In learning to play the steel, I've done a lot of listening, but two recordings have really shaped the way I conceive of the instrument: Johnny Paycheck, The Real Mr. Heartache (a best-of of the Little Darlin' years); and George Jones Live at Dancetown '67 (Buddy Emmons on steel).

I know of other recordings that are also top-shelf steel performances-- like Charlie Pride, Live at Panther Hall-- but I'm sure there are recordings that are equally good that I have not heard of. I don't know what to buy to get the best of Jerry Byrd's playing, for example.

What records would you put on a required listening list for steel guitar?

Re: Jerry Byrd.......you'll want to get everything that has his name on it. Each and every tune he plays has something outstanding for you to hear and learn.

POCO- DeLIVErin'

Buck Owens and his Buckaroos Carnegie Hall Concert

more to come I'm sure

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 18 February 2005 at 09:07 AM.]

The Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" with Jay Dee Maness and Lloyd Green - definitely mandatory for your woodshed collection

Gram Parsons "GP" with Buddy Emmons and Al Perkins - Buddy plays great stuff on "That's All it Took" and "Streets of Baltimore"

Every album by Desert Rose, you can't get enough of JayDee, you just can't....

That's a start, anyway -- dg

These are all great choices. I'd add

1. Ray Price's Greatest Hits (Columbia CL1566 - vinyl) - I believe Buddy Emmons on steel for much if not all of this. Hard to imagine not having this.;
   


2. Waylon Live - The Expanded Edition CD (BMG Heritage) - Ralph Mooney on steel and up front in the mix;
   


3. Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadors - Country Dance Time (Decca DL4644 - vinyl) - Buddy Charleton featured heavily on steel (not to mention the great Leon Rhodes on lead guitar). This is the Troubadors without Ernest.
   


4. Ricky Skaggs - Country Boy (Epic 39410 - vinyl) - Bruce Bouton, Lloyd Green, Buddy Emmons on steel. Lots of styles represented. Bruce Bouton just rips up the bluegrassy stuff.

This gives four classic and very distinctive 'must have' styles, imo. I could go on, but I'm sure someone else will.....

------------------
God Bless,
Steve Stallings

Ricky

------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd, Peterson VS-II Tuner
Dan-Echo, E-Bow, Ibanez Distortion, Boss Comp./Sustain, Ibanez Auto-Wah, PX4 Pandoras Box

If ya buy the Bear Family 10 CD set of Ray Price's stuff, I guarantee you'll have material to keep ya busy for the next few years.

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 18 February 2005 at 11:56 PM.]

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

These two CDs are the most inspiring to me as a steel player. They are also very accessible for non-musicians. That's the real test of music. They work on every level.

Required listening.

------------------
Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 19 February 2005 at 10:37 AM.]

While this is a good way to learn, I think that it's real easy for us to get so wrapped up in it that we fail to simply enjoy the music, the way we would if we were listening to a recording of an instrument we don't play.

With that thought in mind, I suggest the following

1- The Jack West and Curvature CD with David Phillips that b0b is selling

2- Maurice Anderson's Universal Direction and Steel and Brass.

3- Counterpoint and Big Hits on Big Steel by Curly Chalker.

4- Play by Play and The Christmas Collection by Paul Franklin.

5- Any of Joe Goldmark's recordings. (My peresonal favorite is "All Over The Road.")

These recordings are all too good to be merely used as potential instruction material. They all should be listened to not with the head, but with the heart.

[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 21 February 2005 at 03:54 PM.]

B0B is right on, however I consider Lloyd Green's "Revisited" as a mix of traditional country and other styles. Sure, there are some traditional cuts, but it really goes beyond country and reminds me why Lloyd is such a iconic genuis. I sincerely hope "Revisited" is not the last project from this man.
I would also highly recommend Bobbe's "Classics" CD. This has to be one of the best steel guitar CD's I've ever heard lately, and I've heard a few. Great one, Bobbe.