Pete Drake - Lay Lady Lay

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Aug 2020 4:12 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYeq6aULO7k

Pete could play but he couldn't lay off that damn talk box!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 Aug 2020 8:17 am

Some songs just fail miserably as an instrumental.

This is one of them. $:\$

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 12 Aug 2020 9:33 am

He used the Nashville Skyline version as a backing track.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 12 Aug 2020 11:50 am

Donny Hinson wrote:Some songs just fail miserably as an instrumental.

This is one of them. $:\$

With the advent of the"singer-songwriter",the songs got wordier and we lost a lot of the beautiful melody...

...but then,they can't all be"Crazy Arms",now can they,Cuz?

I sure loved what he played on Dylan's record,though...

SH

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 12 Aug 2020 5:45 pm

My favorite song by Dylan and Pete playing on it! I like the song!

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 12 Aug 2020 7:06 pm

That was recorded with Ringo on drums. It was not a track lifted from anything. It was innovative for the times...He sold a million talking guitar albums...Kind of says why he would come up with this concept which was not released until after his death...He was always pushing the instrument towards the mainstream.
Paul

Alan Cook · Post by **Alan Cook** » 12 Aug 2020 10:05 pm

Recorded this with a covers band I'm working with for one of those online gig things. I think Paul said this was the song that kick started pedal steel into contemporary music! After lay lady lay everyone wanted steel on there records.

https://youtu.be/FRXt_NO1tt4

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Aug 2020 2:49 am

Paul, I actually like some of Pete's records with the talk box - like "Forever"... they're kitsch, but in a good way. But when an effect is used on most everything, then it dilutes its effectiveness and becomes just a gimmick, IMHO. I don't think it makes this Dylan song better. But clearly, Pete was popular as a person and musician as he was asked to play on so many recordings.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 13 Aug 2020 4:40 am

Steve Hinson wrote:
With the advent of the"singer-songwriter",the songs got wordier and we lost a lot of the beautiful melody...

...but then,they can't all be"Crazy Arms",now can they,Cuz?

I sure loved what he played on Dylan's record,though...

SH

I quite agree, Steve! My comment was directed at the song, and not the playing. Pete's playing was always interesting and innovative, and his work on the vocal hit was the only thing that gave it some value.

Of all the famous steelers that have gone before, he's probably one of the least-copied. I've been to hundreds of shows and jams, but have yet to hear anyone else play "Star Gazing", "Pleading", or "For Pete's Sake".

They do seem to like a lot of his licks, though!

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 13 Aug 2020 4:46 am

Andy,

I understand where you are coming from but as Pete's friend and someone who knows the whole story behind why and how these recordings came to be..

First let me say I'm not crazy about the talk box either...Here's the thing you are overlooking in the criticism of this project.

This recording was made to get the attention of the major labels (Columbia, RCA, etc) so they would release and promote a steel guitar record. They could care less about a pure steel recording..This CD was never finished due to Pete's failing health battle which took his life...Had he finished it? some major label would have released it due to the star power of the musicians playing behind Pete on these tracks. Harrison and Ringo were among those playing..Had it sold like his first two talking albums it would have kickstarted an interest in the steel again. Sadly it was never finished and his widow decided to release it as is after Pete's passing. Its a snippet into a brilliant player/producer who had a direction to bring back interest in the PSG to the common marketplace.

I would agree with you. A little talk box goes a long way...Being honest, I have never sold a million on an instrumental record. Look at Herbie Hancock's successes..Sometimes it takes the gimmick to get us in the door.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Aug 2020 5:16 am

It's very kind of you to tell the back story on this, Paul, and in this light, I see your point and have a better insight into this particular recording. Thanks. In all honesty, Pete is somewhat of a mystery man to me despite his many records. On many of his early Country singles, Jerry Byrd certainly added a very prominent tone control effect similar to a plunger mute effect from a trumpet and this certainly was a unique sound compared to a standard guitar. Some of this must have been a musical flag for attention.

It seems like the steel guitar, in general seems to raise its profile for a time and then recede a bit into the background. There certainly was a unique burst of steel guitar creativity in the early 60s from Pete, Buddy, Lloyd, etc. It seemed like it was going to break through to the mainstream several times in each decade. As you say, sometimes you need a little extra, per the lyrics from the Broadway musical Gypsy (about Gypsy Rose Lee) ...

You can pull all the stops out
Till they call the cops out;
Grind your behind till you're banned.
But you gotta get a gimmick
If you wanna get a hand.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 13 Aug 2020 6:12 am

Donny Hinson wrote:
Steve Hinson wrote:
With the advent of the"singer-songwriter",the songs got wordier and we lost a lot of the beautiful melody...

...but then,they can't all be"Crazy Arms",now can they,Cuz?

I sure loved what he played on Dylan's record,though...

SH
I quite agree, Steve! My comment was directed at the song, and not the playing. Pete's playing was always interesting and innovative, and his work on the vocal hit was the only thing that gave it some value.

Of all the famous steelers that have gone before, he's probably one of the least-copied. I've been to hundreds of shows and jams, but have yet to hear anyone else play "Star Gazing", "Pleading", or "For Pete's Sake".

They do seem to like a lot of his licks, though!

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 13 Aug 2020 6:24 am

Donny Hinson wrote:
Steve Hinson wrote:
With the advent of the"singer-songwriter",the songs got wordier and we lost a lot of the beautiful melody...

...but then,they can't all be"Crazy Arms",now can they,Cuz?

I sure loved what he played on Dylan's record,though...

SH
I quite agree, Steve! My comment was directed at the song, and not the playing. Pete's playing was always interesting and innovative, and his work on the vocal hit was the only thing that gave it some value.

Of all the famous steelers that have gone before, he's probably one of the least-copied. I've been to hundreds of shows and jams, but have yet to hear anyone else play "Star Gazing", "Pleading", or "For Pete's Sake".

They do seem to like a lot of his licks, though!

I knew that!

So many times I've heard a song and thought"what a beautiful song,or what a great record,etc...too bad you couldn't play that as an instrumental,but the phrasing doesn't lend itself to the steel..."

Another example of this-"Sweet Baby James"on James Taylor's first Warner Brothers album-a beautiful song,but the melody makes it awkward to play on ANY instrument...

I get why Pete cut"LLL"though...it was a huge"hit" for him as a sideman...

SH

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 13 Aug 2020 7:29 am

That was recorded with Ringo on drums. It was not a track lifted from anything.

Was it recorded during the "Beaucoups Of Blues" sessions of Ringo. Anymore info, Mr.Franklin?