Recommend some hippie songs for lap steel playing

Judson Bertoch · Post by **Judson Bertoch** » 20 Oct 2008 10:41 am

Amazing what you can find doing searches on this forum...

I just spend the good part of an hour reading "Did Hippies Hurt or Help American Music?: 15 pages of responses!

Just beat out the "Ever play with Go-Go Girls" thread.

Anyway, the hippie thread got me into 60's and 70s mindset: what songs from that time period (rock, country rock, soft rock, bluesy rock, Americana rock, etc) have you worked out to be really good/favorites to play on lap steel?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Oct 2008 11:09 am

Both Joe Goldmark and I have released CDs of 60's classics, albeit on pedal steel. But they might give you some ideas for things to try on lap steel. You can hear clips of mine at www.CDBaby.com/cohen3

Rocky Hill · Post by **Rocky Hill** » 20 Oct 2008 12:24 pm

How about I feel like I'm fixin to die rag by Country Joe and The Fish!

Now there a hippie song for ya.

Rocky

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 20 Oct 2008 12:39 pm

Inagaddadavida

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Oct 2008 12:44 pm

'Sunshine of your Love'

'Scuse Me While I Kiss this Guy'

Phill Martin · Post by **Phill Martin** » 20 Oct 2008 1:24 pm

Summer time by Janis Joplin and big brother.

Steve Atwood · Post by **Steve Atwood** » 20 Oct 2008 1:42 pm

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I'm Only Sleeping, including the backwards part

George Piburn · Post by **George Piburn** » 20 Oct 2008 2:43 pm

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 20 Oct 2008 2:59 pm

Can't go wrong with Dylan -- You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, I Shall Be Released, Knockin' On Heaven's Door. And of course, The Mighty Quinn.

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 20 Oct 2008 3:06 pm

The Flute solo in "Nights In White Satin" by the Moody Blues played on lap steel.

Just about anything by The Greatful Dead. Of course that has a lot of steel anyway. ???

Give a listen to some old Jefferson Airplane, there may be some jewels in there.

Jim Konrad · Post by **Jim Konrad** » 20 Oct 2008 3:09 pm

One of my favorites "Teach"......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKySbfgv ... re=related

It even has the ultimate hippy of all hippies (Jerry Garcia)on the steel!!!!!.

Peace man!!!

Theo Patterson · Post by **Theo Patterson** » 20 Oct 2008 3:10 pm

I've been getting a lot mileage out of "Just Like A Woman" by Dylan and a couple Beatles tunes: Honey Pie, For No One, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, I Call Your Name, No Reply, and even For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite - to name a few. I think I'll still be playing these "When I'm Sixty Four"

Theo(in Portland)

Kevin Greenberg · Post by **Kevin Greenberg** » 20 Oct 2008 6:05 pm

The Doors album L.A. Woman has some good songs to play to. Love Her Madly, Been Down So Long, Cars Hiss By My Window, Hyacinth House, Riders On The Storm, Crawling King Snake. But I don't play the songs, I just play all over the place on top of them, like any songs I play along to!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 21 Oct 2008 3:01 am

"Words" by the Bee Gees comes to mind. I love the changes in that tune.........

"Get Together"...can't remember the name of the group but it sounds good on steel...

"New Kid in Town" by the Eagles....

"Norwiegan Wood" by the Beatles....

I haven't tried it on lapsteel but, Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" sounds good on pedal steel..........JH in Va.

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 21 Oct 2008 5:46 am

Open D tuning works great for The Wind Cries Mary (Hendrix). Play it in the key of E, at second fret. Been jamming on this one lately a bunch. Audiences seem to like it (lots of boomer aged folks in the joints I play).

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 21 Oct 2008 5:55 am

Judson Bertoch wrote:what songs from that time period (rock, country rock, soft rock, bluesy rock, Americana rock, etc) have you worked out to be really good/favorites to play on lap steel?

Judson, are you looking for songs that already feature some sort of slide guitar or songs in general that lend themselves to playing steel?

If it's the former I would recommend any Allman Bro's with Duane on slide. Tune to open E and go at it. There's some good Eagles songs too.

Judson Bertoch · Post by **Judson Bertoch** » 21 Oct 2008 6:23 am

Thanks everyone - excellent suggestions! (and stuff I wouldn't have thought of...)

It's tricky (for me) because I'm still working through the "you're not playing a regular electric guitar" phase so I'm finding out what works and what doesn't, song adaptation-wise, on my lap.

Mark: both, but leaning heavily toward songs that folks have adapted TO lap steel.

Speaking of Allman Bros - I'm working on "Melissa" and "Ain't Waistin Time No More".

Not "hippie" period, but I like Blind Melon's "No Rain" on lap.

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 21 Oct 2008 7:37 am

Lately:
"Running On Faith"...Clapton
"Knocking on Heaven's Door"...Dylan/The Warren Zevon version
"Ain't Waistin' Time" Allman Brothers
"One Love"...Bob Marley

Theo Patterson · Post by **Theo Patterson** » 21 Oct 2008 1:08 pm

From my perspective, a lap steel is just another musical instrument like a guitar, piano, or a reed instrument, meaning the player can play practically anything that is music. If a song has notes and/or chords and a melody, it can be played on any instrument that can make notes, chords or melodies. Granted, the lap steel produces a very unique sound, but all instruments have their own inherant sounds.
If you've ever listened to elevator music you know what I mean. Jimi Hendrix or the Beatles on muzak sounds wierd to some people, but you still recognize the tunes.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 22 Oct 2008 5:12 am

"Don't Bogart That Joint"
Was that done by The Holy Modal Rounders? Nope! Just looked and it was done by the Fraternity Of Man. And here it is. Steel and all!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wt4UqRvUFE
Actually, the title is "Don't Bogart Me."

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 23 Oct 2008 8:05 pm

Don't Bogart Me-The Fraternity of Man.
Redneck Mother-New Riders of the Purple Sage

Chuck Mahoney · Post by **Chuck Mahoney** » 25 Oct 2008 11:34 am

one of the bands I'm in plays mostly classic rock. I'm playing slide guitar and open tunings on about 90% of the tunes (Moondance and Come Together to name two songs not normally associated with slide, but they work).

As soon as I get my lap steel technique down I plan on incorporating it into the set. Best thing to do, in my opinion - is to just start playing the lap steel on some songs. it'll work

Chuck Mahoney · Post by **Chuck Mahoney** » 25 Oct 2008 11:35 am

Terry VunCannon wrote:Lately:
"Running On Faith"...Clapton
"Knocking on Heaven's Door"...Dylan/The Warren Zevon version
"Ain't Waistin' Time" Allman Brothers
"One Love"...Bob Marley

I love the Zevon version of Knockin on Heaven's Door, we play that one

Craig Prior · Post by **Craig Prior** » 28 Oct 2008 8:10 am

Jim Konrad wrote:One of my favorites "Teach"......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKySbfgv ... re=related

It even has the ultimate hippy of all hippies (Jerry Garcia)on the steel!!!!!.

Peace man!!!

...And then there is Martin Gross' fantastic version on the Dobro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC-N4zl1QZo

John Ummel · Post by **John Ummel** » 28 Oct 2008 11:11 am

Lowell George (Little feat): "Willin"

The Steel Guitar Forum

Recommend some hippie songs for lap steel playing

Recommend some hippie songs for lap steel playing

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hippie songs

Not sure if you mean solo or with accompaniment, but...

Re: Reccomend some hippie songs for lap steel playing