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 What is the most successful Steel Album?
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| Author | Topic: What is the most successful Steel Album? |
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Kurt Graber Member From: Wichita, KS, USA |
posted 19 March 2006 09:09 AM
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I'm curious as what was the most successful "Steel" only album and who recorded it and how many copies were sold. Please don't post with your favorite record as I'm only interested in numbers sold not necessarily the best recording. I did a search on this topic and couldn't find any info so I apologize if this has been covered before, I just never found it. If you have any figures on any Steel only albums that might be interesting to know also. I'm sure there are some super great albums that have done poorly in sales. |
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Walter Stettner Member From: Vienna, Austria |
posted 19 March 2006 09:36 AM
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I can't say anything about the sales numbers, but I guess it would have to be an album that was recorded for and distributed by one of the major labels of the time, and that would limit the number of players, maybe Jimmy Day (Steel & Strings, Golden Steel Guitar Hits), Buddy Emmons (Steel Guitar), Lloyd Green (Shades of Steel, Steel Rides), Walter Haynes (Steel Guitar Sounds) I know that sales numbers do not directly correspond with chart entries, but Lloyd Green was the only player who hit the Billboard album charts with three of his albums: "Mr. Nashville Sound" (Chart Records, #37 in 1968, three weeks on the charts) "Shades Of Steel" (Monument, #21 in 1974, 11 weeks) "Steel Rides" (Monument, #47 in 1975, 2 weeks) Oh, one more thing: Everytime this or a similar question is asked, the "Happy Steel Guitar Plays The Country Classics" album comes up to have sold over 1,....million copies...well, if someone believes it, I have my doubts about that... Kind Regards, Walter |
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ray qualls Member From: Baxter Springs, Kansas |
posted 19 March 2006 10:43 AM
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Kurt, don't know how many albums were sold but I would say Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk" had to be up there. It went to number #1 in August, 1955 on billboards top 40. Couldn't find any sales on it tho. Also, Pete Drakes talking steel was on the charts too. "Abeline" and "I'm sorry" both were good sellers for him. Just a guess! By the way, how ya doin? Ray ------------------ |
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Bill McCloskey Member From: |
posted 19 March 2006 10:45 AM
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Are you asking which is the best selling album where the main performer played steel? Or the album was a "solo" steel album? Are you asking which "country" album was the best selling? Because if you are asking which album sold the most where the main player was the steel player I'd say one of Robert Randolph's albums. BTW, this very topic has been discussed here within the last 6 months. |
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Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 19 March 2006 11:16 AM
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quote: Uh-Oh. I can smell the fireworks alreeady |
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Michael Lee Allen Member From: Fresno CA USA |
posted 19 March 2006 12:55 PM
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Probably Robert Randolph would be the biggest seller, like it or not. Then Jerry Byrd. I'm sure two or three of his LPs sold more copies than the biggest selling Lloyd Green LP which would be next. Buddy Emmons had ONE LP on a major label and that was Steel Guitar Jazz which didn't sell that many. Walter Haynes LP sold more as a cheapo no-return after is was "cut-out" than when originally released and sold at retail. The Red Rhodes Alshire/Somerset/Oscar/Etc LPs were just like the Happy Steel Guitar LP...they were made to sell at low prices and were shipped as no-return cut-outs and those types of companies do not report or under-report sales as a rule. A lot were pressed and sold but at .99 or 1.99 retail. |
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Bobby Lee Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA |
posted 19 March 2006 03:26 PM
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Another one that might be in the running is the Starday LP "Nashville Steel Guitar". I've seen it rereleased in various formats with various covers in dime store bins for as long as I can remember. |
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Jerry Van Hoose Member From: |
posted 19 March 2006 06:36 PM
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I would have guessed, "Shades Of Steel", Monument label. I remember "I Can See Clearly Now" getting national air play from that album. Isn't that also the song that charted? My second guess would have been, "Steel Rides". During the 1974-75 era, I also remember these two albums along with their 8 track tape counterparts in major record stores, coast to coast. |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 02:39 AM
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This is something I've thought long and hard about, my wife says not to post this as it would appear as "Bragging", I'm not so sure, mainly because my playing on the albums I'm referring to is most definitely only 'Average'.. Still, I think to set the record straight may be useful to some discographers. As a 'Solo' artist and NOT as a session musician, and under a personal 10 year contract, I recorded at Abbey Road in the sixties for EMI, by far my WORST playing, but the stereo record market was embryonic and the major stores used my albums to demo the 'NEW' stereo sound systems. Most people in the UK who bought Hi-Fi systems in the sixties also bought one of the albums used for the demo, so mine along with 'Impact' sold the same approximate quantities as the major department stores sold Hi-Fi's. EMI Columbia Studio Two Stereo series... I think the above albums qualify as they were on release throughout the world. I also had one track on a 'Stereo Sampler' that sold over a million in the UK..STWO2-'Impact' (1968), Re-Released as MFP-50341 And I'm still getting royalties from over 23 countries AND on-Line downloads from i-Tunes in particular and also other on-line services. I must scan some of the royalty statements of the numerous countries and post some pictures. As EMI probably isn't know so well in the USA, it's a label located in the United Kingdom. AND:- Pet Shop Boys www.petshopboys.co.uk Just a few of the EMI group artists.!!!
