The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a couple of Tammy Wynette vinyl albums from sometime in the 70's. There are no musician credits on either. I may be mistaken, but I'd have to say that most of the steel on them was probably by Pete Drake.
To me, he had an unmistakeable sound and style, and as I'm unaware of any Pete Drake "sound-a-likes" can anyone confirm my suspicion ? (..wonder if Brett Day will come in here..?)
I've never heard a professionally produced record where a steel player played constantly from beginning to end, but, IMHO, P.D. was a master at doing the "get in and get out" playing, always leaving the listener wanting to hear more. (Isn't there some kind of advice along the lines .."It's not what you play, but what you DON'T play. . ." ? )
Also, anyone out there with any opinion/comments about any other unique, "one-off" steel player(s) ?

Pete Drake was the steel player on Tammy Wynette's song "Stand By Your Man". If "Stand By Your Man" is on the record, you will hear Pete Drake, who not only played on that song. He also invented what is called the "Talking Steel Guitar". Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

<SMALL>and as I'm unaware of any Pete Drake "sound-a-likes" </SMALL>

Paul Franklin, when he wishes, one reason he's so cool!

I do know that as the '70s progressed Pete Drake moved more to his publishing company (Window Shade?.... memory fails) and did less session work.


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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Brett, the albums are "Best of T.W." & "Another Lonely Song", and yes, Stand By Your Man is on one of them. Among the songs are - Lonely Street; D-I-V-O-R-C-E; Apmt. #9; My Arms Stay Open Late; I Don't Wanna Play House; Satin Sheets; Help Me Make It Thru The Night; Crying Steel Guitar + others.
BTW - for some time way back in the 70's I had his "Talking Steel Guitar" album. I'm not too sure but he may have had 2 albums out with the talking steel guitar ?

I'm pretty sure all that is Pete Drake, except "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" which is Lloyd Green. I'm also pretty sure he did several albums with the "talking steel".

Dan Dugmore's played on some things where he was pretty clearly "inspired" by Pete Drake; for instance Patty Loveless and George Jones: "You Don't Seem to Miss Me".<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Pete Finney on 11 January 2006 at 03:08 AM.]</p></FONT>

A little note to Brett Day: It seems to me I've heard that Alvino Rey was using some Talking Steel Guitar effects even before Pete Drake.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a real hard-core Pete Drake fan. But I have doubts that he was the FIRST with the Talking Steel technique.

Jim; Pete used his talking steel behind many artists, and I have a few of them. Albums among them are, "Forever" 1964, and "The incredible Pete Drake" 1967.

Burr; yes Alvino Rey was the first and Pete was the next, according to Les Paul, who helped yours truly build one in 1967. It was crude, but worked well at the time.

Fuzzy

Here's a link for some of you "Pete Drake fans" http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-894

Great article Jim. Thanks a load!

Fuzzy

Those pictures were taken at"Pete's Place"...a great hang back in the"olden times"('70s)...

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http://home.comcast.net/~steves_garage

Ditto Jim, thanks for the post.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Oh yeah, real nice audios on your web site Steve, seems I hear a little Hal Rug influence in there.

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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Pete had a great imagination, and a way to make simple licks memorable, that's why he was in such demand...his "hooks". Two of my favorite Drake intro's are "Drinkin' Thing" by Gary Stewart, and "So Many Ways To Love A Man" by Tammy Wynette.

Thanks David!I loved Hal Rugg and his playing...thanks for listening!

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http://home.comcast.net/~steves_garage

Hello everyone,This Pete Drake topic cought my eye... When I was 7 yrs old I saw a photo of Pete Drake on an album called Nashville steel guitar(various artists) I still have that album. He plays "Star gazing" "For Petes sake" "Southern Sunday" and several others.Pete had a "sound" that was unmistakable and for many years this young lad would not buy an a country album unless Pete was playing on it ! I convinced myself at 8 yrs old that no-one in the world was a bigger Pete Drake fan than me. I have two albums of the 39th and 40th anneversary of the grand ole opry when pete wes the opry steel player, his steel playing is so memorable from those alums on songs from Glenn barber "stronger than dirt" and Adrian Roland "exactly like him" and Red Sovine "Giddy up go". Has anyone heard these albums? Im almost 50 yrs old now and although I am overwhelmed by the superb steel players of the last 35 years Pete Drake Made a massive impact in the 60s and its great to see his name mentioned occasionally. Im still a big admirer now but I do realise that he did not have the superb technique of Buddy Emmons but he had an unmistakable sound and yes, a way of making simple licks sound superb and left us wanting more. I'll sign off now before my enthusiasm bubbles over.

Remember this one by Pete? http://freefilehosting.net/?id=q9r3l6nd

A great example of his effective work is the Ray Charles/Willie rendition Seven Spanish
Angels.
I was a big fan,,,still am.

Alan, I do have that album, and a few other Starday labeled LPs. Pete and Jack Drake were friends of my folks, and so as a kid (about 8 also) I would see these arrive in the mail (two instrumental Troubador's LPs as well). One I have is autographed (to my sister, not me). Some real great stuff for sure. Pete also helped my mom get her D8 Sho~Bud built which made her the first pedal steel player in the Sacramento area. Come to think of it, I was a very lucky kid!


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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Hi again Roy And David, Seven spanish angels ....a beautiful example of the heart that pete drake had for the feelings in a lyric and he did this prolifically. and David , yes you were one lucky kid.Living here in the UK we were isolated from most of what you enjoyed, the internet has given us brits a lot more access to lots of great stuff.I always wished i could meet Pete at some point in my life but never did, I have a signed photo and a letter on headed note paper (from the desk of Pete Drake)what a thrill that was for a 15 year old lad when I recieved it. What was he like in character ? From things I have read over the years he seemed very much a people sort of guy. I have really enjoyed reading you replies and other postings on the forum if anyone has more pete drake stuff I for one will absorb it all. Regards Alan.

Buddy Emmons also did a "talking steel guitar" back-up on "Hey Good Lookin'" by a female artist who's name escapes me at the moment!

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Dino

Amen to all the posts above.

What got me listening to country music in the first place was David Allan Coe's "When She's Got Me Where She Wants Me" which I later learned featured Pete Drake with those solid unforgettable fills.

Dean - I think that was Buddy "talking" on Burnt Fingers as well ......

Scotty Sanders also has a lot of Pete Drake in his playing. Also, I have a gospel album from the late 70s with Tommy Dodd and I could sware it was Pete!

Alan, I never meet Pete Drake, as I was too young to attend the Califoria gigs, and my folks never took me to Nashville (Drat!). For my sister's high school graduation she spent a week in Nashville with Pete showing her the town, including the Opry and a jam session with Jerry Bryd! When I graduated from high school I got a Timex! .

The folks however always had only very kind things to say about Pete Drake.


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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com