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 Best Selling Pedal Steel Albums?? (Page 1)
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Bill Cunningham Member From: Cumming, Ga. USA |
posted 14 July 2005 08:28 AM
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What is the best selling pedal steel album of all time? My guess is some Pete Drake talking steel album since it was a popular novelty and had major label distribution. Second question. What is the best selling pedal steel album of all time that didn’t have major label distribution? I don’t have a clue. Probably somthing from Tom Bradshaw or Scotty's catalog. I discounted albums by band leaders that feature steel such as ET Presents The Texas Troubadours, Hank Thompson at the Golden Nugget, The Timewarp Tophands, AATW, etc. ------------------ |
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Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 14 July 2005 08:52 AM
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The album "Happy Steel Guitar" (Bobbe Seymour) has sold over a million in worldwide distribution. As far as the total number of different albums sold by any steel player, that would probably have to be Santo Farina, of Santo & Johnny. I'm not sure how many albums they've sold, but I do know they made at least 25 different instrumental albums in their career together. After they split and went their own separate ways in '75, Santo continued with a solo career. [This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 14 July 2005 at 08:52 AM.] |
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Jack Therrell Member From: Conroe, Texas, USA |
posted 14 July 2005 08:58 AM
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Sad to admit but I am sure that whatever the top seller was it would have been in the low thousands. I well remember when I thought that records would have been better with less vocal and more steel. Now not only do we have little steel on cd's but in many instances no steel at all. For instance I think that the group "alabama" would have been better with steel. However, look at the records they sold with their musical groupings. I am reconciled to the idea that my musical taste in neanderthal. Jack |
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Joe Alterio Member From: Fishers, Indiana |
posted 14 July 2005 09:11 AM
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I have a very hard time believing that ANY pedal steel album would have sold anywhere close to a million copies worldwide....no offense to Bobbe and not to slight his album in the least. I would also second the notion that the top selling pedal steel album would have probably been a Pete Drake album.....HOWEVER....perhaps one of Lloyd's Chart LPs could be up there, seeing as Chart had a huge worldwide distributor (RCA) which would have allowed for those albums to easily been sold in Canada and possibly Europe.... |
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Walter Stettner Member From: Vienna, Austria |
posted 14 July 2005 09:30 AM
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I know it doesn't say anything about the sales, but Lloyd Green was the only player who ever hit the top 100 album charts with his albums: "Mr. Nashville Sound" (Chart 1006) reached #37 in 1968, "Shades Of Steel" Monument 32532) reached #21 in 1974 and "Steel Rides" (Monument 33368) reached #47 in 1975. Also, "The Music City Sounds" (MGM 4672) where Lloyd teamed up with Pete Wade, reached #42 in 1970. Kind Regards, Walter ------------------ |
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Kevin Hatton Member From: Amherst, N.Y. |
posted 14 July 2005 09:34 AM
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It may be Tom Brumley's Tom Catt'n album. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 14 July 2005 at 09:34 AM.] |
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Bill McCloskey Member From: |
posted 14 July 2005 09:39 AM
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I would say probably Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2 CD's have probably sold the most. |
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Marco Schouten Member From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
posted 14 July 2005 10:54 AM
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A Dutch steel player put out an album years ago, 20 melodies from Paradise by Frans van Oirschot. It sold 250,000 albums. ------------------ |
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Dan Tyack Member From: Seattle, WA USA |
posted 14 July 2005 12:19 PM
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My albums have sold in the hundreds.... |
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Terry Edwards Member From: Layton, UT |
posted 14 July 2005 12:57 PM
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Teach Your Child..... ..........oh, never mind. |
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Paddy Long Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand |
posted 14 July 2005 02:17 PM
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Well I have played on several that went Platinum out here in NZ - does that count ha !~ |
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Roger Crawford Member From: Locust Grove, GA USA |
posted 14 July 2005 03:49 PM
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What about the black album? Most players and fans probably have that one. I know I do! Roger |
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J D Sauser Member From: Traveling, currently in Switzerland, soon to be either back in the States or on the Eastern part of Hispaniola Island |
posted 14 July 2005 04:19 PM
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Don't forget Speedy West's records on Capitol. They sold internationally on that mayor lable and then they have been re-issued by Bear Family (EU).
