Pedal steel players who excelled at chicken pickin'

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 22 Apr 2023 6:46 am

An acquaintence recently asked me which steel players he should listen to who could emulate the popular chicken pickin' Telecaster guitar style. Weldon was the first who popped into my mind. Who else?

Duane Becker · Post by **Duane Becker** » 22 Apr 2023 7:33 am

Jimmy Crawford and Russ Hicks

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 22 Apr 2023 11:47 am

Crawford and Hicks had the albums Chicken Pickin Good and Chicken Pickin Plus

Ralph Mooney did Corn Pickin & Slick Slidin with James Burton

to name a few more:
Lloyd Green
Hal Rugg
Doug Jernigan
JD Maness
Bobby Black
Tom Brumley
Norm Hamlet
Leo LeBlanc
Buddy Emmons
Sonny Garrish
John Hughey
Jim Murphy
Julian Tharpe

and check out Lew Houston with Conway Twitty:
https://youtu.be/FOZ4AWWLtXw

Mike Polansky · Post by **Mike Polansky** » 22 Apr 2023 10:53 pm

I’ve been trying to get this Lloyd Maines chicken picking solo down. It’s extremely chickeny.

https://youtu.be/hFum3Vnu5kA - starts around 2:50.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 23 Apr 2023 4:32 am

Great song the Joe Ely Band with Lloyd are some of my favorite albums

Norman Evans · Post by **Norman Evans** » 23 Apr 2023 4:39 am

I don't agree with the title of this video, but check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw1ZQSgBiG8

Gary Hoetker · Post by **Gary Hoetker** » 23 Apr 2023 8:06 pm

Lou Houston!!

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 24 Apr 2023 2:39 am

Hi Jack,
Chicken Picking can be found within every recorded steel players discography's. But none of those players used chicken picking for their entire body of work...Try informing him towards specific cuts instead of giving him specific names. Within all of the names mentioned in this thread there are many styles being played in their discography. The style originated in the 60's.

As with all things go back to the creator of the style..In this case it was Mooney
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-lohQ8w9EQ

This Connie cut probably defines Weldon's interpretation of the style best...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTbyoTGDweU

This is Lloyd's interpretation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTyiiMz3eZI

Have him listen to a more subdued interpretation in Hal Ruggs chorus release fills so he can get a complete grasp of where the style goes

Slightly off topic but this is the way I am interpreting the style to fit into modern times...This combines the Weldon and Mooney inflections with some Hammer ons with slight distortion...It rocks but can not be confused as being too close to a guitar...My belief is we need to ID the instrument especially since the 90's are back...This is from the very soon to be released Chris Jansen CD...Good news is producers are asking steel guitarists to play...You can bet I will rely on this aggressive style every chance I get!

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

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 24 Apr 2023 1:17 pm

it does make more sense to cite specific examples rather than players.
I thought about adding a link to each of the names I mentioned above but only got as far as Lew Houston

I'm thinking some of us have a broader definition of "chicken pickin" as well

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 24 Apr 2023 4:49 pm

I would say Buddy Cage.
Panama Red and many other songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9G0emfp87E

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 25 Apr 2023 7:27 am

To me this is the earliest example of what I consider chicken picking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqHQbSxCZrs

I feel that Ralph Mooney's style is different, his unique Mooney style. Also Weldon on I'll come running isn't what I consider to be chicken picking (But still fabulous fast picking).

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 25 Apr 2023 7:32 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1BHadRECU

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 25 Apr 2023 7:45 am

Norm Hamlet - Hammin It Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t4ugpM7sE8

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 25 Apr 2023 8:41 am

should read HAMMIN' It Up

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 25 Apr 2023 7:23 pm

Paul Franklin doesn’t need confirmation in regards to “Chicken Pickin” obviously.
I will say, I began pedal steel in or around 1966, as my dad played, and played quite well. You might say I was raised with pedal steel.
That sound was around when I started. Most every pedal steel recording of that era had elements of Chicken Pickin , especially the pedal steel instrumental recordings. Again, I’ll agree with my life long friend and hero Paul Franklin. I’ll always tip my hat to those who could play that style, whether live or on recordings.

As a side note, my first influences of “ Chicken Pickin” was/were and still are Lloyd Green recordings on the Little Darlin label. Lotsa good stuff there. Just slamming staccato picking and not at all hoaky or corny. For me, Lloyd’s early recordings are still a go to for great technique.

Rich Upright · Post by **Rich Upright** » 26 Apr 2023 1:56 am

Buddy Cage has always been a big early influence on me; listen to "Panama Red", or 'Hello Mary Lou"

Also check out John Call, from Pure Prairie League doing "I'll Fix Your Flat Tire Merle". Live version is best.

One of the best chicken pickers that no one seems to mention much here is Joe Wright. Listen to his YouTube video of "Rocky Top". His blinding speed & muting technique are awesome.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 26 Apr 2023 5:00 am

I always thought chicken picking was what you did when you were a little unsure of the chord changes…

Joel Jackson · Post by **Joel Jackson** » 27 Apr 2023 4:54 am

Pretty much off topic, but Sol does some fun “chicken pickin” here at the 2 minute mark. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdEHlXEu_Yw

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 27 Apr 2023 7:18 pm

I always thought this cut was the chicken picking “gold standard”. Legend has it that they did about 25 takes to get it right but Lloyd was flawless on every one of them. Maybe someone who is connected with Lloyd could get his recollections.

Lynn Anderson-“Rocky Top” https://youtu.be/WROkIhZJLSY

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 29 Apr 2023 3:16 pm

and Hal Rugg played on the original https://youtu.be/FzG97IPg0y8

Joel Jackson wrote:Pretty much off topic, but Sol does some fun “chicken pickin” here at the 2 minute mark. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdEHlXEu_Yw

that's pretty great Joel!
(derka derka: chicken pickin or no?)

Joel Jackson · Post by **Joel Jackson** » 30 Apr 2023 8:15 am

Scott, derka derka is the first thing that pops into my mind when someone says chicken pickin’.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 1 May 2023 11:13 am

For my money, the master was Lew Houston with Conway. Jimmie Crawford, Hal Rugg and Weldon could do it great, but it wasn't part of their style, like it was with Lew.

Working Girl - Conway Twitty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0L89pRhl2U

Working Girl - Conway Twitty - live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOZ4AWWLtXw

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 1 May 2023 9:48 pm

Jimmie Crawford & Russ Hicks – their "Chicken pickin' good" album is the best example you will find anywhere. "Fowl Play" and "Roostin' the Rooster" are the definitive chicken pickin' tracks. None of the others mentioned here come close, not even Lloyd! Sadly not available on neither Youtube nor Spotify, it seems.

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 6 May 2023 1:27 pm

It was Bobby Thompson who played the 24 perfect banjo soloes Lloyd said HE had to do 24 passes to get his steelpart down at least thats what he told me

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Pedal steel players who excelled at chicken pickin'

Pedal steel players who excelled at chicken pickin'

Not Lloyd