Jim Reeves, who is the steel player?

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 23 Apr 2008 4:26 pm

Patsy Cline sings first so you have to wait for Jim in the second half of the clip.
Who is that on pedal steel?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Im1_C4Cu3L4&feature=related

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 23 Apr 2008 6:24 pm

Looks like Pete Drake to me but I am puzzled by his playing on the C6th neck. I think Curly was the only one who had E9th on the inside but I might be wrong about that.

Regards, Paul

Bill Maynard · Post by **Bill Maynard** » 23 Apr 2008 6:35 pm

I agree that is a young Pete Drake no doubt about it.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 23 Apr 2008 10:43 pm

Paul Graupp wrote:Looks like Pete Drake to me but I am puzzled by his playing on the C6th neck. I think Curly was the only one who had E9th on the inside but I might be wrong about that.

Regards, Paul

Many of the old Sho Buds had E9 on the inside neck, I used to own one myself too. But I actually think Pete is playing C6 in that clip, since he's using C6 pedals ( Sho Buds that had E9 on the inside neck still usually had the E9 pedals as 1 to 3. )

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 24 Apr 2008 8:43 am

Thanks for the info guys. I wouldn't have had a clue. Sure don't look like the 'older' Pete Drake.

Jussi, I never knew your info either. I thought it was just Curly Chalker that reversed the necks.
It is interesting to learn some of the fine details of the pedal steel guitar.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 24 Apr 2008 1:24 pm

Yeah Bent, back in the day, pedal steel guitar was not yet at all standardized; set ups were customized, number of pedals, necks, strings per neck; it all depended on the player. And back then, they all had crazy, different ideas and that's what makes all those old recordins so great sounding and fascinating!

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 24 Apr 2008 3:13 pm

Yep, Jussi, you're right. You sound like a bit of a steel guitar historian. You must have been playing for a couple of years

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 24 Apr 2008 7:36 pm

Ralph Mooney always had his E neck on the inside.

Alan Miller · Post by **Alan Miller** » 27 Apr 2008 1:40 pm

Pete Drake did play quite a lot of C6th although it wasn't the "standard" set up developed later.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 27 Apr 2008 6:07 pm

I had my E9 on the inside(because Moon did) until I aquired a ZB steel. Jody.

Bernie Gonyea · Post by **Bernie Gonyea** » 27 Apr 2008 6:50 pm

Bent; These other steel pickers know what they are talking about; Many steel players of yester-year used many variations for tunings on their guitars. But Pete was one of the greatest steel players back in the 60's and 70's; he normanally did much of the recording work sessions in Nashville, Every time some artist would come out with a new hit, there would be Mr. Pete; providing back ground. I always felt he was very under-rated, while in Nashville. I have some of his Albums in my record collection. I even have one of Pete's talking boxes, which he used on several of his recordings.. The only gimmick box I've ever utilized..Bernie

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 28 Apr 2008 10:11 am

Jody Sanders wrote:I had my E9 on the inside(because Moon did) until I aquired a ZB steel. Jody.

Interesting to note that this all came about during the 'experimentation period'. I see details like these as being part of the evolution of the pedal steel guitar.
Thanks for your contribution Jody.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 28 Apr 2008 10:22 am

Bernie Gonyea wrote:
Bent; I always felt he was very under-rated, while in Nashville. I have some of his Albums in my record collection. I even have one of Pete's talking boxes, which he used on several of his recordings.. Bernie

I agree Bernie,
I always found it puzzling when another pro in Nashville who shall remain unnamed, talked about Pete in an overbearing sort of way, as if his picking was the ultimate in simplicity and not worth as much mention as other players.
But they forgot to take note of who made the most trips to the bank? Who REALLY coined the term the 'money neck' for the E9th? Who is one of the most copied steel players thru history? Pete sure ranks up near the top.

Interesting to note that you have a talking steel device. Would it be possible to see a picture of it?
Would you describe how it works? and how it is made?

I love the old Jim Reeves song where Pete plays thru this device: I've Enjoyed as much of This as I Can stand.
A real gimmick, sure, but it had it's time to shine.

Alan Miller · Post by **Alan Miller** » 28 Apr 2008 1:40 pm

What do you find yourself doing during the Jim Reeves part of the video ?
Straining to listen to the steel guitar ?
Pete Drake was a master at this , always left you wanting to hear more never overplayed but played in all the right places he was a backup player of legendary proportions .

Bernie Gonyea · Post by **Bernie Gonyea** » 28 Apr 2008 7:17 pm

Alan; I agree with you about straining to hear Pete's playing on the clip with Jim Reeves; but you know, it certainly was not Pete's fault that the record people and the producer were the ones in command. Pete was only as loud as they desired him to be. If you really want to hear what this man can really do, buy one of his instrumental recordings. You'll be glad you did..
Bent; will look around my store room for my talking machine; will show it, if found. O.K??
Bernie

Alan Miller · Post by **Alan Miller** » 28 Apr 2008 8:38 pm

Bernie ,yes point taken about volume . I do have several of his albums including "Steel away". "Amazing incredible". "The Pete Drake show ". "Forever".
Dozens and dozens of other albums that he played on and two of my favorite albums are live opry ones of the DJ conventions in the years of the 39th and 40th anniversaries of the Opry 1965 and 1966. He plays exclusively on both albums on tracks like 'giddyup go' with Red Sovine , 'stronger than dirt' Glenn Barber, " johnny bond ,willis brothers, Joe and Rose lee Maphis,

Incidentally minnie pearls "giddy up go, response" which is on youtube at the moment audio only, the backing is identical in every way to the Red sovine version on this album I have......seems like they took the opry master recording and recorded Minnie with it.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 30 Apr 2008 7:31 am

Bernie, I agree with you on Pete Drake. I can say he was an early influcence on my simple efforts.

Jimmy Day said once that "The height of genius is simplicity!" Also Jimmy and Jerry Byrd always said play the melody. Maybe Pete and those boys knew something.

Lloyd Green told me once that Pete Drake was his main competition for many years in regards to session work in Nashville. They were competitive but remained friends as well. One of the last projects Pete had his hands on was the producing of the Steel Guitar CD titled "Slide." It features several top name steel players on it including Lloyd Green.

Also, Lloyd advised me that Pete telephoned him not long before he, Pete died and said that Lloyd's recording of "Tara's Theme," alias Theme song to the movie "Gone With the Wind," on that last project was one of the most beautiful of all steel recordings he had ever heard. I tend to agree.

Pete made an impact on the world playing on hit after hit record in the place we call Nashville.

Just my thoughts on a brilliant life and steel artist.

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

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Jim Reeves, who is the steel player?

Jim Reeves, who is the steel player?

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