged and respected. You have done a great service not only to Junior Barnard's work but, just as importantly, passing the word to adventurous and knowledge seeking guitarists of today.
I never heard Western Swing until I moved to Texas from North Carolina in the mid-90s. After I heard Roly Poly and Stay All Night(Stay A Little Longer) that was it!
8:05 - At the risk of sounding all modern(!) Guitar Player has a Spotify account so they should consider, maybe, releasing these as the originals are probably up on Spotify anyway but scattered everywhere playlisting them would be a really cool thing for them to consider…?
@@AskZac Thanks! I hope guitar player does all the styles for those discs but in the meantime thanks so much for the Spotify list and I think I’ve finally discovered Western swing in particular and country music in general (seriously! Here in Liverpool England it’s just not that popular so I would’ve missed it if it wasn’t for your channel!)
I really enjoyed the video Zac . It was so nice to see another guitar TH-cam channel talk about Junior Barnard. BTW I also enjoyed your video on Jimmy Bryant from a little while back. Keep on rockin' sir! :)
Love the part about the evolution of the Tele. I made a Tele partscaster/Coodercaster that had a 'wrap around' bridge pickup like you describe; I used a 40s/50s Rickenbacker horseshoe-magnet lap steel pickup with a Tele bridge that I cut in half, (with a bigsby tailpiece), then used a 60s Teisco goldfoil at the neck. Also added a 27" Tele baritone neck; the result was a tele on steroids. :) One of a my all time fave mod-casters that I've ever built or seen. The only thing I'd add is a B-bender, but that might get tricky with the Bigsby...
That sounds like one hell of a guitar man, fender do make baritones, I was in a band years ago where the leader wanted to try another guitarist so he gave me his spare baritone, was a fender, but it looked more like one of those mosrite guitars with two slanted p90s never seen anything like it before, he was recovering from hand surgery so was using an airplane version that looked very similar but he claimed the action was better for his hands. Weird band man all he have me was a fender twin and a slap echoe and we’d chug away in like 5/4. Sounded a bit like the kills but more bottom heavy lol. What a memory your post just triggered.
My buddy at Rhino sent me some of those GP albums. Surf, Country, Rock and Blues... and Country Vol. 1 is where my love of Roy Lanham began. Listen to "Lost Weekend" and be utterly amazed!
I am a huge fan of Junior Barnard! And those Tiffany Transcriptions are a magical well of American music. Thank you for another informative video essay!
Wish you'd played more of these steelable licks. But I get the point; let's go look up JB's stuff and spread love for the man. Bob Wills is still the King. Waylon and Stevie Ray got me into TX/OK Swing. Iggy got me into punk. Love me some Cowpunk
Leo Fender definitely was a western swing fan and being a amp designer Leo figured may as well design something to play through it. Thank you for sharing this bit of guitar history.
Both Fender and the Texas Playboys were based in Southern California from around 1941 to at least 52 or 53., Fender wasnt a fan. He was basically the sound man for the hotest W swing bands especially Bob Wills in the 1940s. He tested out all his early guitars, amps, and adjustments on the playboys doing big shows they did in Southern California. Fender could just go up onto the stage at a concert or in a club and adjust and change the setup of the amps and would bring new guitars, amps, and speakers and other devices for the playboys to play., Southern California was the center for Western Swing in the 40s and into the early 50s, not Texas
Just for shits and giggles, here in Nor Cal, in 1981 we would drive to the hills, cooler full of beer, listening to Bob Wills, Willie Nelson and my personal fave Asleep at the Wheel. Yeah we also had the rocking stuff too, but once you get away from the suburbs, that Texas Swing just feels so right. Anybody remember Chuck Wagon and the Wheels? Telecaster is the only one you need!
You have a lot of nice books! I saw the Jimmy Bryant book on your shelf and didn't know there was a book on him. Looking at buying a copy. Didn't even get through Vid yet. Thanks for all your videos. Great stuff!
It used to be Country Western music. Now it's just "Country." Being from Chicago when I was a kid I used to listen the The National Barn Dance on WLS-AM Chicago.
