What should I listen to??

Kevin Macneil Brown · Post by **Kevin Macneil Brown** » 17 Feb 2003 7:35 am

So many great suggestions given. And I'd like to add Bud Charleton with Ernest Tubb from the early to mid 1960s.
The LIVE AT CAINS BALLROOM lp, though not really live, is aural evidence of a soulful steel player who covers lots of musical -and emotional - ground.[This message was edited by Kevin Macneil Brown on 17 February 2003 at 07:37 AM.]

Randy Pettit · Post by **Randy Pettit** » 17 Feb 2003 8:13 am

No one has mentioned Robert Randolph yet... so I will, as well as many other sacred steelers (Aubrey Ghent, Chuck Campbell, etc...). You can even buy some of their CD's right here on the Forum.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 17 Feb 2003 9:21 am

Smiley- thanks for pushing for Hot Club of America ( i dunno how it got left off my list

).... if only it was available on CD

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 17 Feb 2003 10:06 am

The Roger Miller album, "A Trip In The Country" is always a good choice if youre looking to hear some slick chops.....
[This message was edited by Mike Cass on 17 February 2003 at 10:16 AM.]

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 17 Feb 2003 2:27 pm

Jim and JB, ya ain't playing nice...

Some of my favorite back-up pedal steel is on these albums:

Merle Haggard "Live at Billy Bob's Texas" (Norm Hamlet)

Charley Pride "Live at Panther Hall" (Lloyd Green)

Rodney Crowell "Diamonds & Dirt" (Paul Franklin)

Anything by George Strait or Alan Jackson (mostly Paul Franklin)

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HagFan

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 17 Feb 2003 2:47 pm

Hi Melinda, You do need to listen to the "legendary players', and don't forget Bud Issacs as he introduced pedals to country music. Also Walter Haynes. But you should keep an open mind to all styles of music, such as Mike Perloin's Firebird Suite. also the jazz players ( Hal Rugg, Buddy Emmons, etc. ) Paul ,a few years back was on a CD by 'Dire Straits" and toured with the group. Any one who has knowm me foe a long time knows how partial I am to traditional country music. But I have kept an open mind about the music, and have never been out of work. I have worked with every kind of group known to mankind. I recently did a CD with a rock group called" Vapor" . They have just signed with Capitol. So keep an open mind and hang in with the forum, you can always get help here. If you come to the Texas Show, I am one of the MC"s. The skinny one. Come by and say Hi. Best regards, Jody.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 17 Feb 2003 7:23 pm

Melinda,
The link to a world of different players old and new,intro's and turnarounds.The players are listed also some are tabed so you can see how they are playing their part.
It is also a way to hear different styles of playing and how pedalsteel has evolved..
(see Mike P.,I have a good idea occasionaly)
On the 1954 page ,Slowly is the song that started it all......Mr. Bud Isaccs
Bill
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

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Bill Ford[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 17 February 2003 at 07:31 PM.]

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 17 Feb 2003 8:03 pm

"Northern Steel" as mentioned by Joey above is excellent because of its variety. bob might have it under his CD selections.

Leroy

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 19 Feb 2003 6:43 pm

Melinda, in my opinion every steel guitar player should own a copy of a Buddy Emmons album known as "The Black Album". You can order a cd re-issue of it from his website at this address: http://www.buddyemmons.com/recordings.htm
Good luck with your playing!

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 19 Feb 2003 6:58 pm

Jim Cohen and Johnny Farina

R. L. Jones · Post by **R. L. Jones** » 19 Feb 2003 8:43 pm

Melinda, you probably never heard yhe likes of Little Jummue Dickens, old ballads. He does a lot of foolishness, but you really shouldtry to find the album, Songs I love to sing, Talk about steel ,and emotions ,This album has it .

Ernest Tubb record shop has it

R. L.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 22 Feb 2003 3:52 pm

Joe Ely 'Honky Tonk Maquerade' with Lloyd Maines, this album is all Steel Guitar in great West Texas fashion. It is now 25 years old but sounds as fresh as it was when it was new. It was the sound track to my (our) lives in Lubbock in the early 80's , you couldn't go to a club /bar without hearing this. The steel coupled with Ponty Bone's accordian is the best! Every song is a gem!

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Regards, Craig

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 24 Feb 2003 10:34 am

WHAT did I tell you........??? in my email.

PLAY WHAT YOU FEEL inside......... Listen to new and different sounds by others and simply incorporate them into what you FEEL and then forget the "others". They are great because they're playing what they feel inside..........

Take care..........best wishes to you.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 24 Feb 2003 11:04 am

Hi, Melinda, in case it's not already obvious, you're going to need a large budget for CDs... and maybe some OOP LPs that haven't made the "digital cut". Every one of the recordings mentioned here is valuable and some can change a life. The day I heard Buddy E playing 'Wichita Lineman' was the day for me...My advice would be to get every recording you can with steel, instrumental or backing up other players. Besides hearing a whole lot of what you might like to play, you'll hear a bunch of what you DON'T, which is maybe just as valuable. By all means find a copy of Sneaky Pete's "The Legend and the Legacy" which was all cut on pretty much your setup, it's really brilliant and beautiful, and certainly you certainly won't notice any limitations. Be prepared to be amazed- there are an unlimited amount of "I never would have thought of that"s in Steel record land.

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C'mon by and visit!- <A HREF="http://www.markvanallen.com
" TARGET=_blank>www.markvanallen.com
</A>

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 24 Feb 2003 5:11 pm

Melida,

Reece Anderson gave me some of the best advice of any steel player about 25 years ago. He said start listening to other instruments, piano, horns, etc.

Speedy West also told me to listen to other steel players but to develop my own sound. The older top players ALL had their own unique styles and sounds. Don't be just a copycat.

Lastly, of course I'd prefer you listen to THE GOSPEL and praise and worship music. It's the best and JESUS loves you.

Terry Wood
Revelations 12:11

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 24 Feb 2003 8:34 pm

'[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 24 February 2003 at 08:54 PM.]

Gil Berry · Post by **Gil Berry** » 25 Feb 2003 11:38 pm

I would recommend a listen to one of Bobby Black's albums. Golly, I wish I could sound like that! - No disrespect, Bobby, but that does NOT include that "skull orchard" album - that one is just not up to your standard.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 26 Feb 2003 7:36 pm

Darned good advice Ray ! Don't copy...be original.

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 27 Feb 2003 10:15 am

After you've followed all of the above advice, get a recorder and listen to YOURSELF.

For some reason, I hear differently when I'm playing than when I'm just listening.

Best of Luck
Tony