The Steel Guitar Forum

Ben

I'm very frustrated at the policy of Ray Charles' own company regarding his older albums. As many know, he owned all his own masters, but I fail to see what benefit he ever derived from that. None of his Tangerine 'pop' albums are now available, and only a few of the 'Volcanic..' tracks are on CD (as previously mentioned).

I'd hoped that, with his passing, we'd see a major programme of reissues but that hasn't happened yet. I hate for ANY track to be omitted from a CD reissue - it defeats the purpose.

I'm fortunate that a good friend of mine (Larry Lucas of Seguin, TX) made me a CD copy from the LP, or I wouldn't have it, either!

You HAVE to hear Buddy's solo on 'I Feel So Bad'!!!!!

RR

Brian

I'm pretty sure that Buddy is on all the tracks on the album. It's worth going to the 'Ask Buddy' pages on his web-site - he describes the whole experience, beginning with his initial shock when he realises that the session is actually WITH the Great Man; the call had come from Glen Campbell, and he hadn't specified that it was for Ray Charles.

As I've said before - two of my very favourite musicians on one record!

RR

I agree with
"I would pay just to watch him tune up"

You guys are peeing against the wind..easier to split an atom...but a perfectly acceptable way to pay homage to "The Master"

Thanks for the music Buddy

Thanks everyone for the comments on the hard to find albums. I really hate to buy any "best of" albums because i like to take in the whole album, the artwork, the context of the songs against each other, the whole enchilada, and someone elses idea of what constitutes the "best of" someone's work is never the same as mine anyway. I guess some is better than none tho and I'll take what i can get. I need to get a burner for my vinyl, then maybe i could trade for some of this stuff....Cheers.

.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Brint Hannay on 30 August 2006 at 07:56 PM.]</p></FONT>

I don't have a vote for a particular favorite since I like nearly everything Buddy has recorded,butI do have a joke...
A musician dies and goes to heaven. He meets Saint Peter at the gates who shows him around. They see Beethoven and Chopin playing the piano, and hundreds of great musicians all playing music. The musician then notices a huge guy with a white beard playing a pedal steel guitar so he asks Saint Peter "Who's the guy on the steel?".
Saint Peter replies "Oh, that's God. He thinks he's Buddy Emmons."

Hey Dave Magram and Fellow Forum Folks:

Well, Dave, you've done it again, stirring up a hornet's nest... (: I may just have to start a Jimmy Day appreciation thread now...

Buddy Emmons is just a great and amazing (and inspiring) musician, period. And has always been a favorite of mine.

Has anyone mentioned the absolutely beautiful and creative work he does on the John Prine album - In Spite of Ourselves? His backup work and solo on "Milwaukee Here I Come" is just breathtaking. I still feel like a 10 year old whenever I hear him play on this track - saying to myself, "What will he do next?"

And has anyone said anything about his incomparable use of harmonics? He is the master, bar none... I've often mentioned to Dave that, sometimes, when I hear Buddy playing up high on the neck, I can't tell if he's playing with the bar or playing harmonics. And then I simply just have to enjoy the music, not the technique...

Roll on, Buddy!

ZBest,
Larry
(if only Buddy had played a ZB...)

I,too,am a BIG fan of "E". I remember hearing him,back in the mid 50's,when he was with L.J.D & the "Country Boys". All I could say was "WOW". I didn't know you could get stuff like that on a steel guitar. Anything the "E" plays is "the best of". Knowing "E",he won't settle for anything less! One of my proudest days was,when I had the pleasure of introducing him,& Hal Rugg,on the video that they did for the NTSGA. I,too,am proud to call him "friend".

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.</pre></font>

As a tribute to the great man, this thread cannot be faulted; and I concur with everything that has been said prior to this.

However, I don't think anyone has yet mentioned Buddy's playing on Nancy Sinatra's "By The Way, I Still Love You", on her "Country, My Way" album from 1967. His backing is exquisite, and the perfect form and dynamics of his solo (which chokes me up whenever I hear it!) are surely only achievable by this man: the absolute epitome of a master musician and pedal steel guitarist.

If you haven't yet had the pleasure of listening to this, you have a treat in store ... but first, be sure you're laying down in a darkened room, before you turn it on!

I envy all of you who will be at Scotty's to see and hear Buddy play. I wish I could be there.

Gerry

As many folks have already stated in this thread, it is not possible to narrow one's favorites down to even a few dozen choices. I have always enjoyed Steve Youngs recordings that featured Buddy including "Renegade Picker"...I did wear out my copy of "A Trip In The Country" as well as Ray Price's "Cherokee Cowboys Reunited" lp...lately I have been listening to Curtis Potter's "Them Old Honky Tonks" & Chicago Dancin Girls", both of which contain some fine Emmons magic. Best regards. ..jeff

I'm exhausted reading all the posts!!! Thank God for Tape /CD's / Video / Records. Eyesight and ears for all the great times we all had a chance for the BE experience.

J

Further to Roger R's reference to Buddy and Ray Charles, another album released by RC in the UK was called Do I Ever Cross Your Mind. Buddy is featured throughout. For me, playing on a Ray Charles recording must be the biggest accolade for any musician.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ken Byng on 01 September 2006 at 04:13 PM.]</p></FONT>

"Rainbows All Over Your Blues" with John Sebastian

Well I think the best of Big E was spending ten min. talking with him and getting my picture taken with him I have never heard him do a bad song

When I first started playing and was going by the name of C.T. Allen, I learned Cajun Steel Guitar. It is still one of my favorite Emmons tune.

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I'm "STEEL" Praising The Lord!<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Albert Svenddal on 29 August 2006 at 07:05 PM.]</p></FONT>

Brian ('...why do they call it the complete C&W recordings?)

The 'Volcanic...' LP is most assuredly not all country music. I'm willing to bet that Ray asked Glen to book a steel player for some of the tracks, and, once he heard what Buddy could do, he got him to put steel everywhere!

As I said earlier, check out the R&B tune, 'I Feel So Bad' (Elvis did a good version of this song in 1960, BTW) - Buddy's C6th solo is a masterpiece!

Nice to hear from you, Gerry! Gerry put me wise to Mr Emmons before I got started on PSG - if HE tells me something's good, I'll always listen!

RR

Ken - I agree! Check out Buddy's remarks about his work with RC ('Ask Buddy' on Ernie's site); it would seem that he was very proud of having got to work with the Genius.

RR<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 29 August 2006 at 10:50 PM.]</p></FONT>

I'll just post a little edited version of "Nothing can Stop"
I included the fiddle intro and solo 'cause it shows the contrasting feel and complimentary interplay. click to play <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by basilh on 30 August 2006 at 01:46 AM.]</p></FONT>

A really obscure Buddy gemstone is in the song "Little Pete" - very country and deceptively simple [basic A/B/C pedal moves].

The song is on the classic Dillard's 'breakthrough' album, "WHEATSTRAW SUITE", where they added drums, steel, and maybe a couple of other electric instruments, to their bluegrass sound.

This album came out right around the time when "country-rock" was starting up. I think "Gilded Palace Of Sin" [FBB] was out around this time, too.

Anyway, Buddy rips it up pretty well on this cut. His tone here is almost un-Buddieish - very twangy and trebley. But, dang, if it just doesn't fit the song. The guy's unbelievable.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 01 September 2006 at 04:32 PM.]</p></FONT>

One of my favorite country C.D."s to come out in recent years is Ray Price's "Time" (released in 2002). Ray's voice is just super, and the material is great. Buddy's playing is just so pure on the whole project....my favorite cut is "Take Back Your Old Love Letters". In my opinion, it's what good country music is all about!

Deep Purple

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D10 Mullen, hilton pedal

Nashville 1000

Thanks, Roger! I hope you're hanging in there. It must be hard, slaving away on the golf course in the sun, with all that awful scenery; and then, to have to go in to the theatre to play your steel ... ! (Some people have all the luck )

Again, re: Buddy's playing: no matter how simple it may sound, it is not so easy whan you try to play it like he does. More evidence of this comes from Buddy's playing on Willie Nelson's unbelievably excellent Tribute to Cindy Walker album, from March 2006. Everyone on the album is great; the songs are world-class; and still, Buddy shines throughout.

I just wish I was a true fan ...

Gerry

I always knew that I was put on this earth for a purpose - now I know what it is!

All Buddy is good. This is like asking which M&M taste the best. I like all the above mentioned, and would add from John Hartford's albums "Tonight we're going to boogie", and "Gentle on my mind". Great steel.
Lefty<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Lefty on 01 September 2006 at 11:59 AM.]</p></FONT>

After Gerry's recommendation above it looks like Roger is going to have to invest in a Willie Nelson album. Can't be bad.