I had one of the Guitar Player CDs of Blues. (Not sure which volume now, but it had Hound Dog Taylor, playing "I'll See You In The Evening" MONSTER jam to be sure.) I have some, some what disturbing info on Bob Wills. He & the Playboys actually stayed in my step dad's, parents hotel in Tulsa, way back when. (Parents had a friend who owned a place in OKC he did the last radio interview with Bob Wills. He was at our house, after closing time, on a regular basis). One night he was talking about Bob Wills, the parents had an album of his greatest hits, the old man listened to the story. The next day I said something like "Wow Dad, Bob Wills." The old man looked at me & said "let me tell you a story about an old drunk, who played organ for my Dad, in the lobby of his hotel." He told me about a lot songs, "Take Me Back To Tulsa", "San Antonio Rose" & others in was familiar with, being they played their album a lot. Any way I'll stop there. Funny story, went to see the Grateful Dead in 1973. They of course played 1 of their marathon sessions. They did their hits "Truckin' " etc the 1st half. They came back after intermission & started playing Bob Wills stuff. My friends & I looked at each other, got up & left. On the way home, I said "Why would they play Bob Wills? I mean, all our parents have his records at home." Suffice it to say, it's the only concert, I ever left early. LoL. Of course there was a different breed of fan there. More, "illicit substances" than I've ever seen, before or after. (It still didn't help, with our enjoyment of the concert. LoL)
Glad that I found you on youtube-interesting history and facts about guitars and players. I’m going to find the Legends of Guitar records you mentioned now-gotta play me some Texas swing licks-fun stuff!
Been a long time western swing lover. Thanks so much for this! Sure would love to learn more Jimmy Bryant licks if you haven't already posted some I haven't seen yet! Thanks again buddy!
I ‘m noticing that you use the front pickup. I’m in love with mine since it isn’t so bright, I roll the tone off on the front also because it’s a tad bright too. Nice Video!
I could never stomach Bob Wills constant interjections in his tunes . But you got me scrambling through youtube for Junior Barnard recordings the ones I could find are great.
Is 1983 a particular dividing line between old style country and contemporary country? Great video and a ton to enjoy on the Spotify playlist! Thanks, Zac!
In my opinion , way way ahead of his time. And that tone! for the late 1940's? Just nasty. To my ear, more of a jump blues player than country but he could play anything.
Hey Zac, we should chat off line....and I can explain what is going on with the steel guitar PU and thus the 2 outputs and the 2 amps.....when its referring to Leo & a Woodie Pro and what was going on in that moment in time....considering what you are hearing is recorded material based on the era. Point being, this could be a point of future content for the channel. You have to remember that in the era and in that moment.....this was sort of all "new" science, and you have to apply what was happening in the peripheral aspects all points considered.......as it got focused in on this scenario. I think people fail to understand electronics but not as in the aspect of circuitry but in the "everything else" and in this case it would be Radio......most of these guys evolved from Radio & thus the broadcasting aspect which carried over into records which was opened up via purchases for home use or typically...Juke Boxes (more so post WW2) and rolling in to the 1950's was the infancy of TV. The Great Depression was the lead in to WW2 and after the war when the G.I.'s came home was the post war Boom......and us Baby Boomer's. Today we are surrounded by what most people call technology...I call it electronic gadgetry.....and basically the industry has always tried to miniaturize and why we are in the digital era & micro-printed circuits & chips. The first real leap was the conception and creation of a storage device ...hence battery. And then the second major leap was Edison and the light bulb simply for the creation of the Filament which gave way for Vacuum tubes and the science of Electronics...... We take for granted the electric grid, but in reality the spread of electricity was still happening post WW2.....spreading from urban areas out to the suburbs and into the rural areas......and tagging along was your telephone LAND LINE in the age of cell phones people might not understand land lines and party lines and telephone books much less switch board operators hahaha. But also keep in mind Leo......was a radio repairman......and the world was MONO....monaural. The 1950's was the heyday of electronics.....and HiFi & ultimately Stereo.......the depression and the war was over and people had money to spend..... Again.....the BOOM
I'll toss you this, I started to play guitar after high school...so I was maybe 19 going on 20. However when I was in high school, a friend of my dad who was up in age happened to give me his guitar and amplifier, which since I wasn't interested, got put in the closet. So coming out of that closet was a 1952 Epiphone Triumph cutaway with a DeArmand pickup.....and a late 1940's Gibson BR series amplifier with a nice big art deco style G on the aluminum grill. This old guy played C & W and Jesus music......thus this guitar and amp was my gateway to acquiring my Gibson Les Paul fretless wonder black beauty and a Silver Face Fender Twin Reverb.....and the Epiphone became my arch top acoustic to noodle on hanging out. So there are certain things about the Epiphones that might be mis-translated from a recording hearing it as opposed to seeing the player actually play that guitar & the piece...because its peculiar to the Epiphones
Alright, Junior's good. But for me the star of the Tiffany Transcriptions material is the insanely inventive and harmonically adventurous Tiny Moore. Of course, that was electric mandolin but it sounds like electrified Django as beamed to humans from the Crab Nebula or something. Tiny's been one of my idols since I picked up the Tiffany stuff in the 80's. Ooh, while I'm thinking about it, how about Jimmy Rivers (and the Cherokees)? Some of the most insane playing ever, some on a double neck 6-12. I'd love to hear your take on that stuff.
