Snowy cold day in Northeast Ohio, so I put this little video together of the Dwight Yoakum tune, "The Heart That You Own" featuring the great Tom Brumley.
I recorded Tom's steel parts on a Kline D-10, (the best I could), and then substituted them on the recording to hear what Tom might have sounded like playing a Kline...
I hope you get some enjoyment from this, especially you Kline fans!!
That's a fine effort, likely very similar to what Tom's sound would have been! You're doing some neat stuff, but I think the sound you've captured with your Kline is probably close to his Anapeg to start with. To me, when Tom switched brands, a lot of his identity was lost, and he no longer sounded like the Tom Brumley that many of us loved, and I feel that change was dictated more by the market and what is in vogue today. Very few players in the last 20-30 years have an easily identifiable tone, at least from where I sit. Guessing who's playing these days is more about their playing style, since the tones are far more similar and homoginized than they used to be.
Tom has always been one of my favorite players. I agree with Donny about Tom's change in tone and perhaps style. In his later work I hear what sounds like Kayton Roberts playing Pedal Steel. Smooth, with a slight "Hawaiian" flavor though. His work with Buck and Rick Nelson was the best!
Best lyric in a country song: "...One more, Moon..."
Donny Hinson wrote:That's a fine effort, likely very similar to what Tom's sound would have been! You're doing some neat stuff, but I think the sound you've captured with your Kline is probably close to his Anapeg to start with. To me, when Tom switched brands, a lot of his identity was lost, and he no longer sounded like the Tom Brumley that many of us loved, and I feel that change was dictated more by the market and what is in vogue today. Very few players in the last 20-30 years have an easily identifiable tone, at least from where I sit. Guessing who's playing these days is more about their playing style, since the tones are far more similar and homoginized than they used to be.
Thank you for your take on this Donny. I have to agree with you about the tone of the Kline being similar to Tom's Anapeg.
Originally I used a ZB SD-11 to record this and the tone was a stark contrast to the tone on the album, much more upfront.
When I tried my Kline and listened back to it a lightbulb went off and I thought, dang, this Kline sounds much more like the original recording.
It would be interesting to know which guitar Tom actually used on this.
Kenny - thank you for your thoughts on Tom's playing style over the years. I guess it definitely was refined as the years progressed. Either way, this song is some of my favorite steel guitar sounds, Tom's sense of melody really shines on the solo.
Very nice...well done.
I agree, Tom's tone was best on his ZBs. He used a Mullen when we cut Sara Evans' "Three Chords And The Truth" LP, and his tone there was very close to the ZB...but not so much later on when he played the Anapeg.
You came very close to the ZB...nicely done, and nice playing.
TB was a fave of mine...glad I got to work with him some. I miss him.
Skip Edwards wrote:Very nice...well done.
I agree, Tom's tone was best on his ZBs. He used a Mullen when we cut Sara Evans' "Three Chords And The Truth" LP, and his tone there was very close to the ZB...but not so much later on when he played the Anapeg.
You came very close to the ZB...nicely done, and nice playing.
TB was a fave of mine...glad I got to work with him some. I miss him.
btw... Heart That You Own was cut on a ZB.
Thanks Skip, I have always admired Tom's playing on this song, I am glad to have learned it somewhat.
It's so cool to hear this from someone who was actually there.
Thanks Dale and Kenny, I appreciate the kind words as well.
Enjoyed this thread very much Mike and all of the guys post's.
I thought Tom was the BEST of all. And his old ZB had guts in it that will never be found in anything else. And I think he used an old Fender Bassman head and cabinet for all his early day stuff which had a lot to do with his sound. Micky Adams
had ended up with it from Rolene but I do not know where it is now. Maybe Micky has it stashed away. I think I have just about wore out my live at Carnegie Hall LP. One of the BEST ever made. May Buck's and Tom's music live on forever. J.R. Rose
