Tune Of The Week #26 - Buddy Cage

[Joe Goldmark]

Steeler: Buddy Cage
Group: Great Speckled Bird, Featuring Ian & Sylvia
Tune: Trucker's Cafe
Label: Ampex A 10103, 1969 U.S. release, Canadian band





This is before Jerry Garcia found Buddy in the Great White North, and convinced him to take over the steel chair with the New Riders Of The Purple Sage. The Great Speckled Bird didn't last long and the album did nothing, but it's a little gem and was produced by Todd Rundgren. The amazing solo section features stereo criss crossing between Amos Garrett on guitar and Buddy. Amos is the guy who would go on to play the wonderful solo on "Midnight At The Oasis" by Maria Muldaur. Also dig Sylvia's unique tight vibrato.

BTW, You don't have to be named "Buddy" to play the steel guitar....but it helps!

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/14-01TruckersCafe.m4a

[Dana Blodgett]

Joe, thanks for posting that I haven't heard that one before. I always like Buddy Cage!

[Paul Sutherland]

Brings back a lot of memories. Listened to this album a lot back in the day. Thanks Joe.

[Larry Bell]

Killer selection, as usual. Thanks again, Joe.
No delay, hardly any reverb . . . just Cage.
Classic.

[Bob Blair]

Thanks Joe! The album's lack of success is not my fault - I still have my vinyl copy. I saw that lineup, or pretty much that lineup, at Festival Express.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

i wore that album down
a great band who served the cause to many
Famous Amos & Buddy sure did it up

[David Nugent]

When Buddy left the band in 1970, his replacement was none other than Ben Keith, (most of you know him for his fine playing with Neil Young).

[Olaf van Roggen]

I still put that record on the turntable once in awhile,the band also included drummer N.D. Smart II,who later joined Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels with Neil Flanz.

[Jim Robbins]

Thanks again, Joe. Perfect picking.

[Joerg Hennig]

That album is one of my all-time favorites, I must have studied each and every lick that Buddy played. I also listen to it whenever I drive across the Alps into Italy, there's nothing quite like listening to that music (along with NRPS, of course) while being surrounded by that marvellous landscape.
Buddy already had his thing down in those days. His style and sound are so unique, you immediately know it's him. Thanks Joe for putting it up.

[chris ivey]

neat..i remember this. his playing was even kind of more clean and precise than with the new riders, amos garret was a great picker. they remind me a little of james burton and jd maness...simple, tasty and fun ..with energy.

[JB Arnold]

Cage has quite a tale about how Ben wound up with that gig.

that live cut is really great. those guys were just way ahead of their time. theres some good stories about how todd went over in nashville in the 60's.

JB

[John Brabant]

Thought I would update Joe's link which is no longer active with both the live version (first link) and the studio version (second). The studio version is cool on headphones with the steel and guitar moving across channels and back as has already been mentioned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDKc8ODUEIc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO2acfK_Gr0

[Joachim Kettner]

The lyrics remind me of an episode from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. What a band!

[Ken Pippus]

Did Ben Keith play with Tyson? I had thought Bill Keith (of banjo tuner fame) had played with that band?

[Mike Holder]

At one point in time I was Sylvia Tyson's band leader. I grew up having to fill the shoes of Buddy Cage, Pee Wee Charles & Ron Dann ( my mentor , teacher & life coach, all round dear friend ) I am fortunate to own a pristine copy of this record still in plastic signed by Ian & Sylvia. Buddy Cages playing knocked me out to say the least, I saw N.R.P.S. At Convocation Hall in Toronto with The Good Brothers opening the show. Amos is great as usual, Buddy is like no one else , Keny has always looked 10 years old! ..Thanks for posting!