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Post new topic Michael Martin Murphey's Song Wildfire
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Author Topic:  Michael Martin Murphey's Song Wildfire
John Haspert

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 31 Oct 2021 6:03 pm    
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I have always loved this arrangement of Wildfire; Michael Martin Murphey is also the co-writer. I always thought there was a Pedal Steel Guitar on that track. Tried looking up the credits for musicians; only Sam Broussard is credited for guitar and no one for PSG. Does anyone know if there were indeed a PSG and whom the player may have been. Or if no PSG, how did they create that sound? Many thanks in advance.
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Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 31 Oct 2021 7:29 pm    
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If you're talking about that guitar figure after the piano intro, it's not too hard to duplicate on electric six string. Nice light touch with clean tone. Bet it would sound good on steel though.
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David Graves


From:
Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 31 Oct 2021 11:11 pm    
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John... this has always been one of my lifelong favorite songs. When I sing this I use a clean guitar sound with a lot of warmth and a light reverb with a small delay. This isn’t the best example of my guitar rig but it will give you an idea. I would love to be playing steel on this but I can’t sing it and do steel at the same time... but I may work on it.
https://www.facebook.com/100003305232606/posts/3881467698640033/
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John Haspert

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 5:20 am     Wildfire
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Thanks David. Very, very nice rendition of the song.
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 9:52 am    
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It's one of my favorite songs too. It's almost iconic in it's period, quite unique. But I never really heard anything in it that sounded like pedal steel...and I listen a lot!

p.s. David Graves...can you post your version of the song on YouTube?
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Roy McKinney

 

From:
Ontario, OR
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 10:23 am    
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I think Herb Steiner played some psg for Michael.
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Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 10:38 am    
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There was no steel on the recording of "Wildfire." We'd been doing the song in TX in the early 70's, but Murph didn't record it until later in the 70's. This was after he moved to CO and I had left the band. The incredibly lovely piano intro was by the late Jac Murphy (no relation to MMM). At the time of the recording, I believe John Macy was Murph's steel guitarist.
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John Haspert

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 11:58 am     Mmm wildfire
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Thx Herb, I knew I should have asked you first. I’ve heard several renditions of this, some use mandolin for the repeated lick throughout the song that I thought may have been a steel on the original recording. Then there is at least one YouTube that shows a steel player on stage. Maybe it was you? I’m wondering if Rob used a bit of distortion and reverb on lead guitar?
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John Macy

 

From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 1:56 pm    
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That’s Sam Broussard on the guitar for that signature lick. I joined Murph’s band after this record was out. Those were Phase 90 days, and a tech friend of mine added jacks on both Sam and my 90’s that connected them together with a TRS cord. Mine had a switch that when down allowed them clock independently and when up mine clocked both, so they were in perfect sync. We played that lick together onstage and it was pretty cool synced up like that! Such a great signature lick!
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John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar
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Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 2:19 pm    
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Thanks Herb and John for the insight on this iconic number. One of my all time favorites too. Sang and played it often in my pre steel days.
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John Haspert

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 2:37 pm     MMM wildfire
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Thanks John for the insight as to how that was done. What a very cool sound.!!!
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John Haspert

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 1 Nov 2021 7:10 pm    
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Duplicate post deleted
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Last edited by John Haspert on 2 Nov 2021 5:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Floyd Lowery

 

From:
Deland, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 2 Nov 2021 11:02 am    
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I was honored to be in a band that fronted him in Weirsdale, Florida around The mid 90s. I was sure impressed with their sound.
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John Macy

 

From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
Post  Posted 3 Nov 2021 4:30 am    
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John, we did that in the live shows and played it in harmony. The record was just a single guitar.
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John Macy
Rockport, TX
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