The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello Fellow, Steelers...Mike Heaphy here with a question someone may be able to answer... I just read, here on the Forum, a thread about Pete Drake that I found very interesting. When I first started playing he was my go to guy that helped me figure out what the heck I was doing. He recorded many tracks on a Linda Ronstadt album simply called, "Linda Ronstadt". I thought he did a beautiful job on the fills and intros that he played on and even held his own with Buddy Emmons who played on some of the other tracks on the same album... the question is about his sound.... the song,"Birds" on that album has a unique sound to me. It was recorded in 1972 so a lot of gadgets weren't around yet...if you listen below do you think he is playing through a slow leslie or even a slow flanger...at first I thought he was playing through his voice box without the singing but I don't think it was that considering it was a live take... any ideas...stay well everyone and Best Regards, Mike Heaphy...here's the link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRT5R7e ... e=emb_logo

It might have been a filter envelope, those were making waves early 70’s. i’m hearing some flange on acoustic guitar too, that was new wave back then also. Lovely song I have never heard that before.

Michael, I think that it is Sneaky Pete playing here.

I'd say it's Sneaky...or possibly Weldon Myrick.

Pretty sure it's Sneaky. Don't believe Pete Drake played on that album at all. (Did he actually play on any of Linda's albums?) Is it possible you're confusing "Sneaky Pete" (Kleinow) with Pete Drake?

According to Wikipedia it's "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow, not Pete Drake.

Before recording the album, Ronstadt hired guitarist Glenn Frey to assemble a touring band; Frey did so with members of drummer Don Henley’s band Shiloh, who were signed to Amos Records at the same time as Frey’s previous band, Longbranch Pennywhistle. The touring band, augmented by pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow and producer John Boylan on guitar, accompanied Ronstadt on six of the album’s ten tracks, including three that were recorded live at The Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood, California during March of 1971.

It's Sneaky Pete, recorded live at the Troubadour, March 1971. UPDATE: I see B0b just beat me to posting the same thing.

This, per the never-wrong internet.

But it actually sounds like Sneaky Pete to me, so I'm going with the net on this one. He's got more swirly, trippy effects in his arsenal than Pete Drake could ever dream of. This one sounds like a phase shifter that has the speed set to 'very slow' and the mix set to... well, 'very low.' I've played a thousand songs in that mode.

According to Allmusic Buddy Emmons, Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Weldin Myrick all played on that album.

Joachim Kettner wrote:Michael, I think that it is Sneaky Pete playing here.

Thanks so much Joachim... that makes more sense,actually. I appreciate your input... Mike

Charlie Hansen wrote:According to Allmusic Buddy Emmons, Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Weldin Myrick all played on that album.

Very nice of you, Charlie.... great info...Mike

Tucker Jackson wrote:It's Sneaky Pete, recorded live at the Troubadour, March 1971. UPDATE: I see B0b just beat me to posting the same thing.

This, per the never-wrong internet.

But it actually sounds like Sneaky Pete to me, so I'm going with the net on this one. He's got more swirly, trippy effects in his arsenal than Pete Drake could ever dream of. This one sounds like a phase shifter that has the speed set to 'very slow' and the mix set to... well, 'very low.' I've played a thousand songs in that mode.

Hey Tucker... Your info is much appreciated...I will look into that, as well... great, Mike

b0b wrote:According to Wikipedia it's "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow, not Pete Drake.

Before recording the album, Ronstadt hired guitarist Glenn Frey to assemble a touring band; Frey did so with members of drummer Don Henley’s band Shiloh, who were signed to Amos Records at the same time as Frey’s previous band, Longbranch Pennywhistle. The touring band, augmented by pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow and producer John Boylan on guitar, accompanied Ronstadt on six of the album’s ten tracks, including three that were recorded live at The Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood, California during March of 1971.

Thanks so much, Bob...very good information here..I appreciate it...Mike

Jim Cohen wrote:Pretty sure it's Sneaky. Don't believe Pete Drake played on that album at all. (Did he actually play on any of Linda's albums?) Is it possible you're confusing "Sneaky Pete" (Kleinow) with Pete Drake?

You are correct, Jim. I did get them confused and it makes more sense being Sneaky...Thanks, Brother, Mike

Skip Edwards wrote:I'd say it's Sneaky...or possibly Weldon Myrick.

You are right, Skip... I did get them mixed up...Thanks so much...Mike

Larry Bressington wrote:It might have been a filter envelope, those were making waves early 70’s. i’m hearing some flange on acoustic guitar too, that was new wave back then also. Lovely song I have never heard that before.

Thank you, Larry, I never thought of an envelope. I had never used one and I will have to try that out...and it is a beautiful song, isn't it...Neil Young, I believe...but after me mixing up Pete Drake and Sneaky Pete don't quote me on that ...lol...Thanks so much for your info, very good of you to write...Mike

I don't know if this is from the same session but the combination Linda Ronstadt and Sneaky Pete was one of my favorites.
https://youtu.be/PCi0L6cbEwE

" Can it be true" never released on an original album.