Iconic pedal steel

[Joel Jackson]

Doing a workshop at a festival next month and would like to focus on a few pedal steel passages that are recognizable to people who are not necessarily steel players. Kicks, solos, whatever etc. ideally at least one would be E9 and have a good amount of audible pedal/knee changes happening. I know what we think of when we think of pedal steel, but what do the non steel players think of when they think of pedal steel? Average age of participants in the workshop probably in the 50 to 60 year old range. Opinions appreciated. Thanks.

[Fred Treece]

I suppose in order for a steel guitar part to be considered “iconic”, the song that it’s in would also have to be easily recognized as a classic. That puts a lid on a lot of great and more intricate playing, but it makes the job easier.

Teach Your Children (Crosby Stills & Nash/Jerry Garcia on steel)
Someday Soon (Judy Collins/ Buddy Emmons steel)
Blue Bayou (Linda Ronstadt/ Dan Dugmore, steel)
Together Again (Buck Owens/ Tom Brumley, steel)
Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan/ Pete Drake, steel)
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald (Gordon Lightfoot/ Peewee Charles, steel)
Heart Of Gold (Neil Young/ Ben Keith, steel)

There really is not much in the way of complicated pedal and lever work in any of these tunes, but the performance is tasteful and perfect for the song. Therein lies an important lesson for the workshop, I guess.

An honorable mention to Paul Franklin for his work with Dire Straits. While there is no single solo or kick that you can point to as instantly recognizable, the band is certainly iconic as were many of the tunes he played with them while touring and recording. I think he said he exposed the pedal steel to 5 million people around the world while touring with them.

Of course Country Music is loaded with the greatest steel players who’ve ever lived doing most of their greatest work on songs specific to that genre. You could fill a forum thread 10 pages long with iconic examples of that, if you wanted to go there.

You could also mention that Buddy Emmons and Paul Franklin both began their professional careers in Detroit. I believe Paul was born there.

[Bob Shilling]

Great list! I would add something from "All Things Must Pass."

Maybe?:

"Behind That Locked Door" (George Harrison/Pete Drake on steel)

[Tucker Jackson]

I agree with the above selections. Fred's point that it's most important that the song is widely known by 50- and 60-year folks in Detroit is what I would focus on.

From those who spent a lot of time growing up with rock radio (or later, classic rock radio) it would be impossible to miss "Teach," and the intro is particularly well known. Another big rock radio song back in the day was "Fire on the Mountain," -- but I think the steel playing is better on "Teach" and it's lasted longer in the public eye. "Heart of Gold" was the #1 song on the rock charts for 1972, but there's no steel solo, just accompaniment. A choice later in the timeline might be "The Bug" by Dire Straits.

And for those familiar with 60's country, "Together Again" is perfect; it's a really widely known song and it just nails what country pedal steel ballad-playing was all about in that era. "Don't Rock the Jukebox" is a good example of a later style and that song was pretty well known.

The beauty of "Blue Bayou" is that it cut across genres and might be the most recognizable tune mentioned in this thread.

[Chris Lucker]

Those are all great examples, to which I would add Elton John's "Tiny Dancer"

[scott murray]

hey Joel!
you might include this one for the Detroit connection. I think it was Paul Franklin's first major session and a pretty big pop hit:
Nice To Be With You - Gallery

show em the derka lick while yer at it

[John Larson]

"Dire Wolf" by the Grateful Dead

Growing up my dad had a copy of Reckoning the early 80s live set of acoustic versions of Dead tunes it opens with a a variant of how the Dead usually played it sans pedal steel so I heard it in this configuration for many years before I heard the Workingman's Dead version. It quickly became one of my favorite Dead tunes along with "Ripple". Years later I started listening to their other music and albums, the first time I heard that pedal steel pickup I was sold, to me it's one of the few Dead tunes where the studio version is the definitive version due to Jerry's awesome pedal steel playing probably the best he ever did outside of New Riders of the Purple Sage.

To me that intro is a great example of a B+C pedals lick.

Lloyd Green on "You Ain't Goin Nowhere" and "Hickory Wind" off The Byrd's Sweetheart of the Rodeo

"Fire on the Mountain" by the Marshall Tucker Band

[Donny Hinson]

"Six Feet Of Snow", by Little Feat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMeFHAaZ_gE
(Steel by Sneaky Pete Kleinow)

(The album version of) "Crimson and Clover", by Tommy James and the Shondells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGEeneO-t0
(Steel by Eddie Gray)

"Pride Of Cucamonga", by The Grateful Dead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si_T0tUzLNU
(Steel by John McPhee)

"Right Down The Line, by Jerry Rafferty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSfOB8ANdWU
(Steel by B.J. Cole)

"Afternoon Delight", by The Starland Vocal Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD8vSm_SDlM
(Steel by Danny Pendleton)

[Henry Matthews]

Guess I need to get out more, I’ve never heard any of those songs Donny.
I’d say , Once A Day- Connie Smith
1982, Randy Travis
Then And Only Then- Connie
Touch My Heart- Ray Price

[Donny Hinson]

Henry, your picks are all old country songs, and that's fine! The ones I selected are (for the most part) 50 year-old rock songs, as I intentionally stayed away from country music in my choices. But since I sometimes forget how old I am, my choices may not be known to many people - especially those in the 50-60 age bracket, which was Joel's stated demographic.

[Joel Jackson]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses everyone! I have to admit to not having heard a good number of these selections, so I’ve got some listening to do. To clarify, the festival is a few hours north of Detroit, so Detroit connections may not be super relevant for participants and the demographic a little different from here in the city. Also, the workshop includes Hawaiian and lap steel and will hopefully illustrate the connections between and evolution of the instrument. Donny, I’d love to hear your country recommendations.

[Dennis A Brown]

I don't know if this has been mentioned but how about Top of The World by the Carpenters, Buddy Emmons in the steel chair?

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

[Tony Edwards]

Probably one of the most recognizable renditions of all time was "Look At Us" sung by Vince Gill, but masterfully played by John Hughey.

[scott murray]

I don't know if this has been mentioned but how about Top of The World by the Carpenters, Buddy Emmons in the steel chair?

Red Rhodes played the intro/outro, Buddy was called in later to add all the fills

[Nicholas Cox]

You Ain’t Going Nowhere - The Byrds (Lloyd Green)
Christine’s Tune - Flying Burritos (Sneaky Pete)
Panama Red - New Riders of the Purple Sage (Buddy Cage)
Nightlife - Ray Price (Buddy Emmons)

[Nelson Checkoway]

Early 70s pop classic “It’s so nice to be with you” by one-hit-wonders Gallery. Always loved the steel solo (which basically follows the chorus melody)—and I just learned that it was (a very young) Paul Franklin!

[Nelson Checkoway]

Another 70s song I’ve always loved—not just for the steel part—is “Joanne” by Mike Nesmith’s First National Band. But Red Rhodes’ steel comes in strong and sings throughout the number. Nesmith’s only post-Monkees charted single. I’ll say it again: Red Rhodes!!

[Dennis Montgomery]

The obvious ones for me would look to the Dead and be Jerry's pedal steel on "Dire Wolf", John McFee's solo on "Pride of Cucamonga" and possibly Jerry's playing on "The Wheel". While simple, and able to be played easily on regular 6 string guitar, Jerry's pedal steel solo on "Candyman" is pretty iconic.

I'd also throw the solo from The Rolling Stones "Torn and Frayed" with Al Perkins into the mix. And while obscure 70's progressive rock, you could always throw in the pedal steel solo Steve Howe from Yes played on 1974's "To Be Over"

[Thornton Lewis]

Hello Mary Lou by New Riders of the Purple Sage is remarkably well recognized by non steel people that I encounter. It may be my upstate NY location.

[Bruce Derr]

Those are all great examples, to which I would add Elton John's "Tiny Dancer"

I'd also add "Your Song" by Elton.

Oops, I meant "Country Comfort." The one with the nice steel break.

[scott murray]

might be time to pack this one in, Joel

[Fred Treece]

Before you pack it in, check out this thread on the topic of great steel playing on classic country
viewtopic.php?t=337142

I knew this came up not too long ago.

[Joel Jackson]

might be time to pack this one in, Joel

Scott, I think you’re probably right! Just for fun, how about this. Sleepwalk is to the non pedal steel as ________ is to the pedal steel. Sleepwalk has a melody that many people of different musical backgrounds recognize, and I think people realize it’s being played on some kind of funky instrument even if they don’t know it’s a non pedal steel. I’m not sure an equivalent exists for the pedal steel. Maybe it’s an artifact of the pedal steel’s rise in popularity happening at the same time popular music moved away from instrumental tunes.

[Fred Treece]

Sleepwalk is to the non pedal steel as ________ is to the pedal steel.

Oh man…I think I’ll go jump off a bridge.
But all seriousness aside, there is nothing that can fill in that blank. And there probably never will be. Not just because instrumental music is no longer accepted by the flying fickle finger of fate that is the general public’s taste in music, either. Maybe the characteristics that give pedal steel it’s unique identity just do not fit into a simple pop melody. I am more than okay with that.

[scott murray]

well, 4-Wheel Drive was Buddy Emmons' answer to Sleepwalk but it wasn't nearly as popular for some reason.

as far as the most recognizable, I'd go with Teach Your Children. Jerry wins again