Austin City Limits

R.I.P. Russell Smith.

[@TroyCrumbley]

When introducing a new listener to the Aces, I always refer to them as, "the greatest band you never heard of..."

[@mattetheridge8459]

Great way to put it

[@dozensides]

Yeah, and too, they tickle everybody pink with audacity. I didn't pay Stacked Deck much attention but this song was nearly prohibited in my house. I can listen to it over and over. So, the story goes. "Excellent choice of music."

[@ryanfields3922]

Love it

[@namcat53]

They must be very young or very unaware.

[@suckapunch]

@@namcat53 "very young" as in under 65 and "very unaware" as in don't recall a band with no album hitting the top ten in any charts. Get out of here with that pompous boomer attitude. I've loved the Aces for decades, and am probably 30 years your junior. But I wouldn't fault my contemporaries for not knowing them. They peaked when you were 20. You probably can't name more than half a dozen modern musicians and groups.

[@carlscamino5844]

My favorite line from a song ever: "I'll even tell you that I love you, if you want me to."

[@EdwardKelly-vi9sg]

I REMEMBER THE 70s EVERY TIME I HEAR THAT SONG...MAN THOSE WERE SOME GOOD OLD DAYS...!

[@danjohnson3304]

When music was REAL !!!!! Excellent!!!!

[@jimmygarlon750]

I had the chance to hear Russell and his band in Johnson City, Tenn. years ago. He was upon stage singing and drinking shots having a grand old time, his band mates got to picking on him about his height. He said listen here, laying down I am as big as any man. The crowd roared with laughter. A great show.

[@danielshaw8049]

I spent some time in Johnson City in the early 2000's. It changed a lot.

[@yvonneshively6353]

I got to know Rusty pretty well and can attest to his statement.

[@rogerdavenport9618]

The tall guy with the cowboy hat was Barry Byrd Burton, playing lead guitar, and several other instruments on their albums, also helped produce them, from my hometown of Rogersville Tn. RIP Barry.

[@FordFracture]

Wow it's been a long time sense that song has graced my eardrums ! All of a sudden I'm back in the 70s driving them old dirt roads back home again .

[@jman1957]

Mis those times

[@jeremymay4331]

Nothing worse than an old back road that has been paved since... love those old roads that deep down you know only a few others know

[@Mark-hz5nc]

1970 F100, no air, am radio, three on the tree. Drove my then girlfriend, now wife of 42 years around in that truck on country roads listening to music like this and falling in love!

[@JamesWilliams-hb5lz]

Russel has a voice from heaven. I love this band. Soulful Country.

[@karladuncan4026]

I've always loved this song from the 1970's!

[@user-td9wl8eh8h]

I remember this great song and The Rhythm Aces❤❤❤❤

[@dillardjenkins5118]

I met Russell Smith in a very small bar in Grand Junction, Colorado one night in the early 1980s. My friend Larry Creaseman and I talked with him for a few minutes before he started he even payed for our beers. He was very pleasant, and told us how singing and making music had made him so happy, and you could see that clearly in his smile.. I'll never forget him, he' was a great person. The maximum seating in that bar was less than 50; there were fewer than 20 there.

[@Hendrix.]

One of the best examples of appropriately applied guitar solos and fills ever. It fits the song perfect.

[@tracykingston9668]

Shucks, purdy dang good geetar playin' on that solo. Me likes . Remember that tune on the radio all the time in 1975. Went to number one in Canada.

[@TheAzmountaineer]

Byrd Burton - great guitar player, may he rest in peace. Check out his playing on 'The End is Not in Sight'

[@traviswilson329]

Amen

[@mikefannon6994]

Byrd played in a Knoxville bar band back before Aces. I saw them many nights at the Place, Sound Showcase. He's one of the best pickers ever! I listen to "Too Stuffed to Jump" on vinyl often.

[@stephencarpenteri2223]

Everyone needs a third-rate romance at least once in their lives. Mine was 1972. She was 24, I was 21. "I never felt like this before!" keeps ringing in my ears 50 years later!

[@tracykingston9668]

Father time is merciless. Takes no prisoners.

[@jimbeller7948]

Yes, I have, but only a time or two.

