Speedy's "Afternoon Of A Swan" (Update: lesson ava

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 Jun 2010 8:45 am

(Update: I didn't want to start a new thread on this, but I have finally gotten around to creating a tab/notation package for this tune with a backing track. I am in the process of rendering a video, so it will be available with the video soon)
http://www.steelinfromthemasters.com/?p=519

This is my favorite all-time steel guitar tune. One of the very first records I ever got into with steel guitar was Speedy's Guitar Spectacular, which I still think is a pinnacle in steel guitar recordings. The compositions, the mood and the playing are all sublime.

Anyway, here's my take on it adapted for non-pedal steel. This is the first adaptation of it, it is surely bound to change. This will be in my next DVD/tab book. It is the hardest tune I've ever played yet, as the original was done on a Fender 1000 and Speedy was pedal-happy on this tune.

Clinesmith S-8 recorded direct into a Boss BR-8, along with acoustic rhythm, Telecaster and bass accompaniment.

http://www.mikeneer.com/swan.mp3

Eric Ebner · Post by **Eric Ebner** » 16 Jun 2010 9:19 am

Very cool... and enjoyable. This tune is spilling into the hallway at my work... People walk by and smile. Kind of one-of-those tunes;-)

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 16 Jun 2010 9:38 am

Well played, Mike. Enjoyed that song a lot--especially the ascending run.

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 16 Jun 2010 9:51 am

Well done, Mike. It's great that the Speedy West spirit is not forgotten. Hope to see you next year at the Dallas show.
Chuck

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 16 Jun 2010 10:52 am

One of my all-time favorite steel guitar albums too; fantastic vibe and playing.

You've really done quite an incredible job of making a Clinesmith into a Fender 1000 yet without slavishly copying Speedy, Mike. Way cool! I look forward to the book/DVD.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 16 Jun 2010 11:38 am

Thanks, guys. Hopefully after playing it for a week I'll get it all smoothed out. I just arranged this yesterday and I'm still working from memory, and still always looking to tweak it. It is very difficult to play it down from top to bottom at this point.

The tuning is just a plain vanilla C6, tons of slants, some of them huge.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 16 Jun 2010 6:14 pm

Nils Fliegner · Post by **Nils Fliegner** » 16 Jun 2010 8:59 pm

The tuning is just a plain vanilla C6

Does that mean, hi to low: E-C-A-G-E-C-A-G? Greetings from Germany.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Jun 2010 9:19 am

Nils Fliegner wrote:
The tuning is just a plain vanilla C6

Does that mean, hi to low: E-C-A-G-E-C-A-G? Greetings from Germany.

Yes, except low string F.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 17 Jun 2010 9:31 am

Nice playing, Mike. That Clinesmith has a real vintage tone. Love it!

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 17 Jun 2010 9:47 am

Nice! Vintage sounding.

Steve Cunningham · Post by **Steve Cunningham** » 17 Jun 2010 6:19 pm

Man, that sure is sweet Mike!

Del Bonn · Post by **Del Bonn** » 17 Jun 2010 8:47 pm

Thank you, Mike, for sharing this with us. It is certainly one of the best examples of fine steeling I've heard for some time!
I am not familiar with this song and would like to give it a try. Can you tell me, please, how I may obtain a copy of the sheet music? (Piano, voice, & chord) I predate tablature and never did learn it.
-Musical Del

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 18 Jun 2010 5:35 am

Del, I'm afraid there's no sheet music that I know of. I learned it by ear. Thanks for the compliment.

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 18 Jun 2010 6:46 pm

Beautiful performance Mike!

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 19 Jun 2010 12:24 am

Nice tune & nice playing Mike
i did'nt know that Speedy played stuff like that
it reminds me of Joaquin Murphey's style

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 19 Jun 2010 8:10 am

CrowBear Schmitt wrote:Nice tune & nice playing Mike
i did'nt know that Speedy played stuff like that
it reminds me of Joaquin Murphey's style

Not only did Speedy play stuff like that, he composed it. In my opinion, Speedy composed the greatest steel guitar music.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 Jun 2010 10:28 am

I'm totally in agreement, Mike. Speedy was much more than only edge-of-your-seat solos and special effects. Here's "Slow & Easy", one of my favorite Speedy tunes .... fabulous from every angle: composition, tone, phrasing, recording quality, you name it. Very few steel guitar albums - even by the very best players - grab me the way Speedy's solo albums do.

https://home.comcast.net/~aevolk/music/SlowAndEasy.mp3

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 Jun 2010 10:53 am

Here's a link to an audio interview with Speedy. What a humble, positive person he was!

http://hasilatemyjerky.mypodcast.com/20 ... 69690.html

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 19 Jun 2010 11:26 am

Thanx for the heads up Mike & Thanx as well to you Andy

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jun 2010 1:24 pm

I met Speedy in 1981 shortly after he had his stroke. Although he could no longer play, his love for the steel guitar was evident. He had a lot of road stories... he knew everyone and everyone knew him. I was very impressed that he took the time to chat with a young nobody like me!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 19 Jun 2010 5:00 pm

You can also heck out some rare early 1950s Speedy solos with Johnny Horton here ...

http://scratchyattic.blogspot.com/2009/ ... -west.html

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Jun 2010 4:22 am

Again, just wanted to recommend that you purchase a copy of Speedy West's "Guitar Spectacular" record. b0b stocks it as Item # C-074 (CD). To me, it's Speedy's finest work. I've owned it on vinyl since Stetson reissued it in the 80s. This record apparently has some strange history behind it, too, which I wasn't aware of before:

"Guitar Spectacular was legendary pedal steel player Speedy West's last official "solo" album. Augmented by an extraordinary group of session players including guitarists Roy Lanham and Billy Strange, bassist Red Wootten, drummer Earl Palmer, and pianist/accordion player Billy Liebert, it suffered due to a manufacturers glitch that saw side one repeated on both sides of the album. Despite a re pressing, the damage had already been done, as record stores demanded their money back. The music contained within the "fully realized" version of Spectacular was more than worthy of its moniker, as West sounds more comfortable here than on any session in his career. Whether they're tearing it up on Western swing barnburners like "Double or Nothing" and "Wild and Woolly West" or taking it slow as molasses on lazy diversions like "Sunset at Waikiki," this crystal clear recording deserves the cocked ears of a much larger audience than the one it received in 1962."

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Jun 2010 9:17 am

Mike
Excellent performance and true to the spirit of the tune. Bravo.
HS

Ambrose Verdibello · Post by **Ambrose Verdibello** » 24 Jun 2010 12:39 pm

The entire 'Guitar Spectacular' LP is included on CD 3 of the 4 CD Bear Family collection of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, 'Flamin Guitars.' It's a fantastic set of music.

Terrific rendition of 'Afternoon...' Mike.