The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Buddy Cage's style
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Buddy Cage's style
William Matthews

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 4:05 pm    
Reply with quote

What could his style be defined as? I REALLY love the foot stompin, chicken picken fast stuff, but don't know where to find any. Anyone have a clue where I should start?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 4:14 pm    
Reply with quote

I remember reading, back in the 1970's, about the "bouncing, bubbley steel guitar of Buddy Cage".
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Stu Schulman


From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 4:18 pm    
Reply with quote

Ian,and Sylvia's "Trucker's Cafe" is just great,I really don't know how to describe Buddy's style except that I love it!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Stephen Dorocke

 

From:
Tres Piedras, New Mexico
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 4:39 pm    
Reply with quote

Powerglide
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

William Matthews

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 5:01 pm    
Reply with quote

I have every NRPS album, and can't wait for my new Fessy, so I can start to learn all the licks.. Very Happy
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jim Eaton


From:
Santa Susana, Ca
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 5:27 pm    
Reply with quote

Buddy Cage was one of my early influnces back in the, bump-the-needle-back-on-the-record day's. I came to the steel via country rock and spend many hours working out his use of positions and how he connected the dot's between them. Time well spent!Smile
_________________
Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons S-10PP 3/4 - 79'
Emmons S-12PP 3/4 -78'
MSA Legend SD12 5/5 -06'
Mullen S-12 4/5 - 1986
Nashville 112 x2 W/Knob Guards - Don't leave home with out one!
Walker SS rack system - 12"BW's
Quilter Steelaire Combo
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

William Matthews

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 5:57 pm    
Reply with quote

I emailed Dick Meis about prices of coustom tabs, and expressed an interest in having the NPRS stuff tabbed, I'm anxious to see what he says..
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Duncan Hodge


From:
DeLand, FL USA
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 6:04 pm    
Reply with quote

William, The best that I can figure out is that Buddy Cage just sort of made it up as he went along. He just plays the hell out of the steel and leaves caution and tradition to the wind. It's kinda like what I try to do everytime I sit down at the backside of the beast. I just can't play anywhere near that fast...yet.
Duncan
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Frederic Mabrut


From:
Olloix, France
Post  Posted 16 Apr 2007 11:30 pm    
Reply with quote

It was listening to the bouncing steel of Buddy cage which decided me to play pedal steel guitar.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Jim Peters


From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2007 3:14 pm    
Reply with quote

Here's a cool link, some great stuff by BC. The highlight of my steel career( for what it's worth) was playing Panama Red out live for the 1st time, and acually sounding pretty good!
Check out Pure Prairie league," I'll fix your flat tire Merle", John David Call. More reckless abandon.

Cage did some cool stuff, didn't he!
JP
_________________
Carter,PV,Fender
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Duncan Hodge


From:
DeLand, FL USA
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2007 3:27 pm    
Reply with quote

Hey Jim,
Exactly where is that cool link? I'd love to hear you tackle Panama Red.
Duncan
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jim Peters


From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 17 Apr 2007 5:14 pm    
Reply with quote

Oop! Try this:
http://www.newridersofthepurplesage.com/new_riders.wmv
_________________
Carter,PV,Fender
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Jeff Lampert

 

From:
queens, new york city
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 6:19 am    
Reply with quote

I always felt that Buddy Cage, at least in his best solos, was the premier country rocking steeler, mainly because of his phrasing. He had a bag of tricks when it came to playing pedal mashing lines. Solos, fills, and comps from Panama Red and Hello Mary Lou demonstrate just how inventive he was. He has a swinging mindset, often starting a line or comp on something other than the "one" of the measure. He was also a fantastic palm-blocker. And he apparently did not come from the school of thought of "don't play when the singer is singing". His non-stop playing through the verses and choruses of some songs was extremely effective and augmented the orchestration without ever getting in the way of the singer.
_________________
www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeffsjazz.htm
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Gerald Menke

 

From:
Stormville NY, USA
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 7:11 am    
Reply with quote

Now, I know that Buddy has been playing longer than I've been alive, but I have to respectfully disagree and say his playing TOTALLY gets in the way of the singing on that version of "Truck Drivin' Man". The breaks were brilliant, but if I played like that on a gig or session, I am sure I would be asked to play less... or play a "solo", so-lo that no one could here it... Smile

Before I get flamed to a crisp, I should say that his tone was cool,timing, phrasing, intonation, everything he played sounded great, I just think he played on top of the vocal too much.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Chuck McGill


From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 7:16 am    
Reply with quote

Buddy is like listening to Stevie Ray. Jump on and
hang on. Can I get a Yee Hi.


