Songs about steel guitar(s)

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 24 Apr 2003 7:26 am

Paul
I have recordings of Shorty Long.

Im older than John and yourself.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 24 Apr 2003 8:44 am

"i was dreamin' of a steel guitar engagement.."
Let it Bleed - Rolling Stones

Bob Miano · Post by **Bob Miano** » 24 Apr 2003 10:13 am

Steel guitar may only be mentioned,
but can also be found referenced in: "Rock That Boogie" by Commander Cody, "Cosmic Cowboy" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,
and "Don't Rock The Jukebox" by Alan Jackson.

Bob
Bergenfield, New Jersey
[This message was edited by Bob Miano on 24 April 2003 at 11:14 AM.]

Danny Spinks · Post by **Danny Spinks** » 24 Apr 2003 10:14 am

Little Jonah (Rock On Your Steel Guitar)

Brenda Lee - 1958

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 24 Apr 2003 4:18 pm

Alan Jackson's song "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow's" got a line that says, "Daddy won a radio, he tuned it to a country show, I was rockin' in the cradle to the cryin' of a steel guitar" in the first verse. Brett Day, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 25 Apr 2003 7:39 am

Hey Lem!
Great to see your name again!

I always thought that Kathy Mattea song
was pretty cool that mentioned:
"Eddie played the steel guitar--
His Mama cried cause he played the bars"

Great post Lem!

------------------
Eddie B.
Carter D-10
8 & 2many
msm@tycom.net

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 25 Apr 2003 9:22 am

Wow, didn't realize there were that many songs concerning steel! Keep 'em coming!

Hi Eddie, great to hear from you as well. I thought of that song after I made my post but didn't go back and add it. Glad that you did.

Take care, and maybe we can have an area steel jam before long.

Lem

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 25 Apr 2003 10:15 am

KebMo,"When Henry played the Steel Guitar".

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 25 Apr 2003 10:19 am

Rod Stewart's "Mandolin Wind" ...

<pre>
Oh I never was good with romantic words
so the next few lines come really hard
Don't have much but what I've got is yours
except of course my steel guitar
Ha, 'cause I know you don't play
but I'll teach you one day
because I love ya
</pre>

ZZ Top's "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" ...

<pre>
The crowd gets loud when the band gets right,
Steel guitar cryin' through the night.
Yeah, try'n to cover up the corner fight
but ev'rything's cool 'cause they's just tight.
</pre>

------------------

www.horseshoemagnets.com

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 25 Apr 2003 10:34 am

In the early 70s Danny O'Keefe had a thing out - I think it was just called "Steel Guitar" It was a kind of moderate boogie shuffle w/bluesy steel fills and solo and the lyric told a story about a girl whose daddy was a steel player who got killed in the war and so she picked it up and became a steel player too.One part went something like: "Her daddy always told her she'd go very far with an easy smile and a steel guitar - a real guitar". When I heard the tune again years later,it sounded less like steel to me and more like slide guitar. But I just read where Sneaky Pete Kleinow had once recorded w/Danny O'Keefe.Any body else remember that tune? -MJ-

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 25 Apr 2003 10:55 am

Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Ballad of Curtis Loew" ....

<pre>
Old Curt was a black man with white curly hair
When he had a fifth of wine he did not have a care
He used to own an old dobro, used to play it across his knee
I'd give old Curt my money, he'd play all day for me

Play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
I got your drinking money, tune up your dobro
People said he was useless, them people are the fools
'Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues

</pre>[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 25 April 2003 at 11:55 AM.]

