The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm sitting here, as I type this, listening to the CD "Transparent Music" by steel guitarist, BJ Cole from the UK. Though I've had the CD for several months, I haven't really ever sat down and gave this a full hearing until now. It's so lovely. There are many classical music adaptations on this beautiful CD. Right now, I'm listening to "Pavane Pour Une Enfante Defunte" by Ravel, which is astonishingly gorgeous. And the beautiful orchestral string arrangements behind the steel just make it even more beautiful.

If you want to hear lovely, moving steel guitar in a completely fresh setting that will change the way you think about this instrument, do get a hold of this CD. Five stars!

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www.jimcohen.com

IMHO, his follow up CD called "In the heart of the moment" is even better.

I haven't heard his 3rd CD called "Stop the panic" yet, but it's on my list.

Mike, funny you should bring up Stop the Panic. I'm listening to it right now.

BJ and I have been friends for 24 years, and we try to get together when he comes stateside. This year he came to SXSW, and came over to the house to play Bigsbys and listen to Joaquin. He also left me a copy of Stop the Panic.

It's awesome, incredibly musical IMHO, but with this caveat to the forum: you must be one of the adventurous members of our fraternity to really dig this stuff. I do, a lot. Chas Smith, Jim Cohen, Bob Hoffnar, Susan Alcorn and Mike Perlowin are among those whom I feel will really get into this stuff.

It's heavily loaded with synthesized rhythmic stuff, synthesized orchestral passages, and hip-hop style vocals, very urban. But also influences of western swing, Hawaiian, jazz fusion and even bluegrass banjo show up. Kind of like Hammer, Wendy Carlos, and Joe Zawinul having a jam session with Earl Scruggs, Buddy Emmons, Speedy West and Santo and Johnny.

I am not exaggerating. I'm listening to it as I post, and it rocks. Gorgeous music.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

I guess I am in the fraternity, because I love that stop the panic CD. It's cool, because the steel itself is really pretty traditional, but the setting kills me. It's probably a character defect...

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www.tyacktunes.com

Gee Guys let me in !
i can't Stop the Panic either ...
Steel what ?

It is a great album -- one of my favorites.
(oh, m'gawd, does that mean that I might be twisted 'round that same helix? -- spooky thought)

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Emmons D-10 9x9, 1971 Dobro

Add me to that twisted list. I had a pre-release cassette of that long before it hit the stores, and love it. I have been a BJ fan for years...

If I'm not mistaken, BJ also played on some Elton John albums. Hes quite a talented player. Duane Becker

Hi SGF:

I first hear portions of B.J. Cole's "Transparent Music" as filler music on a PBS radio station in Los Angeles during the early 1990's. I telephoned the radio station and they gave me information about the music. I purchased the CD shortly thereafter and I've always enjoyed listening to it.

One thing I really find interesting with this album is that somtimes you can't tell if the music is from the pedal steel guitar or the keyboard? These instruments at times appear "transparant" and even after listening to this ablum so many times, I'm remain fooled. Listen to it yourself and see if you agree with my ovservation.

I'm still not really familar with Cole's steel guitar music but for this album. I did purchase a country music LP (I don't remember the name of the album but I still have it somewhere in my 1,000+ LP collection) some years later because it featured Cole on pedal steel. Unfortunately, his performance on that album was very lackluster.

I certain will look for the two newer CD's that Cole has recorded now that I read from this subject thread that their quality equals or exceeds the "Transparant Music" CD.

Thanks for the information.

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Regards,
Al Gershen
Grants Pass, Oregon. USA
Fender 1000 (1957),
Fender PS 210 (1972) &
Gibson Electraharp EH-820
(1962)
Photos at http://www.rvi.net/~aldg and http://communities.msn.com/AldgsPhotos/_whatsnew.msnw

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>I guess I am in the fraternity, because I love that stop the panic CD. It's cool, because the steel itself is really pretty traditional, but the setting kills me. It's probably a character defect...
</SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Dan, I guess there are more with this defect, love it too!
regards, JJ<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Johan Jansen on 12 August 2001 at 02:37 PM.]</p></FONT>

There's a copy of Transparent Music on eBay right now, going off auction in just under an hour from now! Right now it's only $5, with $3 shipping in the USA. I received a note from BJ today, and the disc is now out of print so this is your chance to get one at a super price. Go for it! here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1175175839

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www.jimcohen.com

In like his work on "Alone with everybody" by Richard Ashcroft, formerly of The Verve. But "Panic" is surely great.

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martin abend Pedal-Steel in Germany
s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 - Regal RD45 - fender hotrod deluxe

Another thing about BJ that is interesting in the light of some of the recent "What kind of music doesn't sound good on PSG" threads. When he was in Austin last spring BJ was telling me that the latest album he played on was by a Rap band from London. Apparantly it was quite a big seller over there. Can't remember the name of the band though.

I've heard cuts from the "Stop the Panic" cd on HBO's "Sex and the City", while shopping at both the Gap and J Crew, and last night, on a new Holiday Inn commercial (the one where the elderly lady gets a hole in one on the golf course).


My favorite track from that cd is the last cut with the Ray Price samples. Hilarious!


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by P Gleespen on 14 August 2001 at 09:35 AM.]</p></FONT>

B.J. also played on some stuff by the band A6? the ones that do the 'Sopranos ' Theme.

I just recieved 'The Heart of the Moment' today in the mail from Amazon. Will have to give it a listen.

Allmusic.com has a great listing of B.J.s credits.

I got to meet with B.J. at SXSW in March and see him play some late night Jam with a bunch of guys including Ponty Bone. Also talked with him at the Texicali Grill during the big Jam.

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Regards, Craig