I really like that old 1950s and 1960s pedal steel work, the style that was popular before everything became gobs of pedals and knee levers, and tricky moves that mostly impress only other pedal steelers. That stuff was simple and basic, but terribly expressive. Somewhere along, we lost sight of those qualities.
Barry, I was referring more to early pedal steel stylings, the stuff that made players like Ben Keith, Jimmy Day, and Ralph Mooney famous. Those stylings were probably brought about by the simpler guitars and setups, and the fact that the instrument was comparatively new back in those days.
I caught Neil Young on the International Harvesters tour back in July 1985. He toured with Waylon and his band which included Ralph Mooney. Now that was a show. Waylon was on first and Neil and Wayon and Waylon's band came out during the International Harvesters' set and did "Are you Ready for the Country" together along with some other songs with Ralph playing steel. My memory is that Ben was playing dobro during some of that set. Rufus Thibideaux played fiddle with the Harvesters, really great. I have a lousy cassette tape recording of that concert lying around somewhere. Those were the days for sure.
Stephen, I've been enjoying your playlist too and having fun going down the Ben Keith rabbit hole.
The Tuscaloosa live record that came out last year is interesting for the way Ben plays the famous 2 note slide on the chorus of Old Man - you can hear him doubling with a unison. The Harvest version, released a year before this gig, could have been played any number of ways but I think this gives away his position. Try it out!
Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to run his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...
Steve Hinson wrote:Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to run his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...
Steve Hinson wrote:Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to run his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...
Incidentally,there are two"new"record releases featuring Big Ben...
"Tuscaloosa",a live album by Neil Young and the Stray Gators...
"The Lost Tapes",some live excerpts of shows by Great Speckled Bird(Ian and Sylvia with Ben,Buddy Cage,and Pee Wee Charles featured on various cuts)...
Both worth a listen if you love Big Ben's playing...and I do!
Thanks for the heads up on the Lost Tapes Steve. Here's a very recent write up on The Lost Tapes. There is a great video contained within showing Buddy Cage at 2:35:
I just bought a record I used to have and somehow lost in the past. After reading the book by Jim Rooney,I wanted to listen it again.
The pedal steel player on it turns out to be Ben Keith.
It's a kind of an obscure country rock album, but it's nice to listen to. The album is also on youtube. https://youtu.be/KvtV6LEgb2E
There was a thread on this subject quite a while ago, but with the re-issue of Gene Clark's "No Other" album, the steel guitarist on the track "The True One" has been credited to Ben Keith.
I really like that old 1950s and 1960s pedal steel work, the style that was popular before everything became gobs of pedals and knee levers, and tricky moves that mostly impress only other pedal steelers. That stuff was simple and basic, but terribly expressive. Somewhere along, we lost sight of those qualities.
Nobody plays that stuff on records...that's why the old"moves"have held up...
That bizarre,dissonant,"seventh"sounding stuff will insure that you will never be called again...
Sorry to sidetrack a bit...To clarify the Ringo project...Pete Drake played steel on two of the vocal songs "Waiting For you" is one title I remember.. I forget the title of the other one...He also played the C6th on the Jam song which is like a bonus track for some versions of "Beaucoups" Ben Keith plays on the rest of the record.
Fish, I find the history gets real interesting when the 60's roll around. Elvis and his prominence pretty much eliminated that creative trios dominance on the radio. As with all things, their playing got labeled as that 50's sound along with Ralph Mooney's contributions on the west coast. Producers pretty much stopped calling steels and sent them to the background...Then Pete revived the instrument back into the forefront with a totally different style and approach..Then Lloyd kicked the stylistic door open as did Rugg and Weldon. Together they changed the commercial direction of the instrument. Lloyd talks about his entrance and the early periods in his interviews...
Back to BK, Rose Drake was running the publishing and Tommy ran Stop records when Ben was called for the NY gig. Pete said he employed Ben as he did so many others trying to help them get firmly on their feet. The 60's left many struggling. Buddy moved to LA. I believe Jimmy Day moved back to Texas by the end of the 60's and Ben Keith to LA and onto his best and most successful accomplishments.
