Speedy's West's "Skiddle-Dee-Boo"----Have a listen

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Feb 2011 7:32 am

I just finished doing a transcription of Skiddle-Dee-Boo and then recorded a few takes on it. This is one of them:

Skiddle-Dee-Boo

I played a Clinesmith D-8 console and the usual suspects were used in this recording (Kay upright bass, Dunn acoustic guitar, box with brushes). This one is a blast to play, but it is a challenge! Speedy played it on his pedal Bigsby in F#9 tuning--the pedal raised the A# to B to give him an E6 tuning. I adapted for non-pedal D9 tuning (very similar to C6).

This package (pdf of tab/notation, Tabledit, backing track) is available here for $4.95. That's a deal!

Geoff Cline · Post by **Geoff Cline** » 9 Feb 2011 7:59 am

Mike--You KILL!! Really great track!

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 9 Feb 2011 10:32 am

Can this be played on a 6 string with C6 strings?

Steve Ahola

P.S. Page 2 in your store appears to be identical to page 1. (I was looking for the Seven Come Eleven package.)

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Feb 2011 6:01 pm

Hi Steve, yes, it can be played on 6 strings, although you would have to make an adjustment for the 2 chords at the end of the first A section. Easy enough to do--I will gladly tell you how.

And thanks for the tip on the pages being the same. What would I do without you guys? There is always something. But I do believe I have sorted it all out.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Feb 2011 11:09 am

No love for Speedy's tune? I think his compositions were stellar, no matter how poorly I play them.

I find it remarkable how good Speedy was--he's often written off as just being a flashy show-off, but he had great musicality and chops. Even a tune as simple as this one is difficult to play and requires a pretty strong right hand. I sure wish I could have seen Speedy play up close.

Adam Gejdos · Post by **Adam Gejdos** » 11 Feb 2011 11:34 am

Lots of love for this tune, Mike! Just bought it and will spend the weekend with it. I love Speedy.
Cheers!

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 12 Feb 2011 2:50 am

i found speedy & jimmy's stuff all on it's own & uncomparable
in a way the hellecasters, are the only one's that followed that style up
no steel but will's crazy slide

hey mike, yer playin' is not poor !

John Burton · Post by **John Burton** » 12 Feb 2011 6:10 am

Slick! I was waitin' through the whole thing for Tennessee Ernie Ford to jump in! Seriously..that could have been a track on the "There's Going To Be a Party" Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant CD.
(Which is one of my all time favorite steel guitar Albums)

Rick Stratton · Post by **Rick Stratton** » 12 Feb 2011 9:49 am

Hi Mike,
Great playing and source material!
I only discovered Speedy & Jimmy Bryant's stuff about 6 years ago. Since I usually only listen to the CD reissues in my car, so I'm not as familiar with the song titles as I should be.

To me, in the 50's, these guys were akin to the later progressive-rock musicians of the early 70's, in that they took the music much further due to their advanced virtuosity. They really pushed the limits.

Groups like: Yes, Gentle Giant, etc. were challenging for some listeners. Maybe not the general public's cup-of-tea, but to players....pure magic!

I've been working on some of Speedy & Jimmy's tunes too (the only title I can recall at the moment is "Flying High", but there's a couple more I've figured out)
Only trouble is finding someone to play the Jimmy Bryant parts with me! That guy was a monster, too!

It's funny, now in my mid-fifties, I'm listening to and playing mostly music from the 20's thru the 50's. I went through the whole rock era (standard guitar) and seem to have come full-circle back to the good stuff!
I guess our parents (and grandparents) were right after all!

Ian Ufton · Post by **Ian Ufton** » 12 Feb 2011 8:58 pm

That is nice mike --- keep up the great work .

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 13 Feb 2011 7:58 am

Sounds GREAT, Mike! Even homed in on that bright lively SW tone.

But, what happened to your video camera?

... J-D.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Feb 2011 8:16 am

J D Sauser wrote:Sounds GREAT, Mike! Even homed in on that bright lively SW tone.

But, what happened to your video camera?

... J-D.

JD, you're right--I should have a video for every lesson. With my current set up, it's very time-consuming and basically cripples my resources. I'm hoping to get caught up, though. Once I buy a new system, life will be much easier.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 13 Feb 2011 9:27 am

Sounds great Mike, just downloaded it.

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 13 Feb 2011 10:38 am

Mike Neer wrote:
JD, you're right--I should have a video for every lesson. With my current set up, it's very time-consuming and basically cripples my resources. I'm hoping to get caught up, though. Once I buy a new system, life will be much easier.

So, we now have to buy them video less courses to help you buy a new video setup?

You know I can't do that! I can not be caught dead, downloading TAB! ;D

I think that any of these coursed would be worth what you ask for any of your more elaborated courses, where you don't only show how to execute a tune but also explain some of the thinking behind, like Flippin' The Lid, Slippery Elm and probably Tenderly (I don't have it, but the description seems to indicate that). THAT's teaching and it takes the student further than just "learn" one more song.

This is in no way criticism towards you and what you do... you and I have talked about this on several occasions.
I think you do a great job at decoding these mile stone songs and you are not only an asset but a credit to our instrument.
I would just not like to see a step "back" into the dark ages of tab.

... J-D.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 13 Feb 2011 12:18 pm

Jamie O'Connell · Post by **Jamie O'Connell** » 13 Feb 2011 3:54 pm

That's an awesome performance! You really come close to speedy's feel on it, while still making it your own. Nice job ... I'm going to go get it off your site now.

--Jamie

Brian Herder · Post by **Brian Herder** » 14 Feb 2011 7:00 am

That's pretty darn great. I love Speedy West. I'm generally not a huge fan of "steel guitar records", but I can listen to the Bear Family 4 disk Flamin' Guitars box set all day long. Really nice job with the recording too, very authentic. Impressive all around.

David Ellison · Post by **David Ellison** » 14 Feb 2011 1:58 pm

That sounds great! I've been a big Speedy West fan for a long time, but I don't think I've heard that song before. You're really nailing the tone, too.

I know that Speedy West's primary tuning was the E6/F#9... the pedal was the same change you still have on a modern C6 pedal steel, only it worked in reverse since you couldn't lower strings on an old Bigsby.

What is the D9 tuning you're using here? Something similar?

Nate Hofer · Post by **Nate Hofer** » 10 Jun 2012 6:53 pm

Just wanna say, once downloaded, I've been obsessed with practicing this. Great stuff. This tuning sounds so midcentury cool. Worth it easily.

Thanks,
nate

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 10 Jun 2012 10:54 pm

Great job, Mike. That's one of my favorite Speedy West tunes.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 11 Jun 2012 9:21 am

Hey MIKE! Another great example of your fine playing abilities. Thanx for sharing with all of us.

Have you given ANY THO't to doing "Steel Strike" (his first) and "Bustin' Thro'"? Both are great numbers. Steel Strike was an effort in simplicity yet, so creatively performed.

At about the same time Speedy was doing his stuff, he recorded a couple of sides with Eddie Kirk.......
If you want to see how SMOOTH he could be, give a listen to "Dear Hearts & Gentle People" b/w "The Gods Were Angry with Me".

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Jun 2012 11:03 am

Thanks Ray, Jerry, Solomon--this is an old post!

Speedy is very possibly my favorite player--there was so much to him--great composer, showman, and he did have a really sensitive, beautiful side to his playing that many fail to see. He was much more than tricks.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Speedy's West's "Skiddle-Dee-Boo"----Have a listen

Speedy's West's "Skiddle-Dee-Boo"----Have a listen

Thanks once again from out here on the LEFT Coast