@@AskZac I re-listened to some Junior today with fresh ears (it's been a while), and I'm closer to getting it. He's definitely bluesy, and sorta in your face in a pleasant way. Tiny's playing is more to my taste (jazzier, i.e. stuff I can't play that great), but I see why people like Junior too. And I can't imagine you haven't heard it, but the solo (starts at 1:45) on "Jimmie's Blues" by Jimmie Rivers and the Cherokees (I know it's on here...) may be the most perfectly constructed 1-4-5 solo I've ever heard. It's so logical! The whole album's amazing. Recorded near my birthplace, at around the same time!
@7:00--Soon upon their release, I got them "Guitar Player" CDs at my favorite Tower Records in Sacramento, Calif. which was the original store started by the late Russ Soloman (there is a documentary on him). Btw. Sacramento and down through the Central Valley over to the East Bay was a hotbed of postwar Western Swing. See Jimmy Rivers: th-cam.com/video/L2SeC0P4Ymg/w-d-xo.html. Wonderful run down on Junior Barnard. I learned that I'd been mis-pronouncing his name all this time, giving it what I thought might be an Oklahoma twang.
Be careful or you might end up listening to Billy Jack Wills' crew of pickers, including Tiny Moore, as well as the colossal crew behind Tex Williams. All those great California western swing pickers are awesome.
How do you get that round tone from a Tele and a Fender Vibro Champ Reverb? Are you turning down the tone on either or both? I have a Harvard clone (with a 12" alnico), a Tele with Frailin's and a Strymon Flint and I can't get anywhere near that kind of warm octal tone. What is the secret?
Zac great video as always. I have to ask Zac but on unrelated topic. You have previously mentioned your religious upbringing and belief that electric guitar was evil. I struggle with a lot of trauma from the SatanicPanic era such as fishing my cassette tapes out of the water filled trash can my step dad threw them in. I’d like to think music is a gift from God but so many fundamentalists say people like us are damned for eternity. How did you overcome the fear that liking music and guitars was going to send you to burn in the lake of fire for eternity? Love your content!
@@AskZac that’s what I’m trying to come to terms with but unfortunately I also know that some are not well meaning but hungry for power and money. Some are downright evil. They can’t stand someone might find joy and solace in anything other than their cult approach to Christianity. They definitely laid their eggs in my brain but instead of peace I find fear and anxiety. I guess that’s the strategy. Get em while their young and wreck em from having any fun. Or at least not feeling guilty like there will be hell to pay. If they only knew they drive more people away from God than they steer towards.
What are those two descending chords at 10:30? anyone? what key? i just found you today-have you explained any of Tampa Red's rock things (not the kazoo stuff) like Evalena, the Jitter Jump, or Rockin' in Rhythm?
I don’t know what kind of crazy person doesn’t like Western swing. Speaking of pine guitars. I built a pine telecaster. It’s my favorite teles I’ve ever played
I just got into western swing and I was really shocked at how similar a lot of it is to Chuck Berry's guitar style, wondering if you have any thoughts on this.
11:45 and following... I steal. I teach my kids to steal. I teach them to hit as well. I also teach them to hit and steal at the same time! Guitar and baseball are so closely related.
@@AskZac Sure did. Now you ought to cover Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West (I am almost sure you have) and Thumbs Carllile. Many years ago, my grandfather gave flying lessons to Leon McAuliffe, and years ago I used to spend my summer jobs money at a shop run by Dave Landry in Neosho, MO, who was (is) apparently quite well known in the vintage world and bought the gold strat from Eldon at one point and is I believe the last known owner.
@@AskZac posted an article on Fretboard Journal years ago and got some negative pushback on the Leo connection.. I believe it, and it sure looked like early Fender work.
Being called Fat Boy during the Depression years was a tribute to his success and money. Rich enough to not just eat but Gain weight. Mama the hogs have got me..Ahhh.
Junior Barnard was my great uncle. My grandfather, Gene, was his brother, 17:33 partner in crime and a quite accomplished singer and guitar player himself. My grandpa always spoke fondly of his brother and their time with the Playboys. Grandpa taught me how to play (on Juniors guitar) when I was very young. Gene was fighting Parkinson’s disease. It was bittersweet as my grandfather lost his ability to play as he was building a guitar player out of me. My grandmother Wanda, who raised me most of the time, would often have Bob Wills tunes playing in the house and each time a new musician started playing, she would tell me his name and a wild story about their hay day.
Wow. Just wow
“Ladies and Gentlemen, That is Junior Barnard on his standard guitar… that is 3 more payments it’ll be his…”
Another Tele addict. Big fan of the channel 👍🏻👍🏻
good to see someone has gotten a good education Rough it up Blond tiger
The "Legends of Guitar" CDs are the holy grail. I have them all. Great that you mention them Zac!
Junior's tone really was revolutionary. "Barnard Blues" and "Fat Boy Rag" are key tracks in the history of modern electric guitar.