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 14 July 2005 05:24 PM
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An interesting question, do you mean SOLO pedal steel albums,featuring a SOLO NAMED player, or albums that have pedal Steel featured as a group member, because I think there could be a few different answers.. AND on top of that do you mean by "Million Sellers" the USA clasification of $1,000,000 of sales or do you accept the other interpretation of 1 Million UNITS.. Basil ------------------ quote: |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 14 July 2005 05:36 PM
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Walter is correct about the top 100 charts, but that's Bilboard and limited to the USA sales, related to, and dictated by, the total volume of album sales at that time, a quantity that's not recorded. I think that the Waikiki's "Hawaii Tattoo" has sold close to a million units worldwide. It WAS pedal steel but not played "Country" style.. |
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Bob Smith Member From: Allentown, New Jersey, USA |
posted 14 July 2005 05:38 PM
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My guess would be the same as Bill M. Its gotta be R.R. bob |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 14 July 2005 05:46 PM
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Further to Bill's question, who are the players that have or have had, major record contracts and international distribution..? (Lease deals excluded, because these type of deals are privately financed and only serve as a guideline as to the personal rescources available and not the corporate faith !!) Baz |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 14 July 2005 05:55 PM
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As for Robert Randolph...I don't think that a member of a group would qualify ! Unless that group bears his/her/it's name.. There are MANY pro players who, if you added up the sales of tracks they played on, would amount to MANY millions.. The question was quote: PEDAL STEEL ALBUM = Album of Pedal Steel.. I would have thought.. "Best Selling" = one would have to take in World-Wide Sales |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 14 July 2005 06:32 PM
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Well the group is Robert Randolph and the Family Band. |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 14 July 2005 07:30 PM
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Google gave me ..314,000 for Robert Randolph and the Family Band.. (0.22 seconds) Sorry Jim.. I just didn't know.. You see he isn't that well known this side of the "Pond" But then again I suppose that scenario is reciprocal in some respect.. I also found this quote: Strikes me that their "Stuff" is more vocal than anything else !! [This message was edited by basilh on 14 July 2005 at 07:44 PM.] |
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Bill McCloskey Member From: |
posted 14 July 2005 08:07 PM
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Basil, It may say "and the family band" but it is definitely Robert Randolph who is the center and the person people go to see. The Pedal Steel is front and center, so I think Robert qualifies as much as anyone else in this discussion. And anyone who has heard the albums can attest, it is the pedal steel, not the vocals, which are what are getting people up and dancing, and make them go see Robert. In my opinion, he's amazing and I certainly play his albums and the other Sacred Steelers, more than any other pedal steel album in my collection. I tried to find some album sales numbers but couldn't. But I would say that his CD's are the best selling albums that feature the pedal steel as the lead instrument. [This message was edited by Bill McCloskey on 14 July 2005 at 09:28 PM.] |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 14 July 2005 08:11 PM
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And it is Robert (not the family band, per se) whom Eric Clapton hand-picked to go on world tour with him, playing Madison Square Garden, Albert Hall, and numerous other places to tens of thousands of concert-goers. As a FRONT-MAN, he has achieved something that no other steel guitarist has achieved. You gotta give him credit for that. To do otherwise smells suspiciously of sour grapes. |
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Dan Tyack Member From: Seattle, WA USA |
posted 15 July 2005 12:50 AM
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It's Robert's band. He doesn't put out 'steel guitar records'. But then, if he did, he wouldn't be selling like he is. ------------------ |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 15 July 2005 03:25 AM
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Just because he plays steel as an instrument within the band doesn't qualify the records as "Steel Guitar".. Jim. "Sour Grapes" I don't think so, but unblinkered, YES.. I'm prejudiced.. I prefer music.. Anyway RR is another subject, as for the best selling pedal steel album (which is what this thread is about) records aimed at and sold to just the steel guitar community wouldn't represent more than a small percentage of total PEDAL steel album sales.. |
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Theresa Galbraith Member From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA |
posted 15 July 2005 04:59 AM
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I believe RR has won a grammy also!  Go Robert! |
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Bill McCloskey Member From: |
posted 15 July 2005 05:36 AM
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"Just because he plays steel as an instrument within the band doesn't qualify the records as "Steel Guitar".." ???? I guess the question should have been, what is the best selling record that featured either a Hawaiian scene on the cover or a guy with a cheap suit and a blurry photo playing with Band in the Box behind him that features Steel Guitar Rag. "I'm prejudiced.. I prefer music.." How young were you guys when you got so old. God, I'm 51 and I listen to some of the so-called Pedal Steel music out there and it sounds like something that would play at a Skating Rink. It's stuff my grandmother would find old fashion. I put on Robert or the Campbell brothers or some of the other folks at the cutting edge of pedal steel and it gets my blood going: I want to play that music, I want to hear that music, I want to buy that music. I know we debate this on this forum so often that I can almost write the responses my self at this point. It goes round and round. But I honestly just don't get it. It is inconceivable to me how you could listen to this music, if you have any love of music at all, and not get excited by it. And be thrilled that its the pedal steel that's driving it. When I get to the point where I'm so fossilized that I can't hear a new music and get excited by it, where I long for the same old licks played the same old way, where I say things like "I prefer music", take this old dog out and shoot em. |
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David Doggett Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
posted 15 July 2005 08:51 AM