quote: [This message was edited by basilh on 20 March 2006 at 02:42 AM.] |
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David L. Donald Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand |
posted 20 March 2006 03:53 AM
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Bas, us yanks do know EMI pretty well... well at least I DO. Many fine acst crossed the pond on EMI of the years. Looks like your recordings are in the running for this one. |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 05:21 AM
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Thanks David, Thailand is another country where my albums are/were released, BUT, the Thai government have/had a block on currency leaving the country so all my Thai royalties are 'Tied up' (Ha Ha) and can only be collected and spent within Thailand.. I must check up on how much in Bahts it is !! I Believe that EMI in Thailand is associated with its Japan holding Nippon Records, AKA Columbia Japan. [This message was edited by basilh on 20 March 2006 at 05:25 AM.] |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 05:30 AM
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I Like the way you say quote: To me my playing on those albums was so far removed from what I desired that I'd 'NEARLY' rather forget them. (If it wasn't for the royalties) But it goes to show just what you can sell with the right team.. [This message was edited by basilh on 20 March 2006 at 05:30 AM.] |
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David L. Donald Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand |
posted 20 March 2006 09:26 AM
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Bas... maybe I can find a way to spend the money here and send something to you another way? The present climate here is no conducive to sending cash I am sort of surpised they just don't tax it |
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John Billings Member From: Northfield Center, Ohio, USA |
posted 20 March 2006 10:33 AM
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Nah! You guys are all wrong. It's that album Bobbe Seymour did that he doesn't like to talk about! |
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George Rout Member From: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
posted 20 March 2006 01:11 PM
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We knew EMI in Canada over 45 years ago as I worked for an EMI affiliate (EMI-Cossor) in Halifax for a few years up to 1960 when I moved to Montreal. While EMI-Cossor had nothing to do with recordings, we had access to EMI, Capitol, Angel and other labels available to us as employees. Geo [This message was edited by George Rout on 20 March 2006 at 01:12 PM.] |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 02:11 PM
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Yes George, as I mentioned, EMI did release my albums in Canada but the sales were quite low, probably because of the ready availability of the 'Genuine' article Ā la Webley Edwards' "Hawaii Calls" series etc. |
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Steve Dodson Member From: Sparta, Tennessee, USA |
posted 20 March 2006 02:39 PM
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I think Kurts question was Instrumental Album only. So that would do away with some of the Artist mentioned. Unless I misread his post. If I did, sorry. |
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Jim West Member From: Vista,CA |
posted 20 March 2006 03:27 PM
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"Suite Steel" |
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Keith Cordell Member From: Atlanta |
posted 20 March 2006 03:41 PM
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A lot of you probably wouldn't classify it as a steel album, but I would think that David Lindley has sold a lot of his solo work. |
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George Rout Member From: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
posted 20 March 2006 04:15 PM
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I bought the two Dire Straits albums just for the Dobro picture on the jackets for framing in my music room. Does that count in the sales!!!!! Geo |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 05:27 PM
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If any of the forumites wish for an insight into the world of international royalties, spend a little time here :- some recent royalty details from various countries [This message was edited by basilh on 20 March 2006 at 05:29 PM.] |
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George Rout Member From: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
posted 20 March 2006 05:43 PM
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Hey Basil, talk about being screwed, blued and tattooed!!!!! Geo |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 06:16 PM
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For Kurt's information, Shades of Hawaii was my first SOLO Steel Guitar album for EMI. It IS purely instrumental.. no vocals, and I AM the featured artist, i.e. Basil Henriques and the Waikiki Islanders and was released in 1967, today, it is still selling all over the world in CD format AND on-line downloadable from i-tunes etc. Below is a sample of EMI's statement for December 2005 that plainly shows the new format for digital downloads.  And the DIGI one.. listing songs and service providers. [This message was edited by basilh on 20 March 2006 at 06:19 PM.] |
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HowardR Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y. |
posted 20 March 2006 06:55 PM
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What about Santo & Johnny? |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 20 March 2006 07:08 PM
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Sleepwalk HAS to be the biggest selling Steel Guitar instrumental SINGLE, (with Hawaii Tattoo coming a very close second) ,but I think that Santo and Johnny's follow up was just a set of EPs in this part of the world and their albums were too late to cash in on sleepwalk 's popularity. The Waikiki's from Holland with an album called Hawaii Tattoo sold more than any other for a while in Europe. That album was also released by Emerald Gem throughout the world and MUST have quite substantial sales. |
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John P.Phillips Member From: Brunswick, Ga. U.S.A. |
posted 20 March 2006 08:27 PM
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Don't forget Red Rhodes either, he sold a lot of steel albums on the cheaper labels ! ------------------ |
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Scott Henderson Member From: Eldon, Missouri, USA |
posted 20 March 2006 09:52 PM
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I am not sure but I have been told that Sleepwalk is the only steel "Song" that has went gold plus you figure the number of times it has been used for movies, commercials, etc. my vote would still be Sleepwalk for being the biggest all around money maker. ------------------ |
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Per Berner Member From: Skövde, Sweden |
posted 20 March 2006 11:19 PM
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I think "Happy Steel Guitar" is a strong candidate, I've seen it dozens of bargain record stores over the years, even in our little far-away country where maybe just a couple of thousand people know what a pedal steel guitar is. [This message was edited by Per Berner on 20 March 2006 at 11:24 PM.] |
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David Mason Member From: Cambridge, MD, USA |
posted 21 March 2006 12:29 AM
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Gosh, I wonder what you could buy in Thailand and export that would be profitable... maybe those little brass elephants?  |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 21 March 2006 12:36 AM
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Per, you may be right, but it hasn't made a dent over here,. Kurt asks quote: There is an ambiguity in Kurt's question, By most successful, does he mean Financially or just how many copies were sold? there is quite a difference between a FULL priced album and a budget one, like threefold or more !! |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 21 March 2006 03:34 AM
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The most probable candidate is the album 'Hawaiian Paradise' by Wout Steenhuis on the Warwick label WW-5106 ..... It went GOLD in 1981.. BTW. GOLD in Europe means one million units NOT one million Dollars of sales. And we should not eliminate "Favourite Instrumentals of the Islands" Hawaii calls Capitol T-715 [This message was edited by basilh on 21 March 2006 at 03:48 AM.] |
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Per Berner Member From: Skövde, Sweden |
posted 21 March 2006 06:54 AM
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If we're talking financial success, the "Happy Steel Guitar" album would not be a winner, at least if the price I paid is anything to go by. 25 cents from a close-out sale, along with 20 other country albums in the same price range.(... four of them were really good, the rest I managed to sell for about 7 dollars a piece on the average...) If, on the other hand, we are talking about the artistically most succesful album, I bet there are about 5500 different opinions on the forum |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 27 April 2006 04:25 AM
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Kurt Graber asked :- quote: No definitive answer yet ? ------------------ quote:
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Charlie McDonald Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA |
posted 27 April 2006 05:06 AM
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I'm surprised The Cheesy Listening Album didn't make it to the top. |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 27 April 2006 07:52 AM
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Charlie, just over half a million, but the percentage of just one track on a compilation is quite low so I won't buy the yacht in Monte Carlo just yet. On the other hand, Shades of Hawaii, Hawaiian Honeymoon and Hawaiian Nights have all attained Silver status with Hawaiian Honeymoon reaching gold, and Impact won Platinum, but again on Impact, although I'm in the company of some fairly big names, I only get 4% of the 10% royalty.. Minus the tax from each originating country and then minus the UK tax.. |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 27 April 2006 07:56 AM
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BTW I have just had an Idea regarding my EMI Studio Two albums, If ANYONE has a Japanese Pressing of them on EMI Japan "Nippon Records" I would be most interested in either purchasing or getting a picture of the sleeve. |
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Rand Anderson Member From: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA |
posted 27 April 2006 08:40 AM
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Pacific Steel Co. - Pacific Arts Records - 1978 Tom brumley Sneaky Pete Jay Dee Al Perkins Red Rhodes
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b0b Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA |
posted 27 April 2006 10:24 AM
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I have 3 copies of Joe Goldmark's book "The International Steel Guitar and Dobro Discography" 8th edition (1997) that I'll sell for $20 each to anyone that's interested. Email me if you want one. 248 pages. ------------------ |
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David Wren Member From: Placerville, California, USA |
posted 27 April 2006 11:56 AM
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I'm going to say Jerry Bryd, since I beleive I remember his albums being released by RCA.... however I also recall Lloyd Green's "I Can See Clearly Now" on juke boxes in Montana night clubs (1973-4), and how many steel instrumentals get that much attention. My fav, no list of players, but found it in a bargin bin... picture of a babe in a bikini sprawled out on a D10 Sho~Bud (photo trick, or a very small woman), titled "Totally Hot Steel Guitar".... the album is great fun, with many TV themes (Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie and I Love Lucy). Players are right up there in their chops too, I'm guessing LA pickers. ------------------ |
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