Thought I'd post a few tracks from 1975, of a band I was in.
Someone recorded a gig on their reel to reel with just a couple of mics. It's not great quality as I've only just found a copy I had on cassette. The steel sounds very brittle and there's plenty of mistakes.
Thanks for posting the clips Tony, I enjoyed your playing (and the bright tone too). Do you recall what steel, amp and mics were used? For live reel to reel recordings copied to cassette nearly 40 years ago it sounds very clear!
Funnily enough I can remember the gig almost like it was yesterday. The reason being, a long time friend of mine and the lad who did the recording, turned up.
It was actually at a town near here, Bishops Stortford - Hospital Social Club. Quite handy really, as the injuries to hearing were able to be dealt with very quickly.(The remedy - cotton wool.)
They couldn't unfortunately help the band, as there were no Psychiatric facilities.
Tony Smart wrote:
It was actually at a town near here, Bishops Stortford - Hospital Social Club. Quite handy really, as the injuries to hearing were able to be dealt with very quickly.(The remedy - cotton wool.)
They couldn't unfortunately help the band, as there were no Psychiatric facilities.
Thanks for sharing Tony....amazing....almost 40 years ago! Around that time I was playing a lot of those types of clubs around the south east (on drums - didnt really know what a pedal steel was at that point ) Doing a lot of covers songs.
Roger
Tony that was brilliant...the good old days. Was the Band "Cross Country" with Alan Forsyth on lead?
I remember the gig I first met you. It was the "Corn Exchange" Bury St Edmunds. It was a festival with like 5 bands equiptment on stage. Pat Campbell was the Compere, and when he introuced my band with Julie fronting, he never knew how to "Stall" an intro .. He introduced us and I was on the floor under a chair trying to plug my amp in. That gig if you remember was massive under a big glass dome roof which made all the bands "echo" Barry Smith was there too...he now lives in France. As I said, the good old days when many clubs or village halls had maybe two 5 peace bands and packed to the rafters...just good memories when Country "Was" Country, unlike what is comming out these days. Take care.
Just great!!!Steel at its finest. the style, the licks are timeless. I wish more players approached the steel like that today. I still try to pick the way Idid 40 years ago. sometimes I think I was better then as I played simpler because I didn't really know anything.
Post some of your newer things if you have any.
Again GREAT job.
Mick, the band was actually Country Shack with Jenny Speller. The next but one Steel Player to join them was our great Dave Hartley. The band you're thinking of Mick was Town and Country with Alan Forsyth (a great versatile musician). Sadly he had a debilitating stroke about 8 years ago and can't talk. Bob Haskell and I still visit him regularly and try to cheer him up. His mind is all there but sadly, not his body.
Thanks Larry, I've found a newer recording, my latest - 1978......
This is recorded with state of the ark equipment - my radio cassette stuck on the front of the stage. Truly underwhelming. However, there's a couple of bits on there that might be worth a listen when I've sorted it out.
Tony thanks for putting me right on the band's name. It was so many years ago and "Some" of us are forgetfull Yes I know about Alan....I was at the same party as you at Vic's 70th birthday. There certainly was a bunch of us steel players there to celebrate. Take care
) Doing a lot of covers songs.
Do you recall what steel, amp and mics were used? For live reel to reel recordings copied to cassette nearly 40 years ago it sounds very clear!