For me, Junior Barnard wasn’t my “gateway drug” to Western Swing; Western Swing was my gateway to Junior Barnard! I started listening to Western Swing around 1970, and the first Western Swing record I bought was A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World-Bob Wills, by Merle Haggard, which had several Wills alumni featured on it, including Eldon Shamblin on guitar. Loved it, and I started snapping up all the Bob Wills albums I could find. When those Tiffany Transcription albums came out, I jumped on ‘em, and got into Junior’s playing big-time. Big influence on my playing! I can’t say I prefer him over Eldon Shamblin-I guess I dig them both equally. And right around the time I was listening hard to those Western Swing albums, I got to sit in with Tiny Moore! Would have been around 1973. He was a really nice guy, and complimented me on my playing! He was another big influence, as on some of the records, it was sometimes hard to tell if the “guitar” solo might have been Tiny Moore on electric mandolin! When I started playing real country cover-band gigs, especially in the Midwest, I was really disappointed that they played very little Western Swing.
Jealous of your amazing experience
Never heard of this guy. I love that!!!
no one has!!!!!!
Growing up in Tulsa early 80s i discovered Bob thanks to my parents. I had always heard that Bob was an early influence on rock and roll. And frankly i wasn't hearing it. And then.... Those marvelous Tiffany transcriptions came out. When i heard those i was floored. Junior was laying down tracks that led (in my opinion) directly to rock. Chuck Berry's tone and hard driving style was not unlike Juniors. Thanks for this video .
That Sept 1983 issue of Guitar Player Magazine with the article about Junior Barnard was also my introduction to another favorite- Danny Gatton.
I don’t need a gateway drug to Western Swing. I was hooked long ago. Great show Zac!
I love these mini documentaries. All I knew of Junior up until now is he is an early grandfather of the fuzz tone. But my great grandfather did listen to the Texas Playboys! Awesome thanks Zac!
Thanks, Shawn
Nice to see you put Worried Mind in your Junior playlist. That one also caught my ear. Melodic and funky guitar solo. And just a great song overall
Though there is a bit of hiss, a lot of the Tiffany songs have good audio quality, at least a lot better than my idea of what 40s production sounds like in my head.
Dude you’re such a great catalyst to this style. You’re dedicated years are appreciated. I gather lessons like this. Checking him out to steal away!
Thats why I only went to Roberts western world when I was there. Those cats I saw never run out of licks.
Thank you, Dustin!
Junior Barnard was one of the first, if not the first, guitarist to use distortion as a part of his tone. He's truly a pioneer.
Great video Zac! I will be checking out Junior Barnard from the links you gave us. I’m pretty sure you mentioned Guitar Player magazine. I got it every month for all of the 1980s. My sister would give me a 12 month subscription every year for my birthday. It was always a good day when it showed up in the mailbox.
Ooooh Zac, that playlist is absolute gold!!
My dad was a fan of this guy. And we liked to jam on. Western swing tunes when I was growing up
Thanks for talking about the Wills' bands. I have a real fondness for western swing...in part because my grandfather subbed with the Texas Playboys on occasion at the house gig in Tulsa in the 40s and early 50s
I particularly enjoy Ask Zac player history episodes, and this was one of your best, Zac. Clearly you have a great affinity for Junior’s playing and your “lick steals” are awesome. I’ll be diving in to the “Tiffany Transcriptions” thanks to this episode. Also - can’t recommend highly enough the Guitar Player/Rhino Legends of Guitar series. I got ‘em all and they are a fantastic introduction to so many great guitar players of the past.
Will definitely check out Junior Barnard’s work. I love Western swing.
Thanks for posting this. Junior is probably another one of the most under rated unknown geniuses of his era. It's like Charlie Christian meets the guy from Bill Haley & the Comets.
I loved Western Swing when I was a little kid because my folks played those records all the time, but then I drifted off into rock and forgot about Bob & the boys for a while, but years later I got drawn back into the country stuff, and Western Swing in particular, by Asleep at the Wheel on Austin City Limits. Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band with Albert Lee also helped to reawaken my interest in country music, and I began to appreciate what I was hearing on a deeper level.
When that happens, the thing to do is become a sort of musical archaeologist and look backwards, and that's when you start to find more cool stuff.
Have you ever seen an old black and white cowboy movie with Tex Ritter called "Take Me Back To Oklahoma?" The Playboys have a big part in it, there's lots of performances by them, and Bob has an acting role as well. Arkansas Slim is the comedy relief, and he's a riot. You'll love his suit. If you haven't seen this movie, try to find it and check it out, you'll like it.
Another little jewel that I found in my searches was "Oklahoma Stomp" by Spade Cooley. It was recorded in 1946, and one urban legend says that it was cut in Les Paul's garage in L.A. and that Les played the lead guitar on the track. This is unconfirmed, but there's a guy talking at the beginning of the take and he sounds a lot like Les.
