Rare Footage of Gordon Huntley

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 24 Jan 2009 11:47 am

Gordon Huntley was a pioneer of country rock pedal steel in Britain in the 60s & 70s. Ian Matthews band incorporated English modal folk sounds with American country and rock influences in a really original way.

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

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 24 Jan 2009 2:20 pm

Andy, I learned more off Gordon in one afternoon when I had a lesson with him than I could have done with a wheel/barrow of tutor books or cassettes. I had just switched over to a universal guitar in 1982 after being on S-10's for about 12 years. I wanted to know more about the 6th sounds. I had known Gordon for some years so I arranged to have a lesson off him at one of his "Lady's" farm houses where he lived in Kent. The lesson incoperated a roast meal and wine afterwards. He was a great influence to so many players over here and was a good friend to Jeff Newman who was over in England in the U.S.A.F. years ago. Gordon went onto pedals before Jeff. Nice to see Carl Barnwell in the clip too. He was next to the singer and the only American in the band. I used Carl on lead guitar several times in my band when we needed a dep. He lived in South London I recall.

Micky Byrne

www.micky-byrne.co.uk

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 24 Jan 2009 6:24 pm

Matthews Sourten Comfort's Second Spring was one of the earliest LPs I bought as a kid. Huntley's steel playing had beautiful tone and blended so well with that band. I recall that he was about age 40 when he achieved his window of rock stardom. I see Basil has a page in tribute to this unsung pioneer.

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com/huntley.htm

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 25 Jan 2009 9:22 am

Gordon Huntley is arguably the greatest pedal steel guitarist ever to have come out of the UK. He could play E9 and C6 equally as well, and was a consummate professional in the studio environment.

Gordon was a real pioneer of the instrument in the real sense. He developed several pedal steel guitars along with Nigel Dennis, and while they could never be described as having been incredible engineered, many of the pedal steel players of my generation in the UK started out on one of these instruments.

Unlike some of today's players in the UK, Gordon had little or no interest in self promotion and was not in the least egotistical. He would gladly share his time and knowledge with anyone, and did much to shape the development of pedal steel guitar in the UK. In short, he is revered over here as a legend by many. I have much of his personal record collection, purchased from his son after Gordon's tragically early passing.

Andy - Gordon recorded a beautiful album on the EMI record label. Well worth while acquiring if you can get hold of a copy.

Eddie Juke · Post by **Eddie Juke** » 25 Jan 2009 9:51 am

Micky

I agree with everything Ken says, but dont sell yourself short, there is you Ken, John Davis, Basil, Pete Haywood, Barry Gaskell, Richard Burton, Gerry Hogan Mr HARTLEY and a whole load of other UK players and I apologise for not mentioning or not knowing all their names at this time so dont yell at me if I did not mention you but you all have tone to the bone.

Regards

Eddie

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 25 Jan 2009 10:09 am

Eddie
You are very kind to include my name in your illustrious list, but I would also include Brian (BJ) Cole. BJ is probably the most recorded UK steel guitarist ever, and along with Gordon Huntley and Pete Wilsher, formed the basis of the 3 steel players most likely to be called up to play on major label recordings in the UK in the 70's and early 80's. This was an era when the use of pedal steel guitar on pop and rock recordings was considered to be ultra cool in the UK, and those guys cleaned up that scene between them.

Other very good players from the UK are Sarah Jory (I would say that wouldn't I

), Rod King, Barry Smith, Dave Nash, Maurice Hipkiss, Ray Kedge, Dave Rowlands and the late Faron Kelf. I have probably left out a load of players, but overall, Gordon set the trail for us all.

Sean Doherty · Post by **Sean Doherty** » 25 Jan 2009 2:25 pm

Hi

Yes I agree with everything said about Gordon and more.
Have a look at the British Steelies Society site for all things Gordon. Wev have a board dedicated to him. The great clip here is on there as is another one where Gordon is introduced by the announcer.

Go and have a look

http://thebritishsteeliessociety.com/ho ... 1232920327

Sean

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 25 Jan 2009 4:39 pm

Wow, really nice clip!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 25 Jan 2009 5:44 pm

I have that EMI recording somewhere, Ken. Yes, it's a good record but prefer the originality of his work on Ian Matthews records to yet another version of Sleepwalk.