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 27 Apr 2003 4:04 am

Paul

Seeing you mention Himmelriech's Grove sure brings back memories. It's where I played my first gig with Dick Saintclair, and his Western Troubadors, when I was 14 years old. The place used to get packed with people as there was no TV in those days. LOL! Parks like those were always jumping. Anyhow, to say I was scared to death is an under-statement. As I remember, we shared the billing that night with Shorty and Dolly. One of the nicest parks we used to play was Hegins Park, up in Schuylkill County. Do you remember the Oley Valley Hoedowners? They used to follow us wherever we played, both indoors, and outdoors at the parks. We played every friday night at the Kirbyville Hotel, and when they would get to clogging it would shake the whole building. LOL!! I often wondered why the floor never collapsed.

Happy pickin'

Harry

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 27 Apr 2003 4:58 am

Harry: I wish I could have been there to cheer you on !! Himmelrieche's was closer to Robesonia than Shorty's place was so we spent more time there. I never got to Hegins Park.

I saw Hank Williams Sr, Carl Smith and all the big acts from the 40s at HG. Sometimes we would take our small Indian motorcycles up into the woods behind the seating area and watch the show from up there. Minnie Pearl was there one sunday night and we were putting our spotlights on her.

She said: You boys behave yourselves now or I'll come up there ! And she did just that.
Scared us a bit but now I recall it fondly.

One time Homer and Jethro put on a phony argument and they went off stage and up into the woods arguing. The management put on the next act and while they were singing, here comes Homer and Jethro out of the woods, arm in arm playing and singing like nothing had ever happened.

And I especially recall Webb Pirce had my first sighting of a pedal steel guitar at the Grove. It was a Bigsby and had masking tape over the front of the guitar so I asked the player if he was Bud Issacs and he replied no but I can't recall who he said he was because I didn't recognize on the name. He played all those original pedal sounds though.

Yes a lot of people had a lot of fun at those parks. It was the in thing to do and they did have large followings on their radio shows as well.

I have heard of the Oley Valley Hoedowners but never saw them. We used to go to a square (and round) dance in Shartlesville on friday nights and there was a really good electric mandolin player at those. Tommy Vollmer told me his name as he knew him very well, but I have forgotten that as well.

And I thank you as well for the memories !!

Regards, Paul

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Apr 2003 8:07 am

Hey Donny...Thanks for the correction. Strange, I have an old (fake book) sheet music copy which does say "steel guitars". I always thought it to be rather strange as it is a "Mexican" related song. Steel guitars are seldom heard in Mexico. I'll have to dig up that old Gene Autry recording and listen to what he sang.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 27 Apr 2003 9:32 am

Paul; The steel player with the Bigsby, that you saw with Webb Pierce was probably my good friend Sonny Burnett! He's the one who first told me about a new steelguitar co. just stating up, in '57 called Sho-Bud, and I ordered one of the earliest dbl.-8's, with 5 pedals and my name inlaid,for $650. Somewhere between #2 and #6. Weren't those the "days"? "Big John" http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohBechtels

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 27 Apr 2003 10:14 am

John: I wish I could say for sure that it was Sonny but the year I was thinking about was around '53. About the time Slowly had first come out. What messes me up here is that I was in the USAF at the time and I was in and out of there on leaves from tech schools or going overseas. I was in Korea all of '52 so I missed a lot right there and I went right back to Japan in '54 so I have a lot of gaps as you can see.

But it sure is a lot of fun going back and reliving those days. I am enjoying this and once again we have b0b to thank for this portal to the past.

Regards, Paul

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 27 Apr 2003 7:26 pm

Paul & John

Ain't it a shame we all don't live close to each other, so we sould sit around and shoot the s**t about the good old days. My memory isn't near as good as it used to be, so when you guys talk about some of those old times it sorta jogs my old dead brain. LOL!!

Happy pickin'
Harry

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 28 Apr 2003 4:28 am

But Harry; that's what makes this Forum such a great place to be on ! I doubt I will ever get through saying Thank You to b0b !!
I wish my retirement checks were a bit larger so I could help him and Graham out with the dollars. And as soon as that happens you can bet your boots I will.

Regards, Paul

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 28 Apr 2003 11:07 am

Paul

Ditto on everything you said.

Harry