Appreciating the great Pete Drake

Gary Hoetker · Post by **Gary Hoetker** » 7 Aug 2017 6:44 am

In reading the various posts on this Forum for the past 20 years or so, I don't recall Pete Drake being mentioned favorably to the other recognized pedal steel giants like Emmons, Green, Mooney, to name a few. Yet I find Pete to perhaps be the most versatile and innovative of all of them
from purely a listening and melodic standpoint. Maybe that's why he was a much sought after session player. His turnaround on Conway Twitty's Decca recording "Together Forever" circa 1966 posted below might be one of the most beautiful ever. Thanks Pete. You were/are AWESOME !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjhDMnNt4XE

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 7 Aug 2017 9:17 am

You are right Gary. Here's a better copy of the song without the distortion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Tpo7guol0

Gary Hoetker · Post by **Gary Hoetker** » 7 Aug 2017 9:26 am

Thank you Tom for posting the better one.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 7 Aug 2017 9:45 am

I think quite a few of us are in awe of much of Pete's work, and the extra care he took to give so many records a unique, even customized sound.

Paul Franklin in particular speaks very reverently of Pete. he was never too flashy, just the consummate studio pro who served the artist and the song as best he could. he was also one of the kindest and most nurturing figures in Nashville by all accounts.

if all he'd ever played was Tammy Wynette's version of Apartment No.9, that would be enough for me. what an iconic and beautiful sound.

Gary Hoetker · Post by **Gary Hoetker** » 7 Aug 2017 10:04 am

Thank you Tom for posting the better one.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 7 Aug 2017 12:59 pm

some of my favorite steel playing was done on George Jones recordings , and I always thought it was done by Buddy Emmons , only to find out just recently that all that playing I loved so much, and was influenced by, was done by no other but Pete Drake, my whole life I loved his music, but didn't even know it was him who was playing it....

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 7 Aug 2017 1:08 pm

I always loved the story about Pete and Buddy and the wad of $100 bills...
I also love this tune and have never been able to totally figure it out:
https://youtu.be/RMwR1kXuGzk

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 7 Aug 2017 1:52 pm

cool tune Cartwright and nice tone.

seems more than a little influenced by Buddy's performance on Night Life, and was released just a year later.

the 100 dollar bill story is a good one but I think Buddy claimed it never happened. Buddy also said he came up with the "talking" steel guitar effect but had no use for it. Pete took it and ran.

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 8 Aug 2017 4:12 am

If any pedal steel player ever had a unique, instantly recognizable sound, it was Pete Drake. Some say his playing was a bit weird and rather simple, the same few licks over and over â€“ but I like that style, especially his use of the volume pedal. His sound was an integral part of so many 70s hits â€“ George Jones, Tanya Tucker's Columbia recordings, and so many others. Billie Jo Spears? Early John Anderson stuff? The late great Billy Sherrill seemed to employ Pete on all the stuff he produced.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 8 Aug 2017 4:37 am

One of my favorite songs, as well as favorite examples of steel accompaniment by Pete Drake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj0pX2lB6mg

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 8 Aug 2017 5:11 am

Damir Besic wrote:some of my favorite steel playing was done on George Jones recordings , and I always thought it was done by Buddy Emmons , only to find out just recently that all that playing I loved so much, and was influenced by, was done by no other but Pete Drake, my whole life I loved his music, but didn't even know it was him who was playing it....

Buddy did play on some George Jones recordings, mostly in the 60s before heading to LA

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 8 Aug 2017 5:15 am

scott murray wrote:
Damir Besic wrote:some of my favorite steel playing was done on George Jones recordings , and I always thought it was done by Buddy Emmons , only to find out just recently that all that playing I loved so much, and was influenced by, was done by no other but Pete Drake, my whole life I loved his music, but didn't even know it was him who was playing it....
Buddy did play on some George Jones recordings, mostly in the 60s before heading to LA

yes, and Lloyd played on some as well, but the playing (like on He stopped loving her today) I fell in love with was all Pete ... when I talk about "crying steel guitar' that is what Im thinking of ...

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 8 Aug 2017 8:55 am

And another… "Lay Lady Lay" by Dylan from Nashville Skyline. Simple… Iconic.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 8 Aug 2017 9:02 am

And another… "Lay Lady Lay" by Dylan from Nashville Skyline. Simple… Iconic.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 8 Aug 2017 9:07 am

Damir Besic wrote: the playing (like on He stopped loving her today) I fell in love with was all Pete ... when I talk about "crying steel guitar' that is what Im thinking of ...

Wow, just the other day hearing it on Willie's Roadhouse I was wondering who that was on "He Stopped Loving Her Today". I never would have guessed Pete Drake!

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 8 Aug 2017 11:29 am

I had the same experience with Pete Drake. I had his sound etched into my mind and am deeply influenced by him and didn't know it was him! One day I put on some youtube videos of him and was astounded to hear him playing the way I try to play. Blew my mind. He is the sound of popular pedal steel.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 8 Aug 2017 2:00 pm

Pete using is the "talking" effect (pioneered by Alvino Rey) at Owen Bradley's "Quonset Hut" studio. Mid 1960s?

Mike Holder · Post by **Mike Holder** » 8 Aug 2017 6:00 pm

Not to mention his great playing on Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" and my all time favorite "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison,..so cool!

David Gertschen · Post by **David Gertschen** » 8 Aug 2017 6:25 pm

Great old pic, Andy. I wonder what the gun-barrel like tube thing is in front of the microphone?

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 9 Aug 2017 5:25 am

Pete pushin' tha boundary in 1968 with blues guitarist Harvey Mandel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouTPcV54qlw

and in 1971 with iconic progressive folk/old timey band, The Holy Modal Rounders:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNS6MXg-umQ

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 9 Aug 2017 5:34 am

David, it's called a "Talk Box" ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_box

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 9 Aug 2017 9:25 am

I think maybe David was referring to the thing that looks like a bazooka pointed at Pete.

Mike Holder · Post by **Mike Holder** » 9 Aug 2017 3:58 pm

I had most f Mandel's records, forgot he had Pete on that cut but do remember it was the first time I heard Freddie Roulette on his Snake album on a track called Levitation...my world changed that day.

David Gertschen · Post by **David Gertschen** » 9 Aug 2017 6:55 pm

Right you are, Brint!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Aug 2017 5:22 am