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Topic: Being Ben Keith |
Barry Blackwood
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Posted 11 Sep 2019 7:40 am |
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I really like that old 1950s and 1960s pedal steel work, the style that was popular before everything became gobs of pedals and knee levers, and tricky moves that mostly impress only other pedal steelers. That stuff was simple and basic, but terribly expressive. Somewhere along, we lost sight of those qualities.
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Like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMWYnZDq3Bo |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 11 Sep 2019 8:41 am
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| Barry, I was referring more to early pedal steel stylings, the stuff that made players like Ben Keith, Jimmy Day, and Ralph Mooney famous. Those stylings were probably brought about by the simpler guitars and setups, and the fact that the instrument was comparatively new back in those days. |
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Stephen Pride
From:
Berkeley, CA
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Posted 11 Sep 2019 11:08 am
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| Marc Jenkins wrote: |
| Yes thanks for the playlist! I think both Alabama and Words should be included - minimalist parts but two of my faves! |
Really glad to know people are enjoying the list! I will get those additional Harvest tunes added shortly, thanks for the tip. |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 11 Sep 2019 2:08 pm
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| Stephen Pride wrote: |
| Marc Jenkins wrote: |
| Yes thanks for the playlist! I think both Alabama and Words should be included - minimalist parts but two of my faves! |
Really glad to know people are enjoying the list! I will get those additional Harvest tunes added shortly, thanks for the tip. |
Thanks!! |
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John Brabant
From:
Calais, VT, USA
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Posted 12 Sep 2019 3:39 am
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I caught Neil Young on the International Harvesters tour back in July 1985. He toured with Waylon and his band which included Ralph Mooney. Now that was a show. Waylon was on first and Neil and Wayon and Waylon's band came out during the International Harvesters' set and did "Are you Ready for the Country" together along with some other songs with Ralph playing steel. My memory is that Ben was playing dobro during some of that set. Rufus Thibideaux played fiddle with the Harvesters, really great. I have a lousy cassette tape recording of that concert lying around somewhere. Those were the days for sure.
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John Brabant
1978 Emmons D-10 P-P |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 12 Sep 2019 4:15 am
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Old Ways by Neil Young was recorded during that time. There's more Ralph Mooneys than Ben Keiths playing on that record.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Jonathan Shacklock
From:
London, UK
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 12 Sep 2019 7:11 am
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Ben played on Ringo's"country"album,"Beaucoups of Blues",produced in Nashville by Pete Drake...Pete loved Ben and hired him to work at his publishing company,Window Music...lots of good stories...he also hired him on some"Stop Records"sessions...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zq6plWndSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdOH1thx1Q
Last edited by Steve Hinson on 30 Jun 2024 4:22 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Jonathan Shacklock
From:
London, UK
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Posted 12 Sep 2019 7:18 am
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Pete was apparently the first call for Harvest (presumably off the back of this work for Dylan) but he recommended Ben Keith for the gig instead.
On further research the "This Is Faron Young" LP material I had listed above is probably too early for Ben so I've removed (thanks Steve). |
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Stephen Pride
From:
Berkeley, CA
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Posted 12 Sep 2019 11:03 am
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| Jonathan, thank you for all those links, this is outstanding! I will get those added soon, and am really looking forward to listening. |
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Stephen Pride
From:
Berkeley, CA
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Posted 12 Sep 2019 11:06 am
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Thanks for this, I will check out the Ringo. That's Ben Keith on those Kendalls tracks? |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2019 9:35 pm
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| Stephen Pride wrote: |
Thanks for this, I will check out the Ringo. That's Ben Keith on those Kendalls tracks? |
It sounds like Ben to me. |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2019 9:53 am
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Incidentally,there are two"new"record releases featuring Big Ben...
"Tuscaloosa",a live album by Neil Young and the Stray Gators...
"The Lost Tapes",some live excerpts of shows by Great Speckled Bird(Ian and Sylvia with Ben,Buddy Cage,and Pee Wee Charles featured on various cuts)...
Both worth a listen if you love Big Ben's playing...and I do!
SH |
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John Brabant
From:
Calais, VT, USA
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Olaf van Roggen
From:
The Netherlands
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 4:48 am
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I just bought a record I used to have and somehow lost in the past. After reading the book by Jim Rooney,I wanted to listen it again.
