Calvin Walley wrote:it all sounds the same to me ....and thats a FACT
That is how 99,5 % of the world`s population hear classic (or new) country music. Or jazz or any genre they`re not familiar enough with to appreciate the nuances and details.
Oh,well.....
Music has evolved in Country song writing for the better.."Honky tonk Badonka donk" Now thats evolving.. Ain't progress great..I even heard a steel in the song,I think it was a Steel or someone on a Flute imitating one..Recently KISS announced they will do a Country album and Led Zeplin is in the studios as we speak..Love that Country..
It's always seemed to me that the musicianship on the cutting-edge country records of the '50s and '60s far exceeded what was required for the songs themselves. Same with some early rock and roll, with names like Hank Garland, Johnny Smith, George Barnes (et al) on the studio roster.
Their presence, of course, lent the recordings a certain quality, but it always sounded as though they were 'playing down', and being ever-mindful that this was 'just' pop-music.
The steel guitar has evolved, with ever-more complex set-ups that make sophisticated extended chords more readily available. Whether this will make its future secure is another matter, but if playing steel was just about replicating licks from the Hank Williams records I doubt I'd be drawn to it as I am.
I'm extremely thankful that I can hear the extraordinary musical breadth of musicians like Paul Franklin, Matt Rollins and Brent Mason - even if it's behind a 'modern' artist whose voice doesn't thrill me. There's still a music lesson to be had!
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Joe Drivdahl wrote, "I mean, these lyrics are better than 'Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy'... Right?"
So that's what the words are. That was a favorite of mine when I was little, but I always thought it went, "Maresie Doates and little Lamsie Dyvie". Who knew? Now, after ??? years, it makes sense.
I guess that's worse than my daughter's "Sweet Dreams of Mabel Veems" and "Jose can you see".
In Mel Tillis's band we rarely listened to anything country.....Mostly Jazz, Rock, etc. Dottie West loved listening to Aretha Franklin, Heads Hands and Feet, and bands like the Eagles. Jerry Reed was really into Bensen and Tower of Power. My room mate, Jack Mollette, worked for Ernest Tubb....He told me they were listening to Billy Preston, The Carpenters, Bill Evans etc.
When I recorded the Bradley Barn sessions with George Jones. Keith Richards sounded like a Country Music historian quoting obscure album cuts from various artists....I got to be a fly on the wall listening to Richards ask about Mac Wiseman. And to watch George in awe of Richards and Knopfler.....It was a cool moment.
I think everyone should play whatever they want.....My favorite thing to play on the steel guitar is a ballad......The three chords found in traditional country songs are perfect vehicles to express that lonesome sound......Having said that, In my teens, I heard Buddy play "Whichita Lineman" and "Yesterday". His soulful diversity beyond the Country three chord compositions inspired me to listen for beautiful melodies in all fields of music......
Mares eat oats is way before my time
I like Dwight Yoakum and it’s what I call Honkey Tonk music. It is country but the guitar player goes wild on just about every recording and that’s exactly why I like Dwight Yoakum.
Paul could rip those songs just as wild but they wouldn’t let him.
The guitar playing has evolved in country music to the point that the guitar player can shred it if he wishes and they won’t let the PSG go past those classic country clichés
I’d love to hear Paul ripping it in place of the guitar on Dwight Yoakum’s recording of “Little Sister”
But until those classic country PSG clichés fade out of their memories we can’t evolve.
Last edited by Bo Legg on 14 Apr 2010 9:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
Bo,
I don't understand why you see "shredding" on a guitar as evolving. Evolving usually indicates a change that will be positive for the entity, or species. Introducing rock licks into country is not an evolution, its a digression back to the roots of both genres IMO, muddying the qualities that distinguish one genre from the other.
Besides, Rock and roll has already stolen all of country's other instruments. The PSG is all it has left and you want to give it over to the rockers too?
I want my Country back! (Yes! you can take that two ways).
"In Mel Tillis's band we rarely listened to anything country.....Mostly Jazz, Rock, etc. Dottie West loved listening to Aretha Franklin, Heads Hands and Feet, and bands like the Eagles. Jerry Reed was really into Bensen and Tower of Power. My room mate, Jack Mollette, worked for Ernest Tubb....He told me they were listening to Billy Preston, The Carpenters, Bill Evans etc. "
And that is how that musical breadth that I admire in the A-team players is achieved - one has to reach higher, then the simpler stuff can just be taken in stride. When a first-class player plays a jazz-tinged solo that raises an otherwise mundane piece of music to the next level, it hasn't happened by accident but because he's exposed himself to more profound influences.
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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That's a wonderful moment in 'Calling Elvis' at around 5'30" - a sort of melodic oasis in all the riffing; marvelous! And the lick at 9'40" - sorry, but that shouldn't have been allowed....
Great work!
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Roger, thanks for your replies, you and most others here understand where I was going with this.
As for the rest, I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear enough.
The SG Forum is world wide and consists of Steel players that are the best on the planet and I'm just happy that I'm allowed to participate.
Ain't progress great..I even heard a steel in the song,I think it was a Steel or someone on a Flute imitating one..Recently KISS announced they will do a Country album and Led Zeplin is in the studios as we speak..Love that Country.. 
