The Steel evolved. Why can't we?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 15 Apr 2010 10:18 am

you know what they say about opinons

Calvin, this isn't about "opinions". This is about courtesy and respect for those who have accomplished and mastered what you aspire to.

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 15 Apr 2010 10:35 am

Bill

let's get this straight

i am SURE paul is a great steel player even tho i haven't heard him play
but so is a 100 other guys that weren't lucky enough to do it for a living
i respect all folk's the same but just because he can play a steel better than me
doesn't mean he gets more respect than anyone else ....get the stars outa your eyes and grow up

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 15 Apr 2010 10:38 am

I guess I must have fallen off the cliff as I have no clue what some people are talking about or why their pants are in a knot.

If the conversation is with regard to the Instrument being a Country Music instrument, well then , that's about the Instrument not the player.

If a player only wants to play Country Music or if that's all they can play or want to play, that's not about the Instrument. The Instrument is an extension of the player it doesn't dictate to the player what kind of music they should play.

and here is the test

Close your eyes and listen...

I just played 3 / E notes in row @ meter

What style music was it ?

If some of us here are defending the Instrument as a country music instrument because they love country music, well, good, but whats that got to do with anything ?

Whats the beef ?

Why the anger ?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 15 Apr 2010 10:49 am

"i am SURE paul is a great steel player even tho i haven't heard him play "

I'm confused. You said earlier that you heard him with Dire Straits and that his playing wasn't Paul's best (which implies you have something to compare it to).

I didn't realize that you just don't know what you are talking about.

"i respect all folk's the same but just because he can play a steel better than me
doesn't mean he gets more respect than anyone else ....get the stars outa your eyes and grow up"

We'll we are different that way. I've seen Paul play and I've spoken with Paul, who is one of the nicest people you will ever meet and who is one of the finest steel players out there. I have tremendous respect for Paul. You, on the other hand...

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 15 Apr 2010 11:21 am

the only time i have heard him was on those clips someone posted and i could only stand to listen to it a few seconds,thats why i said i had not heard him ....even i don't think that was enough to go by ..some of you might like that noise ...i don't... but as far as his ability to play the steel, i DO NOT question it

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 15 Apr 2010 11:35 am

Remeber when you were playing ball in the house and broke the crystal vase and your momma said "This is why we cant have nice things!" ?

You Calvin are why we cannot have nice things

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 15 Apr 2010 11:35 am

Calvin,

Won't even bother to respond to something as ludicrous as that. I'll avoid you in the future and am out of this thread for good.

Allen Kentfield · Post by **Allen Kentfield** » 15 Apr 2010 11:54 am

What I've always loved about country music is that it is still living and evolving. Hank Williams was dead and gone by the time I heard his music, but it sounded timeless to me.
Ray Price kicked it up a notch, but it didn't stop there (sorry for that news flash). Buck Owens came along and added a full drum kit, Fender bass, and a twanging telecaster, along with innovative steel guitar stylings.
There's always been producers that just want a replay of so-and so's sound. But it's we "in the trenches", playing the dance halls, honky-tonks, what have you, that continue to keep it alive and growing.
There's always been some country songs I didn't care for, but I get my songs from the jukebox. That's the referendum of what's popular.
As a postscript, I want to express a sincere thank you to Mr. Paul Franklin for bringing the steel out front on countless country records in our generation, as well as exploring its more diverse possibilities.
Thank you for giving us your unique professional viewpoint.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 15 Apr 2010 11:57 am

So Calvin, we are to assume you have never heard an Alan Jackson song ??

or...

a song on this massive list at the following link ?

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... arabijv~T4

Are you sure you are a Country Music fan ?

It would be safe to assume by comparison, givin' Paul's massive credits/discography, by saying you have never heard Paul play is like saying you are Baseball fan but never watched a single game in your life.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 15 Apr 2010 11:59 am

I can't believe that Paul has been subjected to the indignities inflicted here by Calvin W.; PF is endlessly generous with his time and his valuable advice here on the Forum, yet there always seems to be a fly-in-the-ointment somewhere (good post, Ben

) when he has his words almost thrown back at him. I have a feeling, though, that he understands the insecurities that prompt such rudeness, and rises above it all.

CW wrote:
"i do get to Nashville once in a while so i might just take you up on the invite..."

That'll be something for Paul to look forward to!

Now I'm gone, too - along with Bill and Olli....

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 15 Apr 2010 12:07 pm

And to get back to Paul's involvement with Mr. Knopfler for a minute, here is a younger Franklin from 1993, in his Mullet Period

...on Romeo & Juliet with Dire Straits. It's a long piece, if you're short on time right now, fast forward to the 8:00 mark and Paul will kick in just after that.