The pedal steel player on it turns out to be Ben Keith.
It's a kind of an obscure country rock album, but it's nice to listen to. The album is also on youtube.
https://youtu.be/KvtV6LEgb2E |
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Bill Rowlett
From:
Russellville, AR, USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 3:51 pm
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I must be the last to find out, but Darrell McCall was a heck of a bass player back then...
Bill |
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GaryL
From:
Medina, OH USA
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 5:53 pm Ben Keith
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There was a thread on this subject quite a while ago, but with the re-issue of Gene Clark's "No Other" album, the steel guitarist on the track "The True One" has been credited to Ben Keith.
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GFI Ultra D-10 keyless
Quilter Steelaire(s)
Telonics rack system, 12"& 15" TT Speakers, Hilton Volume |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 6:03 pm
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Thank you Gary, I wandered who it was. Ben is not mentioned in the credits of the original vinyl.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Olaf van Roggen
From:
The Netherlands
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Posted 2 Feb 2021 11:28 pm
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| Joachim Kettner wrote: |
| Thank you Gary, I wandered who it was. Ben is not mentioned in the credits of the original vinyl. |
I also just found out on the cd, i always assumed it was Al Perkins, as he was in the same scene as Gene Clark,( besides Sneaky Pete and Gene Parsons) |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 3 Feb 2021 6:57 am
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| Donny Hinson wrote: |
| Frank Freniere wrote: |
Ben played on a lot of Patsy Cline releases. "Loving in Vain" is a good one. |
Yes, and "Shoes" too. Here's links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3C6i54ua1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP2P8fCOnMI
I really like that old 1950s and 1960s pedal steel work, the style that was popular before everything became gobs of pedals and knee levers, and tricky moves that mostly impress only other pedal steelers. That stuff was simple and basic, but terribly expressive. Somewhere along, we lost sight of those qualities. |
Nobody plays that stuff on records...that's why the old"moves"have held up...
That bizarre,dissonant,"seventh"sounding stuff will insure that you will never be called again...
SH |
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Franklin
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Posted 3 Feb 2021 7:17 am
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Sorry to sidetrack a bit...To clarify the Ringo project...Pete Drake played steel on two of the vocal songs "Waiting For you" is one title I remember.. I forget the title of the other one...He also played the C6th on the Jam song which is like a bonus track for some versions of "Beaucoups" Ben Keith plays on the rest of the record.
Fish, I find the history gets real interesting when the 60's roll around. Elvis and his prominence pretty much eliminated that creative trios dominance on the radio. As with all things, their playing got labeled as that 50's sound along with Ralph Mooney's contributions on the west coast. Producers pretty much stopped calling steels and sent them to the background...Then Pete revived the instrument back into the forefront with a totally different style and approach..Then Lloyd kicked the stylistic door open as did Rugg and Weldon. Together they changed the commercial direction of the instrument. Lloyd talks about his entrance and the early periods in his interviews...
Back to BK, Rose Drake was running the publishing and Tommy ran Stop records when Ben was called for the NY gig. Pete said he employed Ben as he did so many others trying to help them get firmly on their feet. The 60's left many struggling. Buddy moved to LA. I believe Jimmy Day moved back to Texas by the end of the 60's and Ben Keith to LA and onto his best and most successful accomplishments. |
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Scott Spanbauer
From:
Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Posted 5 Feb 2021 11:08 am
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What a great thread! Thanks to everyone for the links.
_________________
Carter D10, Emmons GS10, T8 Stringmaster, 50s Fender Deluxe
johnnyblueheart.com |
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Bob Bestor
From:
Ashland, OR
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Posted 5 Feb 2021 1:08 pm
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| Scott Spanbauer wrote: |
| What a great thread! Thanks to everyone for the links. |
Totally off topic. But, Round Hill Dr.? Hayward, CA?
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Keep on truckin' |
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Scott Spanbauer
From:
Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Posted 6 Feb 2021 6:58 am
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Yes! PM me when you get a chance.
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Carter D10, Emmons GS10, T8 Stringmaster, 50s Fender Deluxe
johnnyblueheart.com |
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