The Steel Guitar Forum

I just uploaded a new video to YouTube, "Telstar". Hope you like it!

----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7POavqLF-fc

I do!

👍👍😁

Great job, Doug! You really nailed that vibrato for this song. Cool!

Thanks Jim! I keep hearing that organ playing (on the original record) so that probably helps. The tune lays out pretty well on E9. It's mostly single notes, and the first 16 notes on the same fret!

Takes me waaaaay back Doug....we had such great songs back then...fantastic playing as always Doug. Thanks for sharing...Carl

You rock my friend! That was great. Nice tone!

Thanks Carl and Joe! Yeah, the late 50s/early 60s... when instrumental hits were heard on the radio every day. There is actually a sub genre of pop called Space Age pop. I think The Star Trek Theme would be considered that as well. The space race was on and effects like reverb, tape delay, tremolo were all the rage!

I think that may have been the 1st 45 rpm record I ever bought.

plus, very timely for our current 'space age'

Regards Doug -
Ron

Great...but for the first time in history, I find myself wishing for MORE reverb!

Awesome Job on that one Doug !
You have always amazed me, way back from when I was a teenager listing to you play with the local Country bands. Your perfection never takes a break.

Thanks Bud, Per, Ron!

While many of us are suffering at home with no gigs, you are displaying your amazing picking creations.

Thanks Manny. I'm not playing any gigs now either. My calendar is full, but everything is on hold now. I haven't played a gig in three months. I guess we're all in the same boat.

I just discovered a couple of "vocal" versions of Telstar. One released in 1962, shortly after the instrumental became a hit, and the other in 1963. Pretty weird stuff! They renamed it Magic Star.

----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJhulZUYucU

----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NjSy2g1fl4

Very nice! Thank you.

Sounds great, Doug!

Thanks guys!

I love it! And, in my opinion, the steel guitar is just the instrument for this. As always, a great interpretation (as we’ve learned to expect from you). I remember this tune making a big impression on me when it came out, though I was pretty young at the time. The Emmons ”Atomic theme” position markers put it over the top for the period as well !

I don't remember this tune, although I should as I am officially old! It is a great tune and sounds great on the steel. Thanks for sharing Doug.

Thanks guys, I was 12 years old when the song came out, and to be honest, I didn't like it much because I didn't care for the organ sound. But I've come to appreciate it! I thought it would sound good on pedal steel, E9 tuning. The video is popular on YouTube... 20K views in the first 12 days, not bad!

Yes, I too thought about the fret markers on the Emmons after I finished the video. Very apropos! The atomic/space age theme was everywhere in the early 60s.

Indeed! The “space age“. I have to say I agree about the sound of the organ on the original. It sounded like a $10 Casio toy organ or something. It was probably a high-dollar instrument for all I know. Not very pleasing to the ear, but the tune itself made up for that shortcoming.
Some of those old instrumentals that featured organ however would be good fodder for your steel playing. I’d start mining through old “Booker T. and the M.G’s” rep and see what you find.
Mark

Nice! Well done. I am old enough to remember the original on the radio...

Excellent! Great song. Nicely played.

Should anyone wish to further their knowledge about this song, there is the movie "Telstar: The Joe Meek Story" (2008) about Joe Meek the producer of this song and others. More info and the movie trailer can be found here on IMDB:


https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068669/?ref_=vp_back