Slowly

[Bas Kapitein]

Everywhere I used to read that “Slowly” by Webb Pierce was the first important hit that drew attention to the pedal steel. If that’s the case why has’nt anyone mentioned this clip before, or did I miss it ?
Is it Bud Isaacs playing there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tBHI9VFz4Q&NR=1

[J D Sauser]

Everywhere I used to read that “Slowly” by Webb Pierce was the first important hit that drew attention to the pedal steel. If that’s the case why has’nt anyone mentioned this clip before, or did I miss it ?
Is it Bud Isaacs playing there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tBHI9VFz4Q&NR=1

It would seem that's him. Sadly this is an other clip where the music is rolling in and out of sinc with the video.

I was not even in the making back then, but historically it is today regarded as the first song to have introduced the "moving" sounds of pedals on the E9th tuning. Pedal steels had been introduced and showcased for almost a decade before by people like Alvino Rey, Speedy West (who both knew to make the instrument quite an attraction) and others.
Anyway, it's a great video (except for the fact that it's missing the legendary steel intro) and with arguably one of Webb Pierce's more ridiculous suites (what's that on his chest, cutouts for breasts? )

... J-D.

[Bobby Caldwell]

The steel guitarist in the clip is Sonny Burnette. He worked with Webb for many years and later became staff on "The Grand Ole Opry" before he retired some years back. He is on a recording called "The Steel Guitars Of The Grand Ole Opry" with Hal Rugg and Weldon Myrick. A fine player and a real nice guy. Bobby

[robert kramer]

Sonny Burnette, in addition to being on Webb Piece's road, also was the session steel guitarist on many of Webb's hits. I will provide a list of these first of the week.

[Bobby Caldwell]

I must say Bud Isaacs set the steel guitar world on its rear when he recorded "Slowly" with Webb. I told Bud, at ISGC in St.Louis in 2007, if it wasn't for playing on that recording and using pedals or pedal should I say I might not have had a gig this weekend. He got a big kick out of that. My best, Bobby

[Jody Sanders]

In 1954 Webb Pierce did a show in Odessa, Texas with Sonny Burnette on steel. Sonny was kind enough to show some of us steel players who were working out of Odessa his set up.One of the nicest guys I ever met. Jody.

[Ron Randall]

JD

Those are patterns of black vinyl records, with the Decca label.

fwiw

[Roger Shackelton]

Van Howard is playing rhythm guitar and I believe that's Dale Potter playing fiddle.


Roger

[J D Sauser]

JD

Those are patterns of black vinyl records, with the Decca label.

fwiw

OMG! How tasteful!

If the colors only had been inversed, it had at least made a nice fetish jumpsuit. well, maybe one could turn it inside out?

I like the car with the saddle seats, coins and gun as a gear shift lever and so forth, much better.


... J-D.

[robert kramer]

According to the Webb Piece Bear Family box set, Sonny Burnette recorded 73 sides with Webb including:

More And More
In The Jailhouse Now
The Waltz You Saved For Me
I Don't Care
Love, Love, Love
Why Baby Why
Teenage Boogie
I'm Tired
Honly Tonk Song
Tupelo County Jail

Other steel players to record with Webb Pierce in addition to Bud Issacs and Sonny Burnette were Shot Jackson, Jimmy Day, Don Davis and Don Helms. (Box set goes up to Dec 1958)

[robert kramer]

Re: Steel Players who recorded with Webb Pierce:

Please include Billy Bowman to list.

[Bas Kapitein]

Thank you all for the input, together with the info I got from reading the post on Bud's Bigsby in the "instrument for sale" section, this is so much background info on this historic recording, makes you see the value of this forum