roots rock meets pedal steel

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 19 Feb 2006 12:23 am

Pedal steel came into rock and pop, it existed in surf music, psyphe-pop, sunshine pop and country-rock.

What about roots rock, like what has been nicknamed gospel rock.. or Blue Eyed Soul?

some examples:

Texan Doug Sahm's first (and only) two solo albums for Atlantic Records from 1973.
Both feature Texan Charlie Owens on steel, alongside fiddles, Texas blues and horn players on this soulful, bluesy, country-funk type material.

Jim Dickinson's 1972 solo album Dixie Fried, cut for the most part with Atlantic's R&B-rock band the Dixie Flyers, the house band at Criteria Studios in Florida, latter sessions in Memphis feature the late great Jeff Newman who occasionally did sessions at Ardent studios (Alex Chilton's 1970 CD comes to mind). Horns and pedal steel again.

Delbert & Glen: Their second album 'Sunject To Change' in 1973, the duo's first was cut in L.A. their second was cut in Texas, the south and the west coast, the Texas material features a young Tommy Spurlock, this bluesy rock soul effort also mixes horns, R&B and steel guitar.

I collect these rock soul albums almost as religously as I collect country-rock from the same period, but I've not found a lot of records where steel and country-soul meet like this.

Anyone else got any they can think of?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 19 Feb 2006 4:47 am

How about The Monkees' 3rd LP "Headquarters, with Michael Nesmith on steel. No kidding.

(I haven't heard the record, but I'm really curious.)

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 19 Feb 2006 8:13 am

Well, let's not forget Little Feat - albums like "Sailin' Shoes" with Sneaky Pete on steel. I never thought of them as a country-rock band, but more of a roots-rock/r&b band.

Tracy Nelson meandered through country, gospel, blues and other things, and often used pedal steel. Her band Mother Earth's "Make a Joyful Noise" features Pete Drake even on the "City Side" of the record, and is all over the "Country Side". Of course, "Tracy Nelson Country" has lots of steel. "Sweet Soul Music" has one steel cut, a Dylan tune. Even when singing country music, the blues and gospel feel always came through to me - probably why I liked it back then and perhaps also why her records didn't exactly find their target audience. The marketeers, and perhaps the audience, seemed to prefer to be able to unambiguously label things.

Not a rock-soul or even roots rock band, but in the early 70s, the rock band Juicy Lucy featured a lot of lap steel.

Not from the same period, but the Holmes Brothers would definitely take you to church with Gib Wharton's pedal steel in the late 80s and early 90s.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 19 Feb 2006 8:35 am

I always lose the name of that Doobies related project that produced at least one song that got a bunch of airplay--blue-eyed soul, horns, I think Skunk Baxter on steel. (Song was something like "You Don't Love Me Anymore"). Pleasant, if easy, listening.
Was there more steel content on those sessions?

Steve Dodson · Post by **Steve Dodson** » 19 Feb 2006 9:52 am

Didn't Jeff (Skunk) Baxter do some nice Steel work on the Doobie Bros (South City Mightnight Lady)? I think that was the song. Been a while since I've listened to it.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 19 Feb 2006 12:44 pm

Check out the current topic in the Sttel Players forum entitled "Hacienda Brothers video from an old gig". They're combining honky tonk with soul with nice results ala Doug Sahm.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 19 Feb 2006 1:02 pm

I thought Red Rhodes did the steel on the old
Monkees album. He played on all Mike Nesmith's
early 70's solo albums.

Tim Tweedale · Post by **Tim Tweedale** » 19 Feb 2006 1:15 pm

Well, let's not forget Little Feat - albums like "Sailin' Shoes" with Sneaky Pete on steel. I never thought of them as a country-rock band, but more of a roots-rock/r&b band.

Sneaky Pete's solo on Willin' knocks me out. Some very unconventional and sweet maneuvers!

-Tim[This message was edited by Tim Tweedale on 19 February 2006 at 01:16 PM.]

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 19 Feb 2006 3:53 pm

You almost drove me crazy trying to think of that song, Jon!
Billy Vera and the Beaters did a remarkable fusion of country/soul with... At This Moment
featuring both up front pedal steel AND tenor sax solo in the same song!
Love it.
p.s.see you at Reese's seminar

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 19 Feb 2006 6:01 pm

Jay, yeah I'm kinda not talkin' about steel and rock or country-rock, but moreso country-funk, R&B and Blues.
I can't recall much about Headquarters, I know took some lessons from Red.

Juicy Lucy are basically the UK's answer to Little Feet, I always thought they were okay, but after a serious revision they are one fantastic roots rock band.

Ben Keith plays on Bobby Charles 1972 solo album, cant recall if it's steel or banjo, will have to pull that one out and have a listen.
Pete on the first Little Feel record, that's the one I don't have, I've had that sucker on back order for months, can't wait to hear it.

From Elvis In Memphis, Mr. Presley's 1969 album features John Hughey alongside the American Studios house band plus horns, a whole series of backing vocalists and strings. Great record.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 19 Feb 2006 7:25 pm

Chuck Berry's "Deep Feeling", from his first LP "After School Session" (1957)

Dave Brophy · Post by **Dave Brophy** » 20 Feb 2006 8:46 am

As far as blending r&b with country,like Delbert and Glen did (that's a killer LP,by the way),the Amazing Rhythm Aces were my favorites.Lead guitarist Barry "Byrd" Burton also played pedal steel and dobro,and all of their albums were excellent.
Lead singer Russell Smith tried a different twist on the concept in the 90's with "Run C&W",who played bluegrass versions of 60's soul hits.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 20 Feb 2006 9:39 am

Mike P.,
I think I remember reading that Michael Nesmith did play psg, also that he owned more than one of the Fender 1000 guitars and did some playing on some of the Monkee's songs.

Bill

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 20 Feb 2006 8:17 pm

"...Before the final demise of The Monkees in mid-1970, Nesmith had completed his contractual obligations and left to form his own hot little combo, which he called The First National Band. On bass was John London, a Texan chum from pre-Monkees days, and his rhythm section partner was John Ware, who went on to become drummer in Emmylou Harris's aptly-named Hot Band, while the main instrumental soloist was Orville J. 'Red' Rhodes, an unorthodox and often unique pedal steel guitarist from whom Nesmith was learning to play that instrument. "

Guess he was learning steel at that point.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 21 Feb 2006 5:54 am

Today I finally got the Little Feet debut.
Nice record, very much influenced by the Rolling Stones, the New Orleans groove of later records is hinted at, but far from developed.
Sneaky Pete is on it, and it's just damn fine.