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Topic: A TIme To Sing; But where's the beef???, er steel? |
David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 25 Mar 2007 8:50 pm |
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For some reason this OLD movie was running on a satilite channel here.
I had no clue it was Hank Jr. till the credits ran.
He was having a bad hair day too.
I did enjoy his voice though.
What I MOST noticed was not a steel in the whole thing.
Lots of piano, and a little guitar lick from time to time,
but compared to the great work uncle Don did with his dad,
it seems Hank jr's producer was conciously trying
to NOT have ANY steel on the songs,
to make him sound nothing like his dad.
What a waste. He plays in Nashville and no steel...
One scene cracked me up.
He's never done the song publicly.
Only he knows the lyrics.
But the girl asks the band to play the song,
and they start on the 3rd beat of the count off,
then later when he gets talked into singing,
the back up singers ALL know the words perfectly.
Stunning lack of logic on the film producer's part.
Oh and that Swifty character,
promoter, beatnick, glad hander...
Somehow he rings too true.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 25 Mar 2007 11:05 pm
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Remember the time that a honky tonk piano was a must in all country recordings? Dell Wood made her mark with her honky tonk piano.
When is the last time you have heard a honky tonk piano backing up a big name country artist.
I have a feeling the steel guitar is heading down the same road to no where. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 5:11 am
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And this movie was set in the 50's or at least early 60's
Already a movement to ignore the 50's style.
But daaaaadddy I like to whine on my own...
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 5:56 pm
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| David L. Donald wrote: |
And this movie was set in the 50's or at least early 60's
Already a movement to ignore the 50's style. |
You are right David; however, there is a myriad of reasons of why the new artists do not have a steel guitar behind them. I still don't believe that it is a money problem. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 26 Mar 2007 7:51 pm
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I think 'next generations' attempt to differentiate
themselves from the 'previous generations',
but actively shutting out the hallmark signatures
of that previous sound, while keeping the basic themes intact.
Since much of this 'previous generation' had PSG styles,
it then went both more bluegrass, and more rock.
Since the 'generation before' that had non-pedal, fiddles, and 3 part harmonies,
the 'following generation' had lush string sections,
PSG bends, and huge choral works.
Some of that was technology driven, they COULD do it,
but only as an end to a change in vision and differentiation.
But when that got too much,
the minimalist retro approach took over,
and slogged back to the 50's, but updated,
and then when it got to the disconnect
between rockabilly, country and rock,
some took the rock path and others the bluegrass path.
And a few blended them well. Many didn't.
When something clicked with the public,
the money people milked it as the greatest thing
since freezer burn, and defined a
'new style in an old genre'
And a lot who still liked the older pure style complained bitterly and endlessly.
Same as it ever was.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 27 Mar 2007 12:12 pm
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This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around...
I've changed my hairstyle, so many times now, I don't know what I look like...
(Applogies to DB for expropriating his material...) |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 1:38 pm
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Steeel gee-tar? Ain't dat whut dem ol' heel-billies used to have in all them ol' 78 RP&M re-cords?
Nawwwwwwww! Don't want nobody signifyin' me as one dem "heel-billies". 
I dews MODERN COUNTRY MUSICK. |
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Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 2:08 pm
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Well, who needs us when you can store steel guitar "samples" on a laptop? It's cheaper and you only have to pay a one-time fee to the software company that decides to market it.
It's been a nice ride, guys. Take care. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 4:16 pm
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If anyone thinks they cannot recreate a fantastic steel guitar ride cut from a CD, give blowing it through a theater surround sound sound system a try.
I have been playing around with our theater suround sound system and what I am getting is unbelievable. I even hooked my amp up to it. Not bad sound repoduction from those litte speakers.
So, what is stopping me from cutting rides and breaks from a CD then pasting it into CD backup for a canned back up. Cripes , the sound mix people could have a field day with this and the band saves on hiring a steel guitarist along with drums. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 7:40 pm
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You would need quite a few clips.
One of the hallmarks of steel is
blending between chords seamlessly.
This would entail doing
IV - I changes in most keys (x8 anyways ABCDEFG)
I - IB changes in most keys
V - I changes in most Keys
IV - V in most keys
V - IV etc
MajVII -I etc
III-IV
Sure II-V could be I-IV from the key below etc.
But this is just for one type of lick.
If you do a different lick then a whole nother set.
Yes maybe some pitch resampling for short intervals. (1/2 steps)
But all in all, the time lost vs just playing it
might not make up for it,
unless you ain't got access to a non-pitchy real player.
back on topic:
Still, seeing this film,
I was struck by the lack of steel,
and then finding out is was Hank Jr singing.
Well gee lets not sound ANYTHING like Dad's music,
that means Don Helms is out. What a waste.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 8:18 pm
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David, I understand and most certainly appreciate where you are coming from; however, it is possible to cut and chop from off the shelf music CDs now and reorganize the take offs and create backups right at home.
We live in a vastly changing world and the options that modern electronics has given us an entirely new world to tinker and cheat with. Like you, I feel that the real thing can never be replaced: Buuuuttttt..............!
By the way, Hank Williams Jr. has stated publicly that he will never want to be accused of living off his Daddy's name. I think that's why he is so carefufl about sperarating his style and sound from his dads. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 28 Mar 2007 8:37 pm
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And so he felt that steel was so a part of his dad's thing,
that he can't do it...
Well in some ways I can see where he was coming from, but.
He uses steel now doesn't he?
Well that is a shame, because there were a lot of fine players that didn't sound like Uncle Don,
and could have given a good steel sound.
Buddy Emmons comes to mind of course.
Either he can sing on his own or not,
He can and does.
The backing shouldn't have been such a bugboo for him.
But then again pappa does cast a big shadow.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many! |
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