Rusty Young

Dennis Olearchik · Post by **Dennis Olearchik** » 13 Jun 2002 6:10 pm

I always liked Rusty's use of a Leslie speaker cabinet with PSG back on Poco's 2nd album. I also saw him using it in concert several year afterwards.

I thought it was an "ahead of it's time" thing to do (making a PSG sound "like" a B3 Hammond).

Anyone else think so?

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 13 Jun 2002 8:08 pm

I will have to listen to my old Poco albums to hear the part you are talking about. However, I have just been listening to Buddy Cage on the Great Speckled Bird album and on one song, what sounds like a Hammond transforms into steel guitar. I found the effect fascinating.

Karlis

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 14 Jun 2002 12:17 am

Rusty Young + Jesse Ed Davis (Taj Mahal) were the first to use the Leslie cabinet in my book, back in 68/69.
Way too kool it was back then...
Jimi did use one on the Cry of Love lp.
Steel turnin' round...

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 14 Jun 2002 2:46 am

The Beatles used one in 1966 on the Rubber Soul Album "It's Only Love", then Buffalo Springfield used one on their 1st album "Out of My Mind" recorded in 66-67, then The Grass Roots used one "Let's Live For Today" 1967.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 14 Jun 2002 3:03 am

Well here we go again.. yes the Roto Leslie sound was very cool with the steel...BUT..according to some statements that I read by Richie Furay there was a reason for it other than " Hey , that sounds cool!" .The Band , Poco, was catagorized as to Country for Rock and to Rock for Country and was stuck in the middle and could not get air play they desperatley needed and deserved so they were experimenting with different sounds, , like the Leslie to cover up ( did I say that ) the Steel...Considering that I was ( maybe still am ) one of the worlds top Poco fans, I look back and ask myself why they didn't just add a keyboard or a horn player to the band ? They were breaking ground they just didn't put the shovel in far enough...Rusty Young was a pioneer and is a great player and was a major influence to me playing Steel.
I thought the Leslie/Steel sound was ok but it didn't do a lot for my taste. The later Poco years found Rusty playing the "Bear" which was the electric Dobro kinda thing . The last concert I saw them play just before Richie left the group Rusty played maybe 2 songs on Steel and the rest were on the Electric Bear thing which was real loud and fuzzed out. I have got to admit right here on the Internet, I left the concert early, I was to say the least very disappointed , actually bored..15 minute songs with Rusty playing the Bear thing . I had seen Poco play several times previously thru the years and they were outstanding, possibly the best band I have ever seen play live. The best shows were the earliest days when Messina and Young were trading licks on the Tele' and Steel.

Maybe if Rusty is reading he can comment and set the record straight, or rather set me straight !

Still a fan...after all these years..
Anyway..Bye Bye...
tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 14 June 2002 at 04:04 AM.][This message was edited by Tony Prior on 14 June 2002 at 04:43 AM.]

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 14 Jun 2002 5:40 am

Tony,

Read John Einarson's book titled
Desperados: The roots of country rock
pub. Cooper Square Press 2001
ISBN 0-8154-1065-4
It'll answer all your questions and then some.

Keep on pickin...up the pieces

Glenn

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 14 Jun 2002 5:50 am

Glenn thanks for the note on the book, I actually have no questions as this subject this topic has been well discussed here and on other forums. I have been a huge Springfield/Poco fan from the beginning and have read tons of interviews first hand from the likes of Richie Furay and other founding members. I guess the issue at hand here is the leslie/steel thing, which in-itself is a pretty cool concept, why they did it and what they were trying to accomplish back then, which was national airplay (fame) which never really happened for them ( Poco) but it did happen for all their friends and those that left the group, A tough pill to swallow to say the least. I am not an expert on the subject but I am familiar with some events that I have read about. The Forgotton Trail CD collection has a very nice booklet of the bands history written by the band members.

I don't have a Leslie and I don't want to carry one either !! I did that with the blues bands that I played in with B3's and that other heavy stuff..Geeze were they heavy !

tp

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Jun 2002 6:23 am

I was first exposed to pedal steel through a Leslie speaker via Curly Chalker's "Big Hits On Big Steel" album, then by a Doug Jernigan album, then by Rusty Young with Poco. I think Chalker and Jernigan's use predates Rusty's by quite a few years. However, the way that Rusty incorporated the CryBaby Wah-Wah along with the Leslie, really turned me on!

For years I schlepped around a souped up Fender Leslie cabinet with an old Goodrich Volume/Wah pedal, copping as many of those sounds as I could. Later I went with The Junior, and then an H&K Rotosphere, both with an MXR Envelope Filter. Now I'm back to a "real" Leslie again, only now it's an IVL SteelRider through a sound module with hundreds of organ and other samples.

Bob Knetzger · Post by **Bob Knetzger** » 14 Jun 2002 7:29 am

Yeah, Rusty did some really innovative things on steel back then...but he's not thru yet!

The previously unreleased Sky Kings recordings from the mid 90's are now available on Rhino. Lots of great Rusty stuff: crisp and snappy pedal steel, some tasty dobro, and some really cool non-pedal rock style lap steel! Check it out!

Bob K-

(I'm still gigging out with an OEM Fender Leslie in a custom light weight mini cabinet with a 10" JBL and a cry baby wah...)