John David Call

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 1 Mar 2007 7:20 am

Hi Everyone.
How does John David Call from Prairie League get that haunting train type sound in the chorus of the live version of Kansas City Southern.I have tried over the years to emulate those few bars but to no avail.Is he using some sort of reverb ---it sure doesnt even sound like playing behind the bar -or even harmonics.Is it just in his fingers-I play a sho bud like he does.
Finally does anyone know of his whereabouts and is he still playing.Many thanks for listening--regards Dave.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 1 Mar 2007 7:45 am

Dave, Hi, If you post an mp3 of the part you're referring to, I'm sure someone will help.
Baz (West Midlands)

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 1 Mar 2007 1:32 pm

I made an mp3 of the part in question but I dont have the means to post it. If someone else can I'll email them the file.

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 1 Mar 2007 6:29 pm

I' m reasonably sure the riff your talking about is played over the C#m during the chorus. (E9)

riff #1, pedals B&C, rake strings 5-6-7 starting at the 18th fret
with volume pedal off sliding up to the 19th fret increasing
volume ( volume pedal swell)

riff#2 same as #1 on strings 4-5-6

effects: I hear a moderate amout of reverb.. The "train whistle"
is generated by the amount of volume pedal swell as you slide up the neck.

I hope this helps, cool song!

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 1 Mar 2007 6:42 pm

There's a name I haven't heard in years. Pure PL was here at the college. We got to open for them. They were great.

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 2 Mar 2007 5:48 am

Dear Bgrado-many thanks for the advice -tried the idea as i got up for work this early a.m!! albeit with the steel played acoustically!!!!(didnt want to wake everyone else).It sounds train like, but without the amp i obviously cant be sure-will get back to you.
To Bill---must have been a great time opening for PPL .here in the UK we never have, nor have had bands like that.I sure would have liked to have seen them in the 70s.I have their live album TAKING THE STAGE.It is one of my favourite albums alongside New Riders HOME HOME ON THE ROAD.When you opened for them did they do Kansas city? cheers Dave

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 2 Mar 2007 4:18 pm

To be honest I can't remember what songs they did. I do know they did Amy and Two Lane Hiway. Thats been two long ago but I miss those bands and that music. Jackson Browne,Poco, The amzing Rythm Aces ECT. We were doing the Daredevils music before very many locals had heard of them. When they became popular they did a concert here at the college. They got my band up on the stage and thanked us for helping thier music get listened to in the area. They were a great bunch of guys.

Dennis Schell · Post by **Dennis Schell** » 2 Mar 2007 8:36 pm

My favorite album (remember those?) for years was PPL's "Live, Takin' The Stage". I wish I could find a copy on cassette or CD. I played the album 'til it disappeared!

Dennis

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 3 Mar 2007 1:37 am

BGrado, send me the mp3 and I'll post it on the forum.
Basil

use this E-Mail address :-

basil@waikiki-islanders.com

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 3 Mar 2007 7:32 am

Basil,

Check you email

Bob

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 3 Mar 2007 9:23 am

~Got it BG....
Click Here

It's done with a volume pedal. Slightly out of tune minor chord with the root as the top note.

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 3 Mar 2007 11:17 am

Many thanks for you all in helping me get that train sound.I know what Iwas doing wrong now ---as you say Basil the root is on the top and for some reason I was playing the csharp min.on the 12 fret so the root is underneath!!!There are secrets all the time on psg! ---.I need to play it higher up the fretboard on the 19th fret as Bgrado so rightly and kindly said.I reckon that wraps the show up folks....but where is JD Call??!!

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 3 Mar 2007 12:26 pm

I was hoping if we kept this thread active long enough he just might chime in. lol

Perhaps he's already been here using an alias...

John David Call a.k.a. Bill Dobkins

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 3 Mar 2007 4:41 pm

LOL -BGRADO no I'm not John D Call. I'm not good enough to carry his picks.

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 5 Mar 2007 5:42 am

OK eveyone why not keep the thread going it is an interesting one.Perhaps he may well be out there under a sudonym!!Perhaps some 3rd party may wish to tell us if he is still playing.Has anyone else opened and played alongside PPL??I wonder if ,and how many , other famous steelies use the forum under a sudonym---or am I being nieve here?( I am a new member).cheers Dave

Doc Hall · Post by **Doc Hall** » 5 Mar 2007 6:55 am

Pure Prairie League has a forum that posts info on John David Call periodically. I think he's living in the Cincinnati, OH area. He still plays with PPL occasionally when Fats Kaplan isn't available.

Tom Mossburg · Post by **Tom Mossburg** » 5 Mar 2007 8:36 am

Hey Bill, remember the car over the lake album with the bonus "Red Record"? I think that the earlier version of PPL when JD was there was the best. He jammed pretty good on "I'll fix your flat tire Merle" too. That was a great era in music with a lot of great bands and places to see them.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 5 Mar 2007 11:12 am

Tom, the only album I can find in my collection of PPL is Bustin Out. It list Al Brisco as the steel player. I know I had that album and some others but it must have been given away (WIFE). anyway Bustin Out is the only one I can find.
THAT WAS GREAT MUSIC BACK THEN...

Chuck Thompson · Post by **Chuck Thompson** » 5 Mar 2007 2:39 pm

a friend turned me on to ppl when i was a kid in the 70's - to me, they were cooler than the other side of the pillow - i still have all their albums and especially love the double live

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 5 Mar 2007 3:15 pm

Dave Hepworth wrote:I wonder if ,and how many , other famous steelies use the forum under a sudonym---or am I being nieve here?( I am a new member).cheers Dave

There are a few 'Infamous" ones here OK.
Baz

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 5 Mar 2007 7:16 pm

I am a big fan of PPL and have two complete 'Live' album sets in good condition. Would love to have a CD reissue made someday though.

My favorite song from 'Live and Kickin'' is '(I don't wanna)Fade Away', great Steel on that song.

I saw PPL in Lubbock,Tx at a school function, they were very good, but don't remember much.

John Maggard · Post by **John Maggard** » 6 Mar 2007 11:31 am

Hi all,
JD Call is alive and well and living in Waverly, Ohio, south of Columbus. Incredible player and to hear it from anyone who knows him, an incredibly nice guy. I had the pleasure of meeting and seeing him fill in for Fats last year at a reunion show with other PPL alumni, playing with the 'new' version of PPL: Craig Fuller, Mike Reilly, Curtis Wright, and Rick Schell. They're touring all this upcoming year, and do the original band(s) proud - lots of the old material from the earliest on, and the album released last year is great; the last song is a live cut from the benefit last year with JD playing on it. They just played a benefit for Reilly a couple of weeks ago in Nashville, and John was there - sorry to have missed it. Lots of pics and a video clip or two on the PPL website.

John

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 7 Mar 2007 6:40 am

HI JOHN,
THANKS FOR THE INFO.WHAT LABEL IS THE ALBUM ON SO I CAN GO OUT AND GET ONE ASAP, IN FACT AT THE SPEED OF 50,000 GAZELLES!!!
CHEERS DAVE

John Maggard · Post by **John Maggard** » 7 Mar 2007 8:49 am

Dave,
The name of the album is "All In Good Time", and info on the package lists the label and number as Drifter's Church 0008; the easiest way to order is probably through the PPL website

www.pureprairieleague.com

(bOb, I hope it's ok to post this link)
I think you'll be happy with the new material! There's also supposed to be a dvd in the works from the Nashville show....

John

John Maggard · Post by **John Maggard** » 7 Mar 2007 8:51 am

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