JIM REEVES FAN FORUM

Don Robertson

Posted by Gary Bryson <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Gary+Bryson' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 17, 2014, 7:37 pm

I'm listening to some music this evening, and I've been paying particular attention to songs written or co-written by Don Robertson. Jim recorded a few of Mr. Robertson's songs, such as, "Stand In", "You're Free To Go", and "There's Always Me". I like all of those.

But there are other compositions of Don Robertson that I wish Jim had recorded such as, "I Met Her Today", "Anything That's Part of You", "I'm Counting on You", "Love Me Tonight", "You Don't Need Me Anymore", "Starting Today", and "I Really Don't Want To Know", which I think Jim did live, but I don't think he ever put in an album. Those are all pretty songs, and I would love to hear them sung by Jim.

If you investigate Don Robertson's work, you find that he wrote a number of songs that were hits. I read that he also kind of invented the slip note piano playing that Floyd Cramer later made famous. A very talented man.

Larry, do you know if Jim knew Don Robertson, and if so, can you say anything about their relationship. I could not find him mentioned in your book, but I might have missed it.

Re: Don Robertson

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 17, 2014, 9:05 pm, in reply to "Don Robertson"

Gary, many of the Don Robertson songs you mentioned were recorded by Elvis, and I wish Jim had recorded more of Don's songs as well. I don't believe he was mentioned in Larry's book and I'm not sure if Jim ever met him, but I know for a fact that Elvis did. Elvis recorded quite a lot of Don's songs, and Don even played on some of his sessions. I don't know how true the story is, but its' been said that Floyd Cramer actually stole Don's slipnote playing style, and ever since then, it has always been attributed to him. Don was asked how he felt about Floyd getting all the credit, but he was very good natured about it and didn't seem to mind. In case you're interested, there was a CD available of Don doing some of his own songs, mostly ones that Elvis recorded. It might still be available, maybe on amazon.

Re: Don Robertson

Just looked up the Don Robertson CD on amazon, and it is still available. It's called "And Then I Wrote Songs For Elvis". The first track on the disc, however, is "Stand In" that Jim recorded. It also includes "Starting Today", "I'm Counting On You" and "I Met Her Today". There are 26 tracks on the disc.

Re: Don Robertson

Posted by Paul <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Paul+Bertils' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 17, 2014, 9:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Don Robertson"

Hey Gary,

One of Don's songs is actually part of the new 8 CD collection (50th Anniversary) available from the address noted on this forum.Just another reason to think about buying this collection. Cheers

Re: Don Robertson

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 17, 2014, 9:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Don Robertson"

Sara and I write about Don Robertson in the "Song & Recordings" 48 page booklet that accompanies the new 8 CD set, "The Great Jim Reeves," available at the link below.

Link: NEW 8 CD "THE GREAT JIM REEVES"

Re: Don Robertson

Posted by Gary Bryson <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Gary+Bryson' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 17, 2014, 9:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Don Robertson"

Yes Mike, I intend to order that soon. Have you heard it? I've never heard Don Robertson speak or sing, but I would like to have that CD. A little pricey for 26 songs, but it is one of a kind I guess.

I know Elvis liked Don's songs and recorded several. I've been listening to some of them on Youtube. Eddy Arnold also recorded some of them, and "I Really Don't Want To Know" was a big song for Eddy in the mid to late 1960's I believe. I first heard "I Met Her Today" on a CD of Eddy's that I have.

In my opinion, Don Robertson was a very fine songwriter. I really like many of his tunes. I first heard "Starting Today" on one of the few Elvis CD's that I own. I just like that type of song. I like sad songs. A little too much I think.

Re: Don Robertson

Hey, that's great Larry! Can't wait to get that in the mail.

Re: Don Robertson

Hey Gary,

I stand corrected..there are actually two of Don's songs in that collection of 8 brand new Cds.

Re: Don Robertson

Thanks Paul. I have ordered it, and I'm anticipating its arrival. Can't wait to read what Larry and Sara wrote.

Re: Don Robertson

Sharp-eyed Paul is correct! Don and Jim knew each other. Robertson also had written the song long rumored to have been offered to Reeves, which Jim turned down and Hank Locklin recorded: ""Please Help Me I'm Falling."

