The Steel Guitar Forum

Hardcore Red Rhodes fans know that he never got more room to stretch out creatively (and experimentally!) than he did with Michael Nesmith in the '70s, first on a string of "First National Band" albums and then on other Nesmith projects.

There's a new album coming out soon of 22 "First National Band" studio outtakes that I'm listening to right now. Most of the versions of previously released tunes are radically different, some are pretty out there; Red at his most experimental. And there are quite a few new instrumentals.

Here's a link to Nesmith's website about the album. If you look carefully near the bottom there's a link to listen to the whole album on Spotify.

https://www.videoranch3d.com/mm5/mercha ... e=100-DDCD

There have been quite a few threads here over the years about Red, Nesmith, and the First National Band if anyone's curious to know more. Last year there was a thread on a newly uncovered live set of Red with Nesmith from '73, released as "Cosmic Partners."

Ah Cool! Thanks Pete.

Thanks Pete!!

And for those who might be unaware, Pete has been Michael Nesmith's steel man for the last few years and also has some very tasty recordings with Mike. He plays some of the tunes that Red Rhodes was originally on and certainly does them justice and often expands the parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QSNZ0c ... rlfriend13

Joe

I got to see Red with Michael twice. Incredible is the only word for it.

Hi Pete! Can’t wait to hear it!

Nes has been a guest on Dwight Yoakum's interviews on his Bakersfield station on Sirius and he often talks about Red.

I'm sorry that this picture is sideways. Is that Red sitting next to Nes?

Sure looks like him. Thanks Pete for the heads up. Cool beans!

Again sorry for the bad quality of the scan.

That's bassist John London sitting next to Nesmith. He and Nesmith came up to L.A. from Texas together in the early 60s and were in a lot of different projects together (he even played bass on some Monkees tracks).
Red is sitting across from Nesmith in the first picture, wearing the black & white patterned shirt under the taco sign. Drummer John Ware is next to Red (he later spent many years in Emmylou Harris's amazing "Hot Band").

Thanks Pete!

Pete, was listening to the live Troubadour record today, great playing!

Fantastic playing, Pete. The photo looks like it was taken at Pink's in Hollywood. BTW, the article says that Red had played at the Palomino in Texas. The Palomino was on Lankershim in North Hollywood. Red lived about a mile and a half away. He took over as bandleader at the Pal when Gene Davis left.

Lafe Brown wrote:Fantastic playing, Pete. The photo looks like it was taken at Pink's in Hollywood. BTW, the article says that Red had played at the Palomino in Texas- The Palomino was on Lankershim in North Hollywood. Red lived about a mile and a half away. He took over as bandleader at the Pal when Gene Davis left.

Lafe, apart from that mistake it's a very good interview and over three pages long.

I agree, it's a really good article.

Ordered my CD today!

“Go Red” always meant there was some great steel coming up .

Got my CD today, really great stuff and nice liner notes.

Thanks for the heads up Pete!