Who should I listen to for some great pedal steel playing?

[Mike Bowles]

check out mike sieglers girl in the glass just dont get any better and most of these guys here on the forum great players here too

[Mike Perlowin]

As promised, here is a list of some “Left Field” players and CDs. But I’m going to begin this with a CD that’s out of right field. Maurice Anderson’s “Universal Direction.”

I should hate this recording. It is one of the most highly produced steel guitar albums ever made, with a symphony orchestra and background singers. Exactly the kind of think I normally hate.

Second, it is a religious album, and more often than not the background singers are singing about Jesus. This obviously has deep meaning for Christians, but since I’m Jewish, this aspect of the album is lost on me.

Nevertheless, This is one of my all time favorite steel guitar recordings., It is so good, it transcends my prejudice against that kind of (in my opinion) over-production, and indifference to the recording’s spiritual message. It’s that good.

Reece has always been one of the world’s greatest players, but this album is more than just another recording; it is his personal testament to his faith. I think it is his finest recorded work, and one of the most exquisitely beautiful recordings of any instrument I’ve ever heard.

OK back to left field, players. I already mentioned Susan Alcorn. http://www.myspace.com/susanalcorn

I don’t know if there is life on other planets, but if there is, and they play music, that’s what Susan’s music would sound like. There is no other way to describe her work. You have to hear it. Fortunately she has a few You Tube videos you can check out. You will either love her or hate her work, but either way, you’ll have to agree that she’s so far out in left field she’s out of the ball park.

Chas Smith is another steel guitar extraterrestrial. Again, there is no way to describe his music, and again when hear it you’ll either love it or hate it.

B.J. Cole, http://www.bjcole.co.uk/ has made 2 CDs that are somewhat closer to planet Earth, and then switched gears and made two more of techno-rock. The one I’m recommending is “The Heart Of The Moment.” This is a CD of his original compositions for steel (including some where his steel is hooked up to a MIDI system.) Beautiful stuff, and far more accessible than Susan’s or Chas’.

(Note when you go to his web site, you'll hear his lovely recording of a piece by Maurice Ravel. This is from his earlier "Transparent Music" CD, which is also very good, but in my opinion, Heart of the Moment is better.)

Joe Savage’s “Peripheral Sideman” CD is a desert island recording. http://savagejoe.com/

Joe, who is the staff steel guitarist for Prairie Home Companion, is not just a virtuoso steel player, but is equally at home on dobro, banjo, harmonica, and countless other instruments. However, his REAL talent (as evidenced by his recordings) is arranging and producing. Being able to play is one thing. Being able to visualize arrangements like these and pull them off the way Joe does is something else. Joe’s arrangements are absolutely brilliant. Plus the range of material on this CD is simply astonishing. The styles of music range from Dixieland, to rock and roll, to an Irish ballad, to Hawaiian, to R&B to a couple of Beatle tunes, and everything in between. It even includes a pedal steel guitar version of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.”

Joe has a second CD of country music that has the same high level of musicianship, but for the most part, the more traditional material is less exciting to me. The one exception to this however is a beautiful, drumless version of Red River Valley.

Another player worth checking out is Joe Goldmark. http://www.joegoldmark.com/recordings.html
Joe plays rock and roll steel, and nobody does it better. He has several CDs out, all of them are excellent. My personal favorites are “All Over The Road,” and “All Hat No Cattle.’

Joe is also featured on 3 jazz rock fusion CDs by a guitarist named Jim Compilongo. Here we see a different, but equal side of Joe’s virtuosity.

Al Vescovo, http://steelandguitar.com/ has been one pf California’s closely guarded secrets for decades. A Hollywood session musician who has played guitar and steel on countless records and TV and film soundtracks, Al has recently started recording and releasing his own stuff. His most recent, called “Steeling in Dixie” is a program of Dixieland, with Al playing all the interacting horn parts on multiple steels. Great stuff, and a lot of fun to listen to.