It was indeed Don who invented the "slip note" playing style that was picked up by Floyd Cramer. Don got his first songs published by Hill and Range -- a hugely successful song publishing company founded by by Austrian-born Julian Aberbach and his brother Jean, who were close personal friends of Reeves' ladyfriend and guiding influence, Bea Terry.

Don reflected some years ago, "A shrink I was seeing (for my suicidal depression when I was 19) stated, after I had given him a recording of some of my work, that in his opinion the only reason I wanted to be in the music business was to get out of doing any REAL work. Maybe he was right. I still sit at the keyboard and PLAY. Anyway, I owe him. It made me mad enough to set my jaw and go after success in music. Thinking back, I don't think he was doing that well himself. He was about 200 pounds overweight, a heavy cigar smoker, and I can never remember him cracking a smile in a year and a half.

"I am now...deeply and enthusiastically involved in songwriting again, after a long lull. I was in my 50s, with more than 40 chart level songs and a hit record under my belt, before I finally gave up the idea of going back to the University of Chicago and finishing pre-med and going on through medical school to become a psychiatrist. At long last, I now think of myself as a songwriter, not an aborted pre-med student/potential jazz piano recording star/classical music composer-conductor/concert pianist/etc etc etc.....gone awry. I guess it's about time." Don Robertson

Re: Don Robertson

Thank you Larry. I'm happy to know that Jim knew Don. Unless he has died very recently, I read that Don is now 91 years old. His songwriting days are probably over, but he left his mark with some fine songs.

Re: Don Robertson

By the way, our orchestra overdubbed both of the Don Robertson songs included in the new 8 CD set.

Re: Don Robertson

I found a recording of Don Robertson playing "Tennessee Waltz" on the piano on Youtube. An excellent piano player. Love his style.

Re: Don Robertson

No Gary, I've never heard the Don Robertson CD, but I've been wanting to get it. I don't know if Don ever sang, did he? I was assuming the CD was just his piano playing. Yes, it sells for about 26 dollars on amazon, but if you look to the side of the page, the private sellers are selling it for about half that. I can't wait to get the new 8-CD Jim Reeves set, and I'm glad that it includes some of Don's songs that Jim recorded. I'll bet the overdubs sound great! Larry, thanks for all the info on Don!

Here's an excerpt to hear

Posted by Larry Jordan on May 17, 2014, 10:35 pm, in reply to "Don Robertson"

Here's an excerpt of a Don Robertson song.

Depending on what kind of speakers you listen to music on with your computer (whether they are small and built in or if you connect your PC to a pair of external speakers), you may be able to discern the difference in our overdub.

Here is an except from our "new, improved" version of this song from the new 8 CD "The Great Jim Reeves" set. I brought in my orchestral players to enhance the original arrangement. We added flute, better percussion, a fuller string section, etc. This was done AFTER isolating Jim's voice from the original accompaniment and using digital tools to polish it to a new luster and richness.

I promise you when you hear this track and the others, it will be like the difference between watching an old black-and-white TV set with rabbit ears and watching the same show on one of the new 3-D high definition color sets.

The sound quality we've achieved, especially with the new instrumentation, will amaze you and Jim Reeves will sound like he is standing in front of you singing with an orchestra in your living room...

Click below to hear an excerpt. AND ORDER THE NEW CD on the opening page of this site!

Link: OVERDUB of DON ROBERTSON SONG

Re: Don Robertson

Mike, from the reviews on Amazon, it seems that Don does sing on that CD. I think the CD is demos that Don sent to Elvis. I didn't notice the private sellers. Thanks for mentioning that.

Re: Don Robertson

You're welcome, Gary, I believe they are the demos that were sent to Elvis. I had no idea that Don sang. I never thought to read the reviews on amazon. Thanks for letting me know. It sounds like an interesting CD. It would be great to hear the actual demos that Elvis, and maybe even Jim, first heard when going through material to choose for recording.

Re: Don Robertson

Mike, I ordered it this afternoon. When I have listened, I'll make some comments here about it.

Re: Don Robertson

Gary, I'm glad to see you ordered the Don Robertson CD, and I'll be interested to read your comments on it. I want to order it too, but first I want to get the new 8-CD Jim Reeves set. I'm really looking forward to that! Happy listening!...

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