The Steel Guitar Forum

For me, the one song that really makes me stop and listen is the Conway Twitty version of "Hello Darlin'". Everytime I hear it with John Hughey playing steel I can't help but turn up the radio or stop what I'm doing. Of course, there are a lot of good and special songs out there but this one is my favorite and probably always will be.

I think 'Hello Darlin' picks up your ears because the hook is the title, the first thing you hear, done with that distinctive baritone voice. It's a lucky/good singer/writer that can hook you with the first two notes.
For me, a song like 'Teach Your Children' that launches right into a classic steel figure does the same. But when it's done vocally, I think that's what hooks.

Great observation Charlie.
Now that I think of it a Steel hook at the beginning grabs my attention.

There's no "one" song.
Examples; Panama Red, Look At Us, Someday Soon, Together Again, and many more.

If you're talking about tunes that get your attention, make you stop everything your doing, stand still, listen, and enjoy...
recent attention getters include:
Intro to All My Exes Live In Texas,
ET and "Waltz Across Texas" (Aw Buddy now...)
Patsy Cline "I Fall to Pieces"
Hank Thompson - "The Wild Side of Life"<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 24 June 2005 at 06:10 AM.]</p></FONT>

That Friday night in 71' when a 14 year old kid sat on the front row at a concert and Conway walked onto the stage and said "Hello Darlin'" was something but then John started playing and that kid melted in his seat and didn't move until the show was over. What really sealed it was when JH spent a few minutes with a kid he didn't know that had just started trying to learn steel guitar. I still remember Conway walking out like it was yesterday and speaking those two words. Now, 34 years later that kid is still grateful for that night long ago that crossed the paths of CT & JH. When I hear the song "Hello Darlin'" it brings back that wonderful night so long ago. Sure there's other great songs but this one is mine.

Oddly enough, mine is a Hughey tune, too; Lost In a Feeling.

I remember when I was in the house band at the Longhorn Ballroom, one of the acts coming through was Conway. I was pumped! I was in the dressing room early when a stage hand told me the bus had pulled up. I was, like, running out the door and dang near knocked Conway down and asked him "is John Hughey in there?" He gave me a real irritated "yes."

John let me carry his steel case to the stage and help him set it up!!!

So, to sum up:
Conway- a'hole
John- very cool

I wish I could say it was just one song, but, I can't. To me, just about any song with a pedal steel in it, perks my ears up. I've been at places where, they'll have backround music going, sometimes barely audible, and I'll immediately pick up a steel in the mix. I just love the sound of a steel guitar. So, to me there is no "Holy Grail" tune.

For me there are many songs that make me stop and listen,,But when Mr. Hughey intros "Look At Us",,,

Even though I've spent countless hrs. practicing and playing that song live, when I hear it I just have to stop and listen, John Hughey has so much "feeling" in it, and I wonder "Why" can't I do that!!

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Since I am "up the ladder" a good ways as far as age is concerned , I like the song on Ray Price's recent album titled ( as is the album ) "TIME" !

I tend to listen closer to the words in that song than I do most others since they are so applicable to us "oldies" ! I usually can't tell you but a few words in other songs since I listen almost totally to the steel guitar parts in a particular song . Especially when Buddy Emmons and John Hughey are backing the singer . This album of course has Buddy Emmons playing steel-- great as always !!!

This song "TIME" ,is an exception for me though ! It gets me to thinking and listening closer to the words each time I play it on the C.D. player.

John

Well, if I could pick one song to make me stop and listen, it would be hard because any song with good steel makes me stop and listen. "Look At Us" is one of those songs that makes me and a lot of steel players listen. One of the other songs that makes me stop and listen is "Rockin' Years", which is a tune by Ricky Van Shelton and Dolly Parton, featuring Paul Franklin on steel. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

Bright Lghts hard country Music. By moe Bandy. SONNY.

