Any pedal steel fans here?

[comfortablycurt]

Hey everyone,


Lately, I've been developing a serious love affair with the pedal steel guitar, and I'm looking for ANY music that showcases good pedal steel playing. Rock, country, jazz...anything.


I messed around with a pedal steel a little bit a few weeks ago, and fell in love with the instrument. I fully intend on buying one as soon as I can. A new acoustic guitar comes first though...followed by some upgrades to my electric rig...after that...I'll be entering the world of steel guitars. I'll probably start with a lap steel though, before I move on to a pedal steel.

The pedal steel is just such a beautiful sounding instrument. It has a lonesome, haunting, cosmic sound to it, that totally blows my mind. I've gotta have one.


So, anyone have any suggestions for good pedal steel material? I can't afford to buy a pedal steel yet, so for now I'm gonna have to make do listening to other people tear it up on them.



I recently discovered Robert Randolph...and this guys prowess on the pedal steel absolutely blows my mind. Here's a couple good videos that showcase his talent...

The March-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqpgBcT-Lis


Robert Randolph and Rob Thomas-Voodoo Child-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kORLh...eature=related

Robert Randolph and the Family Band are actually playing at a festival I was already planning on going to this summer(Wakarusa)...so I'll be sure to get up front for his set.

[Dawgfish]

I love the pedal steel also. The sound is mesmerizing and haunting to me. I see you've discovered Robert Randolph. He's always one of my first recommendations for pedal steel. Another guy to check out is Mark Van Allen who plays for the Atlanta based New Grass band Blueground Undergrass. He has a great style that is a cross between traditional country pedal steel and less traditional jam-band style. Besides BGUG, he's played with The Allman Brothers,Government Mule, The Derrick Trucks Band, Widespread Panic, Jimmy Herring, Vasser Clements, etc. He can jam with the best of them, while at the same time be twangy and traditional when the song calls for it. His tone is awesome also. I highly recommend checking out his version of Wichita Lineman on BGUG's self titled LP. It's awesome (as is the rest of the album).

Steve

[Fongolio]

SANTO & JOHNNY FARINA most famous for the tune Sleepwalk. Bruce Kaphan who's played with Chris Isaak, REM, The Black Crowes, Cheryl Crow and others. There are many others that are on a lot of very popular albums. Dire Straits used guest musicians that played pedal steel frequently and many of Mark Knopfler's solo albums feature it as well.

[headrott]

You should check out Steve Howe's pedal steel work. He uses it a lot in both his solo stuff and YES stuff. fantasic guitar work on his part. How about the "Soon" secttion of "The Gates of Delerium".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pNm2...eature=related

Greg

[Tony M]

I've always been moved by the sound of a steel slide guitar. Some of the older country music my parnts listened to had it and I loved those slide moments.

Interesting sound, It even sounds like Pink Floyd and Tangerine dream style.

[jgido759]

Believe it or not, Doyle Grisham from Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band plays a mean pedal steel.

"The steel guitar of Doyle Grisham can be heard on such Buffett classics as “Come Monday”, “The Great Filling Station Holdup” and many more. In 1999, Jimmy talked Doyle into going on the road and Doyle’s been touring with the band since then."

He also played with such greats as George Jones, Reba McEntire, and Kenny Rogers.

[POIDOG]

While not a true "steel guitar", from a cost standpoint, this device might be of interest to you :) Just a thought

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-Bender

Also check out "Sneaky Pete" the Cosmic steel player

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyl...aky-pete-a-gu/

[skipf]

I love some pedal steel. Some of my favorites were Buddy Cage that played with HRPS on their second lbum "Powerglide". Teir first album, New Riders of the Purple Sage featured Jerry Garcia who had just gotten into the pedal steel. I've still never heard anyone else get the sounds out of one he did. Asleep at the Wheel has a good steel player too.

[Polkie2009]

I wanted to add Buddy Merrill to the list here. None of y'all probably are old enough to remember him ,but he played for years on the Lawrence Welk Show. Mr. Welk only hired exceptional musicians and Buddy could hold his own whether on steel or electric guitar.

[agfrost]

Love me some Gear Daddies--"Let's Go Scare Al" and "Billy's Live Bait" are the two albums I've got. Good stuff.

Jay

[NotaSuv]

Go to the roots of the pedal steel......Hawaii

Lots of fantastic artists from the Islands

[POIDOG]

Love me some Gear Daddies
Jay

You are correct on the Gear Daddies, I have both these albums & love them,
but have always dug the Minnesota wing of Alt Country (whatever that is ) Also have Martin Zellar & The Hardways stuff (similar to the Gears)

FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_Daddies :D

[comfortablycurt]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions everyone.:)

I've got some listening to do...I'll report back after I get my ears on some of your guys suggestions.:)

[gdb]

I love some pedal steel. Some of my favorites were Buddy Cage that played with HRPS on their second lbum "Powerglide". Teir first album, New Riders of the Purple Sage featured Jerry Garcia who had just gotten into the pedal steel. I've still never heard anyone else get the sounds out of one he did. Asleep at the Wheel has a good steel player too.