Joshua Grange · Post by **Joshua Grange** » 25 Jan 2009 6:05 pm

Broke a string didn't he...

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 26 Jan 2009 5:52 am

Andy Volk wrote:I have that EMI recording somewhere, Ken. Yes, it's a good record but prefer the originality of his work on Ian Matthews records to yet another version of Sleepwalk.

True Andy, but that is the only track on his album that has been done to death elsewhere. That clip with MSC doesn't even start to approach how good he really was. Funnily enough, at the time when Ian Matthews was at number 1 in the UK pop charts with Woodstock in 1969, I remember Matthews extolling the virtues of Merle Haggard in Melody Maker. Very unusual coming from someone steeped in electric folk, but a sign of very good taste.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Jan 2009 7:06 am

I must dig that record out and give it another listen. When did Huntley die and how?

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 26 Jan 2009 7:17 am

Andy Volk wrote:I must dig that record out and give it another listen. When did Huntley die and how?

Andy - there is a short bio on Gordon at http://www.waikiki-islanders.com/huntley.htm

Ken

Sean Doherty · Post by **Sean Doherty** » 26 Jan 2009 8:33 am

I agree with Ken I don't think anything with MSC really shows off how great a player he was.

You had to see him live to see his brilliance and ability to make it look so simple. I like many UK steel players learned from Gordon who was always willing to give free help.

He also manufactured what I think must have been the first British made pedal steel which was called a Denley. My first steel was a red Denley

Sean

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 26 Jan 2009 2:28 pm

Ken:

What WAS that LP by Gordon - I wasn't aware he had done a solo album.

His playing with Matthew's Southern Comfort was certainly influential in my early years of learning pedal steel. After Ian Matthews left, Southern Comfort came out with the FROG CITY LP, which contained an instrumental Gordon wrote, as well as some other fine music.

Don't miss the other clip from that same concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqtcv1mY ... re=related , a Dylan tune.
This is all available on a DVD, though the sound is not the greatest.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Jan 2009 6:08 pm

Daniel, the album Title was Sleepwalk* and the label EMI as posted above in the two links given ?

*Note the title spelling NOT the same as the Santo and Johnny song..That was two words Sleep Walk ! The spelling may be wrong but the playing isn't, excellent version of the Santo/Johnny/Anna Farina song..

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Jan 2009 6:21 pm

*****

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 26 Jan 2009 6:31 pm

Thanks, Basil, I did look at that page, but in searching for the LP online, I could only find a listing for a 7" (single). I realize the LP may not be available anywhere at the moment, but do you know if indeed it was a full album? I'd love to get hold of a copy, if it is.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Jan 2009 6:43 pm

Gordon was on the same label as myself albeit a little later on..
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedi ... o-2-Stereo
The album is TWOX1021 - Sleepwalk, The Romantic Sound Of - Gordon Huntley

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 27 Jan 2009 4:23 am

Basil
How could I leave you out of the top UK steel players!!! Someone who has almost certainly sold more albums than anyone else in the world, save for perhaps Santo and Johnny.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 27 Jan 2009 4:25 am

Well I don't know what to say Ken, except, "do you know anyone who wants to rent a couple of dozen lock-ups?" (Partially full with recyclable vinyl)
BTw STILL selling on iTunes and quite a few other "Download" sites..

Gosh it's cold here today..Climate change ?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 28 Jan 2009 8:10 am

basilh wrote:...Gosh it's cold here today..Climate change ?...

Well at least where you're located you're 150 miles inland and way above sea level. Take a good look at those banks of the Thames because after the poles have melted they'll be ten feet under water...

Matt Dawson · Post by **Matt Dawson** » 28 Jan 2009 9:12 am

I'm so proud of myself! I've finally managed to read a Gordon Huntley thread without posting......Damn! Did it again...

Basilh, give me your email adrees and I'll send you the updated tribute page. My site has closed (ISP bancrupt) so you are now the *official* host.
Matt

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 28 Jan 2009 1:30 pm

Mat Absolutely ANYTHING @ waikiki-islanders.com gets me, but for fun send it to bollock-chops@waikiki-islanders.com