i love robert randolph

Aaron Shively · Post by **Aaron Shively** » 15 Jan 2013 5:48 pm

im loving the soul he puts into it, but he sounds unacceptably out of tune some of the time.

Alexander Stepanenko · Post by **Alexander Stepanenko** » 15 Jan 2013 9:53 pm

This is a problem of performance with a loud band.

Joshua Gibson · Post by **Joshua Gibson** » 15 Jan 2013 11:58 pm

I have to say, Personally I've never thought He was THAT off...when You consider all the effects and other factors used with His Steel.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 16 Jan 2013 12:18 am

He ALLWAYS sounds good to me.If he's playing out of tune,Maybe more of us should try that. Very few have done more to promote the steel in the last few years than Robert,in tune or not.Can anyone name one steel player that puts the steel OUT FRONT,CENTER STAGE,IN YOUR FACE IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS THAT HAD NO IDEA WHAT A STEEL GUITAR WAS UNTILL HE CAME ALONG.

YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 16 Jan 2013 3:25 am

I do not care for the music he plays or all the effects he uses. However, I will admit he can pick and pretty fast.

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 16 Jan 2013 4:15 am

Its just a new experimental Jazz/Rock tuning, LOL!!!

I agree with Charles, even though RR may not play traditional pedal steel, he is definitely promoting the instrument! Perhaps some of those new listeners and players he brings in will also desire to explore and discover the music and players who created and perfected the instrument, as we know it!!!

Ill bet Jerry Fessenden has a stack of order forms to prove it too!!

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 16 Jan 2013 10:49 am

Robert don't sound outta tune here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-S4TDGo ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/v/yxrDTFBHTnQ

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 16 Jan 2013 11:06 am

Good video, CrowBear, hadn't seen that one.

One of my favorite things Robert plays on is a piece called Trinity from a Santana album several years back. The third member of the trinity is Metallica's Kirk Hammett. Two Bay Area guys have the kid from Jersey join them.

The link below is to the studio recording, Still shots only of Carlos and Kirk, oddly the guy who created it on YouTube didn't include any photos of Robert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2NReOzdNLk

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 16 Jan 2013 11:13 am

CrowBear Schmitt wrote:Robert don't sound outta tune here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-S4TDGo ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/v/yxrDTFBHTnQ

Maybe I'm Crazy.

Robert brings a smile to my face.

Geoff Barnes · Post by **Geoff Barnes** » 16 Jan 2013 11:39 am

CrowBear Schmitt wrote:Robert don't sound outta tune here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-S4TDGo ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/v/yxrDTFBHTnQ

thanks for that clip. RR has superb phrasing. He owned that piece.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 16 Jan 2013 11:46 am

For you guys who dig RR's style and approach, make sure to track down Roosevelt Collier with the Lee Boys. Wow.

Here's one from the Kennedy center featuring one of the Lee Boy's typical up tempo gospel throw-downs. Note the questions section... "What is that thing the guy in the middle is playing?" "It's a Pedal Steel...": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvHezjJcsDY

A great rendition of "Wade in the Water" with some closeups of the classic Sacred Steel vocalish single-string technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZrLjJmIlVA

And a greta mash-up with Warren Haynes : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bd-r7BGBmc

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 16 Jan 2013 12:53 pm

Robert burnt that sucker down imo bad to da bone.....besides this obsession with tuning is really moot cause it is mathamatically impossible to actually get in tune ...it's a happy medium between harmonics frequencies that can blend and the rest is what sounds good at the time ..jmho...Stormy

Aaron Shively · Post by **Aaron Shively** » 16 Jan 2013 1:44 pm

Aaron Shively · Post by **Aaron Shively** » 16 Jan 2013 1:52 pm

i changed the heading of the post to be more positive. i love randolph's soul; love his style'; love the sacred steel devotional feeling. Im listening to his newest live album; on "electric church", and "squeeze", some of those chords seem kinda raunchy. still love it, and i really would give my right pinky to have a fraction of his thang.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 16 Jan 2013 6:03 pm

Robert and our own Dave Hartley have an approach to timing and phrasing that can most easily be described as "lyrical."
As if you could sing his/their solos, if you only knew the words.
The late Mike Auldridge played that way too.
All three are awesome
(what I've heard of Satriani strikes me the same way: even when he shreds, it makes sense)
Robert's also very evocative

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 16 Jan 2013 6:17 pm

I love his playing. Sometimes when he's doing a loud, high energy show and is the front man he may get a little out of tune but who doesn't. I hope we hear more more players like RR. I'm a big fan!

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 17 Jan 2013 5:05 am

I was Robert's guitar tech in 2002. Robert is a fantastic player and I have to hand it to him for managing all that he has on his plate and doing the road time he does.
When I worked for him, we had good folks on the bus. That can really make for easier road time.
I especially enjoyed breaking out dobros and guitars on the bus.
We had a lot of fun listening to Robert play the opening to Hendrix's "Voodoo Child", (Jackson, Mississippi) from recent shows.
I've done a lot of driving in this splendid country and it was a special treat not to "white knuckle it".
Chatting some steel.