The Steel Guitar Forum

As I am sure we are all spinning his music today in tribute, I thought it might be nice to share some of our favorite solos or songs from the master.

I'll take the obvious two: "Running on Empty" and "These Days" from Jackson Browne. Every time I listen to them I get the overwhelming itch to play and fuels the never ending search for "perfect" tone.

What's your?

I don't think I can pick a favorite but I will reference one of his lesser know recordings with Elliott Morris titled "What's Mine Is Yours" album.

The haunting solo from Jackson Browne's "How Long" on the "World in Motion" album. Changed how I looked at lap steel.

I'm watching this, he has fun with this song.
https://youtu.be/Wcy83pw92yw

I can't pick a favorite either--I'm especially fond of the stuff he did with Wally Ingram, but his recording of Mercury Blues with El Rayo X was always a great one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHY0YxdswyY

Dave

Simply amazing TONE (and playing, of course) from Mr Dave. Apparently he only got one take, because the Fairchild tube compressor he was using ran so hot it caught on fire!!

https://youtu.be/x47wRwdJfPQ

Also, this lesser known gem on Iain (Ian) Matthews version of Jesse Winchester’s “Biloxi”. He’s all over it and mixed up high.

https://youtu.be/MaibRe0iqf0

Tough call but I think To Know Him Is To Love Him is exquisite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRBZN8V2Fa4

Good Lord, I can't possibly pick any one thing by David. There are hundreds. I do agree that the studio version of To Know Him Is To Love Him is absolutely exquisite, and that is David - https://www.discogs.com/release/1092066 ... arris-Trio

I first heard this on Johnny Carson, with Steve Fishell playing the Weissenborn (and playing it great), and David playing the National guitar with the beautiful vibrato - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... ow-630562/

Someone posted this video of David playing Minglewood Blues on an Oud - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLq9HgGP8G8 - this may be the best version I've ever heard of this tune, and I've heard hundreds. I had not previously heard this version, but saw him around 2007 and he took us on a world tour with familiar and unfamiliar material on a pile of cool instruments.

Of course, Mercury Blues, Running on Empty, and so many more - that's the thing about David - he had no boundaries. Here's a fun one from Very Greasy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfoY9CljQYk - Do You Wanna Dance with a vibrato'd out surf guitar solo in the middle. Or how about Werewolves of London on Night Music from 1989 with David Sanborn and his great house band - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQpBhjm4zL8 - I could go on all night.

Look - just go to youtube, pick practically anything with David prominently on it, play it, and then try to make an argument why it's not the greatest you've ever heard. Here's an example - it just came up on another thing I was listening to - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrlL1UNU2k4

OK, one more thing. Beyond all the songs, solos, accompaniment, and other music - his energy was so good. That's a huge part of any musician, to me.

Everything he ever did was my favorite! But sticking with "Steel Without Pedals", his short but incredible break in "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" on Very Greasy--who knew a steel guitar could sound so HUGE? (great outro too)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bitNeEaYqt8

And on the same album, "Never Knew Her"--his solo and outro, so immaculately perfect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riWJozjQroM

I did not pick up on David Lindley's work as an electric Steel player until I started getting into the steel guitar a few years back. But well before that I had this album by Shawn Colvin called Fat City, which I just thought was fabulous and played it all the time when I got it in the early to mid 90's. There is a song called Polaroids which is a wonderful piece of songwriting, performance and recording. Having listened to this I could not help but realise just how great the acoustic slide guitar fitted into the song. It was the perfect understated but tasteful playing I had heard and later found out it was David Lindley playing a Weissenborn. I was hooked!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=horoMF1dveo

I would advise anybody to listen to the whole recording to hear the guitar in context but the Weissenborn solo starts after 2:20 . He also adds little fills towards the end. This is how to enhance a recording with tasteful understated playing. Just the note choices and phrasing alone are sublime!

Gotta ride with the Mercury. A veritable clinic in the 12-bar blues in open D (or E) on 6-string lap steel.

Every solo he ever did on Mercury Blues.

I would have to throw this solo in there, Farther On with Jackson Browne. The tone, execution and sheer beauty of Mr. Lindley on the Bakelite Rickenbacher is just exquisite!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b7VsVKSzy0

Gotta throw in this great set of Mr. Dave and Wally Ingram:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQo1kU09Hvk

The solo and especially the outro on You Love the Thunder is my favorite guitar solo by anyone ever. What Lindley adds to a song which has a fairly simple melody is really breathtaking. Good musicians “serve the song.” Lindley elevates this song in a way no one else could have.
https://youtu.be/izxyq7WSZSE

One that always gets me is the intro and outro playing on Ragbag on El Rayo X live.

Another vote for "To Know Him Is To Love Him".

Ever since I got Jackson’s For Everyman album back around 1975’ I’ve had a deep respect for Mr Lindley. He’s all over that record with some of the best lap tones ever and some nice fiddle work too.

Favorite? I’ll call it tie, although they’re from opposite ends of the musical spectrum: “These Days” and “Redneck Friend.” RIP, Mr. Dave.