Folk music and pedal steel

Doc Hall · Post by **Doc Hall** » 6 Jun 2007 11:24 am

I was thinking that while I love traditional C&W, the use of pedal steel in folk music may be one of my favorite applications for the pedal steel. I think of it's use in songs by the following artists: Judy Collins (the big E), Joni Mitchell and early Jackson Browne(Sneaky), Linda Rhonstadt, and so many others. By my list,you can tell I've listened mostly to commercial folksy types. How about listing some of your favorites? I'd be interested in seeking out some other artists.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 6 Jun 2007 11:31 am

There's some great steel guitar on some of Kate Wolf's albums. "Early Morning Melody" is a favorite of mine.

Jim Ringer used pedal steel quite a bit. Winnie Winston, I believe? Great stuff!

Gordon Lightfoot?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Jun 2007 11:36 am

I just saw a theater showing in killer surround sound the other night of Bruce Springsteen's new "Bruce Springsteen and the Sessions Band: Live From Dublin."

Marty Rifkin on pedal steel and dobro, a number of tunes are traditional American folk songs.

Great stuff!

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 6 Jun 2007 12:08 pm

Henry,
Yes, Gord Lightfoot used pedal steel in some of his tunes. The two I can think of are Ollie Strong and Peewee Charles
Bent

Dave Petranek · Post by **Dave Petranek** » 6 Jun 2007 12:12 pm

I am exploring the same theme.
Hem does some nice folky stuff. Sera Cahoone, Mark Diedrich, Blue Rodeo, I've been googling every steel music style available. Slow process.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 6 Jun 2007 1:30 pm

Well, let's not forget Bob Dylan, who has used pedal steel since the 60s. There are lots more.

Probably the majority of work I do playing out is coming from a folk music, and not a country music, context. Just not a lot of market around this university town for country music. But I definitely "countrify" a lot of the people I work with.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 6 Jun 2007 1:37 pm

Let's not forget Neil Young, either!

I play in a folky-pop band that uses unconventional chord changes and melodies, and I play a lot of pedal steel along with accordian and wurlitzer piano; barely a hint of country...

Doc Hall · Post by **Doc Hall** » 6 Jun 2007 1:47 pm

I'm also thinking along the lines of early Michael Murphy (Herb Steiner), Jesse Winchester, Hoyt Axton.

Johnny Baldwin · Post by **Johnny Baldwin** » 6 Jun 2007 2:33 pm

Ian & Sylvia, Chris Hillman, Herb Peterson, Dillards, Earl Scruggs Revue, John Phillips (Wolfking of LA, after the M&P's)

Alan Rudd · Post by **Alan Rudd** » 6 Jun 2007 3:40 pm

James Taylor! Heck, he wrote Bartender's Blues!

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 6 Jun 2007 3:42 pm

Im heading down this road with my own music sorta riding the line between alt-country and folk i guess, but I wouldnt say the steel player (me) is any good, hehe. I hear Neko Case has a good steeler by the name of Jon Rauhouse. havent heard it yet but its in the netfilx que. what would you say distinguishes "folk" from "country" anyway?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Jun 2007 3:48 pm

The new Jon Rauhouse CD: "Steel Guitar Hear Attack."

Now that's different. For instance, he covers the theme from Mannix!

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 6 Jun 2007 4:08 pm

I also loved that John Phillips recording with Buddy E. Bob Dylan's Lay Lady Lay with Pete Drake, John Sebastin's Rainbows All Over Your Blues, Roger McGuin's the Water is Wide, all with Buddy E. I remember hearing l970s folk singer Paul Siebel with Emmons and Weldon M. Some great memories of when I was getting started. I guess I loved the folk sounds as much as country back then.
Chuck

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 6 Jun 2007 4:18 pm

Hey Mark! I was at that Springsteen showing too! Fun night. That band sure looked like they were having a good time.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 6 Jun 2007 4:55 pm

Arlo Guthrie and Family were recently touring with Gordon Titcomb, who doubled on pedal steel and mandolin. No drummer. It was great. I work with a well-respected local recording artist, Andrea House, in a trio format, doing mostly Andrea's original material, which some might call folk music. Pedal Steel works great in that context.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Jun 2007 5:35 pm

I wish I would have spotted you, Henry.