You know way more about all this stuff than I do, and I'd bet you're probably familiar with both of these examples. But sometimes the really good stuff slips through the cracks and gets lost. I've enjoyed your videos immensely, and I have huge respect for your knowledge and skills, and so I thought if maybe you might have missed these, I could be the sign in the road with the arrow pointing to them. If you are already familiar with both of them, go back and check 'em out again. You won't be disappointed.
Cheers!!!
@jpalberthoward9 Guitarist Johnny Weis played those wonderful solos on "Oklahoma Stomp". He's also credited with co-writing the instrumental with Spade Cooley. :)
@@Damianblf OK, cool. My next guess would have been Jimmy Bryant. It sounds like it could have been him. The steel player was Leon Mc Caullife, and the tune itself sounds like "Stormy Weather" at double tempo. The melody fits like a glove. It's been a personal favorite for a long time, and it's really great to know that I'm not the only person on earth who's ever heard it. It really is a great piece.
That would be Franny Beecher. See if you can find his version of Steel Guitar Rag.
Excellent video Zac! For decades I have thought Junior Barnard was an original and amazing early innovator of the electric guitar. Junior's playing swung like crazy. His legacy needs to be acknowledged and respected. You have done a great service not only to Junior Barnard's work but, just as importantly, passing the word to adventurous and knowledge seeking guitarists of today.
Couldn't agree more!
I never heard Western Swing until I moved to Texas from North Carolina in the mid-90s. After I heard Roly Poly and Stay All Night(Stay A Little Longer) that was it!
8:05 - At the risk of sounding all modern(!) Guitar Player has a Spotify account so they should consider, maybe, releasing these as the originals are probably up on Spotify anyway but scattered everywhere
playlisting them would be a really cool thing for them to consider…?
open.spotify.com/playlist/2t70i48kGg6qJDurTp0Dg6?si=9061fe9b94e64f92
@@AskZac Thanks!
I hope guitar player does all the styles for those discs but in the meantime thanks so much for the Spotify list and I think I’ve finally discovered Western swing in particular and country music in general (seriously!
Here in Liverpool England it’s just not that popular so I would’ve missed it if it wasn’t for your channel!)
I really enjoyed the video Zac . It was so nice to see another guitar TH-cam channel talk about Junior Barnard. BTW I also enjoyed your video on Jimmy Bryant from a little while back. Keep on rockin' sir! :)
I watched one of your vids on Junior, and linked it in the description. Thanks for chiming in! I enjoy your videos!
Bravo Zac a marvelous account thank you from a new subscriber, Damian Bacci does a couple of lovely Junior Barnard tutorials they are joyful
Damian is great
Love the part about the evolution of the Tele. I made a Tele partscaster/Coodercaster that had a 'wrap around' bridge pickup like you describe; I used a 40s/50s Rickenbacker horseshoe-magnet lap steel pickup with a Tele bridge that I cut in half, (with a bigsby tailpiece), then used a 60s Teisco goldfoil at the neck. Also added a 27" Tele baritone neck; the result was a tele on steroids. :) One of a my all time fave mod-casters that I've ever built or seen. The only thing I'd add is a B-bender, but that might get tricky with the Bigsby...
That sounds like one hell of a guitar man, fender do make baritones, I was in a band years ago where the leader wanted to try another guitarist so he gave me his spare baritone, was a fender, but it looked more like one of those mosrite guitars with two slanted p90s never seen anything like it before, he was recovering from hand surgery so was using an airplane version that looked very similar but he claimed the action was better for his hands. Weird band man all he have me was a fender twin and a slap echoe and we’d chug away in like 5/4. Sounded a bit like the kills but more bottom heavy lol. What a memory your post just triggered.
My buddy at Rhino sent me some of those GP albums. Surf, Country, Rock and Blues... and Country Vol. 1 is where my love of Roy Lanham began. Listen to "Lost Weekend" and be utterly amazed!
I am a huge fan of Junior Barnard! And those Tiffany Transcriptions are a magical well of American music. Thank you for another informative video essay!
You're very welcome!
I love that distorted tone in lots of Western Swing. Oklahoma Stop by Spade Cooley band kills me.
Wish you'd played more of these steelable licks. But I get the point; let's go look up JB's stuff and spread love for the man. Bob Wills is still the King. Waylon and Stevie Ray got me into TX/OK Swing. Iggy got me into punk. Love me some Cowpunk
Leo Fender definitely was a western swing fan and being a amp designer Leo figured may as well design something to play through it. Thank you for sharing this bit of guitar history.