Al has also made CDs of Latin music, big band music, and straight ahead jazz. They are all good, but the Dixieland one is special (in my opinion)

b0b sells a CD by a guitarist named Jack West that features David Phillips on steel. http://steelguitarmusic.com/music/davidphillips.html

This is another desert island CD. The band consists of West on an 8 string guitar, David on a 14 string steel, vibes and drums. No Bass. The guitar or steel plays the bass parts when the other one is soloing. I’d describe this as acoustic fusion, but that’s not very accurate. Suffice to say, this is another great CD.

Ned Selfe, http://www.nedselfe.com/ has a CD of original compositions for steel and dobro called “Errands In Paradise.” Very worthwhile.

Robert Powell, http://www.watercoursemedia.com/musicia ... powell.htm is primarily a guitarist, who includes the pedal steel guitar as one of his instruments. His CD, entitled “Desert Beach” is not strictly speaking a steel guitar album, but here is a great deal of steel work on it. Like the aforementioned Ned Selfe CD, this is a collection of Powell’s original compositions. Powell is a fine guitarist and an excellent steel player, and this is a very enjoyable CD.

King Sunny Adé and his African beats (featuring Demola Adepoju on steel): Juju Music. http://www.discogs.com/King-Sunny-Ade-H ... ter/112985

This is the CD that shows the integration of the pedal steel guitar into the native music of the Nigeria. It should be noted that King Sunny Adé made 20 LPs in his native country before he added a steel to his band, and many of these have now been released on CD over here. This is the one to get to hear Demola Adepuju’s innovative steel playing and how it fits in with the Nigerian music.

Lastly, me. I’ve recorded 3 CDs. The first is entitled “Firebird Suite” and features music by Stravinsky, Debussy, Bartok and other early 20th century composers. The second is my steel guitar interpretation to the soundtrack of “West Side Story,” and the third, entitled “Spanish Steel” is a program of music from Spain. All 3 are available from the forum catalog. You can hear selections from all 3 at my web site. www.mikeperlowin.com

I hope you check out all the CDs I’ve mentioned. They are all outside the more conventional E9 country or Sacred Steel sorts of thing we are used to hearing, but all are worthwhile, and would be good additions to your collection.

[Don Brown, Sr.]

A plug for my Lil Brother, "Nic du Toit" who is a great player, and multi talented musician in other areas as well as Session work, at his recording studio.

Check out his steel tunes, as well as his backup work too.

Click Here

Don

[Dan Tyack]

It helps to know about specific albums also.

Emmons: Buddy Emmons work is incredibly diverse and vast but a few special moments for me are....
Roger Miller "A Trip in the Country", out of print, try ebay..

There is a compilation of Roger Miller songs called 'King of the Road' with most of the Trip in the Country cuts. It's available on the internet (Amazon, itunes, etc).

[Dean Holman]

A few of my favorites would be Randy Beavers, Johnny Cox and Terry Bethel just to name these guys that haven't been mentioned yet.

[Rick Winfield]

FOUR of my peronal favorites are:
Zane Beck
Curly Chalker
Tom Bradshaw
Zane King
There is much to be learned from Lloyd Green, John Hughey & Buddy Emmons
I think it's best to listen to everythng. All kinds of music and instruments.
Rick

[Ben Jones]

It helps to know about specific albums also.

Emmons: Buddy Emmons work is incredibly diverse and vast but a few special moments for me are....
Roger Miller "A Trip in the Country", out of print, try ebay..

There is a compilation of Roger Miller songs called 'King of the Road' with most of the Trip in the Country cuts. It's available on the internet (Amazon, itunes, etc).

It drives me crazy not having the whole record in its entirety. I usualy like the deep cuts the best, the ones that dont make the best ofs and box sets. I also greatly prefer vinyl. So for $8 on ebay, score. Good to know its out there tho.

I guess some of "volcanic action" is on that Ray Charles box set, but I cant help imagining what is NOT on it and it bums me out enought to try and get the original album.

[Jamie Lennon]

And Jamie Lennon. His work on Georgette Jones' "Slightly Used Woman" album is about as good as it gets these days.

Dave thanks so much for the complement !!

[Jamie Lennon]

great steel here

http://www.paul-franklin.com/music.html