Recorded Work of Roy Nichols

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 19 Jul 2001 2:47 pm

I was very sorry to hear of the recent passing of Mr. Nichols. I have the large Merle Haggard hits collection "Down Every Road," and love Roy's playing on "Honky Tonk Night Time Man". Knowing for sure that he played lead on that song allows me to try and guess which of the others he may have played on, although there really aren't, in this collection of hits, comparable moments of extended lead playing. My two questons are:

Are there album cuts that weren't hits that really showcased his playing?

Of the hits that he played on, which do you think of as his greatest moments?

As I listen a lot to Merle's recent "Live at Billy Bob's Texas" these days, I can't help wishing there was a way to hear Roy Nichols stretch out in a similar, informal and spontaneous way. The melodic slant on "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" is really unique. It leaves me wishing I could hear a lot more.

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 19 Jul 2001 6:55 pm

Jeff, go to www.allmusic.com , and do a search on Roy Nichols. I checked it out. Jim

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 20 Jul 2001 12:59 pm

Great idea, Jim. Thanx.

Terry Downs · Post by **Terry Downs** » 20 Jul 2001 7:28 pm

Check out http://www.wingatedesign.com/tele101/haggard.htm This has a lot of information.

The most interesting work is the instrumental album "Getting to Know the Strangers". Honky Tonk Night-time Man is one of his best, I think. The live albums in Muskogee and Philadelphia showcase Roy's work.

Regards,
Terry

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Terry Downs
http://nightshift.net
terry@nightshift.net

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 23 Jul 2001 12:08 pm

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 24 Jul 2001 2:58 am

Jeff;
My all time favorite song by Mr. Roy has to be "Workin' Man Blues"..The man was always ahead of his time his whole career IMHO.Also; Mr Norm Hamlett(sp?)Merle's steel player for all those years( & he still works for Merle)is on the Forum here sometimes.He worked beside Mr. Roy during all of Merle's great hits. Later Ron

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 24 Jul 2001 5:43 am

Ron;
"Workin' Man Blues" was James Burton. Roy played that style so effectively, so it's no surprise that everybody thinks it was him.

For a showcase of Roy's playing, I'd suggest the 5 Strangers LP's. Check out: <a href=http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry ... y.htm">The Stranger's Discography</a>.

"Honky Tonk Night Time Man" is also Roy kickin'

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 24 Jul 2001 1:47 pm

Ernie, technically you are right, for the studio version; however the 1969 "Live At Muscogee" album has a version which would have made James turn his head featuring the beloved Roy...Pete

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 24 Jul 2001 7:14 pm

Hi Ernie;
I learned something today from your post above. I did not know that.Thanks
Hi Peter;
I guess it makes sense now..I saw Merle & The Strangers 2 times live & both times Mr. Roy lit that song on fire..It did sound just a little different from the original too but i always thought he had improved it!
Later Ron

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 25 Jul 2001 3:47 am

Pete;

I agree the live cut was a better. The studio cut is heard most often on radio, (that is if you hear it at all.)

They played it live on some TV show in the 70's, I think it was Dinah Shore's show, and it was even better yet. Roy just layin' it down. Wish I had a video tape of that one.

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 25 Jul 2001 9:22 am

Jame's Burton is a great chicken picker but he's not really as funky as someone like Roy Nichols, Brent Mason, or some of the others. I think it lies in the fact that James uses a metal finger pick on his middle finger and doesn't get that fleshy funky sound some of the others do. If you ever get the chance check out the west coast's own Al Bruno. He does the flat pick bare finger thing with great success and it's on a Gibson no less.

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Have a good 'un! JH U-12

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 25 Jul 2001 11:21 am

Hey everybody, I know you guys will hate me for mentioning this(because once you start tuning in on it it will drive you crazy)but in the studio version, in order to give it that John Henry like quality, they had some bozo chinking on a little triangle or whatever every six or seven seconds. It drives me crazy so I have a hard time listening to the original. Ironically Haggard included the "hammer effect" on his live reissue album a couple of years ago. Now everybody just put that little hammer sound out of your minds and listen to James...Pete