Simple arrangements with steel guitar

Tim Windsor · Post by **Tim Windsor** » 14 Oct 2023 2:30 pm

I was talking with my bandmates the other day about Wiilie Nelson and his amazing body of work over so many years. My mate Mike mentioned that his favourite Willie recordings were some early demos that were pretty much just Willie, acoustic guitar with steel guitar accompaniment (possibly Jimmy Day?).

This got me curious about a couple of things - 1) what album or recordings was Mike thinking of? And 2) are there other great examples of albums that feature simple singer-songwriter arrangements where steel guitar is the main accompanying instrument? Of course there are countless great records with great steel playing, but most haver fuller, traditional country arrangements with rhythm section, fiddle etc. I’m more curious about sparse, simple arrangements, where the steel is particularly featured.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 14 Oct 2023 2:51 pm

Well there’s Larkin Poe but Megan Lovell uses non-pedal steel.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 14 Oct 2023 4:00 pm

Yes:
Music Albums / Vince Gill & Paul Franklin

Bakersfield
Vince Gill, 2013

Sweet Memories: The Music Of Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys
Vince Gill, 2023

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 14 Oct 2023 5:55 pm

This got me curious about a couple of things (1) what album or recordings was Mike thinking of? And are there other great examples of albums that feature simple singer-songwriter arrangements where steel guitar is the main accompanying instrument? Of course there are countless great records with great steel playing, but most haver fuller, traditional country arrangements with rhythm section, fiddle etc. I’m more curious about sparse, simple arrangements, where the steel is particularly featured.

I don't know of any such album. He said it was a demo, so it's possible it was never a major release? Anyhow, and unfortunately, the music world (especially big stars and their labels) are pretty much averse to giving pedal steel "front-and-center" attention. To them, it's just flavoring, and can never be the main ingredient. I don't know why, maybe they just don't want the "old country connection". Maybe there aren't that many non-pro steelers that could pull it off. For sure, the big names (even though they are big names) are pretty much constricted as to what they (pedal steelers) contribute. And I suppose the artists are in the same boat, they must walk a very narrow line, and they don't get too much say as to instrumentation and overall sound.

While the ones Ricky mentioned are great songs with great playing, they're more or less what I'd call the "standard", popular type arrangements. Without really racking my brain, there's only one song I can think of that might fill the bill, one song that might fit your preference. This is it:

https://www.reverbnation.com/stanhitchc ... -hitchcock

(Enjoy it now, while you can. It was taken down from YouTube, and will probably be pulled from of this site too. I don't think they're exactly crazy about us pedal steelplayers, and what we do.)

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 14 Oct 2023 9:12 pm

Doesn't get any better than this.....Michael Nesmith, with just Red Rhodes on steel, the entire album. They just came out with an expanded version, too.

Enjoy!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5 ... dmkKBzwH4z

Tim Windsor · Post by **Tim Windsor** » 15 Oct 2023 12:58 pm

Thanks for those suggestions and links, will enjoy checking those out.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 16 Oct 2023 7:36 am

Yes, thanks Jim! That's a rare bird I'd never heard of.

Jim Pollard · Post by **Jim Pollard** » 16 Oct 2023 8:51 am

You've inspired me to go back and listen to Charley Pride "In Person" recorded live at Panther Hall in Texas. Lloyd Green was the steel player and it's sparse and sublime.

Charlie Hansen · Post by **Charlie Hansen** » 16 Oct 2023 9:01 am

There's a project called "Things To Remember - The Pamper Demos" that features a number of early Willie Nelson recordings form 1959-71 that feature pedal steel very prominently. It's available on youtube.

Here's a sample: https://youtu.be/1kmCSzD5F8o?si=VS46GPzDR8uSSGTw

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 16 Oct 2023 10:18 am

Lloyd Green recorded several albums with Peter Cooper that I think might be up your alley. Lloyd's pedal steel is not the only instrument, but the arrangements are mostly pretty sparse and his steel is by far the predominant instrument on most tracks.

Here's a pretty detailed post I wrote last year on these albums, if you or anyone is interested. Well worth checking out if you don't know this music already.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=387015

Tim Windsor · Post by **Tim Windsor** » 16 Oct 2023 6:37 pm

I've just been listening to the Mike Nesmith album- great stuff indeed Jim. Charlie- that may well be the album Mike was thinking of. And Pete- I'll check out the Peter Cooper stuff with Lloyd, sounds really interesting. I have heard the Panther Hall album, but I've been meaning to revisit that one too. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 17 Oct 2023 5:44 am

I was skimming this quickly to make sure I wasn't duplicating someone's post and....yep, Pete Finney got there way before me.
It is such a great showcase for Lloyd in a singer/songwriter context.

Gil James · Post by **Gil James** » 17 Oct 2023 6:21 am

Thanks for posting this Pete. Fantastic collaboration,Cooper/Green! Doesn't get much better than that.

Travis Bubenik · Post by **Travis Bubenik** » 17 Oct 2023 7:26 am

Charlie Hansen wrote:There's a project called "Things To Remember - The Pamper Demos" that features a number of early Willie Nelson recordings form 1959-71 that feature pedal steel very prominently. It's available on youtube.

Here's a sample: https://youtu.be/1kmCSzD5F8o?si=VS46GPzDR8uSSGTw

It's SUCH a good collection. I think the version of Undo the Right on that one is my all-time favorite Willie recording:

https://youtu.be/8aE3wBbAoUs?si=zhXJGz78NYLmm8WV

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 17 Oct 2023 8:03 am

https://www.discogs.com/release/1011020 ... -To-Me-Now

This LP has a lot of that type of thing. I don't recall if there's steel on everything, but there is quite a bit....all Jimmy Day. There are a few cuts with some strings too. This was 1975 and with a few exceptions, more mellow Willie than in later years. It's a great listen, unless you're in a melancholy mood, in which case it may overcome you.

Title cut, A Long Long Time Ago, I'm a Memory, Don't Wake Me, several others about unrequited love. I believe this fits the paramters of your search.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 17 Oct 2023 8:46 am

Included with the first 3000 copies of Johnny Bush's 2002 album "Green Snakes" was a second CD of music from Johnny's 1962 demo session in Ft. Worth featuring Willie Nelson and Tom Morrell on steel. I was able to find a YouTube of one of the tracks, "Among The Living Dead":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GStHN_No8m0

Keep picking'!
Glenn

Tim Windsor · Post by **Tim Windsor** » 17 Oct 2023 12:51 pm

Superb gentlemen, some gems being unearthed here.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 21 Oct 2023 5:28 pm

I enjoyed his playing and Nesmith was a creative writer and singer. Red does some cool licks here.

Michael Drury · Post by **Michael Drury** » 25 Oct 2023 5:22 am

I love finding stuff like this too. A great one is Yvette Landrys album Me & T-Coe's Country with Richard Comeaux on steel. The whole thing is vocals acoustic guitar and steel.