Sneaky Pete gems...............

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 11 Apr 2005 8:48 am

I was transferring some of my old LP's to CD and came across Linda Ronstadt's "Heart Like a Wheel" album. There was some nice steel work on several cuts. Most notable was the old Hank Williams classic "I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love With You" which had a killer intro, break and fills by Pete. This dude gets a lot out of that old 8 string Fender pedal steel! Another hauntingly beautiful solo was on the old Buddy Holly classic "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (written by Paul Anka). One cut that really caught my ear was the Lowell George tune "Willin" which also featured the great Bob Warford on B-Bender Telecaster. Bob did the first half of the solo and was followed by Sneaky on steel. I was amazed how much Pete sounded like a bender-Tele until he did some slides which gave it away. I thought Warford was doing the whole solo for a minute there. I'd heard that Sneaky was a master of doing those Clarence White licks on steel but I'd never remembered hearing it until this recording. One cut "Keep Me From Blowing Away" features a steeler named Danny Pendleton who I'd never heard of. Does anyone have any info on him? JH in Va.

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 11 Apr 2005 9:42 am

Jerry.. I am Very familiar with that album.. wore it out years ago listening to Pete...He's the most unique sounding steel guitarist I have ever heard. Danny Pendelton was around back in that mid 70's era... I am not real familiar with him, but i think he did some studio work and possibly some tours with Linda Ronstadt years ago...

I used to love her music back in her heyday, but I guess she would rather not have me listen to it any more because Christians make her "uncomfortable"..and I AM a Christian bob

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 11 Apr 2005 11:21 am

Funny, as I was just walking back to the office from lunch I was hearing that version of "I Can't Help it..." in my head. I've always loved that album.

Jeff Watson · Post by **Jeff Watson** » 11 Apr 2005 5:13 pm

I rip off both sections of that solo on Willin everytime I get a chance. Part of what led me to the instrument.

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 11 Apr 2005 5:48 pm

Here's something I posted in a recent thread about 70's country rock, in answer to the question of: "Who played on Afternoon Delight". Danny was based in D.C. but this is about all I know about him...

"A guy named Danny Pendleton played on "Afternoon Delight", on a Sierra with a universal tuning if I remember correctly. It was a Washington D.C. based band (The Starland Vocal Band). Danny also played some on Emmylou Harris's first album, and I believe had a "day job" for some government agency. Haven't heard anything about him in years..."

David Yannuzzi · Post by **David Yannuzzi** » 12 Apr 2005 7:18 am

Yeah Jeff,
Every time i have to play Willin' I can't help But quote Sneaky Petes part to the Solo . I just hear it in my head...Dave[This message was edited by David Yannuzzi on 12 April 2005 at 08:19 AM.]

Richard Nelson · Post by **Richard Nelson** » 12 Apr 2005 7:21 am

It was' Heart like a Wheel' that turned me on to steel guitar. Great album

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 12 Apr 2005 12:24 pm

"I Can't Help it if I'm Still in Love With You" on the "Heart Like A Wheel" LP...
In the mid '70's, when I was spinnin' tunes at a local night club, I used to play the he!! out of that tune. The patrons, who were more interested dancin' to KC & the Sunshine Band, used to look at me weird, but I didn't care. I wanted to hear the steel. Same for "It doesn't matter anymore", which was a great tune to close out the night.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 12 April 2005 at 01:27 PM.]

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Apr 2005 1:23 pm

Just a little while back I was in the grocery and heard "Willin" and the old memories of this Ronstadt album came flooding back. I was reminded of how this music and this time would plant the seed for me to take up pedal steel if it were ever financially possible. Sneaky Pete and the country rock music of this era is the foremost reason I took up the pedal steel ....."Weed, whites and wine".....

[This message was edited by Jerry Overstreet on 12 April 2005 at 02:28 PM.]

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 13 Apr 2005 3:16 am

You guys are singing my song.Pete led the way
along with Buddy Cage, Hank Devito,John Call Al Perkins,Rusty Young, Bobby Black and others I forget because of what I was doin at
the time.

