B Black's steel in 1976?

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 20 Aug 2017 7:48 am

Hey Jim. In 2000, at the ISGC in St Louis, which we both attended you would have seen Bobby Black playing both lap steel and a Carter pedal steel. He pretty much only played Hawaiian music, nothing like he did with the Airmen.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Aug 2017 8:17 am

Saw Bobby with Bill Kirchen and Jimmy Dale Gilmore here in North California a few weeks ago. Free "Peacetown" concert in the park, huge crowd. Sorry I don't have pics. He was playing his Carter D-10. Incredible musicianship all around.

Bill Kirchen says that the pedal steel is "the only musical instrument not found in nature", and that Bobby Black is his "favorite thing in the universe". Gotta love it!

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 20 Aug 2017 9:02 am

Geez bOb. You lucky dog. Do you know if that show was recorded?

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 20 Aug 2017 11:04 am

That Bill Kirchen quote is priceless

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Aug 2017 7:19 pm

John Brabant wrote:Geez bOb. You lucky dog. Do you know if that show was recorded?

Luckier than you think - we opened for them!

Sorry, but as far as I know the show was not recorded.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 21 Aug 2017 7:55 am

I learned to play harmonics behind fiddle players from those records.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-166OXj1sQ

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 21 Aug 2017 9:12 am

In 2001 the original band reunited for a handful of gigs in Ann Arbor, St. Paul, and the Bay area. Was fortunate enough to see them at Garrison Keillor's wonderful refurbished theatre in St. Paul. Andy Stein played in the house band for Garrison's radio show, which presumably explains the St. Paul gig. Scored some cheap seats in the balcony and brought my middle school-aged son, and as the lights went down and the crowd began to herb up, Bobby Black commenced to give everyone in attendance a clinic on how to play the pedal steel guitar. After politely refusing a joint from the guy sitting next to him, my kid leaned over to me and said something to the effect of "so that's how that thing you play is supposed to sound."

Dave Magram · Post by **Dave Magram** » 21 Aug 2017 10:41 am

I didn't see it mentioned on this thread, but Commander Cody’s “Live From Deep In The Heart Of Texas” is on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of “The Top 100 Albums of All Time”!

- Dave

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 21 Aug 2017 10:48 am

Dave Magram wrote:I didn't see it mentioned on this thread, but Commander Cody’s “Live From Deep In The Heart Of Texas” is on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of “The Top 100 Albums of All Time”!

- Dave

That surprises me. It's a great album, but it seems strange for R.S. to care. It's in my top 5.

Lot's of great comments going on here. And, b0b, you must be livin' right! WOW. I'm trying to find the time to take the train out to the Bay area to see Bobby play. It's a bucket-list item to see him live and meet him.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 21 Aug 2017 12:42 pm

Rick Abbott wrote:I'm trying to find the time to take the train out to the Bay area to see Bobby play. It's a bucket-list item to see him live and meet him.

He usually plays the Southwest SGA show in Arizona in January. That would be the best place to meet him.

Bobby Black subs for me in The Rhythm Rangers sometimes. Fun fact: his middle name is Lee.

David Gertschen · Post by **David Gertschen** » 22 Aug 2017 10:58 am

This came out in April 2017, but I just now found it. Great album! Recorded live in Denver for a radio show in August 1973, the boys were really hitting on all cylinders. It sounds like it was recorded right off the mixing board, as the audio fidelity is less than spectacular. But the energy of the live performance more than makes up for it.

Bobby Black's amazing picking is featured throughout, and even old LPA tunes like Truck Drivin' Man have completely new solos. Highly recommended for any Bobby Black fans!

https://www.amazon.com/Ebbetts-Field-Co ... net+airmen

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 22 Aug 2017 11:35 am

Yes, John your memory is better than mine. I hope he still plays out.

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 22 Aug 2017 11:41 am

David Gertschen wrote:This came out in April 2017, but I just now found it. Great album! Recorded live in Denver for a radio show in August 1973, the boys were really hitting on all cylinders. It sounds like it was recorded right off the mixing board, as the audio fidelity is less than spectacular. But the energy of the live performance more than makes up for it.

Bobby Black's amazing picking is featured throughout, and even old LPA tunes like Truck Drivin' Man have completely new solos. Highly recommended for any Bobby Black fans!

https://www.amazon.com/Ebbetts-Field-Co ... net+airmen

Thanks for the heads up!

b0b, he subs for you...yer killin' me. man! How can I continue living in Indiana? I wanna live someplace where Bobby Black fills in for other great players.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 22 Aug 2017 12:27 pm

I'll tell you this - the band never complains when I can't make a gig.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 22 Aug 2017 2:25 pm

Dave Magram wrote:I didn't see it mentioned on this thread, but Commander Codyâ€™s â€œLive From Deep In The Heart Of Texasâ€ is on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of â€œThe Top 100 Albums of All Timeâ€!

Certainly one of my top 100!

But on a related note, I just got out my LP of the "Sleazy Roadside Stories" album, the other album recorded at the Armadillo World Headquarters at the same time--equally great album, and Bobby plays incredibly great--and noticed for the first time that the cover has personnel listing and good-sized portrait photos of the band members--except no listing or photo of Bobby Black!

No mention at all anywhere! WTF!!??

The Steel Guitar Forum

B Black's steel in 1976?

"New" CC & LPA Live Album

Re: