I've already chimed in earlier and I still say that Emmons playing on Ray Charles' 'Wichita Lineman' was the catalyst that made me determined to try pedal steel. I didn't know who it was and, anyway, I was only dimly aware of Emmons' name, much less his place in the music world.
Having said that, solid reinforcement came from 'Sweetheart Of The Rodeo' - Lloyd Green AND Clarence White (bender Tele!) - playing at the highest level.
Around the same time, Buddy Cage and JayDee caught my ear with their remarkable blocking! JayDee's 'Muddy Mississippi Line' just blew me away!
I still can't do that stuff.
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Driving on the Capital Beltway in 1975 headed to Diesel Tech school a.m.radio Ralph Mooney intro to Rainy Day Woman...burned into my DNA forever. Fire On The Mountain - Marshall Tucker Band/Toy Caldwell intro, John Denver- Country Roads perfect steel parts by Eric Weisberg, Teach Your Children intro by Jerry Garcia on his ZB...love that sound!
Retired my "Flying Pro III" playin' gigs with the "little bud" in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.
Pete Burak wrote:Hello Mary Lou - New Riders - Live
That classic Buddy Cage ascending Steel Ride really drove me to get a PSG, summer of 10th grade, 1979.
Starting 1min:50sec https://youtu.be/D-4rGrMM8Ek
I would love to see the tab for that ride.
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!!
Pete Burak wrote:Hello Mary Lou - New Riders - Live
That classic Buddy Cage ascending Steel Ride really drove me to get a PSG, summer of 10th grade, 1979.
Starting 1min:50sec https://youtu.be/D-4rGrMM8Ek
The first steel ride that got me truly interested in the instruments, and the pickers, was Mooney on Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down. That one inspired me to buy my first Telecaster, and subsequently install a bender on it.
Bruce Bouton, on Highway 40 Blues, made me realize that my B/G Bender guitar was never going to cut it.
Kim Deschamps on Blue Rodeo's Hasn't Hit Me Yet and Photograph are what just made me pull the trigger on my first PSG. Five Days in July is a desert island album for me, and Kim's PSG and Dobro picking have inspired me since my youth.
Thanks to Gregg for the nod...I'm honored, sincerely. Like many players, I started with an idea that was way more than the producer, James Stroud, wanted. I ended up doing 3 takes, in between each one him repeating 'a little simpler please'. Clint wanted an intro that he played on harmonica to me. Put the two together and it was a take.
Steel guitar caught my attention when my mother bought the Ray Price 'Nightlife' album. I was learning guitar at the time identifying with George Jones 'Best Guitar Picker' song...fingers were worn to the bone. Joined the Marine Corps when I was 17, and by the time I got out, you couldn't spit without hitting a guitar player. I'd been listening to all the southern rock/country artists and traded(ugh!) my '61 Les Paul and Fender Bandmaster for a single neck Sho-Bud Pro 1.
I'm with that you Baxter on the Lloyd Maines on Joe Ely, 'Honky Tonk Masquerade' was all the rage in Lubbock in 1980 when I was there at school, 'West Texas Waltz', Lloyd was the king and still is.
Also Saw PPL at the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum in '82 'I don't want to Fade Away' was one of mine favorites with Call!
Regards, Craig
I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.
I heard it on an album of his and really liked it. Then I got to hear Mikle pla it live at the SW Steel Guitar Show. I recorded it on a little recorder. Later at home I played it in my headphones while taking a walk. I could actually imagine seeing the different dancers walk up on stage and dance [each different} as he played. I have never felt that with any other song quite that clear. It brought tears to my eyes.
