Top Hottest Pedal Steel Solos?

Billy Woo · Post by **Billy Woo** » 25 May 2004 9:02 am

I could'nt resist when I saw the post about the Geetar players now how about YOUR Pedal Steel Heroes?

Bronco Billy

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 25 May 2004 11:08 am

Buddy Emmons' fast songs on his unprecedented set in the '77 ISGC.

Doug Jernigan's "Orange Blossom Special" and "Black Mountain Rag".

JayDee Maness on "Truck Drivin Man".

Wally Murphy's "William Tel Overture"

Anything Paul Franklin does fast with particular mention of his backing Alan Jackson on "Don't Rock the Juke Box".

Anything Tommy White does fast; with particular mention of one specific tune he always played flawlessly when he was with the Whites. I am sorry I cannot remember the name of the song. Just know that he and Buck White (piano) tore that song a part. Just incredible musicianship.

Mike Johnson and ditto PF and TW.

Buddy Emmons' "(sorry I do not know the name of the tune, but he recorded it with some ladies singing a gospel song when he lived in California I believe)". His picking, blocking, tone and attack is truly the finest I have EVER heard on any recording in my life.

I have it on a CD made for me by Koos Biel's brother. I did not know this recording existed and I wish to sincerely thank Jellie Biel for sending it to me.

carl[This message was edited by C Dixon on 25 May 2004 at 01:25 PM.][This message was edited by C Dixon on 25 May 2004 at 07:37 PM.]

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 25 May 2004 11:56 am

Anything that Lloyd Green does, no matter if slow or fast, his work is always a masterpiece.

One other fast solo that just comes to my mind is Bruce Bouton on Ricky Skaggs' "One Way Rider" - you gotta hear that one!

For the slow ones, I have to mention a lot of Jimmy Day's stuff, his feeling was fantastic. One example: "You Made me Live, Love And Die" by Willie Nelson.

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Rich Weiss · Post by **Rich Weiss** » 25 May 2004 12:33 pm

The live version of Walk of Life, by Dire Straits. PF took off on his solo and knocked it out of the park.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 25 May 2004 1:14 pm

Paul Franklin and Jerry Reed with
"the Nervous Breakdown".

B. P. Johnson · Post by **B. P. Johnson** » 25 May 2004 4:44 pm

One of my personal favorites is "Blue Steel Blues", performed by Bob White.

The album was Steel Trek, recorded circa 1978.

imho... one of the finest steel guitar albums ever!

~bpj

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 25 May 2004 5:13 pm

I have always thought that Weldon Myrick played some hot licks on "Whiskey River" recorded by Johnny Bush. The turnaround is awesome. I loved The project Mark O'Connor had out "The New Nashville Cats". Paul Franklin was featured on the fast songs and Sonny Garrish played as well.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 25 May 2004 6:08 pm

Two of the best pedal steel solos I've ever heard were John Hughey's steel solo on Vince Gill's "Look At Us" and Lloyd Green's solo on Alan Jackson's "Remember When" and Paul Franklin played a great steel solo on a Lee Ann Womack tune called "Lonely Too". I love every steel solo I hear. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 25 May 2004 6:11 pm

I also love Bruce Bouton's solo on "Highway 40 Blues" by Ricky Skaggs and the songs Paul Franklin played with George Strait and Alan Jackson. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 May 2004 6:17 pm

Here's a previous thread about speedpicking solos...
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/003398.html

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 May 2004 6:52 pm

How about "Ooh Las Vegas" (Emmylou Harris w/Hank Devito) and "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (Linda Ronstadt w/who? Dugmore?)

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 25 May 2004 7:48 pm

From Curly Chalker's Counterpoint album:

For Once In My Life
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
If
Watch What Happens
Gentle On My mind

Some of the very finest steel guitar music ever recorded IMHO. I especially like Bridge Over Trouble waters.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 25 May 2004 8:59 pm

Buddy Emmons : "Caravan". Jody.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 May 2004 12:13 am

golly gee there are so many good solos to choose from
i'll go w: BE's "Mardi Gras" live ISGC 77
otherwise Paul Franklin has some killer stuff ![This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 26 May 2004 at 01:13 AM.]

Jerry Clardy · Post by **Jerry Clardy** » 26 May 2004 12:54 am

The whole Paul Franklin "Play by Play" album.

