The Steel Guitar Forum

I remember the day I was driving home from Scotty's with my first steel, a clean LDG and I popped in a tape for the first time by John Hughey, "On and Off Stage". Somewhere during the second steel break of Hello Darlin' John hit a simple lick (13th fret F chord with the A pedal on and off) and I swear I cried. It was bizarre. Somehow that lick or shiver or harmony made me cry. I knew I was going to love this instrument.

Last week I had a gig and we played an instrumental Hello Darlin and my friend told me after the set that he nearly cried at one point late in that song. Freaky huh...

Why does steel do this to our emotions?

Brad Sarno
Mullen U-12/Fender Twin/BW

It's inbred in the instrument.

Yeah, I remember a beginning student at Terry Crisps' studio on top of Gene Breedens studio on the corner of Glenrose Ave. back in the 80's making me cry.

If I was an instrument it'd have to be a steel. It's got every emotion any tender hearted human could ever want. I got my first Lloyd Green (8 track) in 1972 and have been in love with the sound since then, though I've owned one only a few months. I can cry with the best of them.

It makes my wife cry...every time I bring home a new one!

Brad, were you ever fortunate enough to hear Jimmy Day live? I havent heard them all...but I never heard anyone that had the power to choke like Day. There,s nothin like live playin, but if you havent heard it yet, his solo on Johnny Bush's "Farewell Party" is one of my favorites of his on record. You can hear it at Rickys Rebel site.

Buddy Emmons' rendition of Ennio Morricone's "Once Upon A Time In The West" from Live @ ISGC '77 does it to me EVERY TIME I put it on.

beauty distilled.

wearing my emotions on my sleeve again...<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 09 May 2002 at 08:53 PM.]</p></FONT>

I had 'em cryin' tonight.....cryin' for their money back......

I still get tears in my eyes; everytime I listen to Jimmy Day play the solo to Farewell Party from the "Sounds of a Heartache" by Johnny Bush.
Here is my heartfelt comment about it and why.......Click here to read my feelings about Jimmy Day
R.I.P...."The Great One".
Ricky

Ricky, I had to go to your site and listen to the Jonny Bush recording. Your dedication is is very heart-felt, I can tell. Jimmy Day's playing is just out of this world and you did a great job with the tab...thank you.

Tom Jordan

I sometimes make myself cry...

I read once where Lester "Roadhog" Moran's brother was able to use his Sho-Bud Maverick steel to make people cry. His secret was to play piercingly loud and use a lot of overtravel on the "A" pedal. Reckon that would do the trick. Or there is another gimmick: Pass out lots of raw onions to the crowd before starting a slow or sad song.

Seriously, the steel guitar rates extremely high in its capacity to convey, project, and evoke emotion. It may exceed the violin family in this regard. Certain licks seem to exemplify this, for instance the George Jones "wobble" or "warble" lick on strings 3 and 5, various Buddy Emmons licks, etc.

My $.02.

Tim R.

I cry sometimes when I play songs like "Somewhere over the Rainbow", or "My Buddy" ,
or Duke Ellingtons' "Mood Indigo", or "In My Solitude" ,on my E6 neck with full chords..........al.

Boy, I'm glad I'm not the only one that has these feelings! The very tunes you guys mentioned do the same thing to me. And how about when our National Anthem is played by Russ Wever at the opening of the Steel Conv . in St. Louis or Ron Elliot playing The Lord's Prayer. Gives you goosebumps all over. It's got to be the sweetest music this side of Heaven! Ken

Sometimes I want to cry when there is a beautiful intro on the steel and in comes a
crummy singer to spoil the mood.

A Jimmy day fan.

CEW

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Ricky: I've got to thank you for that link. I immediately printed it out because I need it. Anyone who has read my input to the SGF knows my regard for Jimmy Day and that will never change. I fixed his amp before a show one time and was sitting in the curtains while Johnny Bush was performing Danny Boy. As Jimmy played the turn around, he faded completely out and scared me because I thought the amp had quit on him. In less then a second he came back so loud I literally jumped back. He could really move you !!

My health has been kicking me around lately and I get easily shook up. I put on Bobbe Seymours Masters album he did with Jimmy Day.
The first song came on and caught me off guard. I wasn't prepared for that much emotion. I actually could not listen to it because it broke me down so far, I had to go outside for some fresh air and sunshine.

If you love steel guitar as we do, the music will move you to tears at any time and especially when you least expect it. And there in no understanding for it. Just go for it !!

Regards, Paul

Hey Paul, nice story about Jimmy Day's Playing. That is really what Jimmy Day was all about. He really loved to move people and if he could influence anyone with his great persona; that is what he wanted the most. Jimmy always had a great love and passion for what he did; as he portrait it in every single note he ever played. One time at a gig(we play taped music on the breaks)I was playing a tape that I made of alot of different Steel guitar instrumentals.....and they kept going and going.....then Jimmy Day came on.....and there was a huge HUSH in the crowd; as alot of heads turned and ears opened as they listened to this one particular cut of Jimmy Day playing more emotional than obviously anything else I had on that tape.
Jimmy Day could and can "Move Great Masses of People"........God rest his soul.
Jimmy if your listening....."You have always influenced emotion in the listeners; and you will forever be in our Hearts"
Ricky

Ya my push-pull cries,every time i use a crybaby pedal <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Robert Rogers on 23 May 2002 at 05:42 PM.]</p></FONT>