I won a pair of tix from KRSH ("The Krush - Wine Country radio").

Bill Bowker had a trivia question, and luckily I got through. "On Thunder Road, which early influence on The Boss is mentioned?" Why Roy Orbison, of course, "singin' for the lonely."

Yeah- the musicians looked like they were having a great time. I commented to my wife after the show, "I have seen musicians having maybe as much fun, but I can't say that I have ever seen musicians having more fun."

I'm a Springsteen guy from way back, but I ended up not going to the concert when it came through the Bay Area, I had some business trip to be on. But I remembered not being that bummed about it, because I was unsure how good it could be. Springsteen putting a good-sized band togther to play mostly old traditonal folk songs, like "Erie Canal."

Man, was I wrong. It was great stuff!

I really loved their take on "When The Saints Go Marching In." I may have to incorporate that version into our church band. It gave me a whole new outlook on that song.

And the Springsteen song, "Highway Patrolman." I always loved the sparseness of that song, I think it was on his album "Nebraska," but this version with this band was just amazing.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 6 Jun 2007 5:44 pm

yep. Mark.. He sure doesn't mind sharing the spotlight either. When I first noticed the pedal steel I thought - "That's about all we'll get to hear out of him!". I was wrong.
I thought he played some really cool stuff too. His Emmons sounded great. Made me wonder if I should have kept mine.

Doc Hall · Post by **Doc Hall** » 6 Jun 2007 7:32 pm

Ben - I've always considered folk music as predominantly acoustic and usually with limited percussion. I tend to like folk music played in an expanded context...bass, drums, piano, steel, maybe some limited electric guitar. But I do think there's a lot of overlapping between folk and country. Sometimes the lyrical themes are really different. I was recently listening to Paycheck's "Drunk on Arrival". Man, you've got to love it!

What's your thoughts on folk and country?

Corey Woodcock · Post by **Corey Woodcock** » 6 Jun 2007 7:37 pm

How about Brewer and Shipley with Jerry Garcia?

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 6 Jun 2007 9:33 pm

I thought that was Paul Franklin on the Brewer and Shipley stuff???

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 6 Jun 2007 10:36 pm

Someone mentioned Arlo Guthrie, Gordon Lightfoot, and Ian Tyson (Ian and Sylvia, The Great Speckled Bird, and solo). Add John Prine, Steve Goodman, David Bromberg, and Joan Baez - Joan particularly used a lot of steel in the 70s, some really nice stuff. Of course, being a New England guy, I gotta mention Tom Rush. All of the stuff I'm thinking of is limited percussion, mainly acoustic instruments with maybe a little electric guitar and steel.

A lot of folkies embraced steel to varying degrees - I think it's always added a sense of "authenticity" to city folks folk-music. It usually wasn't always front-and-center, but definitely part of the scenery.

Jonathan Shacklock · Post by **Jonathan Shacklock** » 6 Jun 2007 11:07 pm

Doc, if you haven't already, check out Judee Sill (Big E on a few songs) - she couldn't be contained by the word "folk" any more than Joni Mitchell but I am sure you will like her. Also Sandy Denny's second album "Sandy" is a wonderful blend of folk and country with Sneaky on steel.

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 7 Jun 2007 12:26 am

I'm a big fan of John Stewart's "The Phoenix Concerts"

Lots of steel! and some of the most beautiful songs I know. "California Bloodlines" and "July, You're a Woman" are stellar.

Danny O'Keefe has sneaky on several cuts... "Quits" is about as good as it gets.

Lonnie Zsigray · Post by **Lonnie Zsigray** » 7 Jun 2007 3:15 am

There's a song from the James Gang called Run,Run,Run in which Weldon Myrick plays some pretty steel.Early James Gang,1972.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 7 Jun 2007 4:53 am

Lonnie,
Wasn't that Jo Jo Gunne?
I have a copy of that around here somewhere....
Jay