Pedal Steel article in old "Guitar Player mag.

Bob Smith · From: Allentown, New Jersey, USA

This magazine had a pedal steel section, that i think? was written by Jeff Baxter. Not knowing much about steel players back then, I thought it was odd.{a guy from a rock band writing a pedal steel article} Was he a happening steel guy back then? I never see his name mentioned on the forum. Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Smith on 11 October 2003 at 06:03 AM.]

Rainer Hackstaette · From: Bohmte, Germany

Bob,

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was the steeler for Steely Dan and for the Doobie Brothers. He also recorded "Tiny Dancer" for Elton John. His studio credits are too numerous to mention.

Do a forum search on "Skunk" and you'll turn up plenty of information.

Rainer

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Remington D-10 8+7, Sierra Crown D-10 gearless 8+8, Sierra Session S-14 gearless 8+5, '76 Emmons D-10 8+4, Peavey Session 400 LTD

Bob Smith · From: Allentown, New Jersey, USA

I always remembered hin as a six string player,and a good one too. I saw the Doobies a few times back then, didnt recall anyone playing steel guitar.I do recall the steel playing on "Tiny Dancer" ,what a great tune!!Bob

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Jeff is an interesting character and his picking is spread around. I was (and am) under the impression, though, that the steel on Tiny Dancer is BJ Cole.

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

"Jeff is an interesting character" indeed- one of his main gigs these days is supplying "out of the box" ideas in a government think tank in D.C. I ran into him at a gig at Iota in Falls Church and he had some great stories.
If you get hold of enough old copies of Guitar player, you'll also find long running columns by Jeff Newman, some by Tom Bradshaw, and some stellar info and tab from Buddy E. There was a time when pedal steel was apparently considered print worthy in GP. Maybe Robert Randolph will bring those days back around...

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John Macy · From: Rockport TX/Denver CO

"Tiny Dancer" was B.J. Cole for sure--great steel part

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Dave Van Allen · From: Souderton, PA , US , Earth

Skunk was on "Pearl of the Quarter" (Steely Dan) and played the trombone solo from the original Duke Ellington record on steel for "St. Louis Toodle-oo" (Steely Dan) as well as displaying "the cunning of the insane on steel guitar" (so say the liner notes) on "Fire in the Hole" (Steely Dan), one of my fave solos fromn the golden era of '70's pop/rock steel guitar

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Guitar Player mag wants to advertise their new credit card on the Forum. I told them I'd swap for a "real" ad in their magazine. They're mulling it over. I'm not holding my breath.

Tom Bradshaw's GP column was manna to me when I was learning to play. I don't remember Skunk Baxter's column, but I do remember his steel work with Steely Dan - very cool!

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Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com

System Administrator

Rainer Hackstaette · From: Bohmte, Germany

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Ah, those were the days! Rusty Young did a column, Mike Auldridge did a column...
But GP was started by Bud Eastman, who I think was a steel player? Anybody know?

Rick McDuffie · From: Benson, North Carolina, USA

You may remember that Peter Cetera of Chicago played some steel. If I'm not mistaken, that's him on "Flight 602" from Chicago III.

Very cool.

Rick

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Yes Bud Eastman was a big fan of the steel guitar. During the first few years of guitar player mag there was a steel column every month. Johnny Smith also wrote an arrangement in several issues. Slowly but surely the mag got eaten up by some corp and now the cover is adorned by wierd pierced children and the inside is full of advertisments.

I had all the GP mags from 1969 to about 2000. Fellow offered to trade me a Blackface Super Reverb w/ "bullet hole" and some other mods in playable condition for them. I was all over that!

Al Johnson · From: Sturgeon Bay, WI USA

yes, Bud Eastman was a steel guitar player.

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

The columns by Jeff Newman were always eagerly awaited.These were some of the only written words on PSG down under at those times.In fact the only thing that has changed is Steelguitarforum.
Thanks b0b these pages are soooooooooooooo good
Regards Brendan

ajm · From: Los Angeles

I have every GP issue since about 1977, with scattered issues before that back to 1971. I believe that Buddy Emmons and Rusty Young are on the advisory board.

However, the last "real" steel guitar player that I can recall being in a featured article was Jay Dee Maness back in about 1988. No, I do not consider Eric Johnson or Steve Howe as being steel players. Yes, Junior Brown has been featured, but I'd arguably consider him not as a steel player but more as a multi-instrumentalist. Also, he's more known for playing non-pedal, although he does dabble in the PSG occasionally.

Guitar Player never covers the ISGC or any other conventions that we have. I think it's still the best guiar magazine out there, but I certainly would not hold my breath waiting for them to feature ANYTHING on the steel guitar.

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Artie McEwan

David Doggett · Posted 13 Oct 2003 6:48 pm

I hate to admit it, but B.J. Cole on "Tiny Dancer" is what made me take up the pedal steel. Sure the steel sounded great in country music, but it wasn't until I heard "Tiny Dancer" that I realized what a beautiful instrument it was for anything you might want to do.

Mark Ardito · From: Chicago, IL, USA

Skunk's playing on the Steely Dan tune "Pearl of the Quarter" is AMAZING! I have it tabbed out on paper...maybe one day I will put it in .txt format and post it...just can't find the time!

A definite listen is the album "Countdown to Ectasy" by Steely Dan. Skunk plays pedal steel and guitar on that record and it is wonderful!

Cheers!
Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

Skunk's steel on "Pearl of the Quarter" and "Razor Boy" is what got me interested in PSG.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

Peter Siegel · From: Belmont, CA, USA

Skunk also recorded Pedal Steel with Billy Vera's band, "Billy and the Beaters". Their single "At This Moment" still gets airplay and has some nice fills by Skunk. I also saw him play with them live in LA clubs in the early 80s, he would play when Steve Fishell was unavailable. Sounded great in a real R&B band. (so did Fishell)
Skunk played though an Ampeg amp if I remember correctly, which gave him a very distinctive sound.
-Peter

Mark Ardito · From: Chicago, IL, USA

Ooooh yeah....I forgot to mention that Skunk plays steel on "East St. Louis Toodle-oo". It was Steely Dan covering the Duke Ellington tune! It is REALLY cool playing!

BTW...it is on the Pretzel-Logic album.

Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com

Dave Van Allen · From: Souderton, PA , US , Earth

there's an echo in here....

Mark Ardito · From: Chicago, IL, USA

oops...sorry DVA.

Bob Smith · From: Allentown, New Jersey, USA

Its kinda cool how many guys were influenced by obscure steel players. Its also cool how much airplay some of these players got. the last time i saw the Skunk play was on the Dinah Shore show , and that was awhile ago. Ive gotta take a listen to the Steely Dan stuff to check out the steel playing on there. Bob . Hey ,theres one for the "tone police", steel guitar through an Ampeg amp!!!

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