Welcome
Both Fender and the Texas Playboys were based in Southern California from around 1941 to at least 52 or 53., Fender wasnt a fan. He was basically the sound man for the hotest W swing bands especially Bob Wills in the 1940s. He tested out all his early guitars, amps, and adjustments on the playboys doing big shows they did in Southern California. Fender could just go up onto the stage at a concert or in a club and adjust and change the setup of the amps and would bring new guitars, amps, and speakers and other devices for the playboys to play., Southern California was the center for Western Swing in the 40s and into the early 50s, not Texas
To me, he sounds like T-bone Walker playing country. Sounds like he took a lot of T-bones licks and incorporated into country swing.
Just for shits and giggles, here in Nor Cal, in 1981 we would drive to the hills, cooler full of beer, listening to Bob Wills, Willie Nelson and my personal fave Asleep at the Wheel. Yeah we also had the rocking stuff too, but once you get away from the suburbs, that Texas Swing just feels so right. Anybody remember Chuck Wagon and the Wheels? Telecaster is the only one you need!
There is a Junior Bernard pedal called the Junior Barnyard
You have a lot of nice books! I saw the Jimmy Bryant book on your shelf and didn't know there was a book on him. Looking at buying a copy. Didn't even get through Vid yet. Thanks for all your videos. Great stuff!
Thanks
great playing and that neck pickup on your Tele BARKS! IM 63 and got into Bob Wills at age 15.....
Very nice!
It used to be Country Western music. Now it's just "Country." Being from Chicago when I was a kid I used to listen the The National Barn Dance on WLS-AM Chicago.
I like Ranger Doug.
yeah, but that's not 'country and restroom,' ...is it?
Great mini-doc again! Thanks 🙏🏻!
Zac - thanks so much for that playlist!
My pleasure!
Always an education, Zac! Time to dig into another great guitarist. Thanks!
You bet!
Zac, you should try DAdario nickel strings on your Martin. It balances out the low E. They last a long time and gives a vintage tone.
I have a set that I will check out!
Great episode zac. I really appreciate your accomanying spotify playlists. Maybe you could make some more playlists of just songs you like
Fascinating.
I had one of the Guitar Player CDs of Blues. (Not sure which volume now, but it had Hound Dog Taylor, playing "I'll See You In The Evening" MONSTER jam to be sure.) I have some, some what disturbing info on Bob Wills. He & the Playboys actually stayed in my step dad's, parents hotel in Tulsa, way back when. (Parents had a friend who owned a place in OKC he did the last radio interview with Bob Wills. He was at our house, after closing time, on a regular basis). One night he was talking about Bob Wills, the parents had an album of his greatest hits, the old man listened to the story. The next day I said something like "Wow Dad, Bob Wills." The old man looked at me & said "let me tell you a story about an old drunk, who played organ for my Dad, in the lobby of his hotel." He told me about a lot songs, "Take Me Back To Tulsa", "San Antonio Rose" & others in was familiar with, being they played their album a lot. Any way I'll stop there. Funny story, went to see the Grateful Dead in 1973. They of course played 1 of their marathon sessions. They did their hits "Truckin' " etc the 1st half. They came back after intermission & started playing Bob Wills stuff. My friends & I looked at each other, got up & left. On the way home, I said "Why would they play Bob Wills? I mean, all our parents have his records at home." Suffice it to say, it's the only concert, I ever left early. LoL. Of course there was a different breed of fan there. More, "illicit substances" than I've ever seen, before or after. (It still didn't help, with our enjoyment of the concert. LoL)
Man I always learn so much from your videos!
The start of that lick @ 10:56 sounds a lot like the intro to AC/DC's "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution".
Glad that I found you on youtube-interesting history and facts about guitars and players. I’m going to find the Legends of Guitar records you mentioned now-gotta play me some Texas swing licks-fun stuff!
Welcome aboard!
Been a long time western swing lover. Thanks so much for this! Sure would love to learn more Jimmy Bryant licks if you haven't already posted some I haven't seen yet! Thanks again buddy!
Sure thing!
fantastic info
Glad you liked it
Wonder what you think of the JR Barnyard Pedal from Nocturne named after him ? Supposed to mimic the sound of the classic octal amps
I think it looks really good since it’s from a different type of amp.
I ‘m noticing that you use the front pickup. I’m in love with mine since it isn’t so bright, I roll the tone off on the front also because it’s a tad bright too. Nice Video!
Thank you!
Thanks Zac. Did not know of Junior before today. Thanks for the hard work. Best Regards and Best Wishes. Subscribed.
I could never stomach Bob Wills constant interjections in his tunes . But you got me scrambling through youtube for Junior Barnard recordings the ones I could find are great.
I made a Spotify playlist. Check the videos description
Merele Haggard was pretty good at that too.
Namechecking is important.
@@BenPrevo You got the gist of it, LOL
Thanks Zac for another amazing show🎸🎸🎸
You bet!
Another great musician that you have turned me on to. Thanks, Zac!
My pleasure!
Fascinating stuff, Zac. I’m going to check Junior out. Aaah ha!