Fred Amendola · Post by **Fred Amendola** » 13 Apr 2005 4:10 am

Don't forget about Pete's solo on Joe Cocker's "She Came in thru the Bathroom Window" !
Whew

Also, there was a Linda Ronstadt single flip side called "Can It Be True" which had gorgeous changes and steel solo by Pete. I'll have to put it up on the clip site.
Fred

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 13 Apr 2005 6:47 am

"Clip site"????
Where is that, Fred?

Thanks

Jay

Eli Hall · Post by **Eli Hall** » 13 Apr 2005 1:43 pm

Sneaky Pete also did a wonderfully tasty solo on a Frank Zappa album called Waka-Jawaka. He definitely has his own sound...I think it was a Fender 8 string...anyone know for sure?

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 13 Apr 2005 3:21 pm

i got sneaky this gig http://www.silent-watcher.net/billlaswell/discography/gopals/thunderingherd.html
but when i suggested a web hof for those not in the isga who would probably never get there, like seaky pete, i was crucified for wasting bandwith
[This message was edited by ebb on 13 April 2005 at 06:41 PM.]

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 13 Apr 2005 3:29 pm

Eli, Pete plays[ed] a Fender 400 with an assortment of onboard effects. I have not heard the Zappa tune you mentioned, but I'll be lookin' thru my cuz's collection for it!

Fred Amendola · Post by **Fred Amendola** » 13 Apr 2005 4:16 pm

"Clip Site" was referring to Rebel, Ricky and Jeff's steel clips site http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html
Sorry for the confusion
Fred

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 13 Apr 2005 9:43 pm

I hope none of you have missed the "Legend and the Legacy" CD compilation that's out now. Fantastic double dose of S Pete. Anybody who thinks an 8 string pedal guitar is an anachronism needs to hear that one. Just amazing.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 14 Apr 2005 3:32 am

Pete's also on the "Suite Steel" and the "Pacific Steel" albums. I have them on LP record, I don't know if they're available on CD or not........JH in Va.

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Arty Passes · Post by **Arty Passes** » 14 Apr 2005 4:49 am

As if that's not enough, he's also been a legendary animator since the days of Gumby and Davey and Goliath.....
check out his resume http://www.pkleinow.addr.com/
Some guys just have too much talent.......

I got to meet him about 26 years ago backstage at the Armadillo when he was playing with the New Riders - Great guy, and one of my all time great memories
He and Rusty got me hooked.....
Arty

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 14 Apr 2005 5:39 am

I'll tell you what.. I and everyone else here can copy steel parts off of albums that were recoded by great players like Buddy,Paul,Lloyd,T Brumley,etc,and make them sound almost acceptable.. Even come quite close to an exact copy sometimes right??...
Try that with something Pete recorded!!,, Not only will your tone not be in the same county, everthing else will be off center...

The man is totally unique in his approach to the pedal steel.. very hard to figure out what he is doing with his pedals,, tuning,feel,timing,touch.They broke the mold with this guy for certain..bob[This message was edited by Bob Carlucci on 14 April 2005 at 06:41 AM.]

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 14 Apr 2005 5:54 am

Speaking of Pete's tone,

there is a unique quality to his sound on the Flying Burrito Brothers' first album (Gilded palace of Sin). I'm not sure if it came from his playing or was a studio technique, but the lower tones are pushed way in the background while the melodic line stands out with bright, poppy tone. Even if you could crack the "code" of his pedal setup and tuning, you'd be hard pressed to match the sound from that album.

Dan

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 14 Apr 2005 9:10 am

Can someone post Pete's copedant? I believe it's a B6th of some sort with the 1st string at D# and the 2nd at B and so forth with no "chromatic" strings. I think that'd make it a little easier to understand what he's doing. I think it's in Winnie's book but I don't know where my copy is at the moment. I think here's one guy that definately should be in the SGHOF.....JH in Va.

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 14 Apr 2005 2:36 pm

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/009240.html

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ed bierly

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 14 Apr 2005 3:07 pm

You can see a recent picture of Sneaky's Fender guitar at www.duanemarrs.com
Duane Marrs works on that guitar from time to time.