Paul Franklin with Dire Straits: On The Night

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Aug 2005 4:03 am

This is not news. It's a review of the DVD--thanks for the tip, Tony; I'm watching it again, and my girlfriend, to whom I'm married, over common law and time, would like to watch it again, it's that good.

The trucks pull in, the load-in begins, the credits roll as the band gets off the bus, and as the stage is built in the classical age colisseum; the crowd begins to file in and a high drone comes from somewhere, punctuated with a beeping that sounds like the signal of a distant satellite, Calling Elvis, maybe an invocation of spirit (?) as Mark Knopfler and associates take the stage--and after the quiet cue of brushes on a snare, a series of four sixteenth-notes from an instrument not often seen on the rock stage. The notes pick up energy, like a train at full tilt, and Paul Franklin is too, already.
It's still daylight, you can see him play; he's focused, he's intent, Knopfler is cool, relaxed with the undeniability of the beat, and begins to soar over the train rolling down the steel tracks. And that's just intro. And there are those chords--and that high sound, and it's not lonesome--what's he doing? Look at those 32nd notes, listen to that! The camera lets us watch....
The Walk of Life takes on a country flavor for a moment; Mark Knopfler is smiling; this steel works very well. "On pedal steel... Paul Franklin!" He's on the back neck now, the one closest the audience.

Some of you will ask, what's he playing?
(Many of you will know). That's like asking me what kind of dress Jackie O was wearing. It's a D-10, with a row of four toggles between necks, eight-pointed stars for fretboard inlay; the fascia is two pieces of differently-hued veneer, with a badge that I can't see--the cameraman doesn't care, and there's no product placement--maybe it's a custom-built.
This is some Heavy Fuel indeed.

But wait, what's that at his right flank?
Why's he got a second guitar, when he's got a double-neck? It looks right; there are two of everything--guitarists, big drum kits, keyboard stations. It looks like a steel, but he's not playing it....

It's dark; the music has changed. Long about Brothers at Arms, there's a low drone--there's only one bass, no fretless around--and this has a growl to it, and there it is, the guitar at his right is now on his lap, that was just a stand. Is that a soundhole? It's an oblong box, like a pedal steel, 10-string machine head, and it's magnificent.

It's now fully night; keyboards and saxes sing duets, Knopfler has picked up an etched chrome National, Juliet to his Romeo.
And the show has just begun. We can already see that it is worth the price of admission.


Which, for us, was cheap: 99c. + shipping.
In the middle of the protracted ending of Private Investigations, the picture freezes--I've gotten ripped off. No, there are two discs. Ending interruptus; it picks up where it left off on disc 2. Is this pirated? A counterfeit? Who cares, that ending is too long anyway, a lot of time that the pedal steel could have been playing.
I highly recommend the DVD of this show; but if you want it, don't buy it from Charlie Wong Kee from Singapore.
I'm thinking of changing my name. At least for journalistic purposes.[This message was edited by Charlie McDonald on 11 August 2005 at 05:12 AM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 11 Aug 2005 4:26 am

Billy Peddycoart · Post by **Billy Peddycoart** » 11 Aug 2005 6:23 am

Paul......Man I love his playing...Billy

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 11 Aug 2005 7:04 am

Charlie, what is the title of this video, and where can I get it? Thanks.

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I'd rather be opinionated, than apathetic!

Bosse Engzell · Post by **Bosse Engzell** » 11 Aug 2005 7:12 am

It's a DVD "On the Night". You can also see Mr Franklin on the DVD with The Players "Live in Nashville". I have got the DVD's from Ginza here in Sweden. So for you guys I think Amazon
Bosse In Sweden [This message was edited by Bosse Engzell on 11 August 2005 at 08:13 AM.][This message was edited by Bosse Engzell on 11 August 2005 at 08:13 AM.][This message was edited by Bosse Engzell on 12 August 2005 at 07:14 AM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 11 Aug 2005 7:15 am

What'd I tell you????

I'll say it just one more time. I was a BIG Dire Straits fan b4 Paul ever worked with them. I can remember coming home from country gigs in the middle of the night in the late 70's listening to 'Brothers in Arms' and 'Sultans of Swing'. Just knocked out, COOL music -- creme de la creme of rock.

Fast forward a couple of decades. Paul joins the group for a European tour and he and the entire group reinvent some of the best rock music I've ever heard. I LOVE 'Romeo & Juliet', but the new version totally destroys the original -- same with 'Walk of Life' and 'You and Your Friend' and most (if not ALL) of the other tunes featured in 'On the Night'. Tunes with a country flavor (like 'The Bug') are particularly effective with the pedal steel, but Paul is a true musician. He contributes MUSIC not PEDAL STEEL.

