I've had some requests for sound clips of my '57 Gretsch Rambler (original post HERE) , so I put this together last night. It's my slower / jazzier take on an old Ricky Nelson song (like there are any new Ricky Nelson songs).

The Rambler -- which is 3/4-sized and ultra-short scale with a single DeArmond pickup -- is the only guitar used in the recording. I'm using a Carr Rambler (appropriately enough) amp, going direct to my interface via a Palmer Speaker Cab Simulator. Just a bit of reverb and trem with no other EQ / Compression / whatever else processing.

LONESOME TOWN

That's a great song -- so is your take on it . . . I don't really know the original, but your tempo and arrangement fit the lyrics perfectly. Rambler sounds great . . . (My first car was a '64 Rambler -- paid $100 for it, great deal).

Here's Ricky doing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVvIfoNBY3w

And no comparisons, please ...

I did notice that Ricky wears a jacket and tie when he plays and you wear a hat. I also notice that he has 3 hot babes on the couch applauding after he finishes singing, but I've never noticed any women in your videos.

All in all, I like your version better . . .

Mike -

Good song, great rendition. Thanks so much for posting it. One of those ones I never think of, but when I hear it, I think I have to add it to my stable. But after hearing your version, I may never try to pull it off again. Again, thanks.

Jim

Jim,

Thanks for the kind words. Several people at the Gretsch Forum requested tab for this one. While I don't have TAB, I can tell you that my arrangement is in the key of C ... and I also put together the following sheet for those guys that describes where / how the jazzier chords come in. Apart from that it's just a series of major / minor 7ths (mainly).

Anyway, here's the link:

LONESOME TOWN SHEET

cool. you and James Burton. thanks for the tab. now if I could get Ricky's hairline..... never mind. tom

Very nice job Mike, I like your vocals.