What's your favorite "semi-obscure" steel solo?

Scott Hiestand · Post by **Scott Hiestand** » 29 Jan 2009 11:46 am

I'm talking solos (or even a break or intro) that hasn't ever had a lot of publicity "here", or may not be very well known at all.

The one I always have loved for it's expressive simplicity is in Hag's "The Worst is Yet to Come". Almost haunting in a way - I just can't imagine one note of that solo being played differently. I think it fits the "mood" of the song perfectly.

On a side note - I assume that is Ralph Mooney but now I am not quite so positive based on this link:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... le+haggard

David Langdon · Post by **David Langdon** » 29 Jan 2009 12:13 pm

For not being known as a pedal steel solo my nomination is "Thinking" by Roger Daltrey. Recorded in about 1974 it has a blistering, and in my opinion the best overdrive steel solo for tone and control.
The player? The one and only B J Cole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztgc5333rPk

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 29 Jan 2009 12:29 pm

good call, David. That's one of my faves too!

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 29 Jan 2009 12:32 pm

Right now I've been digging the steel solo on Jason Bolands new album on the song "The Party's Not Over".

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 29 Jan 2009 12:47 pm

Sneaky Pete on Zappa's "This Might Be A One Shot Deal"

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 29 Jan 2009 1:10 pm

Bob Hope's theme song, "THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES"
A friend of mine worked it out one time.

ROGER

Bob Knetzger · Post by **Bob Knetzger** » 29 Jan 2009 1:23 pm

How about Sneaky Pete's witty mini solo on Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" from the album Blue?

Rockin' riffs, over driven tone, and clever "headphone EQ" to match the song's lyric. Fits the song perfectly!

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 29 Jan 2009 2:33 pm

The steel on Skeets McDonald's "You're Too Late"
graciously sent to me by Alvin Blaine. I believe it
is Moon pre-pedals. Lots of bar bouncing.

ebb · Post by **ebb** » 29 Jan 2009 3:42 pm

http://www.esnips.com/doc/b75eb252-f1a9 ... 20TO%20SEE

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 29 Jan 2009 3:59 pm

One of my all time favorites is the ride Ralph Mooney played on Wynn Stewart's "One More Memory". It's classic Mooney to the max.....JH in Va.

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 29 Jan 2009 4:38 pm

Lloyd Maines on Joe Ely's `Because Of The Wind`.
I found this poor, out of synch, video of the song. I'm sure you'll get the idea though.

click here

Arch.

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 29 Jan 2009 4:41 pm

Robby Turner's solo on "On any given day" by Deryl Dodd.
-John

James Collett · Post by **James Collett** » 29 Jan 2009 5:36 pm

Jay Dee on "evening Gown" Mick Jagger. Obviously a newer example, and a short solo at that, but I just love the powerful "sound" of the solo.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 29 Jan 2009 6:34 pm

A lot of my favorites are from Buddy Emmons/Charleton playing on Ernest Tubb's obscure 45's. Here's snippets showing Emmons playing a little Ralph Mooney style on Letters Have No Arms, one of Charleton's first cuts at Decca with ET (I'm Lookin' High And Low For My Baby, Jimmy Day observing in the control room) and Emmons on Through That Door. Thank you Reaper for the easy mixing!

Emmons Charleton Medley

Greg

Mike Harris · Post by **Mike Harris** » 29 Jan 2009 7:01 pm

Buddy Emmons, Judy Collins' version of "Bird on a WIre."

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 29 Jan 2009 7:46 pm

I like the solo on Country Comforts by Elton John from his Tumbleweed Connection album.

Alan Kendall · Post by **Alan Kendall** » 29 Jan 2009 8:04 pm

Paul Franklin's intro and solo on "But For the Grace of God".

Alan Kendall · Post by **Alan Kendall** » 29 Jan 2009 8:04 pm

Alan Kendall · Post by **Alan Kendall** » 29 Jan 2009 8:06 pm

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 29 Jan 2009 11:02 pm

Ben Keith on Neil Young's 'Albuquerque' from 'Tonight's the Night'.

Matt Hughes · Post by **Matt Hughes** » 30 Jan 2009 5:37 am

Bobby Black on "Tell It To Me" and "Young At Heart" by Tom Waits.

James Leaman · Post by **James Leaman** » 30 Jan 2009 6:43 am

Jimmy Buffet's..."He Went to Paris"

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 30 Jan 2009 7:04 am

There are so many of them! However, I've recently been repetitively listening to Red Rhodes' solo - actually ALL of his playing - on Ian Matthew's version of Richard Thompson's 'Shady Lies' from the Valley Hi album.

Ellis Miller · Post by **Ellis Miller** » 30 Jan 2009 7:42 am

There is an old version of "Oklahoma Hills" by Hank Thompson that has a monster solo on it. Sorry to say, I don't even know who the player is. There several Hank Thompson recordings of the tune, both live and in studio. I am pretty sure this was a studio recording.

I am wondering if anyone out there knows who played it.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 30 Jan 2009 8:04 am

Matt Hughes wrote:Bobby Black on "Tell It To Me" and "Young At Heart" by Tom Waits.

Yes! 'Tell It To Me' is fabulous.

The Steel Guitar Forum

What's your favorite "semi-obscure" steel solo?

What's your favorite "semi-obscure" steel solo?

Bob Hope's Theme Song