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Topic: Pedal Steel on Beach Boys record |
Drew Manne
From:
Los Angeles, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2008 10:58 pm |
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Wanted to see if anyone knew who played on the 1972 Beach Boys record "Carl And The Passions - So Tough"
The song is "Hold On Dear Brother"... definitely some of the prettiest pedal steel I have ever heard. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 4 Dec 2008 11:40 pm
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Great question.
Forumite Al Vescovo played steel on Friends in 1968 and receives co-writers credit on the instrumental "Diamond Head" from that album.
But I'm thinking on 1972's Carl and the Passions it could have South African multi-instrumentalist (mainly drums) Ricky Fataar, who was in the group for awhile with fellow South African Blondie Chaplin.
I think Ricky played pedal steel a bit on 1973's Holland, and during that period in the early 70's he would play it live on a tune or two during their concerts. I think "(On My Way To) Sunny California" was one of those songs where he played steel.
On the other hand, there is a style to the playing on the song from Carl and the Passions that reminds me of a well-known steel player from that era...but I just can't quite place who it is.
_________________
Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 6 Dec 2008 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 5 Dec 2008 5:14 am
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| Red Rhodes played on the late '69 session for Cottonfields, the Beach Boys 1970 hit single, not the LP track from the same period. The sinlge has a different mix/take altogether. |
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scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 5 Dec 2008 11:52 am
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i believe it was Ricky Fataar on "Hold On Dear Brother"... there's a picture of the whole group with Ricky on steel in the CD booklet.
Al Vescovo also played steel on "Little Pad" from 'Smiley Smile' and Chris Midaugh played some steel on the 'MIU' album.
Buddy Emmons claims to have played a Beach Boys session, but can't recall what song/album... possibly a song called "When Girls Get Together" from the unreleased 'Landlocked' album.
He also appeared on a Brian Wilson-produced country album by Fred Vail called 'Cows In the Pasture', also unreleased.
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
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Jason Stillwell
From:
Caddo, OK, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2008 10:07 am
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Hey, Scott. I just ran to my music/junk room to see the pic you were referring to, but I have the 1990 release with no pictures at all. Now I have to check my long-unseen vinyl copy over at my parents' house (which is just a short walk across the pasture)  Can you possibly post the picture with Ricky on steel?
BTW, Ricky Fataar has played drums for Bonnie Raitt for many years. Nice to hear he's also a musician.  |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 8:53 am
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| Not a lot of drummers double on real musical instruments !! |
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Spencer Cullum
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 8:59 am
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| i always thought it was blondie chapman? wow - pedal steel and a sweet drummer!!! |
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Jim Hoke
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 7:16 am
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| Somebody mentioned Chris Midaugh. Anybody know where he is now? I knew him in Seattle in the 70's, playing w/ Rose & The Dirt Boys. |
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Drew Manne
From:
Los Angeles, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 1:30 pm
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Thanks for all the info...can anyone recommend some music with pedal steel...sort of along the lines of the Carl and The Passions record?
I was also listening to some Scott Walker...heard some pedal steel on a track called "Rhymes Of Goodbye"...not sure how popular his stuff was (I was born in 1981), but i really like a lot of it.
I'm slowly discovering all this great music from the 60's/ early 70's...always looking for new music to listen to...if anyone wants to throw some recommended listening at me
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David Langdon
From:
West Bridgford, Nottingham Notts, United Kingdom
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 6:10 am Rarest Fender PSG?
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| That steel in the pic looks like a single neck version of the Fender 210. I never knew one was made. Has anyone ever had, or spotted one before? |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 7:18 pm Re: Rarest Fender PSG?
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| David Langdon wrote: |
| That steel in the pic looks like a single neck version of the Fender 210. I never knew one was made. Has anyone ever had, or spotted one before? |
I borrowed a S-12 like that, maybe that one, for a while around 1976. There are 2 legs in the front, and one in the back that goes between the player's legs. The player sits on a bench that is fastened to the one rear leg. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 4:48 am
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| Mark Eaton wrote: |
| On the other hand, there is a style to the playing on the song from Carl and the Passions that reminds me of a well-known steel player from that era...but I just can't quite place who it is. |
Hmmm... on a Fender; Sneaky Pete maybe?
