The Steel Guitar Forum

I have always loved this arrangement of Wildfire; Michael Martin Murphey is also the co-writer. I always thought there was a Pedal Steel Guitar on that track. Tried looking up the credits for musicians; only Sam Broussard is credited for guitar and no one for PSG. Does anyone know if there were indeed a PSG and whom the player may have been. Or if no PSG, how did they create that sound? Many thanks in advance.

If you're talking about that guitar figure after the piano intro, it's not too hard to duplicate on electric six string. Nice light touch with clean tone. Bet it would sound good on steel though.

John... this has always been one of my lifelong favorite songs. When I sing this I use a clean guitar sound with a lot of warmth and a light reverb with a small delay. This isn’t the best example of my guitar rig but it will give you an idea. I would love to be playing steel on this but I can’t sing it and do steel at the same time... but I may work on it.
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Thanks David. Very, very nice rendition of the song.

It's one of my favorite songs too. It's almost iconic in it's period, quite unique. But I never really heard anything in it that sounded like pedal steel...and I listen a lot!

p.s. David Graves...can you post your version of the song on YouTube?
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I think Herb Steiner played some psg for Michael.

There was no steel on the recording of "Wildfire." We'd been doing the song in TX in the early 70's, but Murph didn't record it until later in the 70's. This was after he moved to CO and I had left the band. The incredibly lovely piano intro was by the late Jac Murphy (no relation to MMM). At the time of the recording, I believe John Macy was Murph's steel guitarist.

Thx Herb, I knew I should have asked you first. I’ve heard several renditions of this, some use mandolin for the repeated lick throughout the song that I thought may have been a steel on the original recording. Then there is at least one YouTube that shows a steel player on stage. Maybe it was you? I’m wondering if Rob used a bit of distortion and reverb on lead guitar?

That’s Sam Broussard on the guitar for that signature lick. I joined Murph’s band after this record was out. Those were Phase 90 days, and a tech friend of mine added jacks on both Sam and my 90’s that connected them together with a TRS cord. Mine had a switch that when down allowed them clock independently and when up mine clocked both, so they were in perfect sync. We played that lick together onstage and it was pretty cool synced up like that! Such a great signature lick!

Thanks Herb and John for the insight on this iconic number. One of my all time favorites too. Sang and played it often in my pre steel days.

Thanks John for the insight as to how that was done. What a very cool sound.!!!

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I was honored to be in a band that fronted him in Weirsdale, Florida around The mid 90s. I was sure impressed with their sound.

John, we did that in the live shows and played it in harmony. The record was just a single guitar.