| Author |
Topic: Rocket Man |
Glen Derksen
From:
Alberta, Canada
|
Posted 26 Jan 2011 10:05 pm |
|
| I've always wondered who did those fills on the chorus on that song, and what tuning it was. Of course, it sounds like a lap steel. Can anyone clear that up for me? Thanks. |
|
|
 |
Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
|
Posted 26 Jan 2011 10:23 pm
|
|
| BJ Cole, I think. It sounds like pedal steel to me with a lot of long slides in the chorus. I would guess standard E9th tuning, but someone else will probably know for sure. |
|
|
|
Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
|
Posted 27 Jan 2011 7:29 am
|
|
| I've seen video of Elton's regular guitarist at the time playing that part with a slide (on his guitar). |
|
|
|
Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
|
Posted 27 Jan 2011 11:29 am
|
|
I defer to Ethan. According to www.allmusic.com the only guitarist credited for the Honky Chateau LP is Davey Johnstone, although no credits listed for slide.
No credits listed for BJ. I know he was on the Madman LP, so maybe that's why I was thinking that....or my "remembery" is not what it used to be. Sorry. 
It's a pretty neat effect though. |
|
|
|
Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
|
Posted 27 Jan 2011 8:45 pm
|
|
Here's a version of Rocket Man with pedal steel. 
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
|
|
|
Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
|
Posted 27 Jan 2011 9:05 pm
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Ron Davis
From:
Lake Arrowhead, California... We're a mile high. ;)
|
|
|
|
Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
|
Posted 28 Jan 2011 7:02 am
|
|
| Very good! |
|
|
|
Greg Gefell
From:
Upstate NY
|
|
|
|
Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
|
Posted 28 Jan 2011 12:41 pm
|
|
Let's not forget William Shatner's definitive version of Rocket Man 
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
|
|
|
Barry Blackwood
|
Posted 28 Jan 2011 12:41 pm
|
|
Glen, the most comprehensive list of musicians I have found regarding Rocket Man are:
ELTON JOHN -- vocals, electric and acoustic piano, organ
DAVEY JOHNSTONE -- guitars, banjo, mandolin, backing vocals
DEE MURRAY -- bas, backing vocals
NIGEL OLSSON -- drums, tambrouine, backing vocals
Madeline Bll -- bcaking vocals (6)
Jacques Bolognesi -- trombone (1)
Jean Louis Chautemps -- saxophone (1)
Ray Cooper -- congas (
Gus Dudgeon -- brass arrangement (1), rhino whistle and backing vocals (11)
Alain Hatot -- saxophone (1)
Tony Hazzard -- backing vocals (6)
David Hentschel -- ARP synthesizer (5,6)
Ivan Julien -- trumpet (1)
Jean-Luc Ponty -- electric violin (2,
"Legs" Larry Smith -- tap dance (3)
Larry Steel -- backing vocals (6)
Lisa Strike -- backing vocals (6)
Ken Scott -- engineer
and/or this:
Elton John (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals); Elton John; Gus Dudgeon (vocals, whistling, whistle, background vocals); Chris Gavin (saxophone); David Hentschel (keyboards, synthesizer, ARP synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Legs Larry Smith (taps); Larry Steel (background vocals); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, synthesizer, background vocals); Larry Steele, Liza Strike, Madeline Bell, Tony Hazzard (vocals, background vocals); Jean-Luc Ponty (violin, electric violin); Jean Louis Chautemps, Alain Hatot (saxophone); Ivan Julian (trumpet); Jacques Bolognesi (trombone); Nigel Olsson (drums, congas, tambourine, background vocals); Ray Cooper (congas, percussion).
The general consensus of opinion seems to be that guitarist Davey Johnstone did those (ethereal) sounding slides on the original Elton John recording. |
|
|
|
Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
|
Posted 28 Jan 2011 1:09 pm
|
|
I always assumed it was slide guitar. I saw a performance by EJ on TV and Davey Johnstone nailed the parts with the slide.
BJ Cole played steel on Tiny Dancer. Gordon Huntley played steel on Country Comfort, according to the album credits.
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
|
|
|