Could he have had an influence then? 
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 7:38 am
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There's definitely a nod to Sneaky Pete in style, and the "Fenderness" seems to enhance that aspect.
Does anyone know if Gene Fields had a hand in the design of the guitar in the photo?
I found reviews of the album when net surfing the other night, and some were assessing the song as being "country" and it didn't fit in with the Beach Boys style, sort of like a fish out of water.
It doesn't sound anything like "country" to me - it's that old thing that anytime some people hear a steel guitar, it automatically gets thrown into the country category.
Forumite Charles Davidson has posted a number of times that it can't be country if it doesn't have steel - so if it does have steel, does that, by default, automatically make it country? 
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Mark |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 9:31 am
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| Mark Eaton wrote: |
It doesn't sound anything like "country" to me - it's that old thing that anytime some people hear a steel guitar, it automatically gets thrown into the country category.
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I didn't realize til you mentioned it that it's the steel that made me think 'country' then.
Funny.
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Tommy Young
From:
Ethelsville Alabama
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 10:03 am
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EARNEST DID YOU COUNT THE FINGERS ON THAT GUITAR I TRIED AND I'M THINKIN THIS IS A 12 STRINGER UNI, ALSO..
JIM:: looks like old Mike had been out back smokin or something like that.
_________________
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
BMI dealer,Classic VIBE 100 amp... SIT strings.. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 10:18 am
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| It is an S-12. On my Mac, if you hold down the "Control" key, you can zoom in using your scroll wheel. Think it might work on some pcs also. |
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Wayne Appleby
From:
Queensland, Australia
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 1:41 pm Re Ricy Fataar
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In 1986 Ricky Fataar was living in Sydney Australia and we did a movie score session together.
When ever we had a break Rick would jump on my then Emmons.
He told me that the Beach Boys purchased a steel with the idea for Carl Wilson leaning to play it, but it was Rick who learned to play it.
He was a great guy to work with and a fine steeler to boot
Wayne |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 5:44 pm
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Great story, Wayne! 
_________________
Mark |
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tom anderson
From:
leawood, ks., usa
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 9:16 pm Chris Middaugh
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| The last I heard of Chris Middaugh, he was running a recording studio in Seattle. He sent me an unreleased tape of him & the Skyboys from around the late 1970's. I sure would like a live recording of him with Rose & the Dirt Boys. He was still playing the same shobud he used back then & this was about 10 years ago. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 11:00 pm
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| i saw the skyboys mid 70's...didn't they have a little chick bass player? |
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Jason Stillwell
From:
Caddo, OK, USA
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Posted 16 Dec 2008 4:30 pm
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| Cool pic! Thanks for posting; I don't remember ever seeing it before. I'm trying to ID all the instruments, but so far all I know is that Al is playing Carl's 60s tele with the Bigsby whammy bar, and Mike looks to be fresh out of the shower. Mike told me once that he neither sleeps nor showers in his cap. Judging from this photo, I would beg to differ! |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2009 6:52 pm
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Ricky Fataar trivia: he was one of the stars of the movie "All You Need is Cash" featuring the Rutles (including Eric Idle and Neil Innes). Ricky played Stig O'Hara,
the character based on George Harrison. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 28 Jan 2009 8:02 pm
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Chris Middaugh is in Seattle and works for www.schertlerusa.com pickups,he's one of my dearest friends and my first steel guitar teacher/mentor.I know Chris from when we both lived in the Catskill Mountains in upstate N.Y.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Posted 28 Jan 2009 11:08 pm
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| I just got home and saw this thread. Stu, I had a hunch you would chime in on Chris. I see him from time to time and he doesn't get out and play alot but when he does he still sounds great. After Rose and the Dirt Boys he played in a real fine Seattle band The Sky Boys for several years. His playing along with Dudley Hill on guitar was really super. Sadly we lost Dudley about four years ago, to colon cancer. |
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