Pedal steel solos that nobody knew were pedal steel

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 4 Feb 2008 4:14 pm

BJ Cole on Elton John's "Rocket Man"?

Also, the whole orchestra on Buddy Emmons' "Christmas Sounds"

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » 4 Feb 2008 4:48 pm

Rusty Young on the Buffalo Springfield version of "Kind Woman."

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 4 Feb 2008 5:13 pm

"Right on Down the Line: major hit by Gerry Rafferty with great hooks by BJ Cole"

I'm glad to know this for sure. I always thought that was pedal steel, but not completely sure. One of my favorite tunes of that genre. I was going to suggest that song as a possibility after seeing the title. Now I know, the rest of the story.

Shawn Brown · Post by **Shawn Brown** » 4 Feb 2008 5:44 pm

Possibly the solo on Woodstock, the version by Matthews Southern Comfort. It kind of sounds more bluesy than what I thought a steel sounded like at the time.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 4 Feb 2008 6:28 pm

Ken Mizell wrote:"Right on Down the Line: major hit by Gerry Rafferty with great hooks by BJ Cole"

I'm glad to know this for sure. I always thought that was pedal steel, but not completely sure. One of my favorite tunes of that genre. I was going to suggest that song as a possibility after seeing the title. Now I know, the rest of the story.

I was living in Nashville at the time this song came out, and spent a lot of time listening to top 40 radio (given the alternatives at that time) and I heard this song and realized it was pedal steel. It was an inspirational song for me. It also made my wife appreciate the pedal steel (she is not a fan of the instrument).

Thanks, BJ!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Feb 2008 6:34 pm

"Blue Star", by The Ventures! This single featured an uncredited Sneaky Pete Kleinow on his first professional recording, though he did get mention in the later (album version) release.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 4 Feb 2008 11:07 pm

BJ Cole was also the steel player on Elton John's "Tiny Dancer".

Brett

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Feb 2008 5:28 am

Theresa, who played on crimson and clover?

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Feb 2008 5:29 am

That was the late Ed Black on Silver Threads. Great Solo!

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 5 Feb 2008 6:49 am

Dan,
I don't know who played on it? I bought the 45 record.
I thought it sounded COOL!

Steve Gorman · Post by **Steve Gorman** » 5 Feb 2008 8:32 am

The sitcom, Mama's Family has steel guitar in the mix in the opening and closing theme song.

Wonder who that is?

I've learned a lot in this thread!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Feb 2008 8:40 am

Dan Tyack wrote:Theresa, who played on crimson and clover?

I believe it was their lead guitarist, Eddie Grey.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 5 Feb 2008 11:03 am

O.K. Tyack....Red Rhodes on the Commodores "Sail On".

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 5 Feb 2008 11:12 am

Can't remember the artist name--some folky type--but the song Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald has what sound like a pedal steel through a fuzz box to me.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Feb 2008 1:49 pm

That would be Gordon Lightfoot and PeeWee Charles on Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 5 Feb 2008 2:11 pm

Whooops! Red's wasn't a solo,So much for reading comprehension.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Feb 2008 2:24 pm

It also was pretty recognizable as a pedal steel (despite the phase shifter).

But I'm not being strict here, the more the merrier I'd forgotten about the steel on that Lionell Richie song. Probably because I would have switched stations by the time the steel part comes on.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Feb 2008 2:37 pm

How about Alan Kendall's steel guitar on the Bee Gees' hit "Nights on Broadway"?

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Feb 2008 2:53 pm

That's news to me, I'll have to dust off the old BeeGees vinyl and give it a listen....

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 5 Feb 2008 4:43 pm

Lunatic Fringe- by Red Rider
cpet once you saw the video on mtv you knew it was a steel (provided you knew what a steel even was)

theres some weird steel on led zep three...wouldnt call em solos tho.

of all players, chuck campbell's playin sounds most like a guitar to me from the limited amount of stuff Ive heard.

and I think there are actually two versions of that clapton song. one without steel.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 5 Feb 2008 6:51 pm

Dan Tyack wrote:
Ken Mizell wrote:"Right on Down the Line: major hit by Gerry Rafferty with great hooks by BJ Cole"

I'm glad to know this for sure. I always thought that was pedal steel, but not completely sure. One of my favorite tunes of that genre. I was going to suggest that song as a possibility after seeing the title. Now I know, the rest of the story.
I was living in Nashville at the time this song came out, and spent a lot of time listening to top 40 radio (given the alternatives at that time) and I heard this song and realized it was pedal steel. It was an inspirational song for me. It also made my wife appreciate the pedal steel (she is not a fan of the instrument).

Thanks, BJ!

I recently recorded this song on my latest CD. I enjoyed playing the intro and break on steel. I used a Pro 1 through a Twin. If you wanna listen, go here and click on the song:

www.myspace.com/chrisledrew

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 5 Feb 2008 7:09 pm

Pete Drake on Dylan's "Tell me that it isn't true" sounds like a hammond. One thing to keep in mind is that session players get called to blend in or create a new sound without sounding like a steel all the time. I'm a nobody and about 25% of my recording work is doing that. I'm in one national commercial where I'm playing constantly but no steel players have ever noticed. ( My monthly residual checks lets me know that it plays quite a bit) I'm sure guys that can really play like Emmons and Franklin are on countless recordings that are not noticed. If it really doesn't sound like a steel how would we know ?

This is nothing but 4 tracks of pedalsteel with a bit of delay and a harmonizer.

http://www.bobhoffnar.net/mp3/track_06.mp3

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 5 Feb 2008 7:11 pm

That's some very innovative playing, Bob.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 5 Feb 2008 8:38 pm

Good point Bob (Hoffnar). And that track is completely off the charts. Beautiful... Gorgeous....

I'm like you, at minimum 25-50% of my pedal steel session playing isn't doing 'pedal steel parts'. But I haven't played on any major non-country sessions....

But on the other hand, I want to hear all the non-traditional pedal steel parts! (I WANT IT ALL AND I WANT IT NOOOOOWWWW!).

Bring it on!

Joe Savage · Post by **Joe Savage** » 5 Feb 2008 10:00 pm

Dan,
Here are some samples of my stuff.
Try "Morning Coffee Funk" or "Never Been to New Orleans". Both non-country pedal steel.

http://www.savagejoe.com/soundfiles.html