But, for us steel players, the piece de resistance has to be the solo on 'Walk of Life'. Knopfler introduces 'Best steel player in the world . . . Paul Franklin' -- and then he lives up to the intro. I don't learn many solos note for note -- especially on a tune I'm not likely to ever play in a band -- BUT I LEARNED THAT ONE and use ideas off it all the time.

Thanks, Paul, for a lesson in musicianship.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Aug 2005 7:25 am

Glad you got that quote for me, Larry, as old cool one Mark kind of let it ooze out of the mouth. You can tell he was having lots of fun with Paul. They really hit it off musically.
Yep, Sultans of Swing knocked me out, but I've got other favorites, like the whole Brothers in Arms album. Knopfler is great. Paul--I'm wowed.

Curt, this copy is called 'On The Night.'
Available on cd, but this has 4 more cuts, and it's worth it to turn it up and watch.

Any guesses/answers on who made his steel, or that lap box?

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 11 Aug 2005 8:21 am

Bobbe Seymour?

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www.tyack.com

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 11 Aug 2005 8:28 am

Dan, you crack me up

Charlie,
Both guitars were made by Mr. Franklin. (Paul calls him 'Dad')

The one on 'You and Your Friend' is called 'The Box' and is an acoustic steel guitar.
Info on this page: http://www.paul-franklin.com/bio.htm

If you haven't visited Paul's website, you owe it to yourself to do so.

http://www.paul-franklin.com/

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Aug 2005 8:37 am

OH, OH, oh, the light comes on! You mean he doesn't play an Emmons?

FRANKLIN! Yes, it would be a custom, for Paul Jr.
Silly me.
I need to get out more.

THANKS!

The box is the prettiest thing I ever saw.
I just wish it had pedals. And I don't want a Pedalbro. But I'd take it....

[This message was edited by Charlie McDonald on 11 August 2005 at 09:44 AM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 11 Aug 2005 9:31 am

Charlie, I thought you were kidding....

The box actually does have pedals. I played it a few years ago at the St. Louis. It's sweet sounding, that's for sure. Paul Sr. built it before he did his first Ped-A-Bro. The box is tuned to C6th.

I agree with you about that video. It's one of my favorites, that's for sure. It's one of the reasons I started playing steel again after giving it up for a number of years.

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www.tyack.com

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Aug 2005 9:59 am

I thought your reply was funny whether I was kidding or not. Some people don't put 1 and 1 together very well.

I thought I saw pedal rods, but then he was playing it in his lap. I thought. Fantastic sound, makes me want to build one. I've got these aged spruce guitar tops....

Charlie Wong Kee
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<img width=100 src=http://usera.imagecave.com/charliethemoth/Bugatti.jpg>

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[This message was edited by Charlie McDonald on 11 August 2005 at 11:01 AM.]

Archie Nicol · Post by **Archie Nicol** » 11 Aug 2005 2:58 pm

Bosse. `Live In London` is a different dvd, recorded to promote Mark's solo album,
`Golden Heart`. I also recommend it highly.
`On The Night` was a live Dire Straits concert from a few years earlier.

Damien Odell · Post by **Damien Odell** » 11 Aug 2005 7:01 pm

It was this album that first interested me in pedal steel back when I was in high school. I didn't get a steel for many years after, but hearing Paul play on that album was brilliant - fitted in so well with the Dire Straits songs.
I saw Mark Knopfler a few months back in Sydney and he didn't have a steeler playing with him - I wish he still did.
Damien

Bruno Rasmussen · Post by **Bruno Rasmussen** » 12 Aug 2005 3:24 am

I’m watching the DVD ”On The Night” with Dire Straits on my computer right now. A fantastic concert! – Even better, I was there - “On The Night” – 13 years ago, 20 meters in front of the stage. Mark Knopfler right in front of me, Paul Franklin to the left on a podium. Right now I’m back in the crowd. Feels like it was yesterday.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 12 Aug 2005 4:19 am

Dan, Damien, Bruno--I would say I'm surprised that PF has inspired people to take or or resume pedal steel; but I myself found it very inspirational as well. I won't say Paul makes it look easy--but you know what I mean. It's the quality he brings to it. My steel arrived the next day, and hearing/watching Paul no doubt increased my anticipation; and playing it for the first time, it seemed right.

Bruno, how cool. Watching from the crowd again.
On the Night must've truly been a night.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 13 Aug 2005 9:54 pm

Charlie, as you probably heard from Theresa, I was mistaken about the box. The box on the video has no pedals, the acoustic pedal steel that I tried does (it was the prototype in some ways for the Ped-A-Bro). In any case, Paul is certainly a role model and a kick in the ass.

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www.tyack.com

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 14 Aug 2005 4:31 am

I just saw this thread,one thing I can add is
that Charlie McDonald always tries to help everyone and that includes me. Thanks again Charlie. you're a good and kind person.