The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm on a mission building a collection of vinyl featuring extensive PSG from mid/late 50s up through around mid 70s. I started with Ernest Tubb and Webb Pierce, George Jones, Mel Tillis, Johnny Paycheck and Gary Stewart. Can you guys give me some other ideas to look for? I'm especially into the 55-65 stuff. What headliners should I be looking for?

Can't go wrong with early Buck Owens with Tom Brumley or Ralph Mooney. I have a soft spot for his 1966 album Dust on Mother's Bible, Brumley is all over it.

60s Bakersfield country in general when it comes to steel it's pretty much year zero for the in your face steel as the lead instrument style that early 70s laurel canyon type country rock embraced and continues to find adherants in certain aleternative music camps.

I forgot to list Buck, I've picked up all his early stuff.

RAY PRICE

56-66

SH

Yes, the Ray Price Columbia 55-66 are the first stop, essential listening. If you want to spring for the Bear Family Box Set
"Ray Price & Cherokee CowboysThe Honky
Tonk Years 1950-1966," you will not be disappointed. The individual LPs are cheap on e-Bay with "Touch My Heart" being your first purchase.

Columbia CL-1148 Talk To Your Heart
Columbia CL-1566 Ray Price's Greatest Hits
Columbia CL-1756/CS-8556 Ray Price Sings San Antonio Rose
Columbia CL-1971/CS-8771 Night Life
Columbia CL-2189/CS-8989 Love Life
Columbia CL-2339/CS-9139 Western Strings
Columbia CL-2382/CS-9182 The Other Woman
Columbia CL-2606/CS-9406 Touch My Heart:
Columbia CL-2670/CS-9470 Ray Price's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2:

"Johnny Bush's Greatest Hit's Vol.1," has Weldon Myrick, Emmons, and Curly Chalker (CC on one song). It goes into 1974, but still very much 70s steel guitar at its best.

Those are a few, this was a golden era for steel.

"Ray Price and Cherokee Cowboys Reunited." The creme of the crop of Nashville A-T players and features Buddy Emmons on some great Steel Guitar. Recorded around 1977. Also I would recommend Charley Pride live at Panther Hall in Fort Worth Texas about 1968 features Lloyd Green on Steel Guitar!

Loretta Lynn
Merle Haggard
Wynn Stewart
Conway Twitty
Connie Smith
Carl Smith
Faron Young
Wilburn Bros.
Bill Anderson
Jack Greene
Cal Smith
Hank Thompson
Wanda Jackson
Lynn Anderson
Rose Maddox

Anything by Moe Bandy – mostly Weldon Myrick at his best.
Dont' forget Gary Stewart and Red Steagall. Or Hal Rugg backing Loretta.

About any Chart and Little Darlin' record

Porter Wagoner
Del Reeves
Jean Shepard
Warner Mack
Kitty Wells
Bobby Harden
Red Sovine
Tammy Wynette
Jimmy C. Newman
Judy Lynn
Landon Williams
Anthony Armstrong Jones
Red Simpson
Lawanda Lindsey

Also, there's a channel on YouTube by "Armadillo Killer" (link below) that has tons of obscure country music from the '60's and '70s featuring lots of great steel playing! Whoever "Armadillo Killer" is, he's definitely a fan of classic country with pedal steel guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr7mc3 ... 8Cw/videos

In 52,listened to Leon and band over KVOO out of Cimarron Ballroom/ Tulsa during noon hour Mon.Fri.while freshman at Univ of Kansas. In 57,we danced to Leon and Cimmaron Cowboys at little country dancehall in the village of Hamilton,Kansas. Was then really hooked on steel guitar!!! In 2019, at age 85, bought a black Stage ONe from Doug Earnest. Still awful at playing!! Love watching and listening to all the great players on YOUTube! Will pass my Stage One down to our Children or grands. The PSG music is and always will be the most beautiful of all!!Thanks to b0b and forum members work keeping the faith and growing PSG music! Blessings to all! John Underwood Bozeman,Montana USA

Brisbane Bop, by Jimmy Rivers and The Cherokees, with Vance Terry on steel. Live recordings made between 1961 and 1964. This is not "country" music. Western Swing / Jazz. Unbelievable.

Don Williams; Lloyd Green all over the early albums

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!!!! I'm scooping them up off EBAY daily.

Wow fella's, all awesome classics!

Don't forget Charlie Pride "Live at Panther Hall." Lloyd Green played this show with Charlie and is wonderful!

Wilburn brothers has so much Hal Rugg.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... highlight=

Donny Hinson wrote:
Also, there's a channel on YouTube by "Armadillo Killer" (link below) that has tons of obscure country music from the '60's and '70s featuring lots of great steel playing! Whoever "Armadillo Killer" is, he's definitely a fan of classic country with pedal steel guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr7mc3 ... 8Cw/videos

Donny (and everyone), you should check out my buddy’s channel, Mildews Moldy Music, dedicated to obscure old country singles. I would say the majority have steel on them, but admitted I haven’t even scratched the surface of all his uploads. Great stuff though!

https://youtube.com/c/MildewsMoldyMusic

Gotta' mention Johnny Bush. The Stop Records LPs of the late 60s and the three RCA LPs of the early 70s are all great. Jimmy Day, Buddy Emmons and Weldon Myrick are outstanding and all over these recordings..!!

Along with the Ray Price LPs as mentioned (like "Touch My Heart") Johnny's records are among my all time favorites.

A personal favorite from the '70s:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=373511

If you are looking for vinyl, check out the above link. Also maybe contact Wally, who replied with a pic in the thread. These guys have been looking for buyers.

Gotta mention on early Carl Smith LP I believe it was called "I Love You Because " It featured Curly Chalker playing C6th. Best Chalker playing I've heard.

joe long wrote:Gotta mention on early Carl Smith LP I believe it was called "I Love You Because " It featured Curly Chalker playing C6th. Best Chalker playing I've heard.

His version of Good Deal Lucille is so good and I’ve always especially loved the steel parts. No wonder, it’s because it’s Curly!

This forum’s online store has some nice records at nice prices. Lots of information included and most of them even have the players’ copedents mapped out too.