CD review- Billy Easton, "Feelin' Groovey"

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 16 May 2002 7:17 am

Billy Easton is as traditional a player as can be. He is a tried and true old school country and swing player who has thoroughly mastered all the traditional styles of steel guitar playing. However, he has applied these traditions to some new and very untraditional music. The result is a very nice cross between the old and new. Not old enough to be stale and boring, not new enough to be startling and off-putting.

Billy is a rock sold journeyman player, the kind most of us strive to be. But what makes him special is his ability to find new and unusual material that one would never think of as befitting a steel guitar, and making not just his own, but something for all of us. There is a wealth of new material here for those of us who wish to learn new instrumentals. These are songs that most of us will be able to play (although chances are not as well as Billy does.)

Some of the tunes are New York New York, The CDs' title tune: Feelin' Groovy, Beautiful Dreamer, Irving Berlin's "What'll I do, and my personal favorite, the theme from Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1, which Billy plays in a swing style and which he called Tchaikovsky's pedal steel guitar concerto #1"

Those of you who like to hear the steel played in a very traditional manner, but who also want to hear something a little different without being really radical will really like this CD.

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 16 May 2002 8:08 am

Very nice Mike,you said it well.
I know old "Billy Bob" personally

Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 16 May 2002 5:49 pm

I met and first heard Billy in Phoenix in around the early 70's. When I was working there.
A great guy and a very good professional player. I'll have to get that CD........al

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 17 May 2002 7:52 am

Gee Guys....
Those are really nice words to hear!! I am really happy to have finally realized a life long dream of putting out a CD so my grandkids can hear what grandpa does!! Thanks for the kind words....oh yea...Ray, you don't know me THAT WELL. So don't start any gossip!!! Anyone who would like a copy of the "Feelin' Groovy" can email me. I have tapes and CDs, (tapes are $10, CDs are $15, and I will pay shipping). Thanks guys.

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Billy Easton
Casa Grande, AZ
Where the Sun Always Shines

Bill Nauman · Post by **Bill Nauman** » 17 May 2002 12:42 pm

Just to let you all know that Billy's CD is playing on my Emmons84 Radio show...Super job Billy,and such a good thing to know you as a friend. You "Keep Pickin'" now ya hear!
Bill in Vegas

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 17 May 2002 6:45 pm

Having known Billy this last year and having the honor of sitting in with the group "Three Wheel Drive", it was a thrill for him to unite with a very good friend of mine, Gene Breeden to make this life long dream of Billy's come true. Billy not only plays great but is a really sweetheart of a guy to know and when you meet his lovely wife, the circle is complete and everything about the Eastons is a treat from the getgo.

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 18 May 2002 4:08 am

AMEN!! I really enjoyed being in the studio when Billy recorded this, and I have a few of the cuts on video while it was happening. I will transfer this to a regular video tape soon and send it to Billy. Has some great shots of the rehearsals and of Gene doing his great lead insertions. (Gene played acoustic rythmn the first time through with the group and then added his lead in the left over spaces.) Great thing to see how this is done in a major studio. Billy might share this with you guys if possible.
Anyway, that was a fun session.
Great priviledge for me to have been invited there. Thanks Billy and I ams so glad for these results of your playing.

Bill Stafford

PS: For all of you that do not know Gene Breeden, he was the GUITAR- picker that came up with the "chicken-picking" style that is now famous with the steel players. They all heard it first from Gene. Great player and wonderful person all around and this is the very best studio in Nashville or anywhere else.

Bob Allen · Post by **Bob Allen** » 18 May 2002 8:51 am

I'm Proud to Know Billy Easton and his lovely wife.I consider him a good friend and a great talent. I have my copy of Billy new CD and I think it's great.If you haven't got it yet your missing a treat.It's great material for a steel player,and it's all C6 playing.We wish you the best Billy.Your buddy Bob Allen.

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 18 May 2002 10:49 am

I am humbled by all your comments. It is great to know so many excellent steel players who will give you a pat on the back like this. Gary and Chrissie Walker have become really great friends. Bill Stafford has been such a great help and inspiration for me. Ray Jenkins is a terrific guy, and we talk often. Bob Allen has been around forever, even though I only recently met him, and he plays A TON. You guys are all great and I am getting good responses. Thanks to all of you for being my friend, and I look forward to many more years of picking with you guys!! May God keep us all in his watchful care.

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Billy Easton
Casa Grande, AZ
Where the Sun Always Shines

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 18 May 2002 12:54 pm

I just hate when this happens!! When you are
trying to thanks those folks, you always omit someone who should have been recognized. If I ever win an Academy Award, I think my disclaimer will be right up front!! Not that there's any chance for an Academy Award. Anyway, I failed to mention my good friend Al Marcus (former Phoenician who has transplanted to cooler Michigan). Al has been in this business since Col. Sanders was a corporal!! He is a wealth of knowledge and loves the steel guitar as much as any of us can. Bill Nauman was kind enough to let me sit in and pick with his band in Vegas a couple of years ago when I lived right up the street from where he played. A great guy, and is doing a real service with his Emmons 84 internet station on Live 365. If you haven't yet listened to his station, you are missing out. Gene Breeden deserves so much credit for my CD. He took the time to give it his special touch, as well as playing lead and rhythm on the tracks. What a great guy. I highly recommend Gene and his Studio in Nashville. Tell Gene I said hi when you see him. While I was recording in Nashville, had the pleasure of having Tommy Overstreet in the studio as well as Bill Stafford and John Heinrichs. Great steel players and tremendous individuals. Then to have my alltime steel guitar hero Speedy West to write the liner notes was a thrill beyond compare!!! Thanks Speedy. Then I ran into the infamous Smiley Roberts at the Station Inn on Monday night when we went to hear Johnny Cox and the Swing band. What a treat!! Those guys pick the way it ought to be done. It would be so nice to have a sit-down job doing the kind of material those guys do. Anyway, just wanted to correct my omissions, and to let all you guys know how much I love you. God bless each of you. I gotta sign this off....if it gets any longer you will swear that Jody Carver is writing it!!!

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Billy Easton
Casa Grande, AZ
Where the Sun Always Shines
[This message was edited by Billy Easton on 18 May 2002 at 01:55 PM.][This message was edited by Billy Easton on 18 May 2002 at 01:58 PM.]