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"This Town's Not Big Enough"

Merle Haggard

For me it has always been "Under Your Spell Again" by Buck. I first heard it many years ago on WSM, while driving home from a gig.
The AM radio was breaking up up and fading in and out when Moon lit into it. I tried to find a spot to pull off on the shoulder before the break came and I wasn't dissapointed. He cleaned house on it.
We all aspire to the Emmons, Hughey,
Green finesse, but I have a sneaking feeling that when we all get to heaven, God is going to put on the kickoff to Buck & Rose's "Mental Cruelty", and say "Gentlemen,
this is what I meant for a steel guitar to sound like."
I have always loved Moon's in your face attitude, for the same reason I like Buddy Charleton's C6th playing. It is rowdy and has an attitude about it.

There is no one song for me but here are a token few of my favorites not in any particular order either:

Last Letter-Buddy Emmons, Pickin of Shot
Jukebox Charlie-Lloyd Lamar Green, Paycheck
In The Jailhouse Now-Buddy Charlton, E.T.
Another Story-Buddy Charlton, E.T.
How Much More Can She Stand-John Hughey, Conway

These will get any steel guitar lover's attention quick!

So many greats, but when I hear "Steelin" by Russ Hicks and Jimmie Crawford I have to stop and listen, and usually play over it again. "Night Life" kick off is a close second.

what about Bucks(Together Again ) with Tom B. doing the honors? A very simple but beautiful ride on the steel. Sometimes I feel we put to much in to song, like Jeff used to say, know when to back out.

Two of them do that.

Sleepwalk by Brian Setzer.

Couldn't Hurt to Have Wings. Marty Stuart.



EJL

Eric, I'm not familiar with that song by Marty... Which album is it on? Or was that a joke that flew over my head?

Respectfully,
Dave Burr<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Dave Burr on 26 June 2005 at 12:23 PM.]</p></FONT>

I'm sorry Dave, I meant Mark Chesnutt. I don't know why I think of MS when I hear it. Possibly did he play on it? I dunno. Kind of that Five Chord Chorusy Verse thing that grabs me. Kind of a "What a way to Live" thing..

Another one I like is Adelida (sp?).

There are more or them like Hank Jr's Big Mamoo, The Twist and Shout, and others with a cajun flavor that I'll stop and turn up.

I'm getting to the point in my life that I guess I didn't stop and listen as much in the past figuring I had tons of years to hear them again...



EJL

Good story songs make me stop and listen. Stuff like Steve Goodman's "City Of New Orleans", Tom T. Hall's "Watermelon Wine", Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles", or John Duffy's "Bringing Mary Home" always make me stop and reflect...there's plain ol' songwriters, and then there's, occasionally, real genius writers who can tell wonderful stories with their songs.

Oh. Steel guitar? Well, in that case, it would have to be something I haven't heard before that would make me take pause.

'I can't Quit You Babe' by Led Zeppelin coming out of a transistor radio stopped me dead in my tracks when I was a 16 year old kid trying to figure out Beatle songs, Stones, etc.

Something about Jimmy Page's guitar sound and the blues that just grabbed me.

It was at that moment I discovered what soul was all about.

It still gives me chills.

Terry<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Terry Edwards on 26 June 2005 at 07:14 PM.]</p></FONT>

Sorry, Conway Twitty's music just doesn't do anything for me. Most of the stuff I listen to closely is rock, not country. As of late the song I've been listening to quite closely is 'One Of These Days' by Pink Floyd. I can hear a bass guitar with echo and tremolo, an organ with a Leslie speaker, cymbal sounds recorded backwards, and some kind of steel guitar thing happening with lots of distortion (either lap steel or six string guitar played lap style).

Eric,
Is that 'Adelita,' the song of the Mexican Revolution? I've had it in my head for years....

Eric, Now I know which one you're talking about. Great song. Actually that was a really great album (Wings).


Respectfully,
Dave Burr

I've got a list of 'em too long for this deal. Sultans of Swing/Dire Straits, Good Vibrations/Beach Boys, Don't Let Me Down/Beatles, I Fall To Pieces/Patsy Cline,Peace on You/Charlie Rich more recent songs like Times Like These/Foo Fighters. I throw these out because its a pretty eclectic mix and I'm a musical mutt.

But Hey-Conway! It's Only Make Believe is on my list-one of the great songs of all-time!

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Mark