The Endless Potential of the Pedal Steel Guitar

[MarkRhodes]

The Pedal Steel Guitar's Midlife Renaissance : NPR

>>>An often misunderstood mechanical artifact from another time, the pedal steel remains odd in nearly every way. Its high lonesome moan can float over, or inside, pretty much anything; it can bend notes and blend chords in ways no other analog instrument can; and it sounds like nothing else — even the pedal-less steel guitar, for which it's frequently confused.<<<<

[Woody Sound]

Always been a big fan of pedal steel.

[MarkRhodes]

I like the pedal steel in this cover of "Ode to Billie Joe" by Swamp Ash. (Whole band sounds good---nice groove.)

[wintermoon]

Always been a big fan of pedal steel.

I'm pretty sure Jim's a member here.

[wintermoon]

[MarkRhodes]

I'm pretty sure Jim's a member here.

He definitely is. Hope he posts on this thread!

[entresz]

I love steel guitar, such a lush sounding instrument. This version of Lush Life is beautiful -

[neatomic]

"put'em together, and boy you've got the very best!"

speedy west and jimmy bryant- flyin high- indeed

cheers

[Flat]

Me too! I really like the work Greg Leisz does with Bill Frisell and Jackson Browne. Here he is tracking something else...

[neatomic]

love leisz! phenomenal player...a longtime fave


but sometimes its not even about chops, just pure bluesy soul

witness mr chuck berry

cheers......

[Rob MacKillop]

Wow, I'd never seen that Chuck Berry video before. Very nice and soulful. Last thing I hear before going to bed...zzz

[Hammertone]

Frankly, ever since hearing Jimmie Rivers - Brisbane Bop, with Vance Terry, I've despaired of finding anything as good. If you haven't heard it, go find it and listen - it's on youtube.

[entresz]

More great steel playing from Buddy Emmons
he's one of a kind!

[wintermoon]

More great steel playing from Buddy Emmons
he's one of a kind!

Great video!
I've seen this before, thanks for posting.
Buddy's absolutely smokin and you figure no one can hang after him...and then Bobby Caldwell steps up....no, not the "What You Won't Do For Love" B.C., (who I also dig, tune's been in our setliist for yrs) but the smokin guitar player Bobby Caldwell!
These cats is jammin!

[neatomic]

Frankly, ever since hearing Jimmie Rivers - Brisbane Bop, with Vance Terry, I've despaired of finding anything as good. If you haven't heard it, go find it and listen - it's on youtube.

yeah man classic recordings...unfortunately very lo-fi...jimmie rivers was jim campilongos mentor..a true unheralded great...and vance terry!.. that brisbane ca 23 club just closed fairly recently!!! it survived decades..quite a joint..specialty was- bison burgers!! hah

rip jimmie rivers!

on gibby- doubleneck



cheers

[cosmic gumbo]

Steel guitar was the original electric guitar, and it's use in western swing jazz predates anything Charlie Christian did on electric guitar. Likewise, it is as far into the future as anything else in the guitar family.

[Skip Ellis]

I've been playing pedal steel for 45 years and really enjoyed it but have sold mine and don't expect to get another for the simple fact that, in my area, there's no work.....period. Around here, if you don't play tiki bar or electric blues, you don't play and even though the steel can fit into these genres, there is little interest in bands hiring one. They love to have you sit in, but they don't want to pay you. When you've invested $3-4000 in an instrument and another $1000 in an amp, you can't afford to play for free unless you're a retired hobbyist. I've been luck to work theater productions that require pedal steel and that pays fairly well and you get to play with good musicians - it comes around rarely though. We do have a local steel guitar club that meets once a month but we rarely have over two players and sometimes have to call it off due to lack of support. During the season is better - I expect about 6 players this next Monday. About 2 hours north of me there's a LOT of music going on with lots of steel guitar but around here.........nada.

[krusty]

I’ve loved the instrument since the 60s when I used to put on an old mono album my dad owned called “Kings of the Steel Guitar”. I owned an S10 for a while, but decided I couldn’t split my time between steel and jazz guitar. I sold it. I still miss it. Maybe in a few years when I retire. In the meantime I’ll toy around with my ‘59 National lap steel.

[wintermoon]

let's not forget Pete Drake
eat your heart out Frampton.....
are those identical twins on piano and guitar?

[Peter C]

Steel guitar was the original electric guitar, and it's use in western swing jazz predates anything Charlie Christian did on electric guitar. Likewise, it is as far into the future as anything else in the guitar family.

Me likey. Fine drumming too

Getting up to stuff at Tiny Desk

[wintermoon]

oh, and Alvino Rey w/ Stringy....

[Dennis D]

Curly Chalker....

[MikeTT]

Greig Leisz Solo at 1:03:00

[rictroll]

Please forgive the self-promotion, but here are a couple of tunes featuring the great B. J. Cole on pedal steel:

[Litterick]

"When I got into Ornette Coleman, most of the musicians I knew in Houston didn't want to play with me anymore because it was like I was out-of-tune or something.”