George Jones re-recording better than original... Who's playing?

[Per Berner]

For an artist to cut a new version of an older hit usually adds no value, but I have found an exception. In 1962, George Jones released "She thinks I still care" and got a huge hit (the one that starts with three tic-tac bass notes and the Jordanaires singing). But five years later, on the album "Hits by George" on Musicor, there is a newer version that is much, much better; this one starts off with a fiddle and has more prominent steel guitar. The fiddling is especially nice, could be maybe Johnny Gimble?

Does anyone know the musicians on these two different recordings? All I have been able to find is a partial listing for the first version, including Pig Robbins, Tommy Jackson and Grady Martin...

(Both are available on Spotify, the 1962 version is 2:34 long, the 1967 one is 2:43. Other (worse) later versions are also available...)

[Greg Cutshaw]

Are these the two versions?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpLY4Wy ... rt_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf62rjV ... rt_radio=1

[Per Berner]

Yep, those are the ones, the 1962 version is the first one.

[Pete Finney]

On the 1967 remake it sounds like Hal Rugg to me, though Sonny Curtis also played on Jones sessions around that time.
I'll bet Steve Hinson would know for sure.

I don't think Johnny Gimble had moved to Nashville yet in 1967. Bob Moore produced a lot of the George Jones' Musicor records so it's a good bet he's on bass.

[Rick Campbell]

There's two fiddles. My guess is Buddy Spicher and Shorty Lavender.

RC

[Per Berner]

Buddy Spicher was my second guess. Did they really spend money on two fiddlers on a session back then, instead of doing an overdub (considering the fact that most albums were done in only three or four sessions)?

[Pete Finney]

Did they really spend money on two fiddlers on a session back then, instead of doing an overdub?"

Yes, they did. Quite often, for many years.

[Donny Hinson]

There's no question that the later version is a better one! It's important to remember that the early version was probably lower budget, and EQ'd for small radios, without much thought about the fidelity. In the later version, the EQ sounds vastly improved, maximized for jukebox and hi-fi play. The mid-60s was boom-time for home stereo systems, and the improved sound of better recording equipment. Up until that time, most recording sessions only used one or two mics, and 2 or 4-track recorders. After 1963 LP's were also gaining popularity over the older 45-RPM format, and many top artists re-cut old songs to take advantage of the updated technology and make more "polished" versions. As an example, there is a night-and-day difference in the sound of Ray Price's recordings of 1959-61 vs. those of 1963-66.

[Steve Hinson]

On the 1967 remake it sounds like Hal Rugg to me, though Sonny Curtis also played on Jones sessions around that time.
I'll bet Steve Hinson would know for sure.

I don't think Johnny Gimble had moved to Nashville yet in 1967. Bob Moore produced a lot of the George Jones' Musicor records so it's a good bet he's on bass.

Pete,I think it's Hal on the newer version...I wanna say it's Day on the older one, but not sure...great to see you last week!

SH