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

Rainer Schmidt · Post by **Rainer Schmidt** » 3 Feb 2009 4:48 am

Buddy Emmons on "I Can't Stop Loving You Now", Skeeter Davis & NRBQ.
Incredible phrasing & tone, and soo beautiful!

Marty Muse · Post by **Marty Muse** » 3 Feb 2009 7:45 am

Sneaky Pete's phase shifter solo on "Ninety Miles" from Doug Dillard's "You Don't Need A Reason To Sing" album from 1974. Buddy Emmons is on this record as well. This solo cracks me up everytime I hear it. Love these threads. Great way to hear about new stuff and things you've missed

Dennis Lee · Post by **Dennis Lee** » 5 Feb 2009 12:45 pm

How about Rusty Young's part in Three Dog Night's "Never Been To Spain."

Jim Gorrie · Post by **Jim Gorrie** » 5 Feb 2009 2:34 pm

I think it's Big E (or P.F.?) doing a blistering break on Clinton Gregory's "Blue Country Frame of Mind"

(Maybe someone knows for sure who is playing steel on there?)

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 5 Feb 2009 3:57 pm

It's probably Buddy.

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 6 Feb 2009 9:54 am

This one is pretty high on my list, by THE GREAT TOM BRUMLEY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2CRgFwVuaE

Bob

Olaf van Roggen · Post by **Olaf van Roggen** » 7 Feb 2009 9:10 am

"My home ain't in the hall of fame"by Jonathan Edwards,steel played by Bill Keith.
All Bill Keith's steel playing on "Sweet Moments"by the Blue Velvet band is great.

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 7 Feb 2009 11:06 am

I don't typically post on "surveys", but as I'm once again listening to a somewhat obscure recording, I feel compelled to list one of my favorites: Sandy Denny: GOLD DUST (Live at the Royalty Theatre, the Last Concert). This is a really fine CD, generally very good sound quality (for live), and Pete Wilsher plays some top-shelf pedal steel fills and solos (he also played on the first Matthews' Southern Comfort album). The music is excellent, with the obligatory WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES rounding out the 17 tracks, one song with extended soloing clocking in at over 8 minutes. Stylistically this is classic '70s country/folk rock, and is one intense concert. Sandy was reported to have been tired and ill at the end of a tour, but this is still some very fine music and pedal steel work.

John Robel · Post by **John Robel** » 7 Feb 2009 2:36 pm

Ive always loved the steel in the doobie bros "southcity midnight lady", I think his name is john mcfee

Fred Amendola · Post by **Fred Amendola** » 7 Feb 2009 2:38 pm

John,
That was Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

Another great solo of his is in Steely Dan's "Fire n the Hole" ! On the Can't Buy a Thrill Album

John Robel · Post by **John Robel** » 7 Feb 2009 2:44 pm

Thanks Fred, I admire "skunk" in more ways than one. He's one sharp cookie.

Nic du Toit · Post by **Nic du Toit** » 12 Feb 2009 12:35 pm

Slightly off topic, but a 'surprise' solo: Paul Franklin on a Barbra Streisand album........ not country, but great execution and taste by Mr Franklin.

Ray Harrison · Post by **Ray Harrison** » 16 Feb 2009 7:23 pm

Bill Johnson's ride on "The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight", by Marty Robbins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNQjGr5lCGM

"Great steel guitar playing by Bill Johnson, great song from Buddy Mize and the usual great performance by Marty. This went to number 3 in the Country charts and stayed in the chart for 18 weeks"

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 16 Feb 2009 9:11 pm

I don't know if it is considered obscure or not, but Conway Twitty's version of "I've Just Destroyed The World" with John Hughey is my all time fave.

Chuck Thompson · Post by **Chuck Thompson** » 16 Feb 2009 9:54 pm

skunk baxter on "neil's fandango" from the doobie brothers album "stampede"

Klaus Caprani · Post by **Klaus Caprani** » 17 Feb 2009 2:10 am

James wrote:

"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"

I'll second that. Tasteful and simple too. Love it.

Barry Gaskell · Post by **Barry Gaskell** » 17 Feb 2009 4:03 am

Lloyd Green on Charlie Louvins 'Who's gonna love me now'.
I still can't work out how he's played it after thirty odd years, even knowing his set up was, by todays chopedents, relatively simple, and still is. The sign of a great player and a thinking and innovative musician.
If anyone could tab it, that would be great. I'd probaly never get a chance to use it, but it would be nice to know.
Come on Lloyd, break your silence and help a admiring Brit out please........pretty please ! !
Barry

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Feb 2009 10:07 am

i played a couple back to back one night that were great. too bad no one was there...very obscure....man, you shoulda heard 'em!

Waisznor · Post by **Waisznor** » 20 Feb 2009 10:15 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VXwGDC6ZaE&NR=1

Andrew Brown · Post by **Andrew Brown** » 5 Mar 2009 8:38 pm

Vance Terry w/Billy Jack Wills: "Down in Old Mexico"

Catch it if you can.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 6 Mar 2009 8:42 am

Jimmy Day on Willie's tune of "I Don't feel anything".

Skunk's handiwork is also on "Brooklyn" by Steely Dan.

Neil Young on "For What it's Worth"?

Who did the pickin' on "Rainy Day People" by Gordon Lightfoot. Always stops me in my tracks.

Peter Andrus · Post by **Peter Andrus** » 6 Mar 2009 9:38 pm

BJ Cole on "Livin' Like A Fool" off of Chris Darrow's fantastic album from '74, "Under My Own Disguise."

John McFee on Elvis Costello's live version of Leon Payne's "Psycho" recorded at The Palomino in '79. Not really an official steel break here, just a great example of the power of simplicity. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLJaZrf8FLA

Ray McCarthy · Post by **Ray McCarthy** » 7 Mar 2009 3:47 am

I've been trying to learn the solo on Leann Rimes' "Blue", as per Mickey Adams' lesson on U-Tube. Sounds like PF to me on the record. I can't say it's my favorite all-time solo, but I,m having a great time playing it along with the song, or trying my best, anyway--it's a bit tricky for me, but I actually nailed it a couple of times

!
Thanks, Mick, for that one and all the rest you do for us on the Tube!

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 7 Mar 2009 6:26 am

+1 for Sneaky Pete on Zappa's "One Shot Deal". That, and Buddy's solo on "In My Reply" really made me pick up the steel.
I'll add Jimmy Day's solo on Willie Nelson"s "Local Memory", on the Shotgun Willie Album. Simple & perfect.

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