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Author Topic:  RR's Voodoo Child
Chris Johnson


From:
USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 12:23 am    
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Hey Forumites,

Maybe im old to this clip, but it's so great I thought I should share it with other free minded steel guitarist. This is probably one of the best interpretations of this song played on the steel guitar (or standard guitar for that matter). Check out the harmonics he does with his tongue towards the end Whoa! .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kORLhZ7XO-Y
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CrowBear Schmitt


From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 1:06 am    
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any good ol Hendrix freak's gotta dig this version
i do Winking
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Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 4:34 am    
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I'm stoked! Finally, something to get my blood pumping in the morning.

OK, he can't pick it up, play it behind his head, play it with his teeth--but this is now the definitive version for me. Heresy! I don't care!

This is the stuff I've been looking for since I first heard Randolph hyped in the Austin Sunday paper.
Yeah!
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 8:03 am    
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I like it a lot - really fine playing. I agree that it does showcase Robert's playing skill well.

With all due respect, I don't think it's all that close in overall feel to the original, especially Rob Thomas' singing. It's very precise, but lacks the grainy looseness and vibe that made Jimi's voice and playing so great. To my tastes, that sorta goes for the whole thing.

You should not take this as negative criticism or sour grapes in any way - I really do like it a lot. I guess I'm responding to the "definitive version" comments here and on the youtube page. In this case, I think the original creator is and always will be definitive, and this is a very fine interpretation - to me.
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David Barker


From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 9:40 am    
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Actually, the PSG chops that Robert Randolph are playing sound really good. Your right about the vocals not exactly sounding right, but Robert has the licks down.
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Darren James


From:
Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 10:37 am    
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Yeah those vocals take a lot away from it
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Charlie McDonald


From:
out of the blue
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 10:43 am    
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Dave Mudgett wrote:
I guess I'm responding to the "definitive version" comments....

Okay okay, I got carried away in my excitement.
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 11:02 am    
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Yes, let's come back down to earth.
Love the fact that Robert digs Jimi and is willing to help keep the fires stoked for JH and the steel.

As fine as both Rob and Robert are here, let's remember that Hendrix was the ultimate and always will be. Nobody matches his heartfelt voice and creative playing. He created wildly on the spot, even when doing a cover.

But Jimi is gone and you gotta love those who keep the flame burning.
Go RR!
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Tony Glassman


From:
The Great Northwest
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 11:34 am    
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Great job. The vocals are pretty good, but RR is just playing his butt off. Although, nothing will ever equal the Hendrix version, this one is as good as I've heard. This is the my favorite RR thus far.........Impressive!
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 4:50 pm     Just as a reminder...
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=22eubaCUNJU

Play it loud (of course)!
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Frank Freniere


From:
The First Coast
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 6:13 pm    
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Awesome clip. Does he ever use the pedals? Does he ever do "country?" If he would tip his cap to Harlan Howard & Buddy Emmons, he'd probably instantly gain thousands of fans, i.e., us Forumites.

Last edited by Frank Freniere on 12 Jul 2008 7:58 am; edited 1 time in total
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David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jul 2008 11:59 pm    
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Rob Thomas is about as scary as a six-week-old kitten.

Quote:
"Hey, mama, I'm a voodoo chile!"

- WTF? Sure you are, Rob. Laughing Ooooh - lock up the women, here comes Rob Thomas.

RR does OK. I wish he'd find songs with more chords.
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Chris Schlotzhauer


From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 11 Jul 2008 8:10 am    
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Man that freakin' rocks. Rob is a really good singer.
How do sacred steelers keep their picks on? Especially the thumbpick.
I'm amazed how clean he plays with a Stephens bar. I believe that is the bar of choice for ss'ers.
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Chris Johnson


From:
USA
Post  Posted 11 Jul 2008 3:35 pm    
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Quote:
I'm amazed how clean he plays with a Stephens bar. I believe that is the bar of choice for ss'ers.


Yes, It's takes ALOT of pick and bar blocking. Many sacred steelers still use a stephens like bar, but most that I know are using the shubb pearse SP1. The front has the rounded tip and you can just flip it around to get the flat side
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Ron !

 

Post  Posted 11 Jul 2008 3:41 pm    
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Many thanks Chris.I really like his way of playing.

Ron
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Mike Poholsky


From:
Kansas, USA
Post  Posted 11 Jul 2008 10:37 pm    
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That ain't your "Steel Guitar Rag"!
Not even close to Jimi. But, he's got the spirit for sure. It sure is great to see the envelope being pushed on this instrument. I like Roberts playing. Anyone know if he is using a box or a pedal for Wah? Parts of it sound like a pedal to me.

Thanks for both videos guys. Great stuff!
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steve takacs


From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 4:27 am     E9 Tuning?
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Thanks, for posting this Chris. Great cut and I think Jimi would have found it pretty close to his own. Is Robert doing this on an E9 tuning? Anybody have tons of time on his hands who could tab some of this.... just kidding! Only partly kidding. steve t
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 8:43 am    
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Here's a much scarier clip with Robert live with Kenny Wayne Sheppard. About 4:20 into the clip Robert just let's loose and kicks *&^%$. I first heard Robert play that song in Bobbe Seymore's place when he was about 19.

Robert freaking out live
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 8:53 am    
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Here's one with Robert playing with Clapton, where he breaks out into a bunch of country licks (through a Marshall). SOunds like better tone than usual.

Robert gets his mojo working
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Chris Johnson


From:
USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 9:35 am     technically......
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It is an E9 tuning. It may not be standard country E9, but definitely a version of E9 (the notes and numbers are there). It also resembles the open universal tuning. Everyone has just gotten so used to calling the tuning E7, but its more like a SS-E9 (or E9 on steriods Laughing )




Nice posts Dan. Those clips are sick. That guitar battle in the first clip... Whoa! . I had to listen to that chicken pickin' a few times on the second clip
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 10:53 am    
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In that second clip Robert has about the best tone I've ever heard him use. It sounded like Derek Truck's Super Reverb.....
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 10:59 am    
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Here's a recording of the same song from another night. Same tone, it looks like he is playing a fender (maybe one of Clapton's spares...). The tone sounds very similar to Clapton's (which isn't a bad thing, IMHO).

A cool thing about these recordings is that Robert plays completely different solos (on this one he quotes 'Footie' Covington's 'Pink Panther' lick at the ending cadenza).

One funny thing that the taper has the camera on Clapton's guitar through most of Roberts second break.

More Mojo
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Dan Tyack

 

From:
Olympia, WA USA
Post  Posted 12 Jul 2008 11:16 am    
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Quote:
Anyone know if he is using a box or a pedal for Wah?


When I've played with him he's always used a wah. Last time it was a Roland V-wah, I believe.
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Mike Poholsky


From:
Kansas, USA
Post  Posted 13 Jul 2008 5:01 am    
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Thanks Dan. Great clips. I tried a V-Wah and had a hard time getting it to sound right. May have been the PSG Pickup into effects thing. I don't use an impedance matcher. More likely it was just me!LOL
Anyway, I think RR has taken Rock Pedal Steel to a whole new level and by doing so is exposing it to a wider audience. Good for him! Sharing the stage with Clapton! Would you like THAT gig very much? RR keeps up pretty good.
Have you ever noticed how much playing RR does WITHOUT looking at the fret board? Especially on the Voodoo Chile vid. Must have practiced blindfolded.
Does he have two pickups on that guitar?
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Larry Robbins


From:
Fort Edward, New York
Post  Posted 13 Jul 2008 6:38 am    
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Great Stuff! Thanks for the post! Very Happy
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