The Steel Guitar Forum

Can anyone identify the PSG on this tune?
... as well as the brand he's using?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJyXy4Ed ... re=related

Jeff, backbeat64 posted this 3 weeks ago on the clip in question, he doesn't que in as to what brand PSG is being played but he does say this in the whos who dept.:

"You're right this not all of the original members of The Hot Band. Drummer John Ware is replaced by Vince Santoro (Rodney's former drummer), bassist Emory Gordy Jr. replaced by Michael Rhodes, pedal steeler Hank DeVito replaced by Steve Fishell, Burton's replacement Albert Lee. Rodney Crowell and Glenn D. Hardin (piano) are two of the founding members. Regardless she selected some of finest players around."

That is Steve Fishell playing what looks to be an Emmons with the logo covered up by a post card or something.

JP

What year is this - does anyone know?

It's odd - Rodney Crowell still looks about 25 (well, young anyway), yet Albert is clearly well into his late-fifties, if not his sixties! Emmylou is ageless as ever - no clues there!

Roger, I don't think Albert was as old as he looks to you there. This would be sometime in the eighties, and probably before 1985. I saw them twice in Vancouver in the mid-eighties (second time was at Expo 1986 in Vancouver, so I know for sure it was spring or summer of 86) - Crowell had by then been replaced by Barry Tashian, and Frank Reckard had replaced Albert Lee (the line-up I saw both times was the same bunch that was on the "Last Date" album). Don't know what kind of guitar Steve Fishell was using there, but I do know that when I saw them he was using a Zum, which I think I have read that he still has.

The steel looks like it has a lacquer finish with a MOP inlay. Who made guitars like that back then?

I'm not sure, but I'd guess that this probably was more of a reunion of the "Hot Band" (maybe late 90's?) sometime after the "Nash Ramblers" era. Michael Rhodes and Vince Santoro were playing a lot with Rodney Crowell at the time but never played with the Hot Band the first time around I don't think.

Perhaps Mr Fishell will chime in with the scoop?

Steve Fishell may come in and give us the true answer, but this looks to me like the reformed (that is, re-formed ) Hot Band that went out in the mid or late 90s or so - might have been a 25th anniversary tour or such-like - they came to Paris on a tour with Marty Stuart and Trisha Yearwood.
Nick
Edit to add: Sorry! - Pete Finney posted while I was still writing!

Oh, ok, that would explain it. I didn't know about that reunion.

fish playing his formica zum...metal trim!

I was going by Albert's hair! I see him quite frequently, so I've stayed fairly 'current' with his ever-increasing grayness...

Sometime in the '90s would make more sense.

I toured alongside the Hot Band in the late-'80s - Steve was there, along with Frank Reckard. I think the bass-player was Mike Bowden (?) - a fine band, as were all Hot Band incarnations.

Here's Albert last May... I'm trying out his 'spare' Tele - a nice 1953 he happens to have kicking around!

chris ivey wrote:fish playing his formica zum...metal trim!

I've got to start wearing my glasses when I come here.

Hey Bob I saw them at the Expo 86 in Vancouver too and Fish was definitely playing a Zum ! I was there playing with a NZ artist at the time but still had my Bud SuperPro! I quickly saw the light and got a ZUM

I did some TV shows with Emmylou about 82-83 back home in NZ so it was nice to catch up with her again there.

Steve Fishell, in case y'all were wonderin', plays a 1982 Zum. After he worked with Emmylou, he had also worked with Terry McBride, Billy Thomas, and Ray Herndon-known as McBride & The Ride, then he also played steel on Radney Foster's album Del Rio, Texas 1959. You can also see Steve Fishell and his Zumsteel in McBride & The Ride's video "Every Step Of The Way".

Brett

Paddy, the kids I was toting around in a stroller and backpack at Expo 86 are all grown up now! Hard to believe it was that long ago. Was a great show they put on as I recall - Frank R was hotter than the proverbial two-dollar pistol!

Double post. Sorry!

