| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Quintessential Steel Albums?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Quintessential Steel Albums?
Chris Dorch


From:
Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 6:28 pm    
Reply with quote

In your opinion, what are they? I need to expand my catalog and knowledge...

Anyone?

Thanks!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tim Davidson

 

From:
Glasgow, UK
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 7:01 pm    
Reply with quote

well just to get the ball rolling.....

Big Steel Guitar - Lloyd Green
Golden Steel Guitar - Jimmy Day
Stratosphere Boogie - Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant
Steel Guitar - Speedy West
also a Santo and Johnny compilation with at least 'teardrops' and 'sleepwalk' on
and a newish one that i love is - 'steel guitar heart attack' - Jon Rauhouse
Also a Buck Owens greatest hits featuring Tom Brumley and a Bob Wills best of is essential! - that should get you started....

I'm sure someone will fly in with some Emmons suggestions among many others in due course...

T
_________________
Emmons PP S10, Sierra U12, MSA Universal, D8 Fender Stringmaster 1955, '54 Fender Dual Pro, S8 Clinesmith, Fender Princeton
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 7:37 pm    
Reply with quote

Well, IMHO, the first album that needs to be in any steel guitar collection is Buddy Emmons' "Emmons Guitar Company" (aka "The Black Album"). This was a defining moment in the world of steel guitar and the album has, again IMHO, not be surpassed to this date. Available now on CD from Emmons Guitar Co. and maybe some other outlets too.
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 7:53 pm    
Reply with quote

Buddy Emmons - Emmons Guitar Co.
Jerry Byrd - Hi-Fi Guitar
Speedy West - Guitar Spectacular
Jimmy Day - Golden Steel Guitar Hits
Tom Brumley - Tomcattin'
Jimmie Rivers and the Cherokee Cowboys - Brisbane Bop
Spade Cooley - Dance-O-Rama (good luck finding that one)
Herb Remington - Steel Guitar Holiday
Merle Travis - Travis (with Curly Chalker)
James Burton and Ralph Mooney - Corn Pickin' and Slick Slidin'
Bud Isaacs - The Swingin' Steel Guitar of
Ernest Tubb Presents the Texas Troubadours
Lloyd Green - The Big Steel Guitar
Sol Hoopii - Vols. 1 and 2
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 8:08 pm    
Reply with quote

Don't forget Charlie Pride, Live At Panther Hall.

I know, it's not a "steel album", but Lloyd sure does shine on that one.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Charles Davidson

 

From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 8:13 pm    
Reply with quote

FRANK ARNETT'S [MODEL T] Very Happy YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !
View user's profile Send private message
Mike Perlowin


From:
Los Angeles CA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2010 8:44 pm    
Reply with quote

Curly Chalker's "Counterpoint" "Big hits on Big Steel" "More Ways to Play" and "Nevada Breaks"

Maurice Anderson's "Universal Direction" and the 2 volume set of material from his "Moods of" LPs (that also includes some songs previously unreleas4 in America)
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Cameron Tilbury

 

From:
Peterborough, England, UK
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 4:06 am    
Reply with quote

One that made a huge impression on me in the 70s was Suite Steel. Played the life out of it and wish I could get it on CD. It has cuts by the best! Emmons, Rusty, JD, Sneaky Pete...dang, it was a great one.
_________________
Sho Bud Super Pro D10
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger
Clyde Mattocks

 

From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 4:36 am    
Reply with quote

Robbie Turner's "Man of Steel" is a well done CD. Robbie plays the verses and choruses and great guest singers take the breaks, Paycheck, Johnny Cash etc., a really good concept.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Chris Dorch


From:
Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 5:18 am    
Reply with quote

Excellent, thanks!

Keep them coming!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Frank Freniere


From:
The First Coast
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 5:55 am    
Reply with quote

"Steel Guitar Jazz" - Buddy Emmons 1963: are you kidding me?!