[@bluesteel5841]

Lol at 65 i need one

[@beachidiot]

@@bluesteel5841 1957 was a good year.

[@christopherpohl8743]

You are watching GREATNESS!!! The Icing is Amazing Grace…

[@kenster007]

Glad they got all the miles from this awesome song. Sounds as good as it did in the 70s.

[@gw5309]

"The End Is Not In Sight" (The Cowboy Tune) is one of my all time favorite songs. A masterpiece.

[@dustindavis9050]

Yep me as well!!!

[@rolandoaponte9062]

Absolutely, a great song that deserves better!

[@thomastarwater6035]

In memory of the man who had a voice made for country, rock, bluegrass, Southern rock, rhythm and blues, and soul. I heard Third Rate Romance on KSLY, San Luis Obispo, California. I even had all of their albums on vinyl, even the rare two-record live album "Full House". I'm sure glad that Russell Smith got to rejoin the Amazing Rhythm Aces and made some more music. He still had a lot of music in him, and he'll be missed. What a great band, and what a great singer.

[@jeffreyhorton8059]

I have 'em all, too, including Full House Aces High. Saw the ad in Rolling Stone and sent my check. I have them all on CD now, too. And I have 3 solo Russell albums on CD. He was the best. Other than the Beatles, the Rhythm Aces were my all-time favorite band. They did it all. I've recorded a few tunes of theirs. My time with Northern Lights put "Anger and Tears" into the Music Choice Bluegrass channel for about 25 years. I recorded "Say You Lied" with the Neon Valley Boys (old bad tape, but it's up on KZbin). I didn't know Russell had passed until seeing his photo the following Grammy Awards Memorial. I was devastated, in a funk for a few days. I'd always hoped I'd meet him someday.

[@raymondhatton6497]

i got see them one time in michigan ,think they were backing allman bros or another band midht been atlanta rythm section ? you have to remember this is early 70s , marshall tucker ,skynard , lot southern rock bands toured , , but anyway low rent rendevous always gave me a chuckle

[@beachidiot]

Don't forget Bluegrass. He was a founding member of Run C & W and a Burns brother.

[@danielshaw8049]

I thought they were from Texas, Man, I was wrong.

[@hippydippy]

They were such a great band... I miss them.

[@xtc1957]

A GREAT sounding solo on that Telecaster, if ever I heard one. It doesn't get "twangier" that that! This tune is so much to play, and these were incomparable times in rock music.

[@athena_the_hun1097]

I love his facial expression as he sings! Such a cutie ol performer as well as singer, song writer, musician!

[@abg125]

I I’ve got everything the Aces ever put out...my dad knew James Hooker from SC...one the most talented underrated bands of all time! They could do it all rock, r&b, blues, country, even bluegrass...RIP Russell I lost my old man to cancer 10 years ago he was about two years older than Russell

[@CliffDHall69]

I have the album's on vinyl. Can you shed some light on the reoccurring Frog on covers?

[@frankguernier2280]

What a band, What a voice. Had the pleasure of seeing them live at the Basement in Sydney Australia. I am going to treasure the Autographs and keep on playing the music. Long live the Aces!

[@willperryman4559]

One of my all time favorite bands, and Russell Smith wrote such outstanding songs and stories, and I had the honor to perform with them in Jacksonville Florida 🎶😎🎶 in 1978. I wish I still had the 3 “Albums “ I owned in a collection, the artwork was as cool as the group😎

[@cameronsimonton2515]

One of my all-time favorite songs. A real feel-good rhythm 🎶

[@SaabAholic]

This is a GREAT song! Great memories here.

[@packingten]

They were,AMAZING great musicians

[@Scott-ly2nk]

I remember when song came out. And i always wondered what happened to them then thanks to the internet i found them they are a good band

[@k2wo1]

RIP Russell Smith. A legendary artist. God bless him and his family.

[@greghall51]

A great song, but they had soooo many better songs. Love me some Aces !! RIP Mr. Smith.

[@johnireland6301]

These guys are just wonderful. So many great memories of that era.

[@antonioalvarez6404]

This song was popular while I was stationed in Pensacola, FL. along with "Before the next tear drop falls".

[@jimbeller7948]

I was in Mobile, Ala. Some good tunes in them Gulf Coast daze...

