The Steel Guitar Forum

Both Barney Isaacs & Jerry Byrd are attributed as playing on Analani E'on the recording "The New Hawaiian Band: Hawaii's Greatest Instrumentalists" (1992) Which is playing on each chorus?

https://youtu.be/m5_N8d_FSrQ

Thanks.

I'm no expert on JB (this has less of his signature swelling tone because it is uptempo) although I feel Barney's voice here is pretty distinctive. My take...assuming it's in an AABA format which I will write as ABCD (C is the dissimilar bridge section):

Jerry A B
Barney C
Vibes D

Jerry A B C
Barney D

Jerry A
Barney B
Jerry C
(key change)
Jerry D

Here's an almost better contrast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X9mSxL0cfY

The slowness brings out their differences. JB gets that subtle swell. He's starting out with the obligato while Barney takes the melody. There's something about about Barney's tone...it feels rawer, more string, more whine, more treble definitely.

My teacher tends to prefer steel guitar duets where the two voices are similar and complimentary (for instance, Evening in the Islands) whereas I, maybe more as a learner, love the ones where you can hear the stark contrast in the voices. Another great one (or, not ideal one, to my teacher ) is the Steel Guitar Magic album with Barney and Billy Hew Len:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOfKquW4Llg

If I was going to characterize the sounds, which is hard to put into words, Barney has this great chordal approach (although, my teacher relayed a criticism from his contemporary, Benny Kalama, that he overplayed in backing, maybe fair, but love those chords!) and the melody has a lovely almost whining plaintiveness with lots of brightness. Billy's sound has a swagger, and muscle to it...a great complement.

Honestly, thanks for pointing me to that album. I need to get it. There's another Alan told me about yesterday, Barney's "E Mau Take One" which he loves...unfortunately way, way out of print.