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 26 May 2004 5:40 am

is "Hot" synonymous with "Fast", or can "hot" refer to something just plain "spiffy" but at not necessarily blistering tempi? Lots of things can be fast without being spiffy...

some selections I feel qualify as "Spiffy" and some are actually fast:

PF Christmas Collection: Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World

Tom Brumley: (Buckaroos) Pedal Patter, Tom Cattin', Buckaroo, Truck Drivin Man, Hello Trouble, Spanish Moonlight, I'm Comin' Back Home to Stay...
TB w/ Rick Nelson: Last Time Around, Sing Me A Song, Garden Party... many others

TX Troubadours w/ Buddy Charleton: Honey Fingers, Big Beaver, TX Troubadour Stomp, and many others

Joaquin Murphey: everything I've ever heard!

BE: with Duane Eddy-Sugarfoot Rag, Fireball Mail, Wildwood Flower

BE: everything else

Vanduras-Gary Brandin - The BIg Hurt (not fast but way spiffy!)

Rusty Young -POCO-DeLIVErin' Album.

Bobby Black with Robert Gordon: Bill Haley's "Crazy Man, Crazy" a tour de force!

and sooooooo many others I can't get it together to list 'em

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 26 May 2004 8:45 am

Big Mamou by Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke, solo by Robbie Springfield (I think)
LOST IN THE FEELING BY CONWAY TWITTY, SOLO BY JOHN HUGHEY
Misty by Ray Stevens, solo by JayDee Maness
RAINY DAY WOMAN BY WAYLON, SOLO BY RALPH MOONEY.
My Feeling is Too Strong by Ray Pennington & Swing Shift Band, solo by Buddy Emmons
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN BY CSNY, SOLO BY JERRY GARCIA (I DON'T CARE WHAT ANY ONE SAYS, THIS IS A CLASSIC)
There's No Fool Like a Young Fool by Ray Price, solo by Buddy Emmons
ONE MORE MEMORY BY WYNN STEWART, SOLO BY RALPH MOONEY
The Bridge Washed Out by Warner Mack, solo by Lloyd Green
BLUE BAYOU BY LINDA RONSTADT, SOLO BY DAN DUGMORE.
Hello Mary Lou by the New Riders of the Purple Sage, solo by Buddy Cage

Anything Ralph Mooney ever played on also...JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 26 May 2004 9:26 am

Buddy's 'Once Upon A Time In The West' is my favourite steel guitar solo bar none. It may not qualify for this particular thread as it's a complete instrumental, but it never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

For pure atmosphere, Skunk Baxter's break on Steely Dan's 'Razor Boy' takes some beating....

RR

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 26 May 2004 11:02 am

Jay McDonald's rendition of "Release Me" featured on the Buck Owens LP "On The Bandstand" circa 1963 will give you goose-bumps.

B. P. Johnson · Post by **B. P. Johnson** » 26 May 2004 7:36 pm

Another good one is T for Texas (Blue Yodel), performed by Waylon Jennings, with Ralph Mooney on steel... Mooney tears this song up!

Tom Moorman · Post by **Tom Moorman** » 27 May 2004 9:43 am

Speedy West, anything.

Buddy Cage with the New Riders of the Purple Sage - especially ‘She’s No Angel.’

Bobby ‘Blue’ Black with Commander Cody

Jerry Bruner · Post by **Jerry Bruner** » 31 May 2004 6:10 pm

this is out of left field....

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's steel on "Pearl of the Quarter" by Steely Dan. The steel is up front and quite noticeable in this song.

I can't remember who played it, but I also love the steel on Terri Clark's debut hit "Better Things To Do". I have a tendency to tune everything else on that song and just focus on the steel.

Bruce Meyer · Post by **Bruce Meyer** » 31 May 2004 8:06 pm

Paul Franklin's solos on Alan Jackson's "I Don't Even Know Her Name". His ability to put together solos like that in a studio situation is uncanny.

[This message was edited by Bruce Meyer on 31 May 2004 at 09:09 PM.]

Peter Siegel · Post by **Peter Siegel** » 1 Jun 2004 10:04 am

John Hughey, on Willie Nelson's "Sometimes its heaven". Unreal.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Jun 2004 4:37 pm

This tune here has one of Big E's hottest solos, IMHO.

It's a version of Twinkle Little Star by the Cherokees different from that found on the Western Strings album.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 01 June 2004 at 05:38 PM.]