Favorite progressive steel albums

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 24 May 2003 9:04 am

There are several suggestions here which I am going to search out. Steel recordings outside the well-worn genres of country, blues, and bebop jazz seem to be few and far between. Some of my favourites so far are: Susan Alcorn "Uma" (I obtained from SFG), Bruce Kaphan "Slider" (there are a few free downloads of his playing at [url=http://www.brucekaphan.com),]www.brucekaphan.com),[/url] Bill Stafford "Going Home" available from Scotty (some well-known selections arranged with a difference). As far as accompaniment it is interesting to hear how Brian Blade has incorporated steel into his compositions on 'Perceptual' and 'Brian Blade Fellowship' recordings (Dave Easley on steel). I would appreciate leads on other artists working outside the usual stylistic 'boxes'.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 24 May 2003 2:19 pm

I'll add some fine steel work from Lionel Wendling on Full Time Job.

R. E. Klaus · Post by **R. E. Klaus** » 24 May 2003 10:48 pm

The two "Area Code 615" albums with Weldon Myrick (still available from http://weldonmyrick.com/products.htm), "Two of a Kind" with Johnny and Wayne Cox , Paul Franklin "Play by Play" and his work with "Gallery", Julian Thorpe "Take Your Pick"(with Blondie Calderon) and "The Jet Age", "Suite Steel" with Buddie Emmons, Sneaky Pete, Rusty Young, Red Rhodes, and J. D. Maness. [This message was edited by R. E. Klaus on 24 May 2003 at 11:51 PM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 25 May 2003 12:00 am

Jet Age looks to have a great crew!

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 May 2003 10:13 am

Buddy Emmons' black album. I had no idea that such music was even possible. To me, it's the instrumental equivalent of Sgt. Pepper's.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 25 May 2003 2:51 pm

The Black album has always been on my list.
Along with Live at Berklee and the steel show album.
BE rules![This message was edited by David L. Donald on 25 May 2003 at 03:51 PM.]

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 25 May 2003 9:06 pm

Julian Tharpe's recordings titled Take Your Pick, The Jet Age, Southern Fried Steel, and when I heard him playing live that put the icing on the cake. Never heard anything or anyone else play like him before or since.

Woody

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 26 May 2003 12:02 pm

God, so many . . .

The Buddy Emmons black album

Lloyd Green's early albums, especially the one with Tammy Wynette's "You and Me"

Jimmy Day -- "Big Hits on Steel Guitar"

Maurice Anderson and Tommy Morrell -- "Sextet Session"

The Curly Chalker album with "Gentle on my Mind" and "The Look of Love"

Marshall Hall

Hal Rugg's "Alter Ego" was breathtaking -- "Send in the Clowns" -- beautiful.

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 26 May 2003 5:24 pm

Susan - I will definitely search out those suggestions. Have you got any new recordings in the works? Perhaps the first Monk steel tribute? I listen to your Monk Medley a lot and your original compositions are stunning too.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 26 May 2003 6:00 pm

maybe not progressive by today's definition, but "The Wylie Butler" by Cal Hand was quite a different sounding steel recording to me in the early 80's.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 27 May 2003 12:20 am

Maurice Anderson and Tommy Morrell -- "Sextet Session"

I have T.M''s Go Uptown.
Him and Reece together, whoah must be hot!

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 27 May 2003 1:30 pm

Doug Jernigan's Uptown to Country was the first steel album that blew me away. His version of "My Funny Valentine" and the Miles Davis tune "Four" made me realize the potential of the Pedal Steel Guitar in the Jazz idiom. I had always liked the sound of a steel but hearing it applied to a wide variety of music inspired me to learn how to play one.

Garry Vanderlinde · Post by **Garry Vanderlinde** » 27 May 2003 7:26 pm

Santo and Johnny are the Masters (!) and the Vanduras are carrying on their proud tradition.

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 30 May 2003 6:53 am

Thank you Dave, and thank you Garry.

GB

Hans Drissen · Post by **Hans Drissen** » 30 May 2003 11:09 am

Am I the only one who comes up with Lloyd Green ? I still find him the most tastefull
steelplayer on this planet.
Furthermore I am very impressed by Mike G.
Smith, (Dreams of India)

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 30 May 2003 3:54 pm

Hans, there are so many Lloyd Green cuts. Which ones are your choices?
The ones that just pinned back your ears.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 6 Jun 2003 12:03 am

I just listened to Dave Ristrim, Crisis in the Theme Park. Three times in a row. Now this is just what I was looking for.
So many of my favorite fusion tunes and a few clasics from Rock n soul.
I have played at least 4 of the tunes in bands including that Jean'Luc Ponty tune.
He's getting a unique sound, jazz, but not jazz standards, and it seems to have moved the instrument forward... A nasty slide guitar tone, great textures and variety too.
great work. I will like this album a long time.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 06 June 2003 at 08:34 AM.]

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 7 Jun 2003 9:21 am

Hmmm... Susan Alcorn, Mike Perlowin, Jon Rauhaus (Sleepwalker, "Man In the Moon"), and those many artists already mentioned.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 Jun 2003 11:31 pm

I can't find a CD of Reece playing Big D Spree.
Any one know where I can get the track?
I really would want the whole CD, and not a bootleg, but the track would do for the moment.

Still really enjoying Dave Ristrim and Murph.
Jim Cohen is hanging in there too. Sort of a middle ground between the two above.
He has a great version of the Israeli national anthem that knocks my socks off.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 June 2003 at 12:32 AM.]

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 18 Jun 2003 5:23 am

To me, I think the lesson-album (The one with San Antonio Rose and Steelguitar-rag on E9)from Jeff Newman was really groundbreaking to me, and a very fresh progressive approach to steelguitar and it's sound and that in the late 70's. In my first years of playing steel, I always tweaked my amps and compression to copy that sound. When I play, it's still in my system, and will never get out! Talk about an influence for life!)

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Click on the pic!

[This message was edited by Johan Jansen on 18 June 2003 at 06:24 AM.]

Dale Thomas · Post by **Dale Thomas** » 18 Jun 2003 8:56 pm

After hearing and being amazed at the great picking of Emmons and his contemporaries, I was so impressed with the arrangements and melodies of "The United Steels of Europe" from Neils Tuxen and friends years ago. I call it the wall of steel album because of the use of steel as an ensemble .

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