Too true about Jerry !! Some of the sweetest pedal steel licks ever played were by Jerry Garcia on "Teach your Children" by CS&N !!!:D Commander Cody had some good steel too !

[gdb]

Whole bunch of good stuff on youtube.;)

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...r+licks&aq=6sx

[Rodeo0530]

Robert Randolph and the Family band are well worth the time to go see. Was front row last year with my g/f when they came to town and we loved every second of it. If I'm having a bad day, or feeling a bit sluggish I just have to listen to some RR. Have fun when you go see them. I'm sure you will!

[jgido759]

Some of the sweetest pedal steel licks ever played were by Jerry Garcia on "Teach your Children" by CS&N

Wow, you learn something new everyday. I never knew that was Jerry.

[Polkie2009]

I wasn't too sure how old you are ,you may not like something this old fashioned.Western Swing had a pretty big following back in the day. Check out Cindy Cashdollar who plays steel with the band Aleep At The Wheel. The thing about that old music is everybody in the band got to "take a ride" and it was great dancing music.

[comfortablycurt]

Too true about Jerry !! Some of the sweetest pedal steel licks ever played were by Jerry Garcia on "Teach your Children" by CS&N !!!:D Commander Cody had some good steel too !

Definitely!!

Jerry has some incredible pedal steel. Have you ever heard the album David Crosby and Friends, If I Could Only Remember My Name?

Check out the track "Laughing". Jerry had said many times that the pedal steel on laughing was THE BEST cut he ever recorded in a studio. That song will take you for a journey...absolutely incredible. It's full of that high lonesome, cosmic sound. An amazing cut. Unfortunately, the only youtube version of it has no audio most of the time, otherwise I'd post it here.

[POIDOG]

[QUOTE=comfortablycurt;1330900]Definitely!! Have you ever heard the album David Crosby and Friends, If I Could Only Remember My Name? Check out the track "Laughing". Jerry had said many times that the pedal steel on laughing was THE BEST cut he ever recorded in a studio. QUOTE]

I will chime in here, I dig that album, misunderstood, underplayed & highly respected by critics. The remaster & extended version is sweet. Overlooked at the time because of David's commercial work with CS&N.

Check it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=dm_mu_dp_trk4 :)

[gdb]

Panama Red is sweet !!:D

http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/r...k=001&disc=001

[gdb]

Pure Prairie League had some nice steel from time to time.:)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=dm_mu_dp_trk1

[comfortablycurt]

Anyone have any suggestions on the best version of Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name?

I see that they have a remaster on Redbook, plus there's a dual disc set with both a Redbook and a DVD-A. I've also seen the 180g LP version.

Which ones the best?

[comfortablycurt]

I love the pedal steel also. The sound is mesmerizing and haunting to me. I see you've discovered Robert Randolph. He's always one of my first recommendations for pedal steel. Another guy to check out is Mark Van Allen who plays for the Atlanta based New Grass band Blueground Undergrass. He has a great style that is a cross between traditional country pedal steel and less traditional jam-band style. Besides BGUG, he's played with The Allman Brothers,Government Mule, The Derrick Trucks Band, Widespread Panic, Jimmy Herring, Vasser Clements, etc. He can jam with the best of them, while at the same time be twangy and traditional when the song calls for it. His tone is awesome also. I highly recommend checking out his version of Wichita Lineman on BGUG's self titled LP. It's awesome (as is the rest of the album).

Steve

I just checked out some of Mark Van Allens stuff with BGUG. I'd never heard of them before...some very cool stuff! I'm diggin it! I'll definitely be checking some more of their stuff out. Thanks for the suggestion!

You should check out Steve Howe's pedal steel work. He uses it a lot in both his solo stuff and YES stuff. fantasic guitar work on his part. How about the "Soon" secttion of "The Gates of Delerium".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pNm2...eature=related

Greg

Just got done listening to this...very cool! I've never listened to Yes a whole lot...but I've always liked what I've heard. I'll have to check out some more of their stuff.

While not a true "steel guitar", from a cost standpoint, this device might be of interest to you :) Just a thought

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-Bender

Also check out "Sneaky Pete" the Cosmic steel player

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyl...aky-pete-a-gu/

Hmm...that's an interesting device. I've never heard of it. Definitely very cool looking.

I just checked out some Sneaky Pete...I like it!! That guy has an awesome pedal steel tone! The Cosmic description definitely fits. I'll be checking out more of their stuff. Thanks for the suggestion.:)

I love some pedal steel. Some of my favorites were Buddy Cage that played with HRPS on their second lbum "Powerglide". Teir first album, New Riders of the Purple Sage featured Jerry Garcia who had just gotten into the pedal steel. I've still never heard anyone else get the sounds out of one he did. Asleep at the Wheel has a good steel player too.

