Someday Soon

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 7 Aug 2007 12:48 pm

Once again I find myself working on Someday Soon (Judy Collins) and marvelling at how perfect this recording is. This has got to be my favorite Buddy Emmons cut, and I don't say that casually. His playing is so deep and expressive. His tone and bell like harmonics are to die for. His use of subtle volume pedal swells on individual notes is something I'd love to do better, and his note selection...it's like he's carrying on an unobtrusive duet with the vocals. Plus, he's also complimenting James Burton on guitar (who's also playing so tastefully).

The longer I play, the more I appreciate what a virtuoso performance this is.

Joe

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 7 Aug 2007 1:32 pm

I don't know if I can say what my "favorite" song is, but that version of Someday Soon has always been one of my top five or so. There's been other versions since that just didn't cut it. I do like Suzie Bogguss's version, but it still doesn't hit me like Judy's. Not only Buddy's playing, but Mr. Burton's is magnficent. A masterpiece IMO.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 Aug 2007 1:36 pm

Amen, Joe.
That tune made such an impression on me that I remember where I was and what I was doing the first time I heard that tune. Even today, I listen intently to Buddy and James (especially Buddy of course) It is so flawless..so perfect! And this was 1968!
This is one of those tunes that I can't wait to try and learn once I get my steel made and up & running.

I hear this tune quite often on the oldies station in my shop as I work on my project...a real inspiration!

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 Aug 2007 1:41 pm

Dave, Joe, others;
Who did the Suzy Bogguss version? I like that one as much as the original, thinking: If I can play it like that, it will be good enough. Plus, It's a modern version, with a more modern steel, amp, recording etc...we have the best of both worlds here.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 7 Aug 2007 1:41 pm

A classic..(The Collins cut)

Perhaps a "Standard" as classics are described in the Jazz world.

Heres a version with my wife singing over a track I did. When we were out playing the clubs this was one of her favorite songs to sing..I think we did this in 2004 or 2005....

http://www.tprior.com/some_full.mp3

Thanks Buddy...

tp

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 Aug 2007 1:44 pm

Darn right, Tony,
A standard like Together Again, Misty and Sleep Walk

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 7 Aug 2007 2:09 pm

Bent, I'm not sure who played on Suzy's version. I'm thinking it was most likely Paul Franklin, but I can't say I like her's as much as the Judy Collins track. Judy's version struck me so much that sometimes you might hear it on a muzak system or jukebox and I'd have to stop everything and listen, and make anybody i was talking with listen, too. I just don't think it can be or should be outdone. How do you improve the Mona Lisa?

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 7 Aug 2007 4:05 pm

Joe, you said a mouthful.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 7 Aug 2007 4:46 pm

Joe,That it is my favorite steel guitar performance ever.In fact I will say that the solo is my favorite solo on any instrument.

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 7 Aug 2007 5:05 pm

When I first heard Buddy Emmons on this cut many years ago I could not belief the beauty of his tone and interpretation.

QUESTION: I thought the guitar player on Judy Collins was Steve Miller??
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David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 7 Aug 2007 5:15 pm

On one of Jim Cohen's CDs (Finally Here?), Jim plays this as a beautiful pedal steel instrumental, taking much inspiration from Buddy's Judy Collins version.

Shawn Brown · Post by **Shawn Brown** » 7 Aug 2007 5:18 pm

I totally agree. I was a 14 year old Tele player when that song came out. I was amazed at how well James Burton and Buddy Emmons (I didn't know it was him at the time) complemented each other and the vocal. Emmon's tone is superb on that track.

I was also blown away by the subtle, tasteful playing he did on "She Belongs to Me" by Rick Nelson which came out also at about the same time.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 7 Aug 2007 5:23 pm

IMHO-Buddy's work on SDS is in the same league with the guitar solo's on "confortably numb" by pink floyd.
They are both "the" perfect part for the musical requirements of the song and the performance's are flawless and each note is a link in a perfect musical chain.

