Best Pedal Steel Guitar Solo of last Century?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 2 Jun 2003 7:40 am

I haven't had the chance, so far, to hear much of the above, but on Jazz by Jernigan
Doug's solo on Dexterity just knocks me shoeless!

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 2 Jun 2003 7:53 am

Of course there is no such thing as the best solo. But if there was one it might be Tom Brumley in "Hello Trouble" with Buck Owens or Buddy Emmons "Adalida" George Strait, or Robby Turner on "No More Looking Over My Shoulder" by Travis Tritt, or...

Uffe

Al Gershen · Post by **Al Gershen** » 2 Jun 2003 10:36 am

Hi again SGF:

I'd like to nominate Curly Chaulker for his excellent solo in "Sturring up the Ashes" which was recorded years ago by Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys.

Assuming it was played by Curly on the C6th, it is one of those solos that has remained in the back of my mind over the years.

It a real fine solo and the song is a great tune in the tradition of Hank Thompson.

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 2 Jun 2003 11:25 am

Lily Dale.

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Bruce W Heffner · Post by **Bruce W Heffner** » 2 Jun 2003 12:41 pm

Well know, if the definition of solo is the thing in the middle of the tune, I say Buddy Emmons in ET's "Half a Mind". If solo means the entire tune I am with Carl on Buddy Emmons and "Once Upon a Time in the West"

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www.pedalsteel.net

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 2 Jun 2003 1:40 pm

Curly Chalker's solo on Charlie McCoy's Danny Boy for me. It has it all.

Wade Medlock · Post by **Wade Medlock** » 2 Jun 2003 2:58 pm

Ken Byng and I are in total agreement. I've heard Curly do that run a thousand times, and I could listen to it a thousand times more!

MIKEHOLLAND · Post by **MIKEHOLLAND** » 2 Jun 2003 3:22 pm

Steve Palousek, steel dreaming.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 2 Jun 2003 4:04 pm

Best in the last century? Wow...that's a toughie, but I think I'll go with Paul Franklin's fantastic ride in Jerry Reed's "Nervous Breakdown", because of the length of the ride (about 40 seconds worth), and the plethora of licks he throws in there.

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 2 Jun 2003 4:10 pm

For me, it's Jay McDonald's solo rendition of "Release Me" recorded in 1963 when he was the steeler for Buck Owens. What soul and emotion Jay displays. You can hear it on Buck's Capitol LP "On the Bandstand" re-issued by Sundazed.

Johnny Jones · Post by **Johnny Jones** » 2 Jun 2003 5:18 pm

Jeff Peterson's playing on Clint Black's "Nothing's News" is one of the most beautiful intros, turnarounds, and endings that has been played.

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 2 Jun 2003 5:25 pm

Anyone else like "Take the "A" Train" ????

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 2 Jun 2003 5:58 pm

Nobody has mentioned Weldon's ride on Whiskey River.
That's my vote. Makes me wanna break out into dance every time I hear it.
Although Ricky Davis makes a verrry strong case !
-John

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 2 Jun 2003 6:29 pm

Dave, also Curly's solo on McCoy's "Sunshine Of My Life" and Al, you are right about "Stirring Up The Ashes". That was 40 years ago and done on a double eight string Fender 1000. I like to pull it out every once in a while and listen to some of the most knocked-out C6th playing ever.

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 2 Jun 2003 6:46 pm

Johnny, I am thrilled you would put me in league with the forementioned. I love the song, I love to play it, Clint wrote it, hummed to me what he wanted, and on all our shows I try to 'feel' through the song. Simplicity of notes that he wanted, severe feeling that I hope to convey...he's a great artist.
Again, thank you, it means alot.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 2 Jun 2003 11:32 pm

The best steel solo I've ever heard was on a song called 'Brought Up In Jeans' by a band called One Horse Blue. One Horse Blue was a western Canadian band that sounded somewhat like Poco, their style somewhere between country and rock. Bob Burghardt was the steel player, and from what I can remember he used a Sho-Bud D-10 and a Sho-Bud amp. His style was somewhere between country and blues, and he used distortion most of the time. It was an overdriven sound (not a fuzz), and it sure sounded sweet.

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 3 Jun 2003 4:06 am

Jerry Byrd's break on Ferlin Huskey's "Next to Jimmy" IMHO..

BS

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 3 Jun 2003 4:17 am

Rick
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>If you're looking at Pink Floyd for the "best of" anything, you're searching in the wrong waste receptical.
This is just an opinion of mine from my experience with rock, generally. I really don't know Pink Floyd.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think you definitely don't know Pink Floyd.
Gilmore is a fine slide player, smooth and consistant.

But as a band these guys did things NO ONE else has done.
Songs both direct and metaphorically philosophical.
And they were real players too not just studio session guys.
Yet they also were brilliant in the studio too...
They have done albums that broke expectations totally, and have also stood the test of time musically.

Did he play the solo of the century, maybe not, but some supurb lapsteel solos, totally in tune with their settings... you bet. IMHO[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 03 June 2003 at 05:20 AM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 3 Jun 2003 4:48 am

What DLD said. I've seen Pink Floyd twice 76/94 and they were and still are the best concerts I ever went to. They do it just as well live and of course there's a light show like no other. That group developed into the band they are today. If you listen to their older albums you can see where they came from.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Jun 2003 10:00 am

I have David Gilmore's concert DVD. Highly recommended for Pink Floyd fans and rock guitarists. Not enough lap steel (there is some, though), but lots of closeups of his hands on the guitar.

Jesse Harris · Post by **Jesse Harris** » 3 Jun 2003 10:06 am

I think that pink floyd gets a bad rep for being some kind of crazy acid rock band but people don't realize the leaps they made in the studio and live, also pushing the limits of what was normal rock behavior(oxymoron I know), I first knew them in high school 10 years ago as classic rock radio icons and never got it util I went back and really tried to listen to it for the first time. Them and radiohead to me are doing and have some some really amazing things.

But greatest Steel solo of all time?
right now for me,
Danny Boy ....BE

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 3 Jun 2003 9:07 pm

I did a session the other day for this 'floydish' band (heavy into the rock and roll side of my steel playing) and the producer told me 'man you are the David Gilmore of the pedal steel'. That was one of the best compliments I have ever heard. Gilmore isn't technically the best lap steel player ever, but his playing usually moves me.

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www.tyack.com

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 4 Jun 2003 12:50 pm

What's Pink Floyd doing here anyway?
Wasn't this thread supposed to be about Pedal Steel solos?

UE

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 4 Jun 2003 2:49 pm

The topic started with a Gilmore/Pink Floyd reference, and went uphill from there.

Jim Park · Post by **Jim Park** » 5 Jun 2003 8:17 am

I gotta put my 2 cents worth in here......... One of the best solo's I ever saw was Doug Jernigan with Ricky Skaggs live on Nashville Now. They did Country Boy, and man did they tear it up!!!!! Doug played his solo so smooth and FAST!!! I just sat there with my mouth open........BUT......... My all time Fav was BE with Ray Price(live in Reno) You guessed it...... Heartaches by The Numbers.