Calvin, it appears that you don't understand certain things about computer usage, as in how to use the quote function here on the Forum, but if you click on the link below, it should take you to the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64vvX6-d ... re=related

IMO, that is some of the finest noise that I have ever heard that has a pedal steel as part of the equation.

There are plenty of lame comments below You Tube videos, but here is one that was decidedly "un-lame:"

We need a whole generation of musicians like Knopfler to clean the mess of the past 20 years.

If a person is unmoved by this piece of music, then perhaps we need to check their pulse to see if they are still breathing...

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 15 Apr 2010 12:07 pm

Tony

i haven't listened to the radio or whats called the new country since the late 70s

once in a while i hear a little of it when flipping channels but thats it

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 15 Apr 2010 12:46 pm

Calvin Walley wrote:Tony

i haven't listened to the radio or whats called the new country since the late 70s

once in a while i hear a little of it when flipping channels but thats it

35 SOME YEARS-WOW

New or old music, Sounds like you are having alot of fun. $:\$ Joe

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 15 Apr 2010 12:51 pm

yea Joe ...i do like the 0ld stuff..and yes i do have fun with it !!!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Apr 2010 1:04 pm

This thread is breathtakingly incredible!

One of the most-recorded, most-respected by his peers, most-successful and generous steel guitarists in the world today is being taken to task by one of the most abjectly inexperienced and musically unaware members of the Forum.

Calvin, though until now I've refrained from commenting on this thread, I must say that I'm totally astounded by your belief that your opinion, as a steel owner but certainly not a player, is as valid as the opinion of one of the all-time premier musicians on the instrument.

You denigrate the man with faint praise while admitting that you don't even know what or with whom he's played. Unbelievable. You should consider yourself fortunate that Paul even addressed you in this thread, though I wouldn't doubt for a minute it was the last time THAT will ever occur.

Truly, you've written some of the most arrogant and hyperbolically wrong things I've ever read on this Forum, and that's saying a lot.

David Beckner · Post by **David Beckner** » 15 Apr 2010 1:04 pm

I just want to direct this to Mr.Franklin..I have several cds and tapes that you have played on including tthe Allen Jackson stuff.I want to say Thanks for keping the sound of the steel guitar alive,Even though we have never met it would be an honor to shake your hand.

Chuck Thompson · Post by **Chuck Thompson** » 15 Apr 2010 1:35 pm

Maybe it's the surrealist in me, but this is what i imagine as a caption: D/D to M/L "hey lady! you dont impress me one bit! Im a painted character too!" and M/L in all of her grace, beauty and total restraint, smiles.

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 15 Apr 2010 1:35 pm

Calvin Walley wrote:yea Joe ...i do like the 0ld stuff..and yes i do have fun with it !!!

I just think you have lost a generation of country music.
Alen Jackson, CD UNDER THE INFLUENCE,Paul Franklin on Steel,John H. the man,playing LOOK AT US.

Calvin, where have you been all the years that have past you by.
I'M 70 years old,and so glad I'm not set in my ways,and so stubborn not to try something new.

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 15 Apr 2010 2:14 pm

Joe

i have listened to a few things on you tube but for the most part the music i love is gone ..and yes that makes me mad and also sad

its like the other Joe said , the music today lacks any feeling , its kinda like hurry up and play it make a buck and move on

thats not music, thats called making a living

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 15 Apr 2010 2:36 pm

Calvin Walley wrote:Joe

i have listened to a few things on you tube but for the most part the music i love is gone ..and yes that makes me mad and also sad

its like the other Joe said , the music today lacks any feeling , its kinda like hurry up and play it make a buck and move on

thats not music, thats called making a living

Now I know you have a closed mind about country music.

Two CD's you have not heard, Kathy Martina,Timeless-- Allan Jackson -- Under The Influence,If thats not country ,I Don't know what you would ever like. Lots of steel. Songs like You win Again. To many to write about.Joe

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 15 Apr 2010 2:42 pm

Seems I missed a lot while I was doing my taxes.
Paul Franklin playing Mooney with Rodney Crowell.
Now that’s what I call Jazz.

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 15 Apr 2010 2:46 pm

I agree with ya 1000% Herb, Calvin is an arrogant ,ignorant, intolerant fool. His drivel is insulting and at times borders on disgusting....go ahead and have the lobotomy Calvin it won't even be noticed $:\$

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 15 Apr 2010 4:59 pm

Now come on...I have followed this through thick and thin...but that comment is not reasonable in my humble opinion. I do see Calvin's perspective, and disagree with it, but is it worth it to say all that?

David Griffin · Post by **David Griffin** » 15 Apr 2010 5:03 pm

Now,would somebody please BURY the horse?

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 15 Apr 2010 5:04 pm

Yes ,after the BS he said to Paul ,yes I certainly think he warrants every word and probably a few more.

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