The Steel Guitar Forum

I really like that old 1950s and 1960s pedal steel work, the style that was popular before everything became gobs of pedals and knee levers, and tricky moves that mostly impress only other pedal steelers. That stuff was simple and basic, but terribly expressive. Somewhere along, we lost sight of those qualities.

Like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMWYnZDq3Bo

Barry, I was referring more to early pedal steel stylings, the stuff that made players like Ben Keith, Jimmy Day, and Ralph Mooney famous. Those stylings were probably brought about by the simpler guitars and setups, and the fact that the instrument was comparatively new back in those days.

Marc Jenkins wrote:Yes thanks for the playlist! I think both Alabama and Words should be included - minimalist parts but two of my faves!

Really glad to know people are enjoying the list! I will get those additional Harvest tunes added shortly, thanks for the tip.

Stephen Pride wrote:

Marc Jenkins wrote:Yes thanks for the playlist! I think both Alabama and Words should be included - minimalist parts but two of my faves!

Really glad to know people are enjoying the list! I will get those additional Harvest tunes added shortly, thanks for the tip.

Thanks!!

I caught Neil Young on the International Harvesters tour back in July 1985. He toured with Waylon and his band which included Ralph Mooney. Now that was a show. Waylon was on first and Neil and Wayon and Waylon's band came out during the International Harvesters' set and did "Are you Ready for the Country" together along with some other songs with Ralph playing steel. My memory is that Ben was playing dobro during some of that set. Rufus Thibideaux played fiddle with the Harvesters, really great. I have a lousy cassette tape recording of that concert lying around somewhere. Those were the days for sure.

Old Ways by Neil Young was recorded during that time. There's more Ralph Mooneys than Ben Keiths playing on that record.

Stephen, I've been enjoying your playlist too and having fun going down the Ben Keith rabbit hole.

The Tuscaloosa live record that came out last year is interesting for the way Ben plays the famous 2 note slide on the chorus of Old Man - you can hear him doubling with a unison. The Harvest version, released a year before this gig, could have been played any number of ways but I think this gives away his position. Try it out!

Two more Neil Young favourites for me are :

The Old Country Waltz
Neil Young
https://open.spotify.com/track/6BQrp8WbGA2H9sXxtJHFi2

See the Sky About to Rain
Neil Young
https://open.spotify.com/track/4tYPrKSZJQTocvTiPkA87i

Ben Keith with Faron Young. This is difficult to corroborate but I'm pretty sure about these tracks, recorded between '58 and '61:

Country Girl
https://open.spotify.com/track/7w3YZLWL8l11US6FMMLOGq

Forget The Past
https://open.spotify.com/track/44wLXFjXEseC0SI1JvSBvh

A World So Full of Love
https://open.spotify.com/track/4pY65PI8PkbRumQpEoxElV

There’s Not Any Like You
https://open.spotify.com/track/3AtQyclgzE8FnNSUUQrWOt

Big Shoes
https://open.spotify.com/track/0VvMi2X9ca4mtolBsCS0rR

More 1970's Ben Keith on pedal steel:

Brave Awakening
Terry Reid
https://open.spotify.com/track/6TcmSJwVTEFIUb033y0oxv

Mind Your Own Business
Steve Goodman
https://open.spotify.com/track/0AI7mLIYy4cpyJanOfLsmS

Eight Ball Blues
Steve Goodman
https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ck4ossie7A9TiuqrtWKPD

Kiss Money
Bob Neuwirth
https://open.spotify.com/track/2U6gVPmJInC9dsj905tzFs

Cowboys & Indians
Bob Neuwirth
https://open.spotify.com/track/1C1CIuMZkZpdEisb9kbYKO

Sweet Memories
Blue
https://open.spotify.com/track/3Lkp8CgSDyHPGtQs7NHyXO

Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to run his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zq6plWndSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdOH1thx1Q

Pete was apparently the first call for Harvest (presumably off the back of this work for Dylan) but he recommended Ben Keith for the gig instead.

On further research the "This Is Faron Young" LP material I had listed above is probably too early for Ben so I've removed (thanks Steve).

Jonathan, thank you for all those links, this is outstanding! I will get those added soon, and am really looking forward to listening.