[@nickhall9572]

Yes ! ~ Freddy Fender was awesome, too !

[@mrjuvy49]

The whole Texas Tornadoes was a platform for Freddie and freinds.

[@jimbraswell5469]

One of the best bands ever

[@MrGoober54]

Rest In Peace. Thank you for giving us your music.

[@tommckinnon1005]

I had been playing guitar for about 10 yrs (mostly folk, folk rock, blues and pop) when this song was released. My band wanted to play it but I realized that I did not have the depth of experience in country pickin' to pull it off. So I listened to the lead guitar parts on this song about a thousand times, copying them meticulously, and it was my introduction to country lead guitar. Thank you, Aces!

[@nickhall9572]

Nice, T.-Mac !

[@zackamania6534]

As a kid I thought they were singing “Third GRADE Romance”...what an AM classic from the mid 80s...

[@jimbeller7948]

A little earlier... 1975

[@dolfan13jmb]

Yeah and a long time i thought it was Loring rendezvous.

[@billhudson1923]

When i was a kid and still learning to play, i saw them at a county fair when this album was first released! Seems like a million years ago 😎

[@wichitablack]

Saw them open for the Eagles in '79 in Houston.

[@BuckBarker]

Byrd was like a big brother to me. I spent a lot of time with him at the beginning of the Aces. My brother in law was married to Byrd’s sister. We all would go the concerts. We got to meet a lot of popular acts of the day. I was sitting to the left of Byrd at the board when he recorded the lead guitar track to the End is Not in Sight. He was the producer and engineer for the group. He went through it a couple times to figure out what he wanted to play, and then he laid it down in one track. He used Russell Smith’s white ES335. He was the most meticulous person I ever met. He was very detailed oriented. He could fade those different solo parts in and out seamlessly. After the Aces , he became an engineer and studio musician at Tree in Nashville. He played multi instruments and engineered for some of the biggest stars in history. Also, he toured with many as well. He was an avid pilot and owned a plane. After music, flying was his passion. I made the guitar strap that he is wearing on this ACL footage and wrote the poem they placed at the alter at his funeral. May he rest in peace.

[@TheAzmountaineer]

Great story, you are a lucky man! What did Byrd use to get that soulful sound - was it a phaser?

[@BuckBarker]

@@TheAzmountaineer He used a MXR phase 90. Later on at Tree he had a complete rack mount system. I remember when tree got their first harmonizer, and started recording digitally. I asked him, “ Where is the the signal being recorded “? He said , “On chips,”

[@keemosobby2633]

.......I remember this song......heard it on the radio the other day. Sounds like Kenny Rogers. The good ole days. ♡

[@galahadgarza6905]

That guitar really brings this together! Great song.

[@njaneardude]

A classic! Anyone noticed the Peaches Records and Tapes t-shirt the bass player is wearing 😊

[@CliffDHall69]

Thx. I thought it maybe said 'Peace'.

[@scottrodgers7838]

I noticed it, back in the day closest one to me was in ft. Lauderdale spent hours there.

[@FawleyJude]

I used to love Peaches. They had stuff that no one else did and it was as big as a supermarket.

[@lulugodzilla]

Yeah, Peaches! We had them in Memphis, back in the day.

[@texasjr1804]

Every time I got a few bucks scrounged up I would go to peach’s.

[@kellykonoske91]

Loved country rock, and ARA ..Rest in peace Russel Smith !

[@kurtbader9711]

Big fun. Can't help but smile when I listen to this. Thanks.

[@lesterross1]

My brother and I have been pickin and grinnin this song since it was released.

[@TheDirtyredbandana]

I love this song so much and this band. Love the rhythm and the beat. And also that The End is Not In Sight. Heard them on the radio here in Malaysia in the mid 70s. Mark Knopfler cited them as one of his favourite bands.

[@robjontay5052]

A very under rated group. Austin City Limits is a great show. Don't see it much anymore.

[@artiefasbender9655]

I heard that Russell passed last week...the Aces were among my favorite bands and he was a major talent...

[@lynnlange488]

They were the warm up band for the Eagles in Feb 1980 in Ft Worth. What a night!