Similarly, Tom Bradshaw's Emmons compilation "Steel Guitar Jazz in Four Wheel Drive" that includes "Rock Candy" w/ Danny Gatton.
View user's profile Send private message
Cameron Tilbury

 

From:
Peterborough, England, UK
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 6:21 am    
Reply with quote

If we're talking jazz, try Minors Aloud. It's Emmons and Lenny Breau
_________________
Sho Bud Super Pro D10
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger
Mitch Drumm

 

From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 6:53 am    
Reply with quote

Noel Boggs: The Very Best Of Noel Boggs (Fender-licious jazz and pop recordings from late 50s/early 60s)

http://tinyurl.com/y9jfmlg

Spade Cooley: Spadella (mostly Joaquin Murphey on steel, some Noel Boggs; mid to late 1940s)

http://tinyurl.com/yh9nalm

Doug Jernigan: Country Jazz Steel Guitar or Jazz By Jernigan

http://pedalsteelmusic.com/music/dougjernigan.html

If you like twangy Ralph Mooney, get these CDs:

Wynn Stewart: California Country: The Best Of The Challenge Masters or The Very Best Of Wynn Stewart 1958-1962

Warren Smith: Call Of The Wild (30 recordings done in LA by a classic country singer, circa 1960)
View user's profile Send private message
Ben Jones


From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 7:26 am    
Reply with quote

Two ways to look at it:
1. Theres albums made by steel players where the steeler is the focus.
2. Then there are albums that feature steel.

I VASTLY prefer #2.
In category #1 there are few i can sit thru.
Jimmy Day's Steel and Strings being the best for me.

Category #2 is vast.
Charlie Pride-Panther Hall (Green)
Bakersfield Bound ( Maness)
Roger Miller -A trip n the Country (Emmons)
Shotgun Willie (Day)
Any early Conway Twitty-(Hughey)
Roll Out the Red Carpet or Instrumental Hits Buck Owens (Brumley)
You Dont Know Me-Willie Nelson (Emmons)
Sweetheart of the Rodeo (Green and Maness)
Burrito Bros frist two records-(Sneaky Pete)
Johnny Paycheck Little Darlin Years (Green)
Ronnie Milsap-Night Things and 20/20 Vision (???, Green Hughey, Drake...????)
and a bunch I am sure I am forgetting

these are STEEL albums to me. Very Happy
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Steve Broatch

 

From:
Newcastle, England
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 10:42 am    
Reply with quote

I'm with you on that Ben. I have the double live album 'Redneck Jazz Explosion' - Buddy Emmons and Danny Gatton. Absolutley incredible playing from both men, but it's not the kind of thing I care to listen to for pleasure. I find it hard work.

Some (certainly not all) steel instrumental stuff sounds like the kind of piped 'Muzak' you'd hear in a lift or shopping mall.

Others I like are Gram Parsons. Plenty of steel on his stuff. New Riders Of The Purple Sage.(Buddy Cage). Also from Austin check out Jesse Dayton. Some great steel playing on his albums. (Nathan Fleming and Brian Thomas)
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Byng


From:
Southampton, England
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 11:11 am    
Reply with quote

Quintesential steel albums. My top 10 in no particular order. (They are all great).

Buddy's Emmons Inc.

Bobbe Seymour's Rhythmatic.

Doug Jernigan's Steel Guitar Jazz.

Steve Palousek's Let The Games Begin.

Maurice Anderson's Universal Direction.

Lloyd Green's Revisited.

Tom Bumley's In Time.

Tom Morrell's How The West Was Swung.

Mike Johnson's Mike Johnson.

Jerry Byrd's Master Of Touch And Tone
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Glenn Suchan

 

From:
Austin, Texas
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 11:18 am    
Reply with quote

Many of the albums I would recommend have already been mentioned. There are many, many more. For example, the following:

Doug Jernigan:
Cross Country (I believe this was also re-released, and now out of print as Jazz On '10 ) (instrumental)
Doug & Bucky a duet with Bucky Pizzarelli (instrumental)
Hillbilly Jazz with Vassar Clements and David Bromberg

John Hughey:
On And Off Stage (instrumental)
Highway Call with Dickey Betts and Vassar Clements

Red Rhodes:
And The Hits Just Keep On Comin' duet with Michael Nesmith
Velvet Hammer In A Cowboy Band (instrumental)

Buddy Emmons:
Sings Bob Wills
Swinging On A Seven String with Lenny Breau
Texas Crapshooter featuring Bobby Hicks
Renegade Picker featuring Steve Young

Tom Morrell:
Any of the albums in the "How the West was Swung" series.

