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"Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Goran Efvergren <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Goran+Efvergren' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 7, 2017, 7:10 am

I believe this song had been perfect for Jim Reeves. I also have a question:Why doesn't DEAN MANUEL appear so often in the studio recordings?

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Larry N Jordan on July 8, 2017, 2:44 pm, in reply to ""Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"
Edited by board administrator July 8, 2017, 2:47 pm

Dean Manuel didn't appear on the studio sessions by his own choice. As Leo Jackson told me, he witnessed Jim trying to convince Dean to play on sessions and pointed out it would be extra money for him, but Manuel demurred and said that Floyd Cramer would do a better job.

Leo said that producer Chet Atkins made Dean nervous and he didn't like doing sessions for that reason. Interestingly, Dean played on a bunch of demo sessions not only for Reeves but other artists at Starday. Dean also was calm enough to appear with Jim on live TV. But there was something about Chet that unnerved Dean. "He didn't like the pressure," Leo commented.

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Goran Efvergren <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Goran+Efvergren' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 9, 2017, 6:10 am, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Interesting.Thank you for the answer Larry.

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

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 July 11, 2017, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

It seems strange to me that Dean would have been so nervous because of Chet. Chet was known for being so quiet and easy going...

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

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 July 16, 2017, 1:43 pm, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Chet was anything but "quiet and easy going" at times. In fact, the union -- the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians -- shut down RCA's Nashville studio for awhile when Chet physically assaulted an engineer, Bob Ferris, in early 1959. The union came to Ferris' defense and insisted he be transferred. And until he was, Studio B (though it was not referred to by that name at the time) was shut down. All because Chet couldn't keep control of his temper. RCA in New York dispatched Les Chase to come down to Nashville to straighten things out, and that's when Bill Porter was hired as an engineer to replace Bob.

Mr. Ferris had engineered a number of Jim's sessions, but Porter was very inventive. He started as a camera man at a Nashville TV station and being the low man on the totem poll, also had to mix sound for the station. He did a good enough job, however -- learning on the fly -- that he applied for the RCA job, which entailed being able to mix the 12 microphones that RCA had the capability to handle in their Nashville studio. Porter also studied sound and was responsible for improving not only the acoustics of the studio but also the reverb. This fortuitously happened not long before Jim Reeves recorded his big hit, "He'll Have To Go."

Bill and Jim didn't always get along so well, however, though they maintained a professional and respectful relationship. Tommy Strong was also an engineer who worked with Bill and was likewise talented. Tommy handled a number of Jim's songs.

I have other stories about Chet Atkins that will surprise many fans in my 672-page book, "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story."

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Michael Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 16, 2017, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Wow, I don't remember this story about Chet! Was this one in the book? I guess it just shows us that everyone has another side to them. I met Chet in New Jersey in 1975, and he was very nice and very laid back. He really seemed to fit the easy going image most people know him for. But I guess we all have our dark side at times...

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

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 July 17, 2017, 7:15 pm, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

My first contact with Chet Atkins was when I was 13 and wrote a letter to RCA in Nashville asking questions about my dad's and my favorite singer, Jim Reeves. Chet personally replied with Mary Reeves' mailing address and encouraged me to write her, and I did. Thus a friendship was born.

Years later I encountered Chet on the golf course and after he finished playing I tracked him down in the club house and talked to him about Jim. The first words out of his mouth were that "Jim could be very MEAN at times" and that he was always "fussin'" at people in the studio. (I later discovered this was an odd remark because of all the musicians and engineers and singers I interviewed who were on Jim's recording sessions, no one recalled any temper outbursts by Reeves).

Chet elaborated that Jim would get just as upset with himself if he couldn't get a note, usually on guitar.

When Chet gave interviews in later years he tended to talk about Elvis much more than he did Jim, though he DID say some very kind things about Reeves on occasion. He said he still missed Jim every day.

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Rodney james <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 26, 2017, 11:42 am, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Larry- can u help with the link to the video clip of Chet plus two or three others discussing jr where Chet said jr would knock your teeth in!

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Michael Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 28, 2017, 9:14 pm, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Rodney, this was from a video of classic country stars sitting in a circle singing and telling stories about some of the country greats. I believe it was hosted by Jim Ed Brown. If you type in some key words, you can find it on you tube...

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Rodney james <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Rodney+James' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 30, 2017, 4:05 am, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Michael
Many thanks but don't seem to be able to find the link.

Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel

Posted by Michael Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on August 1, 2017, 2:36 pm, in reply to "Re: "Jim Reeves Sound"///Dean Manuel"

Rodney, sorry you couldn't find it. I'm having trouble finding it again too. However, I typed in jim ed brown country music reunion and several videos came in. What you're looking for is most likely in one of those. You could give it a try...

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