Steve Hinson wrote:Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to run his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zq6plWndSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdOH1thx1Q

Thanks for this, I will check out the Ringo. That's Ben Keith on those Kendalls tracks?

scott murray wrote:just stumbled on this KILLER footage of Ben Keith with Faron Young... wow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7C39atFn1I

signature neck tie already in place!

Stephen Pride wrote:

Steve Hinson wrote:Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to run his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zq6plWndSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdOH1thx1Q

Thanks for this, I will check out the Ringo. That's Ben Keith on those Kendalls tracks?

It sounds like Ben to me.

Incidentally,there are two"new"record releases featuring Big Ben...

"Tuscaloosa",a live album by Neil Young and the Stray Gators...

"The Lost Tapes",some live excerpts of shows by Great Speckled Bird(Ian and Sylvia with Ben,Buddy Cage,and Pee Wee Charles featured on various cuts)...

Both worth a listen if you love Big Ben's playing...and I do!

SH

Thanks for the heads up on the Lost Tapes Steve. Here's a very recent write up on The Lost Tapes. There is a great video contained within showing Buddy Cage at 2:35:

https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/20 ... lost-tapes

I just bought a record I used to have and somehow lost in the past. After reading the book by Jim Rooney,I wanted to listen it again.
The pedal steel player on it turns out to be Ben Keith.
It's a kind of an obscure country rock album, but it's nice to listen to. The album is also on youtube.
https://youtu.be/KvtV6LEgb2E

I must be the last to find out, but Darrell McCall was a heck of a bass player back then...


Bill

There was a thread on this subject quite a while ago, but with the re-issue of Gene Clark's "No Other" album, the steel guitarist on the track "The True One" has been credited to Ben Keith.

Thank you Gary, I wandered who it was. Ben is not mentioned in the credits of the original vinyl.

Joachim Kettner wrote:Thank you Gary, I wandered who it was. Ben is not mentioned in the credits of the original vinyl.

I also just found out on the cd, i always assumed it was Al Perkins, as he was in the same scene as Gene Clark,( besides Sneaky Pete and Gene Parsons)

Donny Hinson wrote:

Frank Freniere wrote: Ben played on a lot of Patsy Cline releases. "Loving in Vain" is a good one.

Yes, and "Shoes" too. Here's links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3C6i54ua1c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP2P8fCOnMI

I really like that old 1950s and 1960s pedal steel work, the style that was popular before everything became gobs of pedals and knee levers, and tricky moves that mostly impress only other pedal steelers. That stuff was simple and basic, but terribly expressive. Somewhere along, we lost sight of those qualities.

Nobody plays that stuff on records...that's why the old"moves"have held up...

That bizarre,dissonant,"seventh"sounding stuff will insure that you will never be called again...

SH

Sorry to sidetrack a bit...To clarify the Ringo project...Pete Drake played steel on two of the vocal songs "Waiting For you" is one title I remember.. I forget the title of the other one...He also played the C6th on the Jam song which is like a bonus track for some versions of "Beaucoups" Ben Keith plays on the rest of the record.

Fish, I find the history gets real interesting when the 60's roll around. Elvis and his prominence pretty much eliminated that creative trios dominance on the radio. As with all things, their playing got labeled as that 50's sound along with Ralph Mooney's contributions on the west coast. Producers pretty much stopped calling steels and sent them to the background...Then Pete revived the instrument back into the forefront with a totally different style and approach..Then Lloyd kicked the stylistic door open as did Rugg and Weldon. Together they changed the commercial direction of the instrument. Lloyd talks about his entrance and the early periods in his interviews...

Back to BK, Rose Drake was running the publishing and Tommy ran Stop records when Ben was called for the NY gig. Pete said he employed Ben as he did so many others trying to help them get firmly on their feet. The 60's left many struggling. Buddy moved to LA. I believe Jimmy Day moved back to Texas by the end of the 60's and Ben Keith to LA and onto his best and most successful accomplishments.

What a great thread! Thanks to everyone for the links.

Scott Spanbauer wrote:What a great thread! Thanks to everyone for the links.

Totally off topic. But, Round Hill Dr.? Hayward, CA?

Yes! PM me when you get a chance.