The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey,

I like putting together play lists of new (to me) music. I'm getting my first D-10 psg soon, and I want to immerse myself in some C6 playing.

So what.....in your opinion.....are some essential, must hear, C6 songs, albums, videos, etc?

Youtube links appreciated, too, if you want.

Thanks!

- Jim

One idea... You could pick up the Buddy Emmons and Ray Pennington Swing Shift recording series, with Tab and Backup Tracks, from Steel Guitars of North County.

Must hear, Ernest Tubbs Texas Troubadours, Buddy Charleton and Leon Rhodes twin guitars. Some YouTube videos and other recordings.

anything by Buddy Emmons of course. his Steel Guitar Jazz album is absolutely essential. also his Live '77 recording. his song 4-Wheel Drive is an early C6 classic. and here's two of my favorites from his legendary "Black Album": At E's / Kicks To Boot

many steel albums contain some songs on E9 and some on C6. check out albums by Curly Chalker, Doug Jernigan, and Hal Rugg. Doug and Curly (among others) both have albums that are exclusively C6

definitely check out the TX Troubadour stuff that John recommended, in particular this Buddy Charleton masterpiece: Almost To Tulsa
Mike Auldridge covered a few of the Troubadours tunes on his 8-String Swing album and I believe he took steel lessons from Charleton.

I’d recommend “I Love You Because” by Carl Smith

Back in the '60s when I started playing pedal steel, there were two albums that literally astonished me - Steel Guitar Jazz and Big Hits On Big Steel. Now, nearing the end of my life and certainly the end of my time playing, I've found no replacement for these two albums. They're both jazz, and both C6th, but at positively the opposite ends of the spectrum. I've heard thousands of albums and hundreds of players in the past 60 years, but those two albums, IMHO, are something special.

Dicky Betts Highway Call featured some very impressive C6 work by John Hughey

This has been talked about a lot, but holy cow is it good. Terrible quality, amazing playing... Also don't miss out on the story that goes along with it.
https://digi.countrymusichalloffame.org ... o/id/9093/

If you don't already have it, I would suggest getting a copy of the Curly Chalker DVD from Mike Perlowin. The DVD is superb and Mike is a great guy with which to do business. I would also recommend listening to Maurice Anderson and Junior Knight.

This is great stuff. Thanks!

Just got turned on to this Bobby Flores track with Randy Reinhardt. "Bubbles in My Beer" Very, very sweet:

https://youtu.be/pF69gvHWKwc

And on this live thing with Redd, I really love how Big Jim Murphy kicks his solos to the next level, swapping from E9 to C6:

https://youtu.be/d7n6jcSP06w

Don't overlook the Herbie Wallace videos.

Don't forget Doug Jernigan's "Uptown To Country," (the swimming pool cover!). Lot's of great tunes and very hip playing.

Joe