Ya, I like it alot!!!
JE:-)>

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 7 Aug 2007 6:58 pm

Shawn,I'm pretty sure that was Tom Brumley on "She Belongs To Me" If I'm wrong slap me hard,That is also one of my favorites.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 7 Aug 2007 7:18 pm

I was under the impression the lead guitarist was Stephen Stills on "Someday Soon." But I'm quite willing to be wrong if it's James.

EDIT: A little research found this Youtube clip.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 7 Aug 2007 7:43 pm

Yeah, the PSG on "Someday Soon" is remarkable, and is one of my first kneejerk responses when someone yacks at me that pedal steel is or should be restricted to country music. Right now, I play a lot more folky music than country, and that particular approach really resonates for me. I'm gonna be real happy if I can ever begin to approach that level of haunting beauty.

I think it's James Burton on guitar, it sure sounds like him. If that's Stills, my opinion of him as a guitarist just shot up a big notch. Not that the R&R Hall of Fame is infallible - far from it - but that is one of the "essential recording" credits listed at James' 2001 induction. Here's a page with that info: http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/james-burton

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 7 Aug 2007 8:47 pm

Herb,I thought that Stills played bass?

Marty Muse · Post by **Marty Muse** » 7 Aug 2007 9:23 pm

I've spent way too much time listening to this record. Classic Buddy Emmons with James Burton. I think Stephen Stills was on bass, with Jim Gordon on drums, and Van Dyke Parks was on there, too. I love to listen to this record panned all the way left or right- with Buddy on one side and the great" chunk rhythm into licks" guitar on the other. Always puts a smile on my face. I believe that was one of Buddy's first sessions when he moved to LA in the late sixties. Love the sound. What guitar was that recorded with?

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 8 Aug 2007 12:01 am

I have a vague memory that Tommy Spurlock played on the Susie Bogguss version of "Someday Soon". Anybody know for sure?

As far as Rick Nelson doing "She Belongs to Me", I think the version from his live album is maybe the most well known, and that's Tom Brumley, but the original studio recording is definitely Buddy Emmons. I think it may have just been a single, I wasn't aware of until recently and downloaded it from itunes.

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 8 Aug 2007 6:02 am

This very recording is what changed my musical life. It was the mid-seventies. and I was playing guitar in a band in Maine, and had bought a little student model Emmons and was wandering aimlessly around on it. Early one morning my "wake to music" alarm clock came on, and in my half-asleep state I heard this most beautiful steel guitar playing. The tone, the emotion, the elegance....Just magical.. At that very moment I knew this is what I really wanted to do, and I committed myself to the steel guitar, vowing to do my best to try become the best player I could.

Not long after, I moved back to Virginia and met Pete Finney, who sold me his old D-10 PP and urged me to visit Buddy Charleton for some lessons. Best advice I ever got...

Danny Kuykendall · Post by **Danny Kuykendall** » 8 Aug 2007 6:20 am

Tony, great steel part on Someday Soon.
When my father died in 1977 and I inherited his steel "Someday Soon" was one of the first songs with a pedal steel I listened to, over and over again. What a great tone and arrangement Buddy had on that
song.
Danny

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 8 Aug 2007 7:35 am

Some Day Soon with Buddy E. was the song that made me want to learn the steel. Around that same time Bob Dylan's Lay Lady Lay with Pete Drake was on the radio, and it was all downhill from there. Great tunes from a great time.
Chuck

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 8 Aug 2007 7:42 am

I agree. That song (together with 'Kind Woman') threw me irrevocably over the edge and I've not been quite right ever since.

I absolutely had to include it on my debut CD, 'Finally Here', as David D. kindly noted; I had no choice. I still feel that way about 'Kind Woman' too, if I could only figure out what to do with it...

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 8 Aug 2007 8:11 am

I must say, the first song I tried to learn when I bought a steel was "Someday Soon". Right there with "Blue Bayou".
Funny, I have never performed either song live, because I've never worked for a female artists.

J Fletcher · Post by **J Fletcher** » 8 Aug 2007 8:14 am

Everybody is in agreement that the beatitful steel playing is Mr Emmons, but I thought the guitar was played by Clarence White...Jerry

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