[@Jameslopez5682]

Hello Lynn how are you doing hope you’re having a great time with your family may God bless you and your family

[@shable1436]

Don't forget run c and w, with both of them in the band

[@cliffordbowman6777]

Better than the eagles, with a song like this

[@williamclark2292]

great memories to this great group!

[@vintagestrings6]

The lead singer's voice never matched up with the image I had in my mind of how he may have looked! Definitely a shocker. What an awesome voice he had.

[@vintagestrings6]

@BWM I believe this singer is Russell Smith.

[@nickhall9572]

Yes ! Sounds a bit like the wonderful Freddy Fender, also !

[@jonimaricruz1692]

Haven’t heard these guys in ages, it makes me want a beer or three. 😀

[@sonnyredbull6]

My fav band ever, they played it all but just never got the recognition they truly deserved. My band use to play a ton of their songs back in the day to a grateful listening audience so well received where ever we played, RIP RUSS you were the best :(

[@shaunedwards4893]

I was in junior high 1975-76. You still love this song.

[@heatherhiggins5016]

I was 22-23 a lifetime ago!

[@randallfrank5682]

These guys were great! Saw them live one time and just loved the show!

[@nickhall9572]

Good ol' Russell Smith gettin' it DONE at 5 foot 6, between them twin towers ! .... R.I.P., good sir. (1949-2019, cancer).

[@TheDerchminator]

Thank you Stephen King for mentionate this song. Love it.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

RIP Russell I had to come in here this and quench my ears after I heard Sammy Kershaw Trainwreck of a cover coming over a sound system in the store today

[@phillecompte3438]

Just love the guitar fills in this song .What a great song

[@mjphoto45]

Fun song. Love the telecaster and Peaches shirt on the bass player

[@ericellquist7007]

Shocking, absolutely shocking! I love it. Just gets better with age.

[@dalenjurgens6751]

One of my favorites! I didn't picture the singer that way, though... interesting. I always pictured a freddie fender look alike. lol

[@davidbergin6184]

Great band! So sad to lose Russell Smith. Barry Byrd Burton is gone too.

[@moonfarmer1]

Barry Burton and I went to High School together in the early 60's at RHS. Didn't know he had passed. RIP Barry

[@davidbergin6184]

I’m sorry for your loss. It’s my understanding he passed in 2008. Bet he was a fairly good guitar player in high school too.

[@tomlakey2099]

Butch (David) McDade gone too soon also

[@Cap683]

The ultimate bar band! Great stuff.

[@MrVerno1960]

One of my fav songs from my youth! Thanks for posting..

[@shawn13mertle13]

I loved this song when I was a little kid in the 70s.Had no Idea what it was about.Kind of like walk on the wild side and lola.Sometimes its just better to listen to the music.

[@davidcox3076]

Right there with you. Too young to understand. But my dad listened to a lot of AM country back then. Brings back a lot of memories.

[@seththomas9105]

Well, hell. I didn't know Russel had died. I let my subscription to Rolling Stone expire last year after 30+ years. Time to get it back. RIP Russell Smith.

[@Craig2760]

This show, Midnight Special, Don Kershner’s Rock Concert, David Sanborn’s Night Music...the Golden Years of Music on television.

[@mcmc8496]

The Midnight Special CD collection was crucial in my children's early education along with all the standard Dora the explorer and other modern childhood standards. It never ceases to amaze my friends that children especially children from the late 90's early 2000's could always beat them in a name that song and artist trivia contest. Which I imagine it is shocking when an elementary school aged child to start talking about their favorite Seals and Croft song or that the Ohio Players live performance of Fire from the Midnight Special is hard to beat. Number 3 son actually developed a crush on Debra Harry based on her performance that I still pick on him today for. I can't fault him though still have a crush on Stevie Nicks that I've been carrying since her performance of Rhiannon in the mid 70's on the aforementioned Midnight Special. Thank you Burt Sugarman...

[@katydidiy]

I just gotta chuckle - reminds me of my ex and the fun we had way back when - and all the parties and pot - LOL!

[@lisagabrielcich490]

I saw them in concert when I was in college in Lafayette Louisiana. I've loved this song ever since.

