The Steel Guitar Forum

I seen Pete in an early movie at a walk in theatre in the late 50s or early 60s. He used the talk box and I was hooked. To this day I'm still jazzed about that sound. I feel that led me to pay attention to the pedal steel and later learn to play. While I don't use the talk box, it still has a place in my heart. My thanks to Pete for the influence.

This is Pete:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu3MdlYQcM0

When I was 11 (in 1971) my mom took me to Tower Records in Berkeley and I bought this record (David's Album) and All Things must Pass. Coincidence?

He did some great work with Gary Stewart:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0uUovq-mjA

Josh Moss wrote:He played on David Allan Coe's "The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy" record, which is a great one.

Lloyd Green played on that album as well. I love the way the steel is placed in the mix on that album.

Pete did the steel work on the next two Coe albums as well.

I always thought that was Hughey on "She's Actin' Single". I guess I heard wrong. What a great bunch of records Gary Stewart made.

Jim, Stewart's "Out of Hand" 1975 release shows Pete Drake, John Hughey and Weldon Myrick credited for steel guitar.

So, I guess it's possible that was John on that cut, but I always thought it was classic Pete Drake.

Pete Drake was always one of my favorites. When it came to Country he played with feeling. I never got to meet him. Always wished that could have met the guy! RIP Pete Drake!

In the song "I pity anyone who isn't me tonight" there are some very pretty and quick licks by Mr Drake.... Casey Kelley who wrote the song told me when they cut it everyone knew it was gonna be a hit. He said he played his intro and sang the song ALONE and then they rewrote his guitar intro and away they went with Kenny and Dotty singing

To me the very definition of “hard country “ pedal steel. Pete’s work on Gary Stewart and others like billy jo spears. To me Pete had a niche for playing exactly what was needed.
Whenever xyz band would call me, I often have utilized that very thing most all of us learn from listening to Pete’s work. Tasty simple and effective. Mho

John Larson wrote:

Josh Moss wrote:He played on David Allan Coe's "The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy" record, which is a great one.

Lloyd Green played on that album as well. I love the way the steel is placed in the mix on that album.

Pete did the steel work on the next two Coe albums as well.

Agreed, John. The steel on that record sits perfectly in the mix.

Doug Palmer wrote:If you listen to much 60's or 70's Nashville stuff, you'll hear a lot of Pete Drake or Lloyd Green. Those two pretty much dominated that musical era. Pete did so many recordings, it would be impossible to list them.

Pete and Lloyd, the two premiere steel players in the 60s and up to the mid 70s, dominated the recording sessions.

This track has several great
'exression swells' from Pete.
~> Click
~Rw

According to www.weldonmyrick.com/credits it was Weldon on Out of Hand by GS.

A few years ago in a similar discussion, She's Acting Single was referenced at which time the Weldon site listed the song on his credits. It has since been removed, so I don't know how accurate that info is.

I don't think there's any doubt about Pete's ability to play the song rather than just play the steel. I guess he influenced all of us whether we realize or not.

This is Pete Drake playing pedal steel on this song.
From George Harrison’s album All Things Must Pass.

Side note:

It was during the All Things Must Pass sessions where Pete Drake introduced Peter Frampton to the talkbox.

Another little side note:

A while back, there was a topic on this forum where one of the members was curious about what type of pedal steel Rick Derringer used on the song Round and Round, from the Edgar Winter album They Only Come Out At Night.
I found Mr. Derringer’s email and I asked him about the pedal steel on that song.
I was delighted that he answered my email.
He told me that he played a Sho-Bud that he bought from Pete Drake.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fFDyXBU2fq8

Pete Drake is all over most cuts on this classic album. Chip wrote all the songs on this and is still recording.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ast+chance

Tracy Sings Country is my all time favorite Pete Drake.

Listening to radio in the truck,I always love it when Pete does his thing.