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I tend to agree with Bill M., but let's not start beating this dead horse again. I think it is a legitimate potential objection that RRs albums feature vocals and a whole band. But some of the Hawaiian albums do also, and all real contenders in this have backup bands, none are solo steel with no backup. If Jerry Byrd, LLoyd or Pete Drake had a vocal or two on their albums, would that disqualify them? Does Pete's "talking" guitar disqualify him - I think not. As long as the steel is the main lead instrument and the main draw for the album, I think it qualifies. However, maybe we need categories to keep people's prejudices from influencing their judgement. I would suggest Hawaiian, country, R&B&Gospel, rock, pop, jazz, and international. I think we have to limit it to horizontal steel, to keep bottleneck and slide guitar separated out. They can have their own contest. I think the Hawaiian entries might be sleepers, because as pointed out above, those things get introduced and pick up small yearly sales around the world for many decades. |
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Billy Carr Member From: Seminary, Mississippi USA |
posted 16 July 2005 01:59 PM
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Don't have any idea what the best selling steel guitar album is or was. Probably Santo & Johnny or Pete Drake. But I believe steel guitar is steel guitar. Whether pedal or non-pedal. Still steel guitar. Unlimited is the phrase I use when asked about steel guitar. It has no boundaries. As long as the steel is out front and featured, I will support it regardless of who the player is. I don't really care for RR's playing but he's put the steel guitar in front of folks that probably didn't know what it was. Of course, RR is also a good player with the effects,etc. Take away the effects and I don't know what he would sound like. But it doesn't matter. Twenty years from now some of us will look back and say, "I remember ole so and so". By then someone we least suspect may have sold more albums,CD's,etc. that anyone else. |
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Bob Carlucci Member From: Candor, New York, USA |
posted 16 July 2005 07:56 PM
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I believe Bill's ORIGINAL post meant.. STEEL GUITAR albums.. NOT rock/blues /soul bands whose leader plays a pedal steel. RR and FB music is what it is..like them or not, I would not say RR and the Family Band records are "Steel Guitar albums". Are the records by the Stones and Beatles "guitar albums" or do those words better describe offerings by players like Joe Pass or Chet Atkins? bob |
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basilh Member From: United Kingdom |
posted 16 July 2005 08:52 PM
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I know that the original post said "Pedal Steel Guitar" but if you would for a moment consider just "Steel Guitar" then undoubtedly Santo & Johnny have the best selling SINGLE, but who knows what their album figures are, and a player the USA members might not know of.. Wout Steenhuis.. got a Gold disk for one of his albums here in the UK. (That would represent sales of 1,000,000, and in a country of only 55,000,000, that's not bad going.) [This message was edited by basilh on 16 July 2005 at 08:54 PM.] |
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Nick Reed Member From: Springfield, TN |
posted 16 July 2005 09:08 PM
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Buddy Emmons. . . .the Black Album! And to Bill Cunningham, [This message was edited by Nick Reed on 16 July 2005 at 09:11 PM.] |
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Billy Carr Member From: Seminary, Mississippi USA |
posted 17 July 2005 01:55 AM
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STEEL GUITAR IS STEEL GUITAR! |
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Jim West Member From: Vista,CA |
posted 17 July 2005 10:30 AM
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Suite Steel? |
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Bob Smith Member From: Allentown, New Jersey, USA |
posted 18 July 2005 04:06 AM
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The Stones and Beatles were always guitar albums for me? My father had all the Chet,and Django records. But he was few years ahead of me. bob |
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Charlie McDonald Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA |
posted 18 July 2005 04:45 AM
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Anybody know where the Black Album is available? I have recently learned that there is something lacking in my musical education.... |
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Tom Bradshaw Member From: Concord, California, USA |
posted 18 July 2005 03:01 PM
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Interesting topic. From my experience of selling steel guitar albums (Pedal Steel Guitar Products) for nearly 40 years, certain artists, and their sales of albums, stand out in my mind. I always felt I was selling to steel players, not the general public, so my experience doesn't relate to general sales across the board. However, this is my experience in the sale of steel albums: Jerry Byrd's recordings outsold all other albums. |
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b0b Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA |
posted 18 July 2005 03:18 PM
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The best selling CD in the Forum catalog is Lloyd Green's "Revisited |
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b0b Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA |
posted 18 July 2005 03:22 PM
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Charlie, the black album is available on tape and CD from the Forum catalog. It's official title is "Emmons Guitar Company". The tape is item #A-057-C and it costs $10. The CD is item #A-057-CD and it costs $16. In my opinion it's one of the two best pedal steel albums ever made. (The other is Lloyd Green's "Revisited".) ------------------ [This message was edited by b0b on 18 July 2005 at 03:27 PM.] |
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Dave Burr Member From: Tyler, TX |
posted 19 July 2005 05:35 AM
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I just ordered a new copy of "Emmons Guitar Company", commonly referred to as "the Black Album". A friend borrowed mine and after listening to it a few times, threatened me bodily harm if I tried to take it back. That's ok with me though - I'm sure this has only whet his appetite. Dave Burr |
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Bill McCloskey Member From: |
posted 19 July 2005 12:53 PM
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Well I have to say, I have no idea what a "Steel Guitar" album is. Is it like a showcase for the steel guitar? Like you used to get with early Moog Synthesizer albums - Switched on Bach for the Steel Guitar? I propose that the original question is meaningless and I would suggest the following a substitute question: What is the best selling album where the Leader plays the steel guitar. |
Terry
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