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From: Buddy McPeters
Date: September 28, 2003
Duke, I wasn't aware that Ray recorded his album in '62. It's a very endearing album and a wonderful tribute to Bob Wills. You are right, Ray Price gleaned more influence from Bob's music than he did Hank Williams. Too bad the album was at the wrong time and Ray didn't go for the original sound like Merle did or Ray woulda been the one who rekindled the fires of Bob Wills music and Western Swing. Ray really went Pop crossover star after this and he was great, that's for sure. I think if you listen to Hank Williams complete body of recorded works it is evident that even he was influenced by Bob's music to a certain extent. Especially in arrangements, instrumentation, the caliber of his soloists and the quality of the solos his band members took and of course the way the guys in the band dressed. In many ways his soloists were more daring than Ole Rasmussen's Nebraska Cornhuskers, with the exception of Billy Tonneson who was and still is just an awesome steel player! I wish Ole would have turned those guys loose, but he told 'em, "Hey boys, this aint jazz and we aint Bob Wills, so keep it tight!" I would have loved to hear Earl Finley tear up that guitar they way he really could have if Ole had not have held him back. Buddy