Oh-no Here we go again...

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 12 Dec 2002 7:57 am

I know I'm running the risk of causing a small riot, but thought I'd share soomething I just read last night. I'm reading a bio on Jerry Garcia and there was a very interesting comment about his stage peformances. The passage went something like, "...even though each of Jerry's guitar solo's were always a crowd pleaser, his biggest ovations were whenever he'd turn and sit beind his pedal steel...".

I know alot of folks aren't crazy about his playing, but I think that passage shows he did make a mark with his audience with our instrument. The book went on to say how he was so entranced with the steel and how he wished he could have spent the time he really wanted just to explore its' possibilities.

Just thought I'd share that with everyone.

Ricky

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 12 Dec 2002 8:51 am

298 to go

LARRY COLE · Post by **LARRY COLE** » 12 Dec 2002 9:11 am

Way to go Ricky. So many "GREAT" steel players think if someone don't play like them that they are nothing. We all need to remember that we didn't wait till we had perfected the instrument before we played. When I started playing steel I had been playing guitar since I was a kid, but that didn't stop me from playing steel on the Wheeling Jamboree after playing it for two weeks and to top it off Jerry Brightman was running the show and borrowed my steel to play with Billy Crash Craddock. Lest we forget that we are playing for the audience not for ourself. Enough said.

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LC. WILLIAMS U12, SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 12 Dec 2002 10:49 am

While on the subject, check out the picture of Jerry Garcia and Buddy Cage with Ian and Sylvia on the "Great Speckled Bird" thread that John Arnold started yesterday!

Fred Einspruch · Post by **Fred Einspruch** » 12 Dec 2002 1:05 pm

I am a major deadhead, and I think that Jerry was Great! But the fact is that he did not play pedal steel very much, he did not play with the New Riders for very long, and there is relatively a small amount of Jerry's pedal steel playing available (even on bootleg tapes, there is a very small amount of recordings). I do not think that there any video of Jerry playing Steel out there. I am
not even aware of Jerry playing the Steel in public after around 71 or 72. (the only bootleg out there that I am aware of is with the new riders in 71 I think). Of course the "teach you children" w/CSNY is the one notable exception.

That being said, Jerry was a great musician,
had an interesting steel style and could have been a great steel player had he spent more time at it. As it happened, he concentrated on the six string. As it just happens to turn out, the "teach your children" into is probably his most famous lick, outside of the deadheads, and most people don't even know it was Jerry. Regards,Gr8fulfred

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 12 Dec 2002 1:43 pm

As Even Cage has said-Garcia was NOT a very good steel player-but he WAS Garcia playing steel-and he did things with it that worked perfectly for what he was trying to do, which is be Garcia playing steel. His regular guitar playing never fit in the box very well either-doesn't mean he didn't move lots of folks with it.

With Garcia, Cage, the Dead, NRPS, etc, you're either On The Bus or you're Off The Bus. If you're On The Bus, you get it and take it for what it is and enjoy it-I happen to think the Dead were the best live band ever. And Garcia did some great things on steel, for the Dead and others-Let's not forget Brewer and Shipley's "One Toke Over The Line," another HUGE hit Garcia played steel on. (Cage later took that gig as well). Was he the second coming of Buddy Emmons? Hell no. Do those of us On The Bus care? No. We like it. a LOT. Those who don't are clearly Off The Bus, and as such, of no concern to us.

So Flame and scream away...The bus is fireproof, and we are listening to the latest edition of Dick's Picks much too loudly to hear anything but the music anyway....

Still doin' that Mississippi Half Step

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

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Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 12 Dec 2002 2:06 pm

Im on "The Bus", but unfortunately it didnt pick me up till 1991. But once I was on, I rode it hard till the end of the line in 1995. Some nights were glorious, and others were a little embarrasing for Jerry, but I totally respect him as a musician and human being!

For the uninitiated, find a bootleg of a nice "stella blue" and you will be converted instantly!!!

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Steven Cherson · Post by **Steven Cherson** » 12 Dec 2002 2:16 pm

Fred, the video of the last days of the Fillmore West has Jerry playing steel

Steven

Fred Einspruch · Post by **Fred Einspruch** » 12 Dec 2002 2:59 pm

Steve, I 'd like to see that one, where can I get it?

Mike Delaney · Post by **Mike Delaney** » 12 Dec 2002 4:49 pm

I wish somebody had convinced me of the following at a younger age...

Duke Ellington was undoubtedly one of the greatest musicians in history. In his book "Music is my Mistress" he says the following-"There are only two kinds of music; music that sounds good and music that doesn't."

He goes on to say that whether he's listening to Count Basie's jazz band or The Ogre's playing popular rock, if its in tune and in time and the band is tight, it sounds good, and he appreciates it. The style might not be his personal favorite, but it still sounds good.

So whether its Jerry Garcia, or anybody else for that matter, if what they play makes the recording sound better than if they hadn't played at all, they did good, and I appreciate it.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Dec 2002 5:03 pm

Here we go again...
Jer-ry, Jer-ry, Jer -ry, Jer-ry
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/1970.html

He's one of the many reasons I play Steel.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 Dec 2002 5:34 pm

I suppose it's no secret that Jerry Garcia getting so much attention upsets some players (both pros and amateurs). For those players, it helps to keep in mind that you don't really have to be an "expert" player to be "significant" in the musical world. A quick look at the world of the straight guitar shows many similar examples.

