The Steel Guitar Forum

what's your favorite?

Hard question, but one that I like a lot is the solo on Sweet Dreams on the Hargus 'Pig' Robbins album.

There are so many great ones; it is very hard to choose; but one that comes to mind is "Once Upon a Time in the West".

"Someday soon" does it for me every time

I like em all but I'm with Bent

My favorite is the solo Buddy played on the 1st break of "Truck Drivin' Man" in the 1977 video.

So very many to choose from but it's hard to beat "Someday Soon" (and everything else he played on the Judy Collins album) or "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" w/ John Sebastian. Both were cut during his L.A. years, and, to me, epitomize his P/P tone. He's also great on Ray Charles' "Volcanic Action Of My Soul" album. I have to stop now or this will become a very long post.

Blue Jade & Danny Boy Would Be 2 of My Favorites.


Roger

HERE'S THAT RAINY DAY .

Assuming you mean solos as distinct from instrumentals, a couple of my favorites that are a little more off the beaten track are

Our Yesterdays, on the B.E. & Ray Pennington Swingin' By Request album

Till I Can Gain Control Again, on Albert Lee's Heartbreak Hill album

Buddy's solo on I'll Sail This Ship Alone by Ray Price. It's on an album with Willie Nelson I think. Would like to find it again.

Unfortunately, only a hand full, if that many, have heard my favorite.
Buddy cut a tune in his basement a couple of years ago that he's never finished yet and according to him, may never finish. In my opinion, it's the greatest most "full of soul" cut he's ever done in all of his 50 plus years of recording.
He actually started this just a short while before Peggy passed. She had heard him noodling with it one day and said that it was the best she had ever heard him play and that it was her favorite song.
It's a Vince Gill song called "Nobody answers when I call your name".
Even unfinished and with nothing more than rythum behind his playing, it the most simple melody and best "soul feeling" thing that Buddy, or anyone else, has ever done.
BB

The back half of the solo on Ray Price's version of Swinging Doors is just super tasteful and fits perfectly. It's E9, bluesy-Pentatonic, and then almost C6 sounding (but still E9), and it's only about 8 measures long. Gorgeous, spacious, inventive, expressive, ultimately musical. And it just swings, too. Awwww, Buddy now...

seriously... WAY too hard to answer. but i'll throw a few out anyway.

"Tall Tall Trees" - Roger Miller

"That's All It Took" - Gram Parsons

"Didn't Want To Be Forgotten" - John Hartford

Yes "Rainbows" is also one of my favorites of his solos. And then there's the Paul Siebel record "Jack Knife Gypsy" which he plays on, one track called Hillbilly Child is outstanding for me.

Thats like asking me which one of my kids is my favorite... For me anything that is the Big E! "Once Upon A Time In The West" will be played at my funeral if that says anything.... I hope thats years down the road though

What Wally said. Right now I'm into "King of Broken Hearts" by George Strait. That tone...

What Wally said too. On YouTube I never tire of watching and listening to E's intro and break on Jeannie Seeley's "Mr. Record Man."

And for once, the cameraman focused on the steel when the steel was actually playing! Incredible!

Chris

Since the OP said SOLOS and not instrumentals, I have to say:

Adalida - George Strait
All of the stuff on Steve Young's "Renegade Picker" album
and maybe 400 others

I would just say all of them. There's absolutely no way to pick just one.

I have never heard an instrumental or solo by Buddy I did not like. However, with that being said I simply love the solo on George Straits "Just like my dad". His solo on the Johnny Bush tune "Wish I'd seen your goin' comin'" is great. Both are extremely soulful.

brint got it...'our yesterdays' just kills me! i've rewound that sucker 100 times while driving....just don't want it to go away.


also tall tall trees but i thought the 'cool' lick was c6.

yes richard...renegade picker album. every song.
specially 'i can't be myself...'

'that's all it took' is the tone no one can duplicate!

Chris... That is one of my all time favorite albums (Renegade Picker). "I can't Be Myself" and "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way" just make every hair (yes, every one of them) on my body stand straight up on end.

For the obscure, how about "Sweet Country Music" by Milton Carroll.

Richard Sinkler wrote:Chris... That is one of my all time favorite albums (Renegade Picker). "I can't Be Myself" and "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way" just make every hair (yes, every one of them) on my body stand straight up on end.

During "It's not Supposed to be That Way" after the solo, around the 1:37 mark onward, that is some of the most creative pickin' and slippin' I've come across. To have that much studio credit behind you and still come up with the goods is just, well, inspiring.