Harbor Lights

Eric Sprado · Post by **Eric Sprado** » 23 Mar 2020 1:40 pm

I can't find a nice steel rendition of classic Harbor Lights..Any help? thanks, Eric

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 23 Mar 2020 2:02 pm

It gets no better than Chuck!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_FC5bBnKU

Eric Sprado · Post by **Eric Sprado** » 23 Mar 2020 2:21 pm

Thank you Bill!!!If that rendition doesn't make you cry I don't know what will. That is EXACTLY what I wanted to see and hear..DAMN-THAT is steel playing.

Jeremy DeHart · Post by **Jeremy DeHart** » 23 Mar 2020 2:38 pm

How about 3 steels!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2XaQ8_DuMc

Nic Neufeld · Post by **Nic Neufeld** » 23 Mar 2020 3:43 pm

I can't find the one from Hawaiian Shores (Hawaii Calls) online. There is this version with Jules Ah See backing up Alfred Apaka live:
https://archive.org/details/TapaRoomTap ... Lights.mp3

It was actually the first time I heard the song, so it's a special version for me. Sounds like he's on his C6/C13 neck.

John Herb · Post by **John Herb** » 23 Mar 2020 4:01 pm

Heres the great Rick Alexander playing the song.

https://youtu.be/BMYT0nREwd4

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 23 Mar 2020 6:51 pm

Chris Scruggs version is my favourite

https://youtu.be/whFL_bHkgAA

Eric Sprado · Post by **Eric Sprado** » 23 Mar 2020 8:46 pm

Ask and Ye Shall Receive.. Phew-you guys have given me a lifetime of licks to work on with that song..Thanks to you All.

Roger Fletcher · Post by **Roger Fletcher** » 24 Mar 2020 1:38 am

Great to hear all these versions.

This was my mother's favourite song during WWII when my father was at sea with the Royal Navy.

Nic Neufeld · Post by **Nic Neufeld** » 24 Mar 2020 4:45 am

Roger Fletcher wrote:Great to hear all these versions.

This was my mother's favourite song during WWII when my father was at sea with the Royal Navy.

That reminds me of another version I like...the inimitable Vera Lynn, who remains one of my favorite singers (and is still with us at 103!). No steel guitar but a plaintive and beautiful performance, and one of the rare ones to include the written intro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmGxmLHvxe8

Nic Neufeld · Post by **Nic Neufeld** » 24 Mar 2020 4:53 am

Also, just for fun, my amateur stab at it, a year ago (based on Alan Akaka's tab arrangement): https://soundcloud.com/nicneufeld/harbour-lights-c6

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 24 Mar 2020 5:00 am

Pretty dang good stab at it I would say!

John Kwasnik · Post by **John Kwasnik** » 24 Mar 2020 9:43 am

Thanks, Nic. I never knew the song had an intro part. But it makes sense for something written in 1937.

Nic Neufeld wrote:
Roger Fletcher wrote:Great to hear all these versions.

[ ... ]
That reminds me of another version I like...the inimitable Vera Lynn, who remains one of my favorite singers (and is still with us at 103!).
[ ... ]

John Kwasnik · Post by **John Kwasnik** » 24 Mar 2020 9:57 am

Wow. Really pretty arrangement, and beautiful tone! All the players do a really great job with this song. It sounds like the music must have been composed by a steel player, with all the vocal slides. But it was written by an emigree Austrian, Wilhelm Grosz (aka Hugh Williams), who also did Red Sails in the Sunset and Isle of Capri.

I learned it off the original 1937 side by Frances Langford, with Sam Koki on steel:

https://youtu.be/70MMFugor4M

Nic Neufeld wrote:Also, just for fun, my amateur stab at it, a year ago (based on Alan Akaka's tab arrangement): https://soundcloud.com/nicneufeld/harbour-lights-c6

Nic Neufeld · Post by **Nic Neufeld** » 24 Mar 2020 10:19 am

Mahalo nui to you both! Alan is a fantastic arranger (as well as player of course). Looking back I thought my tone was a bit too...sharp and gritty (too much "hair" on the Vox software amp simulation I had going) but the Magnatone I used does have a kind of middy, pushed tone. Maybe the Clinesmith is spoiling me too much! Viva la difference I suppose...