Gary Lee Gimble wrote:Jeff, backbeat64 posted this 3 weeks ago on the clip in question, he doesn't que in as to what brand PSG is being played but he does say this in the whos who dept:

Gary... what is backbeat64?? Just for the heck of it, I went to http://www.backbeat64.com and its a Beatles clone band. Gary??? Are you off the wagon again? :-)

Steve Fishell sounds excellent. Does he still play with anyone?

Yikes...I've been away and haven't logged in for a few days.
Thanks for the kind words; I'm not worthy, especially since I seem to be lost mid-solo.

This video was filmed at Royal Albert Hall in London in April of 1995. It was a reunion tour on the occasion of the 20th anniversary tour of Emmylou's formation of the Hot Band. James Burton, Emory Gordy, Jr. and John Ware were all tied up with commitments and had to decline. Hank DeVito was invited first but was also unable to attend, so I was honored to be called and lucky to play a small part in a very big tour. We did only one gig in the U.S. -- a loose but very fun warm-up gig at the Fillmore, San Francisco -- then we went straight to Europe to play 8-9 shows with Trisha Yearwood and Marty Stuart.

I had departed the Hot Band in 1989, so it was a thrill to play Emmylou's extraordinary music again, this time with my pals Albert Lee, Rodney Crowell, the unflappable Glen D (no period after the D) Hardin and Emmylou herself. Vinnie and Michael played regularly with Rodney at that time, so the rhythm section was incredibly air tight.

From a distance it seemed like a good idea to film the event and record it with 24-track mobile truck, but once we got to Albert Hall, the pressure was really on. I was especially nervous, since the excellent European Fender Twin rental amp I had been using all tour went on the fritz literally ten-minutes before the start. It just died when I went out to check it right before we started, even though it was fine during sound check. This is the back-up twin, which seemed a bit dark and lifeless onstage and still sounds that way to me.

This is the '82 Zumsteel that Brett mentioned (how are you Brett?). I love that guitar and still play it. I covered the Zumsteel logo with a "Jackalope" postcard, which was the logo for my production company at the time. I wasn't trying to be coy; it was meant to be a bit of a nod to Sneaky Pete and the various decals on the front of his Fender 400. I intend to play my Zumsteel until it collapses or I do, whichever comes first.

This concert footage was intended for a DVD release but only came out in the UK, I believe. I don't have a copy, but I remember excellent versions of "Wheels," "Pancho and Lefty," "Tulsa Queen" and "Ain't Livin' Long." Emmy and Rodney stole the show, of course. I can't say enough what an honor it was to play in London at Royal Albert Hall alongside my hero on the electric guitar, the one and only Albert Lee. He is a treasure.

Ha Bob - my youngest son was still in the oven at the time and he's 22 now !!

Fish... what a fabulous reply. I piece of history. Are you pickin' with anyone now? Tell us some more.

Thanks, Jeff. I'll never stop playing...I love it too much.

I'm on Eric Church's next record and on an upcoming indie record by John Flynn, a great singer-songwriter from Delaware and a pal of Kris Kristofferson's. I also produced John's record, so I guess I'm cheating by playing on my own stuff....hey, I'm cheaper than anyone I know!

I'm most excited about a new studio program I've started called MPI: Music Producers Institute that shows the complete recording process from start to finish -- from the record producer's vantage point. It's an "Autotune-free" zone and has really been a lot of fun. Delbert McClinton, Radney Foster, Jace Everett and Raul Malo have all done sessions in the last sixth months. Here's the site (please excuse the plug):
http://www.musicpi.com/page/page/5830194.htm

Fish

Paddy you say you bought "A" Zum. Not true, you have nearly as many as the Dagmeister, and no you cant have mine.

I met Steve in Nashville last summer. Super cool guy and an awesome player. We were playing a benefit gig with 8 bands. I played in one band and he played in all the other seven! I still lust after that beautiful twin he was using.

I saw Emmylou on her first tour with the hot band and alas there was no steel.... but they were still hot. We sat right below James Burton on the floor of a small club in Atlanta and he would do a "hot lick" and look over at us and wink cause he new we were following every move he was making.