Is 1983 a particular dividing line between old style country and contemporary country? Great video and a ton to enjoy on the Spotify playlist! Thanks, Zac!
Not really. There are many changing of the guard in country music.
In my opinion , way way ahead of his time. And that tone! for the late 1940's? Just nasty. To my ear, more of a jump blues player than country but he could play anything.
Hey Zac, we should chat off line....and I can explain what is going on with the steel guitar PU and thus the 2 outputs and the 2 amps.....when its referring to Leo & a Woodie Pro and what was going on in that moment in time....considering what you are hearing is recorded material based on the era. Point being, this could be a point of future content for the channel. You have to remember that in the era and in that moment.....this was sort of all "new" science, and you have to apply what was happening in the peripheral aspects all points considered.......as it got focused in on this scenario. I think people fail to understand electronics but not as in the aspect of circuitry but in the "everything else" and in this case it would be Radio......most of these guys evolved from Radio & thus the broadcasting aspect which carried over into records which was opened up via purchases for home use or typically...Juke Boxes (more so post WW2) and rolling in to the 1950's was the infancy of TV. The Great Depression was the lead in to WW2 and after the war when the G.I.'s came home was the post war Boom......and us Baby Boomer's. Today we are surrounded by what most people call technology...I call it electronic gadgetry.....and basically the industry has always tried to miniaturize and why we are in the digital era & micro-printed circuits & chips. The first real leap was the conception and creation of a storage device ...hence battery. And then the second major leap was Edison and the light bulb simply for the creation of the Filament which gave way for Vacuum tubes and the science of Electronics...... We take for granted the electric grid, but in reality the spread of electricity was still happening post WW2.....spreading from urban areas out to the suburbs and into the rural areas......and tagging along was your telephone LAND LINE in the age of cell phones people might not understand land lines and party lines and telephone books much less switch board operators hahaha. But also keep in mind Leo......was a radio repairman......and the world was MONO....monaural. The 1950's was the heyday of electronics.....and HiFi & ultimately Stereo.......the depression and the war was over and people had money to spend..... Again.....the BOOM
I'll toss you this, I started to play guitar after high school...so I was maybe 19 going on 20. However when I was in high school, a friend of my dad who was up in age happened to give me his guitar and amplifier, which since I wasn't interested, got put in the closet. So coming out of that closet was a 1952 Epiphone Triumph cutaway with a DeArmand pickup.....and a late 1940's Gibson BR series amplifier with a nice big art deco style G on the aluminum grill. This old guy played C & W and Jesus music......thus this guitar and amp was my gateway to acquiring my Gibson Les Paul fretless wonder black beauty and a Silver Face Fender Twin Reverb.....and the Epiphone became my arch top acoustic to noodle on hanging out. So there are certain things about the Epiphones that might be mis-translated from a recording hearing it as opposed to seeing the player actually play that guitar & the piece...because its peculiar to the Epiphones
The king of western swing
Such an inspiring video ! Thanks 👌
So glad!
Learned something new. Thanks!
love Western swing
Thanks Zac…I’m a newer subscriber but really great musicological content
Love the cactus drawing on rhe pickguard. Puro south Tx buey!
Done by my TX friend.
G R E A T Episode, Zac! Love Junior and Bob Wills of course...
Alright, Junior's good. But for me the star of the Tiffany Transcriptions material is the insanely inventive and harmonically adventurous Tiny Moore. Of course, that was electric mandolin but it sounds like electrified Django as beamed to humans from the Crab Nebula or something. Tiny's been one of my idols since I picked up the Tiffany stuff in the 80's.
Ooh, while I'm thinking about it, how about Jimmy Rivers (and the Cherokees)? Some of the most insane playing ever, some on a double neck 6-12. I'd love to hear your take on that stuff.
I agree on Tiny. He steals the show many times. I love the tracks with both JR and Tiny. Wham bam!!!
@@AskZac I re-listened to some Junior today with fresh ears (it's been a while), and I'm closer to getting it. He's definitely bluesy, and sorta in your face in a pleasant way. Tiny's playing is more to my taste (jazzier, i.e. stuff I can't play that great), but I see why people like Junior too. And I can't imagine you haven't heard it, but the solo (starts at 1:45) on "Jimmie's Blues" by Jimmie Rivers and the Cherokees (I know it's on here...) may be the most perfectly constructed 1-4-5 solo I've ever heard. It's so logical! The whole album's amazing. Recorded near my birthplace, at around the same time!
@7:00--Soon upon their release, I got them "Guitar Player" CDs at my favorite Tower Records in Sacramento, Calif. which was the original store started by the late Russ Soloman (there is a documentary on him). Btw. Sacramento and down through the Central Valley over to the East Bay was a hotbed of postwar Western Swing. See Jimmy Rivers: th-cam.com/video/L2SeC0P4Ymg/w-d-xo.html. Wonderful run down on Junior Barnard. I learned that I'd been mis-pronouncing his name all this time, giving it what I thought might be an Oklahoma twang.
Be careful or you might end up listening to Billy Jack Wills' crew of pickers, including Tiny Moore, as well as the colossal crew behind Tex Williams. All those great California western swing pickers are awesome.
🎶🇺🇸🎸 TELEZACSTER🎶🇺🇸🎸
Love those licks! Great episode
Thanks!
Welcome!
How do you get that round tone from a Tele and a Fender Vibro Champ Reverb? Are you turning down the tone on either or both? I have a Harvard clone (with a 12" alnico), a Tele with Frailin's and a Strymon Flint and I can't get anywhere near that kind of warm octal tone. What is the secret?
Eldon’s Strat was at Rumble Seat Music a year or so ago. Don’t know if it’s still there or not.
It made the rounds.....
And the unique dual p/u multi amp setup...
The Bob Wills Tiffany Transcriptions were NOT used as "filler" on radio stations! There was nothing random or haphazard about them.
Thank you for the low down. I love the recordings, but understand the negative connotation of “filler.”
At some point the nomal pick turned into big floppy and I only use the little stiff ones, and fingers.
Hang on a minute! Okay, purple neckerchief in place. Please proceed!
Zac great video as always. I have to ask Zac but on unrelated topic. You have previously mentioned your religious upbringing and belief that electric guitar was evil. I struggle with a lot of trauma from the SatanicPanic era such as fishing my cassette tapes out of the water filled trash can my step dad threw them in. I’d like to think music is a gift from God but so many fundamentalists say people like us are damned for eternity. How did you overcome the fear that liking music and guitars was going to send you to burn in the lake of fire for eternity? Love your content!
Understanding that well- meaning people have added their own interpretations to religious texts.
@@AskZac that’s what I’m trying to come to terms with but unfortunately I also know that some are not well meaning but hungry for power and money. Some are downright evil. They can’t stand someone might find joy and solace in anything other than their cult approach to Christianity. They definitely laid their eggs in my brain but instead of peace I find fear and anxiety. I guess that’s the strategy. Get em while their young and wreck em from having any fun. Or at least not feeling guilty like there will be hell to pay. If they only knew they drive more people away from God than they steer towards.
What are those two descending chords at 10:30? anyone? what key? i just found you today-have you explained any of Tampa Red's rock things (not the kazoo stuff) like Evalena, the Jitter Jump, or Rockin' in Rhythm?
Low to High -X-3-4-3-4-X - then slide it down one fret.
preach it brother!
Amen!
“Eating Pants” is now part of the household vernacular. As far as I’m concerned it’s also the title of the Ask Zac theme song. Your welcome
I LOVE IT!!!!
@@AskZac love your show
I don’t know what kind of crazy person doesn’t like Western swing. Speaking of pine guitars. I built a pine telecaster. It’s my favorite teles I’ve ever played
..sensational..
I just got into western swing and I was really shocked at how similar a lot of it is to Chuck Berry's guitar style, wondering if you have any thoughts on this.
Chuck listened to lots of country music. Ida Red=Maybelene
11:45 and following... I steal. I teach my kids to steal. I teach them to hit as well. I also teach them to hit and steal at the same time! Guitar and baseball are so closely related.
Love it
Zac you are one sick cutie xxx
Groeten uit Nederland!
You can't talk about western swing without mentioning Eldon Shamblin, not a Tele player but had the first custom colour strat in gold flake.
I hope you caught me taking about him in the episode
@@AskZac Sure did. Now you ought to cover Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West (I am almost sure you have) and Thumbs Carllile. Many years ago, my grandfather gave flying lessons to Leon McAuliffe, and years ago I used to spend my summer jobs money at a shop run by Dave Landry in Neosho, MO, who was (is) apparently quite well known in the vintage world and bought the gold strat from Eldon at one point and is I believe the last known owner.
Mine too.
I had that guitar in my hands, looked under the plate.
Color me jealous!
@@AskZac posted an article on Fretboard Journal years ago and got some negative pushback on the Leo connection.. I believe it, and it sure looked like early Fender work.
🎉
Junior because Eldon's stuff is hard to cop
A.M.E.N
Wait...there are people who don't like western swing?
Being called Fat Boy during the Depression years was a tribute to his success and money. Rich enough to not just eat but Gain weight. Mama the hogs have got me..Ahhh.
Never plays examples???
I absolutely played examples in this video. And linked to a spotify playlist for his playing.
that is one gritty sounding Tele...or you make it so...
Turn the amp up
I don't think "Craig's Record Factory" carried these Zac..
EXACTLY!!! I had to hunt them down. I did hang out there a ton.
If God invented something better than western swing, he kept it to himself.