Observation on Pedal Steel

Jerry Bruner · Post by **Jerry Bruner** » 30 May 2000 3:56 pm

Today I was in a used record/CD store today and they were playing "Led Zeppelin III", when, to my astonishment, what did I hear on one of the tracks??? PEDAL STEEL. Now what I find amazing is that I hear more pedal steel on an old 1970 Led Zeppelin track than I hear on recent tracks by Martina McBride or Faith Hill. Something is wrong with this picture!

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 30 May 2000 4:09 pm

I got to play on the remake of "Tangerine" from Led Zepplin III with Big Head Todd and the Monsters on the Atlantic CD "Encomium--A Tribute to Led Zepplin" (gold) and later with them on their Live Monsters CD. It's great when a young rock band digs and respects the steel, much like Jimmy Page did.

An interesting sidenote was that the label (Giant) was scared about the steel on the live version, which was slated to be a single release to rock radio. Tom Lord Alge, a leading (and awesome) mixer who did the record replied "I don't mix scared", and cranked the steel on the mix. Yeah!

I will have to say, though, that I hear great and inspiring steel every day on modern country radio.

Mike Dennis · Post by **Mike Dennis** » 30 May 2000 7:24 pm

Well... I think "Tangerine" was one of the songs that got me interested in trying to play a pedal steel guitar...

The steel added just the right touch... and brought out a lot of the emotion of the song.

Kathryn Sabey · Post by **Kathryn Sabey** » 30 May 2000 10:25 pm

While I was in Denver, I loved Big Head Todd and the Monsters!!!

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 31 May 2000 7:30 am

"That's The Way" on Led Zep III also had some interesting steel on it. This album and Jim and Jesse's "Diesel On My Tail" (With Lloyd Green on steel) are what sparked my interest in Pedal Steel.

David

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 3 Jun 2000 4:38 pm

Jerry, Elton John is pretty far away from Nashville, but listen to "Tiny Dancer". The steel makes that tune.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 3 Jun 2000 8:13 pm

And a fine part that was--Mr. BJ Cole.

Jerry Bruner · Post by **Jerry Bruner** » 4 Jun 2000 11:50 am

Pat,
I'm a die hard Elton fan.... B.J. Cole's pedal steel is what makes that song for me. BTW, Elton has had guitar whiz John Jorgenson in his band for a while, and so Elton brought back "Tiny Dancer" in his set, with Jorgenson playing STEEL. That was a treat.