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Topic: Townshend on steel? |
Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 10:49 am |
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I'm trying to recall any tracks I heard from Pete with steel on them.
I'm reading his Autobiography "Who I am", and it includes this photo of Pete in one of his home studios. Anybody know more about his steeling? Just thinking about it has me working on my horizontal windmill...
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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
www.musicfarmstudio.com |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 12:28 pm
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Its on the Scoop album (excellent album of his home recordings and demos).
Heres what he says n the liner notes:
"Cookin'
An early attempt at playing pedal steel, an instrument I finally abandoned. I used a secret open tuning on the acoustic guitar , (which I gave away in a music book called DECADE OF THE WHO) and invented a drum sound that I hoped would sound like a wash-board. A chauvinistic little ditty, but I'm chauvinistic towards men as well so it's OK isn't it?
"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qGz9zO9gjQ |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Frank Freniere
From:
The First Coast
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 12:59 pm
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| Looks like a blonde Sho-Bud S-10, probably a 6139. |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 1:02 pm
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No actual answer, but on "The Who Sell Out" s first side there is a sound gimmick introducing each track. The two tracks at the beginning of the record feature the Talk Box, so obviously someone must have been aware of Pete Drake.
Btw, nice to hear from you again, Ben.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 1:48 pm Re: Townshend on steel?
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| Mark van Allen wrote: |
I'm trying to recall any tracks I heard from Pete with steel on them.
I'm reading his Autobiography "Who I am", and it includes this photo of Pete in one of his home studios. Anybody know more about his steeling? |
To which Pete answers:
| Quote: |
| An early attempt at playing pedal steel, an instrument I finally abandoned. |
And yet another "guitar god" gives up in disgust, the instrument which I, an admitted hacker, found reletively easy to play.
I think my ego just bumped up a notch!  |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 2:31 pm
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| I'm surprised Pete did anything at all with PSG.Can't windmill on it,and too unwieldy to pick up and smash. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 4:07 pm
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| Dave Hopping wrote: |
| I'm surprised Pete did anything at all with PSG. Can't windmill on it, and too unwieldy to pick up and smash. |
But I'd give anything to see him do the mighty leap across the stage with a PSG at the crescendo of Won't Get Fooled Again...  |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 4:31 pm
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Hey, Joachim, Pete mentions in the book working out the idea and operation of the talk box effect before Drake and before hearing anyone else doing it.
_________________
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
www.musicfarmstudio.com |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 4:47 pm
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I'm pretty sure the talk-box things on "The Who Sell Out" are actual old radio jingles from the U.S. and that they got sued for using some of them without permission.
There's some great information and examples of how those jingles were made - in Dallas; Texas with a console steel and the old Alvino Rey "talking steel" technique - in Russ Wever's second and third posts in this thread; cool stuff!
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=224207&start=0
I just read the Townsend book too and enjoyed it, but took his saying he came up with the talk-box thing on his own with a grain of salt; he also mentions how Frank Zappa claimed to have invented it... But no mention of Drake's big hit record in 1964!  |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 28 Nov 2012 5:40 am
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Mark, I guess we were on the wrong track.
In Russ Wevers second post, third example, there is exactly the same melody and sound which precedes the track "Heinz Baked Beans" from
Sell Out.
Only the words have been altered to "Wonderful Radio London, whoopee!" Very interesting!
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube.
Last edited by Joachim Kettner on 28 Nov 2012 12:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Alan Berdoulay
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Posted 28 Nov 2012 6:46 am
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| Lookin like a 6140 in that gettyimage |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Tim Fleming
From:
Pasadena, CA. The other Rose City (deceased)
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Posted 29 Nov 2012 1:07 pm
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Yeah Dave - I see 6 pedals but can't count the strings.
Maybe it's a universal. No wonder he "abandoned".
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Sho-Bud Super Pro, Mullen G2, Justice Pro Lite, Evans E200, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Skip Edwards
From:
LA,CA
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Posted 29 Nov 2012 3:35 pm
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| It's a 6140... S10 w/6 pedals, and no more than 2 KL's, if it had any at all. |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Jerry Hedge
From:
Norwood Ohio U.S.A.
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Posted 30 Nov 2012 6:58 pm
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| The "Wonderful Radio London" was a real Jingle. It was done at PAMS of Dallas. Radio London was a pirate radio station that played an American type of musical format. That jingle used to be on the PAMS website. |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 3 Dec 2012 10:27 am
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I was told by a friend that that guitar ended up being thrown in a pond or a river. 
Not sure if the story is true or not, but my friend worked for an importer of Sho~Bud guitars in the '70's. We've all been frustrated with the instrument at times I guess, but that kind of action does seem somewhat OTT, even for someone who wrecked a great many 6 string electric guitars in his time.
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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Tim Fleming
From:
Pasadena, CA. The other Rose City (deceased)
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Posted 25 Jan 2013 6:05 pm
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I've found it -
On his "Who Came First" solo album (1972) it can be heard clearly on the track "Time Is Passing". It comes in at about 1:10.
If you have the later release with bonus tracks you can hear more on "The Love Man".
Also on Thunderclap Newman's "Hollywood Dream" on the track "Hollywood Dream (Instrumental)" his steel is fairly prominent in places - and well played.
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Sho-Bud Super Pro, Mullen G2, Justice Pro Lite, Evans E200, Peavey Nashville 112 |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 5:00 pm
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Personally I think the Who's "Who's Next" LP is a case of Townsend deconstructing country licks into a mostly rhythm based style for power-pop rock ....
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Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 6 Feb 2013 7:52 pm
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| Jason Odd wrote: |
| Personally I think the Who's "Who's Next" LP is a case of Townsend deconstructing country licks into a mostly rhythm based style for power-pop rock .... |
Yes, and let's not forget the use of volume pedal on "Bargain." I bet he would have loved to have been able to play it on steel. But alas, the pedals immobilize yet another rock star guitarist. 
I've read that Stephen Stills owns a Sho~Bud, but it simply collects dust in his music room due to his inability to get his head around it. Also, I read in a Band biography that there was a Sho~Bud set up at Big Pink in Woodstock. Apparently no one could figure it out, so it never got used.
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Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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