Buddy Emmons/Buddy Charleton:
Almost To Tulsa featuring Leon Rhodes and the Texas Troubadours (instrumental)

Jimmy Day:
Jimmy Day And His Buddies Salute Don Helms (instrumental) this one's exceedingly rare and contains, IMO some of Jimmy's most heartfelt pickin' ever. Here's a link to a purchase download:
http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/jimmy_day/jimmy_day_and_his_buddies_salute_don_helms/

Most of the rest are available on CD.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn
_________________
Steelin' for Jesus
View user's profile Send private message
Duane Brown

 

From:
Reno,Nevada USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 5:24 pm    
Reply with quote

Some of the best albums ever done are the great Ray Price albums-The Night Life,The Other Woman and Touch My Heart. Those albums feature Buddy and Jimmy Day and are a Master's degree in backing up a singer and my favorite rides and turnarounds ever. Perfection in touch and tone, especially Buddy's tone on the Touch My Heart album. "The Night Life" is why I play Steel
Guitar and I love it to this day.

Buddies featuring Emmons and Spicher
Live'77 Buddy played things that I know aren't on a
steel guitar
Paul Franklin-Just Pickin', Play by Play
Hal Rugg-Altered Ego

Just a few that haven't already been mentioned.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Brint Hannay

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2010 10:51 pm    
Reply with quote

Many of the above-mentioned! Plus:

Ricky Skaggs:
Highways and Heartaches--Lloyd Green, Weldon Myrick, and Bruce Bouton on different songs; all great, Lloyd's two cuts are my personal favorites

Lloyd Green:
Ten Shades of Green--later Lloyd at his best, IMHO
Green Country--early, "hot" Lloyd at his most amazing, again IMHO

Buddy Emmons:
One For the Road: IMHO his best instrumental album beside the "Black Album" ("Emmons Guitar Company")

Jimmy Day:
The Offenders Reunion Album--(Can't Take the Hell Out of Texas)--exemplary Day work on vocals and instrumentals
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Dave Van Allen


From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
Post  Posted 30 Mar 2010 6:53 am    
Reply with quote

You can't go wrong with any of the above.

HOT CLUB OF AMERICA IN HI-FI! Featuring Jody Carver and Johnny Cucci


In the category of albums that feature steel, not strictly steel instrumental albums, I would highly recommend:

Rick Nelson & Stone Canyon Band "Rudy the Fifth" and "LIVE at the Troubadour" for some of Tom Brumley's greatest playing outside the Buckaroos.

Flying Burrito Bros "Gilded Palace of Sin" -Sneaky Pete Kleinow, a unique voice on the instrument

POCO - Pickin' up the Pieces, DeLIVErin' and From the Inside albums - Rusty Young helping define Country Rock

SIngle cuts off of albums that don't necessrily feature pedal steel, except on these cuts:

"Rainbows all over your Blues" John B. Sebastian album, John Sebastian with Maestro Emmons in a textbook case of accompaniment and complimenting a song

Buffalo Springfield Restrospective "Kind Woman" Rusty Young in another textbook case of accompaniment

Judy Collins "Someday Soon" once again Maestro Emmons takes us to school
_________________
"I just came in here from force of habit... I don't intend to spend too much time in here."
"I've got the 'ZB Jeebies�' !"
<small>1998 Zumsteel U12 "Loafer" 8&6 :: 1973 ZB Custom D-10 8&5 :: 2007 StageOne3&4 :: '69 Thinline Tele RI :: Vintage Fender 'Tube' Amplification
www.davevanallen.net :: ::Last Train Home
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Glenn Suchan

 

From:
Austin, Texas
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2010 1:25 pm    
Reply with quote

Just thought of this one: Highway Call, by Dickey Betts. Featuring Betts' famous lead guitar work as well as Vassar Clements on fiddle and the legendary John Hughey on steel. This album may have some of the swingingest, jazziest pickin' ever by Mr. Hughey. Especially on the two instrumentals, "Hand Picked" and "Kissimmee Kid". Here's link to one of the album's songs:
"Let Nature Sing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYaxEujph6c

and most of "Hand Picked"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dlHtLefu-Y

Keep on pickin'
Glenn
_________________
Steelin' for Jesus
View user's profile Send private message

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron