The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm fairly new to the steel guitar world and I was wondering if you guys could give me some recommendations on some steel specific albums. I found a few on itunes, some of which include The Little Darling Sound of Lloyd Green, Big Steel Guitar (LLoyd Green), By Request (Tommy White), Steel Guitar (Buddy Emmons. Let me know what you think I should get! Thanks!

Khoa

Khoa, 10 years from now you will see a newbie post this same question and start laughing so hard you cry as you look over at the shelves on your wall filled with a plethora of albums and CD's of Steel Guitar Music...


But seriously.... What artist('s) drew you to the steel guitar? Those are probably the first albums you should purchase. There are many courses and websites that give you tab, songs and clips of all the styles of many of the best artists. That should give you the best idea of the style you would like to listen to for now. Just put in there name and Search above under TAB Section at first. Also look at the top of this website under CD's and Tapes.

Kjoa, I've always liked the Buddy Emmons "black album"-- "Emmons Steel Guitar".

Happy listening!

Khoa:

Just go to the top of this page and click on "CDs & Tapes". Everything there is good. I really like the style and tone of David Wright, tho. Everything he does is good.

Jimmy Days material is all good stuff, too.

I really can't pick out anything or any artist there that is not Great!!

2 recommendations: Paul Franklin's "Christmas Collection" and our own Jim Cohen's "Home James (which is in my CD player as I write this))

If you want some really fine steel guitar music to listen.......go to the JERRY BYRD-Fan Club.com. You can get there also by going thro' Google.

EBay has lot's Jerry Byrd's earlier albums on a recurring basis.

Scotty's Music in St.Louis, MO., sell JERRY BYRD tapes and CD's.

You'll NEVER regret the small investment.....for a lifetime of listening pleasure.

Milsap Live w/ Dickey Overby! My favorite!

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll pick up Big E and Lloyd stuff for now since I am impatient when it comes to getting stuff shipped to me. Thanks again!

Khoa

John Hughey On and off stage
Buddy Emmons Sings Bob Wills
Weldon Myrick Pedalman
Lloyd Green Lloyd's of Nashville
Lloyd Green Ten shades of green
Curly Chalker Nashville Sundown

All superb IMO

Two of my favorites is Curly's[The King] More ways to play,and Frank Arnett's Model T,both are great,but completely different styles.DYKBC.

Here's a good place to buy steel CD's with free shipping!

THE FORUM!

http://pedalsteelmusic.com/music.html


JW

Hi, Khoa and welcome to slideyworld. Maybe a post including some players you've really enjoyed will get you more specific suggestions in those styles, but here are some I consider indispensible:
Buddy Emmons Live at the 1977 ISGC (International Steel guitar convention)
Literally any Buddy Emmons album
Charlie Pride live at Panther Hall with Lloyd Green
Sneaky Pete: The Legend and the Legacy
Any CD by Tom Morrel and the Time Warp Tophands
Any John Hughey album
Brisbane Bop by Jimmy Rivers and the Cherokee Cowboys with Vance Terry
Big Hits on Big Steel by Curley Chalker
Any collection of Spade Cooley featuring Joaquin Murphy
Jazz by Jernigan and Jazz on 10 by Doug Jernigan
At least a taste of Randy Beavers, Robby Turner, Mike Perlowin, Jim Cohen, Tommy White, Gary Carpenter... in fact, just buying every steel album you can find will net you far more winners than losers. Have fun!

Lloyd Green, Ten Shades of Green and Revisited
Buddy Emmons, Black Album and One For the Road
Jimmy Day and Bobbe Seymour, Masters of the E9th Pedal Steel Guitar
The Offenders Reunion, Can't Get the Hell Out of Texas (lots of Jimmy Day)
Sneaky Pete Kleinow, The Legend and the Legacy

Man, this looks like the cream of the crop. Let me add that anything Junior Knight has out is great as well. My favorite of his is "Xtreme Country".

EITHER of Perlowin's CD's!!

Khoa,
If you get the chance, make plans to go to a big steel guitar show (St. Louis, Dallas, Phoenix, etc.) All of the shows will be listed in the events section of the Forum ahead of time. I think there's one in Washington (?) PA near you as well. That will give you a chance to hear some great steel, pick out some favorites from the performers there, and check out just about any steel guitar resource available (new CD's, vintage CD's, pedal steel guitars, amps, pedals, strings, accessories, instruction etc.) Also check out steel guitar radio on the internet which will get you familiar with lots of different artists. I'm sure you will find that virtually all steelers are very approachable and more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Enjoy!

buddy's 'minors aloud'...it's not country, i can't play it...but i love listening to it!

Tom Brumley w/ Buck Owens.

All of the above, but especially what Ray Montee said!

And Ray himself ain't a bit shabby either!

Khoa, to get the most music for the least money, I'd recommend starting off with compendium albums (those featuring lots of different artists, songs, and styles). For the newer pedal sounds, "Northern Steel" is quite good, as is "Northern Steel II". There are also two albums available that feature older (classic) pedal stylings and players (as well as a few non-pedal numbers), and these are titled "Totally Hot Nashville Steel Guitar", and "Stars Of The Steel Guitar". Lastly, one other one I might recommend is called "Suite Steel".

Just these five albums will give you a broader palette of styles and players to listen to than you'd hear even if you bought all those albums that were previously mentioned!

Thank you for mentioning my CDs Stephen. I'm surprised. I thought you didn't like them.

My next recommendations are Curly Chalker, Counterpoint, and Maurice Anderson's wonderful testament to his faith, Universal direction.

Universal Direction contains some of the most beautiful steel guitar playing I think I've ever heard.

I also want to recommend the CD "Around About Now" by Jack West and Curvature that features David Phillips on steel. This is available from b0b. I don't know how to describe this one. It's music that defies classification, other than very good. And David's steel work is nothing less than outstanding.

...oops, forgot one:

Bob Lucier – 11 favorites. Available from Steel Guitar Canada, if it's not in the forum catalog. The best steel tone I've ever heard, bar none.