Luther Perkins was never noted as a guitar virtuoso, and yet his simple intros and rides in Johnny Cash's songs like "I Walk The Line", and "Folsom Prison Blues", have earned him fame in country music for all time. The same can be said for Scotty Moore, whose work on the early Elvis records was so simple, yet so memorable. Who can speak of rock guitar, and not mention the stylings of Chuck Berry, or Duane Eddy, as being terribly significant. Yet, they were never hailed as world-class players. They were merely players who did something simple, a little different, and who had "timing" on their side.

So it was with Jerry. I think his fans (while having little or no knowledge of the pedal steel guitar) knew that "this wasn't an instrument that just anyone could sit down and play". Steel can take years to learn what comes easily on straight guitar in just a few months.

I think we should celebrate all players who try to play the instrument, even if they never reach greatness. For someday...they might just inspire somebody who does. That's what's important!

The name of the steelplayer who "inspired" me back in the early '50s is still unknown to me, but I thank him often.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 13 December 2002 at 08:34 AM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 12 Dec 2002 5:57 pm

Jerry was an archer. Music was his bow, and pedal steel was but one of the arrows in his quiver. There's a decided difference in being a steeler and being a musician. Count me first as a musician any day!

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Rick McDuffie
Debbie Elam Band/Tarheel Jazz Q-tet
www.tarheelmusic.com

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 12 Dec 2002 7:21 pm

Who I Jerry Garcia???

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 12 Dec 2002 7:24 pm

That should be "who Is Jerry Garcia. Never heard of him.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 12 Dec 2002 8:37 pm

The film is simply called "Fillmore"... it's a documentary of the final concert at the Fillmore East I believe, in '74...
it shows Jerry sitting in with the New Riders during soundcheck, playing Buddy Cage's Emmons guitar. It shows that Jerry was quite good at palm-blocking.
It aired on VH1 awhile back. Not sure if it was ever officially released on video.

There's also a Classic Albums video/DVD called "Anthem to Beauty" which features some very brief footage of Jerry at the steel, but there's no audio.

As on the guitar, Jerry had a certain sound that he heard in his head and tried to execute on the steel. It wasn't your standard Nashville or Bakersfield sound, it was Jerry.

Some good examples of this sound, among others, are "The Wheel" from the album 'Garcia', "Dirty Business" from the first New Riders album, and his playing on David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' album.

I recently found a Link Wray record from the early 70s that has a very Americana feel to it, and features Jerry's steel on several cuts.
This album, and his playing on "Teach" and on the Dead albums 'American Beauty' and 'Workingman's Dead' show that he could also get a more conventional E9 sound.

Jerry may not have been a world-class steel player, but he had an incredible musical intuition which came through on any instrument he happened to pick up. He also dabbled on the piano, the fiddle, and of course, the banjo.

Jerry and the Dead are the "gateway drug" of music for me. They got me into hardcore country, jazz, bluegrass, and more. And Jerry's the reason I play steel, banjo, and lead guitar... and I guess he's why I play fiddle and mandolin too.

Thanks Jer!

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 12 Dec 2002 8:44 pm

I forgot to mention that there's a number of bootlegs out there that feature Jerry's steel playing.
Starting in the spring of '69 'til '71 or so, Jerry regularly played his steel onstage with the Dead, even on a blues powerhouse like "Hard to Handle".
And there's lots of New Riders bootlegs out there too.

In fact, if anyone has a boot from 9/20/70 with the New Riders doing "Together Again" (the song that got Jerry and a whole slew of others to play steel)... i need a copy!

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 13 Dec 2002 7:46 am

Jerry played steel on at least 17 studio alblums (that I know of) during his stint with PSG.
Mainly The Grateful Dead and GD spin off groups, several of the CSN members solo projects, others mentioned above, ect.
He also broke it out during the 80's when he did a solo run on Broadway, NYC.

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 13 Dec 2002 8:08 am

Yeap, that's my goal--exposure instead of being an accomplished player!

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 13 Dec 2002 8:16 am

Frank, Don't even pretend you have a clue on this one.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 13 Dec 2002 8:33 am

Really.

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 13 Dec 2002 8:34 am

Hey Perry,
I can guarantee you that while Jerry was alive that he never heard of you either!!!
I've looked at this thread and have to offer up my humble opinion on Garcia and music in general. As far as Jerry goes, who can say he wasn't an accomplished steel guitarist. Maybe he accomplished what he wanted to get from the instrument. I can't imagine "Teach Your Children" with any other steel ride or back up. What Garcia did was absolutely perfect for the tune. It's bouncy, clean, and a real attention getter. He was a simple player just like my hero Ralph Mooney. Ol' Moon could have been one of the great C6th players or modern chromatic style E9 players if he'd wanted to but I think he accomplished just what he started out to do. He's a one of a kind player who doesn't sound like anyone else and never has. Garcia pretty much was the same way. There are way too many "Nashville Clones" out there who trade licks, pedal changes, techniques, etc. so they can all sound alike instead of striving to be different and do their own thing. And that's a fact which can't be disputed..........

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 13 Dec 2002 8:52 am

Saint Stephen with a Rose...

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 13 Dec 2002 8:56 am

I guess this means that whoever we get to replace Neal Cassady as the bus driver, it won't be Frank!

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 13 Dec 2002 8:59 am

In and out of the Garden he goes...

Frank's only place on the Bus is under it...

JB

------------------
Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html