I really need to check out more of the New Riders stuff with Jerry. The Dead are my favorite band basically...and I'm of the opinion that Jerry is the greatest musician that's ever graced this world. The little bit that I've heard of their stuff has really impressed me. Jerry just has such an incredible sound, that no one has ever matched. Not to say that he's necessarily the best pedal steel player ever...because he's not, but he's one of the most unique, and definitely one of my favorites. Now, if we're talking 6 string guitar, Jerry is hands down my favorite of all time.;)

Love me some Gear Daddies--"Let's Go Scare Al" and "Billy's Live Bait" are the two albums I've got. Good stuff.

Jay

You are correct on the Gear Daddies, I have both these albums & love them,
but have always dug the Minnesota wing of Alt Country (whatever that is ) Also have Martin Zellar & The Hardways stuff (similar to the Gears)

FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_Daddies :D

Thanks for the Gear Daddies suggestion...I just checked out a few of their songs. Very cool!

Whole bunch of good stuff on youtube.;)

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...r+licks&aq=6sx

Yep, I've been watching a LOT of pedal steel videos on there lately.

Robert Randolph and the Family band are well worth the time to go see. Was front row last year with my g/f when they came to town and we loved every second of it. If I'm having a bad day, or feeling a bit sluggish I just have to listen to some RR. Have fun when you go see them. I'm sure you will!

Awesome! I'm really looking forward to seeing them this summer! I don't know how I've gone all this time without discovering him...I'm really digging his style.

Here's the festival that I'm going to see him at...

http://www.wakarusa.com/


Lots of other good bands there too, but Robert Randolph is the one I'll be looking forward to most there.:) Seeing this guy play pedal steel, even on video, has changed my life. Seriously.

My new greatest ambition in life is to get a pedal steel guitar and learn how to tear it up on it. I've been playing 6 string(both acoustic and electric) for about 14 years now...so I think it's time for me to pick up another instrument.

I think it's going to be a gradual transition though. I'll likely get a lap steel before I get a pedal steel. That'll make for a good introduction to steel guitar,without throwing the pedals and knee levers in right away.

Before any of that though, my acoustic needs to be replaced with a nicer one, and I've gotta build myself a new electric rig. The amps/effects that I get for my new electric rig are definitely going to be purchased with the future addition of a lap steel and pedal steel in mind.

I can't wait.

[comfortablycurt]

I will chime in here, I dig that album, misunderstood, underplayed & highly respected by critics. The remaster & extended version is sweet. Overlooked at the time because of David's commercial work with CS&N.

Check it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=dm_mu_dp_trk4 :)

Definitely! That is an incredible album. If there was one album that could basically sum up the entire San Francisco music scene in the 60's and 70's, it would be If I Could Only Remember My Name. The talent and guest musicians on that album are absolutely stunning. It's definitely some of the most incredible music that's ever been recorded. I could only imagine how incredible some of the jams during those sessions were...too bad most of them were never recorded or documented.

Somehow, I have never owned If I Could Only Remember My Name. I've heard most of it...but not all. I've never gotten to listen to it on my rig. That's probably going to be the next album I pick up...I just don't know which version I should pick up. The Redbook/DVD-A 2 disc set...or the 180g LP? Decisions decisions...

Panama Red is sweet !!:D

http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/r...k=001&disc=001

That's awesome!! I've never heard that one. I seriously need to get some New Riders albums that had Jerry in them. I've never heard much of it...and I really need to.

Pure Prairie League had some nice steel from time to time.:)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=dm_mu_dp_trk1

Good stuff!! It's got that great country swingin' kinda tone to it. Thanks for the suggestion!!

[POIDOG]

If I Could Only Remember My Name. I've heard most of it...but not all. I've never gotten to listen to it on my rig. That's probably going to be the next album I pick up...I just don't know which version I should pick up. The Redbook/DVD-A 2 disc set...or the 180g LP? Decisions decisions...

The redbook is nice because of the added song, the DVD-A, you watch once & wonder

Not to overload the subject, but if you like the LA/SF fusion, you might like this one, many of the same players as Crosby's, not so much steel playing,
but interesting none the less. What in the day was called "head music" :)

http://www.amazon.com/Blows-Against-...ref=pd_sim_m_6

[POIDOG]

FYI, Check this site for copies of "If I Could Only....

http://store.acousticsounds.com/inde...x=4&search.y=4

[bigaltx24]

Listen to Jamey Johnson's album That Lonesome Song. I'm not a big Country fan but I love this album. The guy is immensely talented and his work on this album is as heartfelt and real as anything I've heard in a long time. Cowboy Eddie Long plays steel guitar. His playing on this album is spot on, but what really floors me is his interplay with the electric guitars, great stuff.

[gdb]

Cal hand ain't no slacker.....Oh yeah Leo's good too.

[sda2mike]

david gilmour plays some good trippy pedal steel...check out the new remastered package of wish you were here..there's a 1974 live cut of 'shine on you crazy diamond'...3/4 of the way in, dave takes a solo on the pedal steel...dark, scary and spine-tingling...it's a great moment..