Whitney Houston track with pedal steel

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Feb 2012 4:46 am

This track, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do", originally a country hit by Anne Murray and Dave Loggins (ironically, didn't have pedal steel on it), was a duet with Jermaine Jackson and was on her debut album. Does anyone know who played pedal steel on it? I may have to dig out the old cassette with liner notes to find out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFHL99CRJRY

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 24 Feb 2012 7:12 pm

Probably Greg Leitz, he seems to always turn up on these kind of sessions.

Michel Rose · Post by **Michel Rose** » 26 Feb 2012 4:07 pm

That CD or should i say the album , dates back to the mid80s if my memory serves me well . I dont think Greg lietz was doing much then. If i had to take a guess i would say sneeky Pete, but i could be wrong.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 26 Feb 2012 5:36 pm

that is correct michel. who was greg before greg? sneaky pete! such a recognizable sound.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 26 Feb 2012 5:39 pm

All I listened to was the intro...I'd say it was Sneeky Pete!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 26 Feb 2012 6:32 pm

Thanks for the responses. I've looked high and low for the cassette (out of thousands) and I can't find it, so I can't look at the credits, if he's even credited. I have to say, I really like Sneaky Pete's playing, but I am not familiar with him enough to be able to recognize him like I can others....yet.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 26 Feb 2012 7:08 pm

My modest guess would be Jay Dee Maness.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 26 Feb 2012 7:28 pm

At first I wanted to say Sneaky Pete, because I was thinking of his conection with Stevie Wonder (one of the later FBB's records was recorded in his studio).
But it doesn't sound quite like him. I also think that it's JayDee playing here.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 26 Feb 2012 7:49 pm

I checked Jay Dee's credits on allmusic.com, but it is not listed. (It could be an oversight, but they seem fairly accurate). The album credits on Wiki for this album do not list a steel player. I checked the guitarists they have listed there, but none play steel. I also checked Sneaky Pete's credits and it's not listed there. Mystery! The only other player that comes to mind who plays like that is Rusty Young. Definitely sounds "west coast."

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 26 Feb 2012 9:13 pm

I could only guess as to who played on the above mentioned track. I agree it sounds like a west cost player. But to my ears, not one note of it sounded like Jay Dee.

You're mileage may vary.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 27 Feb 2012 8:58 pm

I really like Sneaky Pete's playing, but I am not familiar with him enough to be able to recognize him like I can others....yet

this is the same tone he got on johnny lee's 1980 hit "lookin for love"

and the same tone he got on the burrito bros 1980 album "hearts on the line"

it is not jay dee who i also adore as you will hear here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF8QykqGRq4

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 27 Feb 2012 10:48 pm

Sounds like Sneaky to me...definitely not JayDee, and probably not Greg. Could be Jay Leach.
When was this recorded? Was it cut in LA?

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 28 Feb 2012 5:31 am

On Wiki it lists no steel player nor the city of production. Interestingly, Dan Huff and a few other Nashville notables are credited as musicians. The album was release in February of 1985 so it must have been tracked in 1984.

Stephan Franck · Post by **Stephan Franck** » 28 Feb 2012 6:54 am

Definitely not JayDee.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 28 Feb 2012 6:57 am

I'm glad I added "modest" to my original guess of "Jay Dee."

But to my ears, not one note of it sounded like Jay Dee.

It is not jay dee...

...definitely not JayDee.

Definitely not JayDee.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 Feb 2012 7:56 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Ho ... #Musicians
Not a word about who played steel guitar here, but makeup and hair got a credit ... $:\$

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 28 Feb 2012 9:04 am

It was track produced by Jermaine Jackson. I would have to guess that he worked in a west coast studio, and from that I would assume it was definitely a west coast player.

Bob Knetzger · Post by **Bob Knetzger** » 28 Feb 2012 9:11 am

If it's not Sneaky Pete, then somebody owes his estate a royalty check!

Fine job of getting that patented swoopy, loopy Sneaky feel!

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2012 11:07 am

I have no personal information about who it is but it does not sound like a west coast player to me. It sounds like what was going on with the Nashville guys in the mid 80's. I hear the weaving style that got on quite a few crossover type cuts. The intonation and phrasing sound Nashville also. I wouldn't be surprised if it was somebody like Robbie Turner.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 Feb 2012 2:00 pm

It's entirely possible that they could have farmed it out to Nashville for a (steel) overdub ….

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 28 Feb 2012 2:10 pm

Sounds like Sneaky Pete to me too. He does some harmonics early in the song that sounds exactly like some stuff Pete did with Ronstadt. Same tone and everything. The tone is just too "Sneaky".

But, if we can't find out for sure, I'll gladly take credit for it.

:

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 Feb 2012 2:21 pm

Here's about as complete a list of her recording musicians as you could ever want, and no mention of a steel player anywhere. I'm getting the feeling that the steel on that tune was just an afterthought.
http://www.whitney-info.com/songwriters ... musicians/

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 28 Feb 2012 3:10 pm

I can't seem to find my copy of the album on vinyl. When I do, lets hope there's a credit!

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 28 Feb 2012 7:43 pm

It sounds like what was going on with the Nashville guys in the mid 80's

you mean the biggest hit from the biggest hit movie that started the clubs in nyc with the mechanical bulls?
"looking for love in all the wrong places"

i have the vinyl and it is not on there. however if you guys cant hear this then you have no reason to be talking about techniques/brands/pickups/tunings/colors/etc at all. i have emailed anita kleinow about this to confirm what i already know. if you dont think ive studied this guy check out http://z8.invisionfree.com/Fender_Steel ... howforum=8

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 29 Feb 2012 11:54 am

Yes, I can hear now that it was him, Ebb. I guess I needed your strong wordings to listen closer

Still, a wonderful song!