| Author |
Topic: Appreciating the great Pete Drake |
Gary Hoetker
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 6:44 am |
|
In reading the various posts on this Forum for the past 20 years or so, I don't recall Pete Drake being mentioned favorably to the other recognized pedal steel giants like Emmons, Green, Mooney, to name a few. Yet I find Pete to perhaps be the most versatile and innovative of all of them
from purely a listening and melodic standpoint. Maybe that's why he was a much sought after session player. His turnaround on Conway Twitty's Decca recording "Together Forever" circa 1966 posted below might be one of the most beautiful ever. Thanks Pete. You were/are AWESOME !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjhDMnNt4XE |
|
|
 |
Tom Quinn
|
|
|
|
Gary Hoetker
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 9:26 am
|
|
| Thank you Tom for posting the better one. |
|
|
|
scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 9:45 am
|
|
I think quite a few of us are in awe of much of Pete's work, and the extra care he took to give so many records a unique, even customized sound.
Paul Franklin in particular speaks very reverently of Pete. he was never too flashy, just the consummate studio pro who served the artist and the song as best he could. he was also one of the kindest and most nurturing figures in Nashville by all accounts.
if all he'd ever played was Tammy Wynette's version of Apartment No.9, that would be enough for me. what an iconic and beautiful sound.
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster
Last edited by scott murray on 7 Aug 2017 11:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Gary Hoetker
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 10:04 am
|
|
| Thank you Tom for posting the better one. |
|
|
|
Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 12:59 pm
|
|
some of my favorite steel playing was done on George Jones recordings , and I always thought it was done by Buddy Emmons , only to find out just recently that all that playing I loved so much, and was influenced by, was done by no other but Pete Drake, my whole life I loved his music, but didn't even know it was him who was playing it....
_________________
www.steelguitarsonline.com |
|
|
|
Cartwright Thompson
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 1:08 pm
|
|
I always loved the story about Pete and Buddy and the wad of $100 bills...
I also love this tune and have never been able to totally figure it out:
https://youtu.be/RMwR1kXuGzk |
|
|
|
scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
|
Posted 7 Aug 2017 1:52 pm
|
|
cool tune Cartwright and nice tone.
seems more than a little influenced by Buddy's performance on Night Life, and was released just a year later.
the 100 dollar bill story is a good one but I think Buddy claimed it never happened. Buddy also said he came up with the "talking" steel guitar effect but had no use for it. Pete took it and ran.
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
|
|
|
Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 4:12 am
|
|
| If any pedal steel player ever had a unique, instantly recognizable sound, it was Pete Drake. Some say his playing was a bit weird and rather simple, the same few licks over and over – but I like that style, especially his use of the volume pedal. His sound was an integral part of so many 70s hits – George Jones, Tanya Tucker's Columbia recordings, and so many others. Billie Jo Spears? Early John Anderson stuff? The late great Billy Sherrill seemed to employ Pete on all the stuff he produced. |
|
|
|
Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 4:37 am
|
|
One of my favorite songs, as well as favorite examples of steel accompaniment by Pete Drake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj0pX2lB6mg
Keep on pickin'!
Glenn
_________________
Steelin' for Jesus |
|
|
|
scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 5:11 am
|
|
| Damir Besic wrote: |
| some of my favorite steel playing was done on George Jones recordings , and I always thought it was done by Buddy Emmons , only to find out just recently that all that playing I loved so much, and was influenced by, was done by no other but Pete Drake, my whole life I loved his music, but didn't even know it was him who was playing it.... |
Buddy did play on some George Jones recordings, mostly in the 60s before heading to LA
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
|
|
|
Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 5:15 am
|
|
| scott murray wrote: |
| Damir Besic wrote: |
| some of my favorite steel playing was done on George Jones recordings , and I always thought it was done by Buddy Emmons , only to find out just recently that all that playing I loved so much, and was influenced by, was done by no other but Pete Drake, my whole life I loved his music, but didn't even know it was him who was playing it.... |
Buddy did play on some George Jones recordings, mostly in the 60s before heading to LA |
yes, and Lloyd played on some as well, but the playing (like on He stopped loving her today) I fell in love with was all Pete ... when I talk about "crying steel guitar' that is what Im thinking of ...
_________________
www.steelguitarsonline.com |
|
|
|
Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
|
|
|
|
Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
|
|
|
|
Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 9:07 am
|
|
| Damir Besic wrote: |
| the playing (like on He stopped loving her today) I fell in love with was all Pete ... when I talk about "crying steel guitar' that is what Im thinking of ... |
Wow, just the other day hearing it on Willie's Roadhouse I was wondering who that was on "He Stopped Loving Her Today". I never would have guessed Pete Drake! |
|
|
|
Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 11:29 am
|
|
I had the same experience with Pete Drake. I had his sound etched into my mind and am deeply influenced by him and didn't know it was him! One day I put on some youtube videos of him and was astounded to hear him playing the way I try to play. Blew my mind. He is the sound of popular pedal steel.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 2:00 pm
|
|
Pete using is the "talking" effect (pioneered by Alvino Rey) at Owen Bradley's "Quonset Hut" studio. Mid 1960s?
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
|
|
|
Mike Holder
From:
Alabama! Home of the great “Don Helms” & his singer “Hank Williams”!
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 6:00 pm
|
|
Not to mention his great playing on Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" and my all time favorite "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison,..so cool!
_________________
I thought Nashville was the roughest, but I know I’ve said the same about them all.
I received my education, drivin through the Nation listenin to Paul!.. ( Franklin that is! ) |
|
|
|
David Gertschen
From:
Phoenix, Arizona
|
Posted 8 Aug 2017 6:25 pm
|
|
| Great old pic, Andy. I wonder what the gun-barrel like tube thing is in front of the microphone? |
|
|
|
Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
|
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
|
|
|
Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
|
Posted 9 Aug 2017 9:25 am
|
|
| I think maybe David was referring to the thing that looks like a bazooka pointed at Pete. |
|
|
|
Mike Holder
From:
Alabama! Home of the great “Don Helms” & his singer “Hank Williams”!
|
Posted 9 Aug 2017 3:58 pm
|
|
I had most f Mandel's records, forgot he had Pete on that cut but do remember it was the first time I heard Freddie Roulette on his Snake album on a track called Levitation...my world changed that day.
_________________
I thought Nashville was the roughest, but I know I’ve said the same about them all.
I received my education, drivin through the Nation listenin to Paul!.. ( Franklin that is! ) |
|
|
|
David Gertschen
From:
Phoenix, Arizona
|
Posted 9 Aug 2017 6:55 pm
|
|
| Right you are, Brint! |
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
|
|
|
