The Steel Guitar Forum

Last night we went to see the movie, The Hours, at the Galleria. A nice theatre complex with stadium seating. Prior to the shows, they torture the audience with a dumb slide show, sponsored by Coca Cola accompanied by the worst music available. I remember one time being momentarily relieved by a Kenny G selection. During last nights selections, at one point, Elton John's TINY DANCER started. It didn't sound like Elton, but I was so numb from everything that preceded it, I thought my perceptions were off and I was looking forward to the point where BJ Cole comes in on his Emmons. When I did an "air guitar" at the point where BJ is supposed to come in, there was nothing there, no steel, no nothing. I could tell it made the people sitting near me uncomfortable, like, was this guy having "brain problems" and maybe we should sit farther away from him, in case he has a full-fledged attack during the movie.

Tim, baby mama dude, you got to get a different producer. If you are going to cover something as familiar as TINY DANCER, you should at least try to make it as good or better or at least interesting. When you leave out important "signature" fills, yes I know, it was the bad for pop sales, steel guitar, but I heard a little steel guitar buried in the backround, so you had one at the session. So, come on man, if you're gonna wear the hat, put the steel guitar in there so we can hear it.

I too was at the movies this weekend, and when they announced that Tim McGraw was singing an Elton John song, I thought, now that's what country music should sound like. Yeah, RIGHT. It just goes to show you how far away from country music, country music has gone. Yes, I also heard some steel in the background, but that does not make it country. I really wish that those in the business, would take a stand and refuse to sing songs that don't reflect the true country sound. They are trying to reach an audience that is so far removed from what true country music is, that it might never recover. They should really try to reach the millions of older people in this country that still love to hear the traditional sounds of the steel guitar and fiddles of our youth. I am only 58, but I grew up listening to the sounds of Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Ray Price, Webb Pierce, Red Sovine, Faron Young, Marty Robbins, and many others. Let's put country music back to where it belongs, and let Elton John sing his own songs.

Dennis

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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dennis Atkins on 13 January 2003 at 11:34 AM.]</p></FONT>

You mean Tim " how do ya like my hat and muscles " didn't do a standup cover of Tiny Dancer ?

..no way....

I heard it on the radio the other day and gave it about 20 seconds before I moved on..

Why is it a pop star like Elton John will use a Steel Guitar , and way up front..but a supposed Country Star , covering a pop tune that was Country flavored with Steel all over it will not ...?

He needs bigger Hats....

"Do not attempt to adjust your TV sets..you are now in the Twilight Zone..."<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 13 January 2003 at 12:02 PM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Why is it a pop star like Elton John will use a Steel Guitar , and way up front..but a supposed Country Star , covering a pop tune that was Country flavored with Steel all over it will not ...?</SMALL>

Queer, isn't it? Such is the musical perversity of contemporary Nashville.

that irritated me too, as the Elton John original had B. J. Cole's pedal steel UP FRONT in the mix for all the world to hear. I think it is a song that, in the right hands, could legimately be a good country song. However, given the Nashvegas mentality, that just wasn't going to happen. I am sure Elton doesn't mind the royalty checks...

I got to see Elton live a few years back and he had John Jorgensen in the band as a guitarist..... and fortunately for us steel fans, John got to play steel on Tiny Dancer.

BTW, another great Elton song with steel on it is Country Comfort from his Tumbleweed Connection album.

Saw Tim and Elton do "Tiny Dancer" on the American Music Awards last night. The performance was great, and there was steel guitar! of course IMHO!

Well Tim, what can I say. I didn't see the awards show, I don't have a tv and I was out in the studio working on my next album, yup, all steel guitar, sorta, but I read the article in the paper. There's a nice photo of you with Elton, you've got the hat and your shirt is open, there's a photo of Shania and her shirt's open too and there's a quote from Alabama where they said that they are "at the creative end of their music." I can't help but think that they are speaking for all of you.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by chas smith on 14 January 2003 at 10:47 AM.]</p></FONT>