The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm sure you all have an arsenal of Christmas tunes you play over the holidays.

I found one ditty over on PF's home page that I love. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"..

I've been learning this piece and I can't believe how well it sets on the E9th. Beautiful song..

Ric,

That tune is also at the beginning of the Christmas carol medley on Buddy Emmons, "Christmas Sounds of the Steel Guitar." It's on track #11.

He makes the steel sound almost like a pipe organ on that cut. The clarity is amazing.

Rick

I have always been fascinated by Christmas music. So many songs, and yet their "essence" is all the same. Their popularity is almost universal, and very, very seldom do you hear someone say..."I can't stand _____" (fill in a Christmas song title).

I suppose my favorite is "O' Little Town of Bethlehem", played slowly, and entirely with chords...music of the angels!

I can't stand Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.

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Rick Richtmyer
Good News

A friend of mine recorded a song called "Santa Must Have Lost His Way Last Night". It's a guy explaining to his kids why there aren't any toys under the tree. Very sad...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>I have always been fascinated by Christmas music. So many songs, and
yet their "essence" is all the same. Their popularity is almost universal,
and very, very seldom do you hear someone say..."I can't stand _____"
(fill in a Christmas song title).</SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I find this to be true,(except I agree with Rick on that song)..

Musically, the classics are beautiful and a challenge to get the feel and emotions right.

Lots of cool chord changes..

Buck Owens "Blue Christmas Lights"

Fantastic Tom Brumley!

Once again Rick, I'm with ya' on that one also!

And I just love Porky Pigs version of "Blue Christmas" !

Alabama's "Christmas in Dixie" is one of our most heartfelt requests during the Holidays, and IMHO is perhaps one of the top 10 Christmas songs ever written.

George Strait has a good Christmas Album,Strait to you for Christmas or something like that.Good Stuff.Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Once again, we have to hand it over to one of the finest songwriter/musician of this
live great ERA in HISTORY...............

"LITTLE SAINT NICK", by Brian Wilson.

Ric-
You are so right. It seems like all the Christmas songs sound so beautiful on the Pedal Steel Guitar. It seems to be a perfect instrument for those and also for Gospel songs too. Those nice changes from E to A which is so natural on E9. I like to play all of them.
One of the my favorites for modern, is "the Christmas song", Lot of great chords there. I have that video of Curly Chalker playing that and he really did a great job on it!....al

Funny you should ask... My western swing band, Beats Walkin', is recording a "winter holiday" album this weekend. It'll be an "E.P." (extended play) rather than full-length, and all the tunes will swing. They include:

Run, Rudolph, Run!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (swing style!)
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
My Window Faces the North (Pole!)
... and an original Beats Walkin' tune called "I'm Gettin' Nothing for Christmas", which has got to be the best Hannukah song written in the last 5,000 years or so (from the same twisted mind that gave you "On-Line Lover". )

The album should be available in a few weeks.

I Love Reba's "I'll be home for Christmas" ,
with it's walking bass line and the steel, it puts some real kick in the holidays.
Start your shopping!!!!!

Ric,
You can purchase the Christmas Cd at:
Franklin Guitar Company
712 May Drive,
Madison, Tn. 37115

Theresa,

What is the cost? I want to order one.

God bless,

carl

Alan Jackson's "If You Don't Wanna See Santa Claus" (from the "Honky Tonk Christmas" CD) is worth the price of the CD! It has one Paul's most memorable rides.

Carl.. Right here...
It is $16.00, U.S.
http://www.paul-franklin.com/music.htm

Great Stuff!! <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ric Epperle on 03 October 2000 at 03:00 PM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks Rick

God bless,

carl

I have heard Beats Walkin's I'M GETTIN' NOTHIN' FOR CHRISTMAS and it's a scream. Get this EP. You'll love it.

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