What song made you buy a steel guitar?

Will Sevy · Post by **Will Sevy** » 8 Sep 2002 4:08 pm

Can you remember listening to that song and thinking, "Wow! I love the way that sounds, I'm going to buy a steel guitar!" For me, It was "Walk on by" by Cake. I know Greg Vincent is a busy guy, I hope he finds time to post the tab someday.

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 8 Sep 2002 4:23 pm

Most anything from Sweetheart of the Rodeo...pick one. 'Teach', sometime later, put the final nail in the coffin. And then all that Sneaky Pete stuff w/ the Burritos, etc. Took me many more years to go our and actually BUY a steel, but that's were the seeds were planted.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 8 Sep 2002 4:27 pm

I think it was Surfin Bird that did it for me.

John Drury
NTSGA #0003

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 8 Sep 2002 4:31 pm

With me, it didn't happen that way. A man came door to door signing kids up for
Oahu lessons. The very first record I ever had was a Jerry Byrd 78. The songs on it were one of my favorite songs, Drowsy Waters and the other song was Steelin The Blues. After that I was really hooked!

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10 Stereo steel Amp

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 8 Sep 2002 4:35 pm

I'm with Steve Feldman on this one; The Burritos Bros. and the Sweetheart of the Rodeo albums got me movin' in the steel direction.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 8 Sep 2002 4:55 pm

Ralph Mooney and his playing on Foolin' Round. To this day, when I listen and hear the soulfullness in his playing, I'm in total awe. He may not be the fastest or the jazziest, but he's so soulful and also knows what not to play.
[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 08 September 2002 at 05:55 PM.][This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 08 September 2002 at 05:56 PM.]

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 8 Sep 2002 5:20 pm

For me,it wasn't any particular song,but a fascination w/ the instrument itself. As a kid,I saw a neighbor friend,about my age, playing this "plank" w/ strings on it. I told my mom,"That's what I wanna play!" So,I brought his old "student" guitar home w/ me, which was an old "flat top", (Stella,Harmony,whatever) & showed it to my mom. She wanted to know how much they wanted for it. I told her,"$8.00". She said,"WHAT??? EIGHT BUCKS FOR THAT PIECE O' JUNK??" I only wish I still had it today. (sigh!)

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Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 8 Sep 2002 5:43 pm

"Kind Woman". Rusty Young, with Buffalo Springfield.

Kenny Forbess · Post by **Kenny Forbess** » 8 Sep 2002 5:47 pm

Blue Hawaii,,,,in the 50s.
Went to Sears&Roebuck, bought a lap steel, the one with the plastic covering, grey and black and something,,,
Took it to the Far East when they called my #.
Found a guitar picker with a flat-top Harmony, we played for 3 years over there.
best pass-time you could ask for.

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66 Emmons bolt-on D-10
2x Fessenden D-10
Peavey's & Webb's

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 8 Sep 2002 5:59 pm

NIGHTLIFE

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 8 Sep 2002 6:00 pm

Jerry Byrd (I think) on Hank Williams' Honky Tonkin'.

Dag Wolf · Post by **Dag Wolf** » 8 Sep 2002 6:01 pm

"Only you" Buck Owens. Featuring Tom Brumley on steel.

Dag

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 8 Sep 2002 6:02 pm

My uncle loaned me an Oahu Diana lap steel when I was about 11, I hadn't even heard anyone but him play one at the time. I had to have a pedal steel when I heard one live for the first time, at my cousin's band rehearsal in Portland, Oregon. The steel player's name was Steve Chet and I remember they played "Cry", and the sound of Steve's old Fender 1000 really got to me. As soon as I could I went to a music store in Portland and bought an old used Fender 1000.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 8 Sep 2002 7:13 pm

A Lloyd Green LP from the late 60s "The Hit Sounds" And I still have it.
Dennis

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 8 Sep 2002 7:15 pm

The "Travis" album with Curly Chalker. I went out and bought a Fender 400 and haven't stopped buying them since.

Jim Park · Post by **Jim Park** » 8 Sep 2002 7:24 pm

For me, it was Stand By Your Man from Tammy Wynette, and Touch My Heart by Ray Price Although I didn't know what the name of it was for a long time. After I heard those songs, I ran into a fellow by the name of Howard Reading,(God rest his Soul) who played a U-12. I asked him if you had to learn standard guitar first, to which he replied "HECK NO". In the course of the conversation, he said " There's two kinds of folks, those that say I wish I had of,and the others that say I'm glad I did!" I knew right then which group I was going to be in!! so I immediately rounded up a Fender Steel Guitar and started taking lessons from a fellow named Duane Brown, and have been playing ever since, although I have moved up to a 75 Emmons P/P D-10[This message was edited by Jim Park on 09 September 2002 at 06:23 PM.]

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 8 Sep 2002 7:59 pm

Easy for me:

"Someday Soon"

Didn't even know what a steel guitar was, but decided at that moment, whatever was making that sound, would be part of my future

bob

Bob Anderson · Post by **Bob Anderson** » 8 Sep 2002 8:52 pm

Santo & Johnny was my begining. But in the late 60's I was an opening singing act at Gibbon Ballroom in Minnsota.The Opry Stars who were appearing at the Flame Cafe in Minneaplis would play the ballroom on Sunday nights. The Steel man was Tony Farr. I was hooked and had to have a pedal steel guitar. Tony you ruined my life....Big Thanks

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 8 Sep 2002 9:31 pm

Jimmy Day on Ray Price's 24th hour. I still get chills listening to the soul of that man coming through the speaker.

Martin Weenick · Post by **Martin Weenick** » 8 Sep 2002 10:37 pm

Mr. Tom Brumley and " Together Again " are responsible for that.

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Martin W. Emmons LG III 3/5 Peavy 1000

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 8 Sep 2002 10:41 pm

"I Wonder If I Care As Much" by the Everly Brothers (probably Jimmy Day.)

BTW I have not heard most of the songs you guys mentioned.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 8 Sep 2002 11:19 pm

Altho' I had no idea what was making "the SOUND"........it was the steel player on the Gene Autry Melody Ranch SHow....... It really grabbed me at about age 7.

Colin Goss · Post by **Colin Goss** » 8 Sep 2002 11:38 pm

HELLO OLD BROKEN HEART - the flip side of The cat came back by Sonny James - don't know who played steel, but it was the cause of all my "misery". We now play it as part of our repertoire.

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 9 Sep 2002 1:26 am

On Charlie Pride's Live at Panther Hall, last cut "Cotton Fields". Sir Lloyd Green of course!!!

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 9 Sep 2002 2:08 am

with Bob S, "Someday Soon", still in awe of it, my buddy who can't do anything musical has me put the CD on whenever he is here, I listen to rock stations then and Pure Prairie League, "Country Song" was an eye opener