Dueling Banjos

Loy B Moore · Post by **Loy B Moore** » 5 Jan 2002 7:36 pm

I recently heard a recording of Dueling Banjos that featured a pedal steel "competing" with the banjo. The pedal steel clearly won the duel (what else). Does anyone know who was playing the steel and the name of the CD?

Gary Harris · Post by **Gary Harris** » 5 Jan 2002 8:34 pm

One of my favorite movies was "Deliverance" staring Burt Reynolds. In the movie the "Dueling Banjos" instrumental was used however it was banjo and flat top guitar. This was used without the permission of the author, Arther Guitar Boogie Smith. Mr. Smith contacted Hollywood and asked for compensation, they said no. He indicated that he would take legal action, their arrogant reply was, "You don't have the time nor enough money to sue us". Smith replied that he had plenty of time and could get the money. He did both and won a huge settlement. This story was in a book by Ralph Emery.

Fred Murphy · Post by **Fred Murphy** » 5 Jan 2002 8:47 pm

Robby Turner has a version with a dobro. It is on a CD titled Totally Hot Nashiville Steel Guitar, and it features several other steel players as well. A good CD.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 5 Jan 2002 8:50 pm

Interesting. Never knew this, 'til now.
Always thought Eric Weissberg(?) was the
author, as well we know it was his banjo
version which made it into "Deliverance".

And "Hat's-Off" to Arthur 'GuitarBoogie' Smith for beating those 'WholeyWierd' greedy hogs at their endless lying & conniving.

FWIW - ChipsAhoy

Quesney Gibbs · Post by **Quesney Gibbs** » 6 Jan 2002 4:10 am

A few years ago I was working in the Anniston, Alabama area with some musicians from the 14th Army band. They were awsome to say the least.

The lead guitar player also played banjo so when we played Dueling Banjos the second part fell to me.

I had my guns jam more than once in that song but they were professionals so they just laughed it off.

Ft. McClellan was closed and the band was re assigned to other parts of the world and that was the end of that. Great fun while it lasted.

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 6 Jan 2002 6:13 am

I thought it was really Ronnie Cox and that guy on the porch swing in Deliverance that played "Dueling Banjos".

Seriously though, Wasn't there a guy named Steve Mandel involved with the original with Eric Weisberg?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 6 Jan 2002 6:47 am

Yes, it was "Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell" on the sound track of Deliverance, and released on Warner Brothers Records. www.genejones.com

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 8 Jan 2002 4:26 pm

"Two thumbs up" to Arthur 'GuitarBoogie' Smith.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 8 Jan 2002 8:27 pm

Squeal like a pig! Really pigeonholed Ned Beatty's career.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 9 Jan 2002 12:37 am

In regards to the Soundtrack, it was a top seller, a hit and a total disgrace.
Besides the Arthur Smith rip-off situation, the rest of the album was actually from a 1963 album 'New Dimensions In Guitar And Banjo' by Marshall Brickman and Steve Mandell.
It was recorded in Hollywood and a young fella by the name of Clarence White played rhythm guitar on the session.
Suffice it to say that the soundtrack LP and reissues since have failed to mention Brickman, or anyone else invloved besides Brickman.
In reality the album should have been credited to Mandell alone, or better yet.. various artists with full credits on each song.
Oh well, that's the industry I suppose.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 9 Jan 2002 2:30 am

Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz...
Jason........you never, ever, cease to amaze me [us]......you are certainly, to this point, the unrefutabilly most knowledgeable
folklorist/archivist since Alan Lomax.

Thanks good friend...

You know I dig this stuff.........

ChipsAhoy

[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 09 January 2002 at 02:33 AM.]

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 9 Jan 2002 9:05 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>the unrefutabilly most knowledgeable
folklorist/archivist since Alan Lomax.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not quite, but I will take the compliment!

------------
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson

Geoff Cole · Post by **Geoff Cole** » 10 Jan 2002 9:07 pm

Go get 'em Jas.

Still Stuck in East Timor.

Gary Harris · Post by **Gary Harris** » 12 Jan 2002 9:06 am

As a subscriber of the local newspaper, "The Nashville Tennessean" music stories are in the news. Almost weekly there are stories about someone in the music business sueing someone also in the music business. This is not mentioned on the radio at all, it's old hat. The Dixie Chicks are in a dispute because of, you guessed it, money.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 12 Jan 2002 10:59 pm

Squeal like a pig! Really pigeonholed Ned Beatty's career.

wouldn't "corn-holed" be a more apt phrase?

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 13 Jan 2002 5:12 pm

"Dueling Banjos", I call it the "love theme" from "Deliverance".

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 15 Jan 2002 10:23 am

Dueling Banjos", I call it the "love theme" from "Deliverance

I thought "DELIVERANCE" was a love story!!

Ray

------------------
Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 15 Jan 2002 10:34 am

Say; this is more fun than the HUMOR Forum !! Now if we could just get Tony Davis and Anne Marie some b@njos, we'd be all set ! Them two is always dueling it out.

BTW: I heard some guy on WSM last night saying: There's nothing better than waking up at 4 AM to the sound of B@NJOS..... !!

Regards, Paul

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 16 Jan 2002 12:53 pm

Wait a sec. I have that LP, and it credits Weissberg, Brickman, AND Mandel, not in big print, but still. Except that I think the "Dueling banjos" cut was Weissberg/Mandel, and the rest of the album is Weissberg/Brickman, with a lot of twin banjo stuff. I'll have to check. I'm pretty sure it doesn't credit Clarence white.

Marshall Brickman also co-wrote most of Woody Allen's movies. I heard a story about how he was pretty hard-up when that album was reissued with a picture from the movie on it, and it was a most pleasant surprise when Weissberg called to say a big cheque was in the mail.

It's a good album if you like banjo instrumentals, which I do.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 16 Jan 2002 2:32 pm

Many, many years ago I heard Dallas Wayne do this song with a bass fiddle and a kazoo, all by himself. Sounded almost like a full band when he hit the chorus and started slappin' the bull fiddle. Won first prize in the talent contest, I think. I'm still laughing when I think about it...