Last edited by Chuck McGill on 18 Apr 2007 7:18 am; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

jim milewski

 

From:
stowe, vermont
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 7:17 am    
Reply with quote

His live setup certainly added to his sound, the year was around 75 0r 76 and it was a push pull D 10 into a two Showman heads with the power tubes removed (pre amp only) into 2 large Crown power amps driving four open back cabinets (two were deep, and two were shallow) and they all had either D 130 or D 140 speakers or a combination. The grill clothes were tie dyed so I think it was Alembic stuff. No mics setup in front of his amps, it was wild and very powerful, never forget it, even went out and bought an Emmons
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 7:34 am    
Reply with quote

1978: Watched NRPS from 15 feet away all nite long... unforgettable!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 9:25 am    
Reply with quote

Check out the Tom Brumley videos playing behind Buck Owens lead singing on You Tube. There is nothing wrong with playing steel behind a singer as long as its done tastefully. Tom Brumley did it all the time with Buck Owens, and also with Rick Nelson. Cage did it all the time also. Its a different mind set. As for me, Cage was a musical gymnast who took no prisoners. If you notice he never played over Nelson's solos. I would have a problem if he had done that. His steel lines behind the lead singer were typical of the California west coast sound. He was the fuel for the fire. That west coast bouncy busy style is exactly how I try to play. Screw chords.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Mark van Allen


From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 9:34 am    
Reply with quote

I'm very glad to number Cage among my pals today. When I bought my first steel (Sho-Bud Maverick), I joined a band the same day. They had a gig that weekend, and at the first rehearsal, the first song they pulled out was "Lyin' Eyes". No problem, I could just skate along with the chord changes and keep up. But then the second tune was "Panama Red". Bastard.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Tom Moorman

 

From:
Decatur, GA USA
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 11:02 am     Buddy Cage's style
Reply with quote

I can listen to Buddy Cage's playing on She's no Angel, Long Black Veil and Panama Red all day long.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mitch Adelman


From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 11:17 am     Buddy cage
Reply with quote

Buddy's playing turned more "heads" onto pedal steel than anyone else. A whole generation of "dead heads" and there are still hundreds of thousands of em out there, first heard the steel through NRPS and Buddy's bubbly playing. Even Jerry Garcia got the steel bug. I know the first time I saw NRPS back in 73 in Central Park I didnt even know what instrument the guy with the long hair sitting down was playing but what I heard changed my musical direction forever and am playing steel because of Buddy Cage. What a rock pioneer!Thank you Buddy.You broke down so many walls for pedal steel!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Fred Shannon


From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 18 Apr 2007 11:33 am    
Reply with quote

Yee Hi! Somebody asked for it. I, too, think Buddy is the "SRV" of the steel guitar.
How would you like to have heard he and Sneaky on the same stage?

Phred
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2007 6:52 am    
Reply with quote

Quote:
How would you like to have heard he and Sneaky on the same stage?


I saw the Burritos and NRPS on the same bill at UCLA in the mid-70's, and reportedly some time on that tour everybody was on stage for a few closing songs. THAT is a boot I would like to find!

It's amazing how both Buddy and Sneaky could play steadily through songs and not bury the singer. Clarence White could do the same thing on guitar, but players like that are very, very rare indeed.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jeff Lampert

 

From:
queens, new york city
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2007 8:42 am    
Reply with quote

Quote:
I have to respectfully disagree and say his playing TOTALLY gets in the way of the singing


Haven't heard Truck Drivin' Man, so I can't comment. Do you disagree in principle, or do you feel that he overplays in the studio versions of Panama Red and Hello Mary Lou, the two songs I refer to, which IMO are classics of the era and brilliantly orchestrated by Cage.

If so, do you feel that Rusty Young overplays when he plays over the vocals on Poco songs?

Do you feel Lloyd Green overplays when he plays over Charlie Pride in the Live At Panther Hall version of "The Last Thing On My Mind" during the chorus?

Do you feel that the steel is overplayed in live version of I'm The Only Hell My Momma Every Raised" by Johnny Paycheck.

Or that Buddy Charleton overplays as he often would play while Ernest Tubb sang. Just curious.

And Gerald, I have a different experience from you. I REGULARLY played with bands, for many years, who don't see the steel as simply a "fill" instrument, but rather something that they want orchestrating the song. And in the studio, I have found the same thing. Not everyone feels that way, but a large percentage do. A lot of times, the singer isn't aware of what can be done, and if there is some really cool stuff happening behind the vocal, they dig it. Of course, YMMV.
_________________
www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeffsjazz.htm
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2007 9:00 am    
Reply with quote

Love him. Great player.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP