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 Does Country Music need the Steel Guitar ,or does the Steel Guitar need Country Music
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| Author | Topic: Does Country Music need the Steel Guitar ,or does the Steel Guitar need Country Music |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 13 December 2000 03:21 AM
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After listening for about three weeks too all the newer versions of Country music It's not hard to notice gone are the great intros and turn arounds.Now substituted is token fills and little presence during the song..  How long before these are totally substituted with guitar fills? Thanks to the past efforts of the greats of the past, the Steel Guitar industry continues to produce talent and the emerging and growth of many Steel shows continues their popularity and personal sales..But who needs who the most? Easy answer I hope...  ------------------ |
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Larry Bell Member From: Englewood, Florida |
posted 13 December 2000 09:08 AM
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Who CARES?????
quote: Gone from WHAT????? My old Ray Price records still spin on my turntable, I don't know about yours. A symphony orchestra still plays Beethoven symphonies, even though they are 'gone' from the popular music of our time. A good honkey tonk band will keep the great tunes alive for future generations. I say live and let live. I've never liked what comes out of Nashville for more than a year or so at a time. Trends come and go and I don't personally care for the overproduced sound that always seems to alternate with the more 'traditional'. But that's not to say that there aren't good tunes being produced, both in Nashville, and within the alternative country scene (e.g., Dale Watson, Derailers, etc.). We sometimes act like slaves to Nashville. The producers and labels are only trying to market what sells to most people. Face it, folks, WE AIN'T MOST PEOPLE. My opinion. LTB |
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Tommy M Member From: Indiana |
posted 13 December 2000 10:00 AM
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I've always felt, I think like most folks, that they walk hand in hand. I feel this is extremely important for maintainng a true country music sound. I don't feel that the steel guitar is totaly dependant upon country music. Look at the venue one must attend to see Buddy Emmons play live now days. Though it seems a little mellow by todays standards, The Everlys are a rock-n-roll act. From all reports by fellow Forumites who have attended these shows, the steel guitar fits perfectly. Of course, we as steel guitarist, have always known it would. If you were at the ISGC this past year and listened to any number of the players, Joe Wright and Paul Fraklin to name two, it is pretty obvious that a steel guitar is capable of surviving in any musical enviorment. It is the players that have the bulk of the limitations. Go back and listen to the non-country tracks(the ones most of us skipped over or fast forwarded past, because it was too far over our head) on most of the steel guitar albums, cassettes, and CD's released. For years the leading steel guitarist have been showing us that there are "No Limits" to what a steel guitar is capable of. I truly love steel guitar in the country music setting, but I don't kid myself into believing that is the only musical setting it is appropiate to be played in. The steel guitar will survive Nashville's lack of use as it has repeatedly done time and time again. And although a lot of us may never have the ability or opportunity to play outside the realm of country music; I for one, am thankful that players like Buddy Emmons, Julian Tharpe, Maurice Anderson, Doug Jernigan, Paul Franklin, Rusty Young, Buddy Cage, Joe Goldmark, and Joe Wright continue to show us the way. ------------------ |
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Kenny Dail Member From: Kinston, N.C. 28504 |
posted 13 December 2000 10:42 AM
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In answer to the question, NO, steel guitar does not need country music. Steel guitar was and is, can and will be used in all genre's of music. As a matter of fact, as we all know, country music (or Hill-Billy as it was known as way back when) adopted the fluid and haunting sounds of steel guitars from the Hawaiians. But country, until recently, has always embraced and enhanced the sounds of steel and the presece of steel guitars in country music has sold a lot of records because of the wide audience that country music has, country music was its primary home since the late 20s and early 30s when Jimmy Rodgers first used it on his recordings. So, let me repeat the answer, NO NO NO, Country Music needs steel guitar so that even though they may not play countr music, they can be classified as "country." ------------------ |
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Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 13 December 2000 04:04 PM
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In a word..."No" to each question. Some very good Country Music has been done without a steel, and a lot of steel is anything but Country. In fact, a lot of today's "Country Music" is anything but Country! |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 14 December 2000 04:17 AM
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Ok! The Steel Guitar can survive without Country Music...And Country Music can survive without the Steel Guitar..Can we all survive without Country Music? ------------------ |
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B Cole unregistered |
posted 14 December 2000 07:44 AM
If were talking the garbage they call country today then thats one story. Good tryed and true country yes it needs steel guitar the same as fiddle and lead guitar. Does steel guitar need country music NO It can be used with any kind of music. There is no limit to where the steel guitar can and will in time go when in the right hands.. Buddy Emmons is a great example. |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 14 December 2000 07:53 AM
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Larry Bell, i'd like to address an interesting point that you made me think about. quote: The thing is, that no modern orchestral works get much supposrt or recognition, new composers are in general lucky to have a composition played more than the time it has it's debut performance. This is totally legit, despite the fact that is no different to a bar band playing 'Louie Louie' ....can anyone explain this to me? Joe, how long do you think there'll be country music?, as I always say.. what they call R&B, sounds pretty pop to me. We got to look back, before we can truly go forward. [This message was edited by Jason Odd on 14 December 2000 at 07:57 AM.] |
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Larry Bell Member From: Englewood, Florida |
posted 14 December 2000 03:27 PM
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quote:Yes, very much like Ray Price repertoire is considered 'classic country'. Country music hasn't been around for 300 or more years either. Just wait.  LTB |
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Richard Sinkler Member From: Fremont, California |
posted 14 December 2000 04:28 PM
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Yes, but not necessarily so. Now, let me say this about that. If one or the other didn't exist, then we wouldn't have to ask the question because the answer would be no. In another dimension it could be asked that if there were no steel guitars, would there be steel guitar players? So, my answer would be NO, but in other situations MAYBE or even YES.  Boy I'll be glad when I pick up my prescriptions. ------------------ |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 14 December 2000 04:34 PM
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Richard, how is it that your post stuck to the point better than mine? That's a bit scary... I'm going to have to find some anti-ramble medicine. |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 15 December 2000 03:41 AM
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I was on a whole bunch of S**T when I wrote the post. ------------------ |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 13 January 2001 03:53 AM
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 Burrrp  Larry it's great to spin the old records but wouldn't it be nice to hear as much steel in the newer songs (of course if they fit the song)I too live on my vast collection of the past...But I keep my ears open however all I hear is fills...And with that amount of work,they only need one or two players to work in Nashburg..JMHO ------------------ [This message was edited by Joe Casey on 13 January 2001 at 04:00 AM.] |
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Jerry Hayes Member From: Virginia Beach, Va. |
posted 13 January 2001 06:40 AM
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Nashville is dead and always has been! The best country music I've ever heard has always came from the WEST COAST!!!!!! Buck, Merle, Wynne, and later the Desert Rose Band. Who kept it alive when Chet killed it with the Nashville Sound? Today though it seems like the best stuff is coming out of Texas. It's true what the TV ad says "Texas, it's like a whole other country". They've got artists down there who make good music, money, and never have to leave the state. ------------------ Have a good 'un! JH U-12 [This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 13 January 2001 at 06:44 AM.] |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 14 January 2001 07:29 AM
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Well, I hate to quote Jim Morrison but.. quote: Texas is pretty much where it's at now, California has still got some great things happening too, but it's indie all the way for now. |
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Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 14 January 2001 11:45 AM
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Country music and the steel will always be associated together, but I say the steel is NOT just a country instrument. It is a MUSICAL instrument, capable of doing much more. Look at the jazz stylings of Maurice Anderson, Buddy Emmons, Paul Franklin, Doug Fernigan, Hal Rugg, Hal Merrill, and our fellow forumites Bob Taillifer and Jim Cohen. Besides these great players we have Joe Goldmark playing rock and roll, Chas Smith and Susan Alcorn's experimental music, B.J. Cole's techno music, Juju music from Nigeria, Ned Self and Robert Powell's original compositions, Sasha Matson'c concerto for pedal steel guitar and string orchestra (the CD of which features our fellow forumite Doug Livingston, who also plays in a jazz band,) Dan Tyack blues work on his Blackened Toast CD, Bobby Black's great Honkey Cat LP of pop tunes and my transcriptions of classical works. Aside from those I mentioned, I'm sure I left out several others who are also playing new and different kinds of things. The steel guitar has unlimited potential. The only limitations are in the minds of the players. Personally I feel it's too wonderful an instrument to be confined to just one kind of music, and I am dedicated to taking it into new musical areas and exposing it to new audiences.
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 14 January 2001 05:16 PM
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Gary Brandin is sensational with the Blue Hawaiians, reviving the surf music with steel guitar thang, which has been sadly absent from the world of music for far too long. Although don't let me generalise the Blue Hawaiians sound, they have a wonderful textural sound that recalls some dark Latin/Hawaiian combo in a seedy lounge-arama cocktail of voodoo seduction music. Music to play while seducing Betty Page.... |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 14 January 2001 05:34 PM
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Mike, I have always been in agreement that the instrument should be used in more than just Country..And I commend you for your West Side project you let me listened to in St. Louis. Now if only other music producers would see and think like that there would be no boundries..However I still love to hear the Steel presence in Country Music and it's being limited... ------------------ |
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stlfnatic unregistered |
posted 14 January 2001 06:11 PM
I would like to put in my two cents. Steel guitar doesn't need country music although to me country ain't country without steel, fiddle, and a shuffle beat. On the same hand I don't think that country needs anybody over 25, as that is what they cater to. I am 43 and getting real tired of the crap that the companies are trying to shove down my throat and calling it country. If they want to sell that to the youngsters that's fine, but play Ray and Buck and Merle for us older guys. ------------------ |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 17 January 2001 02:49 PM
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Stflnatic: Lets be honest,You say Quote:"the steel doesn't need country music and country isn't country without a steel"...Isn't that the same as saying country needs a Steel Guitar..Heck we all can agree the steel is a versitle instrument.But????How many other varieties of music are using a steel guitar with regularity? Or will in the future...Prove me wrong I won't mind... ------------------ |
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Bobby Lee Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA |
posted 17 January 2001 03:04 PM
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I auditioned with an all-original folk-rock band recently, and the conga player/percussionist complained that I made the band sound too country. The bandleader fired him and hired me. His logic was that even if it does sound more country with a steel, there's nothing wrong with that! ------------------ |
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stlfnatic unregistered |
posted 17 January 2001 06:01 PM
Joe what I meant was Country to me isn't country with distorted guitars and way up front drums. Steel can be used in any type of music so therefore it doesn't need country to survive. On the other hand to me it ain't country if it ain't got steel! ------------------ |
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Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 18 January 2001 04:03 AM
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quote: Juju. |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 18 January 2001 04:49 AM
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Maybe I should have asked "does Nashville need the Steel Guitar or does the Steel need Nashville?...Irregardless of all, I needed the Steel Guitar sound in my music.. ------------------ |
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Neil Member From: Balitmore Md. |
posted 22 January 2001 05:20 PM
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I think the steel guitar is a beautiful instrument that has been exploited by "new country music" who use it to disquise their inocuous pop music. This may be controversial but...I think rock has actually done a lot for the pedal steel recently. I have been hearing a lot of great players playing on "rock albums" which I think affords them the opportunity to play on songs with some lyrical substance (unlike the "boot scoot boggie" by brooks and dunn)they get to introduce the instrument to a younger crowd (Lloyd Maines playing with Wilco) and get to inovate the playing of the instrument and the possibilities(B.J. Cole recording with Club D.J.'s) I hope I don't tick anyone off. I think its a good thing. We don't want it to die when we do or rust from stagnation. |
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Joe Casey Member From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9) |
posted 23 January 2001 02:39 PM
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It is great too hear that some are finding Rock gigs but they are not in the majority as most rock gigs can get by without a Steel,especially with the effects they can use..If anyone thinks the future of the Steel guitar is in rock music dream on..It's good that there are some able to display what a steel can do and even make a living in other musics, but it will all come down to what is actually needed...As long as great players are developed there is a future..There are no limits in what the instrument can do,just limited opertunities at this moment. ------------------ |
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CA Brown Member From: Westport, IN |
posted 25 January 2001 10:02 AM
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What exactly is Country Music? It is surely not that stuff you hear on the radiobeing called country music.I think they need to give it another name to call it country is just plain WRONG.When "Nervana" came screaming out of Seattle they called that "grunge". When everyone started to copy that and add their own style they called it "alternative rock".When Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath took off they called that Heavy Metal.So why is it when this new music started to come out of Nashville they called it country when it was anything but that.It is a completely different style of music that may some what resemble country but is a totaly new idea for music that needs its own name.I go into a record store and they have Shania Twain right there next to Conway Twitty. There is some thing Bad wrong with that.If people want to listen to that I say so be it.But I think the record companies should give the title of "country music" back to the people who love it. And take their alternative pop sounding wanna be country to another city so we can have Nashville back to. Oh yah and by the way what I believe to be country music does need the steel guitar.But most of all i need the steel guitar. just my opinion CB |
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