I've been saving episodes of Stars Of The Grand Ole Opry ever since I upped my satellite tv to recording status.14 episodes so far.
My favorite at this time has The Louvin Brothers doing I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby with some wonderful Chet Atkins fills.
In this same offering we have Moon Mulligan rolling out a little spinette and singing You Don't Have To Be a Baby To Cry right after Billy Byrd's break.
There ain't but a couple dozen words in the whole thing and it plays like crazy.I'm going to spring it on the next jam I attend.
They also have Tommy Jackson playing for the Opry Squaredancers.
Edited by - steve davis on 01/05/2023 11:52:05
Have you acquired a time machine ?
Yes,in the form of my Directv letting me record those Opry legends from 1955.
Now I know more about Moon Mullican and am just starting to listen to his wonderful history of songs.I like me some great piano and singing...especially the old classics.It reminds me of home.
You don't have to be a baby to cry
All you need is for love to go wrong
You don't have to be a baby to cry
Or lay awake the whole night long.
When you leave me...my golden rainbow disappears
Then you leave me...a broken heart that's full of tears.
These ain't raindrops in my eyes
why should I lie?..You don't have to be a baby to cry.
Moon Mullican 1950
I first heard the Legends of the Opry's version with Billy Byrd backing him.A great swing beat with those all-bar steels and fiddles.
Today I found his original 1950 recording and while a thing of beauty it was much more toned down.I sing it like the Opry version.Catchy and I suppose the way he ended up preferring it done.Love his raucous piano.I never asked him but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that dear old Vaughn Meader listened to a lot of Moon's playing.
Edited by - steve davis on 01/18/2023 13:32:14
I'm pretty sure I first heard "You Don't Have To Be A Baby..." from a Del McCoury recording. (You can mention that in case someone demands a bluegrass pedigree for the song.)
Ah--here it is, with Dick Smith on banjo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWDtqByjbJw.
Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 01/18/2023 14:38:51
Great version.Thanks Ira.
That's the exerpt from the rfdtv 1/39 Legends of the Opry episode.
The fellow sitting to the right with the shades on is Chester Atkins who plays along with The Louvin Brothers in this same episode.A little hard to recognize Chet with those glasses on.
We played this one a couple of times this afternoon at our local "kitchen jam" and it was very well received.Our dear host ran off a handful of chords/words for those present.
I love Del's version.but my favorite has to have that style piano in the mix.I just have a deep and abiding affection for good piano in the right place.
I hear a "glitch" in the transition from the unexpected(?) piano exit,but Billy doesn't miss a step and Moon picks it up real smooth.Pros fix things on the fly as if it were meant to be.
Edited by - steve davis on 01/22/2023 14:50:26