[@Jameslopez5682]

Hello Lisa how are you doing hope you’re having a great time with your family may God bless you and your family

[@lisagabrielcich490]

@@Jameslopez5682 thanks. Hope you are doing well also

[@Jameslopez5682]

@@lisagabrielcich490 yes I’m thank you for asking nice to meet you

[@Jameslopez5682]

@@lisagabrielcich490 where are you from?

[@lisagabrielcich490]

@@Jameslopez5682 Louisiana

[@raymondhatton6497]

20 /30 years later i still love this tune .. o still cool tune ,

[@raymondhatton6497]

he said hers the key she said give it to me hahh

[@bcuz2975]

Lord knows that his story. Love ❤️ it ! Timeless. Thanks

[@seththomas9105]

Anyone remember when they were on SNL? I would love to find a copy of them on that show, it was cool.

[@jeffreyhorton8059]

They played "Who Will Your Next Fool Be?", and "Third Rate Romance", both from their first LP, and they were on their 4th or 5th, I believe. The same SNL had Bruce Cockburn singing "I Wonder Where the Lions Are". I've looked for it but never seen a video. It was their only time in the north.

[@rogerdavenport9618]

Yes I do and yes I did, up late that Friday night because Barry Burton was from my hometown!

[@mctavish23]

Love this song.

[@alistairedivitt6530]

Alaways watched this show on a Saturday in Toronto...... thank you pbs

[@donnyob123]

Fantastic guitar solo and fills -

[@vtwinbuilder3129]

Amen.

[@jimbeller7948]

That was the late Barry "Byrd" Burton of Rogersville, Tenn.

[@jamescopeland5358]

Great band

[@roysass1387]

The Aces first album is so superb. “Beautiful lie” my favorite. Heard them live once, small club here in Madison, Wi. Just as good live as on vinyl.

[@goittoog7563]

When Benny Hill digs your song you know you made it

[@joelark2007]

Saw the bass player 25 years ago with Klein low on peddle steel from burito bros and garth Hudson from the band in Euclid Ohio at the beach land ballroom as 's burrito deluxe they blew the doors off the place

[@huggyboarmcluvin8075]

They had the unique honor of being musical guests on "The Benny Hill Show" (one of my favorites)

[@ep61611]

That sure opens the door to yesterday...

[@juanhernandezmillan1608]

Great song. Greetings from Mexico.

[@SuperBQuiet]

Jim Cornette and The Great Brian Last brought me here! Great song, I'm going to look up more of their songs.

[@coolazul-ic9km]

The old cosmic cowboy days. Timeless.

[@rickharper3940]

I played w/ Butch McDade a few gigs w/ Tim Krekel in '81. I saw this and remembered Butch would ONLY use that type of Chair when he played. Early 60s deco... Guess he found them comfy...

[@nickhall9572]

Oh, okay. The drummer. Butch McDade founded The Aces with Russell Smith in Memphis in 1972. We lost him to cancer in 1998 at the young age of 52. .... R.I.P., sir.

[@rickharper3940]

@@nickhall9572 yes. told me they were in canada for a reason

[@randyovercash8234]

Thank you Lord for blessing our souls. Hallejujah. To our God.

[@brenthughes6805]

Barry Bird Burton was great could play anything also producer.Rogersville's greatest musican.

[@robwheelut]

loved this song since the 70s

[@BaktaBak3]

Love this band & this song ! :-)

[@denniswarren3211]

R.I.P. "Russell the Muscle!"

[@lennievolle8957]

Thanks! R.I.P. Russell Smith.

[@Jameslopez5682]

Hello Lennie how are you doing hope you’re having a great time with your family may God bless you and your family

[@user-ti2gy1dh8g]

I love this song reminds me of being a kid

[@johnjarou2357]

thanks for posting this up again. good old song, for sure.

[@tommymann69]

Sammy Kershaw brought me here 2021

[@Trident750UK]

Fabulous..!!

[@CUBICUB]

Great song, great band.

[@tadsomato1940]

So fantastical.

[@convitguard1]

This is awsome. Thank you for posting.

[@Sustainable1492]

So awesome

[@berndtherrenvolk1951]

They should have been bigger. (No, I'm not talking about Russell's height. I'm talking about the band's success.) They had talent.

[@mackdaddy8739]

I was about 10 or 11 when this was performed...good stuff