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Topic: Al Perkins on the Stones' "Torn and Frayed" |
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 23 Aug 2012 5:48 pm |
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I feel that Mr. Perkins deserves a nod for his playing on the Stones' "Torn and Frayed" from the 1972 album Exile on Main Street. No doubt hired on the suggestion of Gram Parsons, ironically Al appears on this record while Gram does not. It must have been a bitter issue for Gram, who was hanging pretty tight with Keith during the making of this classic album. Either way. I thought I'd put up a link to it for anyone who's into Al's picking and/or wasn't aware of this little gem.
The steel starts at 1:48 with a tasty, off-the-cuff solo, and he's also doing some sweet stuff on the outro. His sound and style on this tune are reminiscent of Sneaky Pete. It's pretty spontaneous and loose playing, actually. But that's what makes it sound cool. It's like he had about a half hour to lay it down or something, and just went at it. (Intonation Nazis need not click on link, ha.) Presumably he's using the same ZB Custom from the Manassas and Gram solo albums, but I'd gladly stand corrected if anyone knows different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJtfANIjmQM
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 23 Aug 2012 6:28 pm
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| Yes, it was on his ZB Custom. Al described that session to me. It was spontaneous. Apparently Mick Jagger was dancing around to the playbacks with a yellow and black bumble bee outfit trying to get Al inspired. Al described it as a very memorable session. He's a great artistic/expressionist player. Still doing it, thank goodness. |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 24 Aug 2012 12:09 am
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I've never listened to Exile as a whole, but I read about it. Some songs were recorded at Olympic studios and the others at the rented mansion in the south of France, I wonder where this one was recorded. Maybe Al Perkins mentioned it, Kevin?
Funny thing at least for me. We were on a school trip in the south of France in 71 and stayed in Avignon, which is about a hundred miles away from Villefranche where they hung out.
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 24 Aug 2012 7:57 am
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| Not only is this one my favorite songs of all time, it was my first real introduction to pedal steel. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 24 Aug 2012 9:16 am
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| i imagine the bumble bee suit was intended to inspire al to get in mick's bed..ha ha.....it must have gotten crowded in there. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 24 Aug 2012 4:50 pm
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| Al Perkins was directly responsible for me playing pedal steel. I opened for The Last Of The Red Hot Burritos in 71. They smoked. I stood and watched Al Perkins play his pedal steel. It just blew me away and I swore that I was going to learn that instrument someday. I am honored to be able to call Al a friend. He is a great artist/musician. He can play the daylights out of a Strat with finger picks. All that lead work on side two of The Last Of The Red Hots album is him. |
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Duncan Hodge
From:
DeLand, FL USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2012 6:24 pm
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Hi, Chris. "Torn and Frayed" is also one of my favorite songs of all time. I probably play the intro 3-4 times a week on the acoustic. On a very good day I can actually remember all the lyrics.
Have a great Canadian night.
Duncan
_________________
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." |
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Mike Flick
From:
California, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2012 2:53 pm T 'n F recording location
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| Torn and Frayed was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollyweird CA. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2012 6:02 pm
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I love Exile and it sure beats most of Ron Woods steel work Huh. 
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 26 Aug 2012 12:24 am
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| Poor Ron, he tries, but...Love the Stones, don't have anything to add except that Al Perkins' work on that song is a standout on an album which has a lot of standouts. The re-mastering they did on it a couple years ago sounds fantastic. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 26 Aug 2012 3:39 pm
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| Duncan Hodge wrote: |
Hi, Chris. "Torn and Frayed" is also one of my favorite songs of all time. I probably play the intro 3-4 times a week on the acoustic. On a very good day I can actually remember all the lyrics.
Have a great Canadian night.
Duncan |
Hey Duncan, don't you love on the intro when he hits that open E string on the acoustic and the 'verb kicks in? What a great sound.
Thanks all for chiming in. Glad to know that this track is on so many radars here.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Chuck McGill
From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Aug 2012 5:23 am
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| Great track. |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 27 Aug 2012 5:51 am
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In the pic inside the Manassas double album Perkins is playing a Fender, I always assumed that`s what he played on that album....
Not that it matters. It`s one of my favorite records ever.
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Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 27 Aug 2012 1:56 pm
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He very well could have, Olli. I was just assuming about the ZB from referencing the Manassas video footage.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 28 Aug 2012 12:40 pm
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Hey Chris, I just played your old Bud a couple of days ago. Miikka who bought it from you came over to show it and talk steel. Very nice and clean guitar!
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Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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Duncan Hodge
From:
DeLand, FL USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2012 1:55 pm
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I think I read that Al played a ZB S-11, somewhere, on "Torn and Frayed". And Chris, I know what you mean by that open E. I played the intro again over the past two nights and realized that I had been hitting that note, quite clearly, since about 1979. It does really make the song.
Duncan
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"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 28 Aug 2012 6:18 pm
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| Olli Haavisto wrote: |
| Hey Chris, I just played your old Bud a couple of days ago. Miikka who bought it from you came over to show it and talk steel. Very nice and clean guitar! |
Olli I'm glad to hear it made it safe and sound and is upholding the great tradition of Sho~Bud steels. That was a good one for sure. Red lacquer too. Beautiful. Give my best to Miikka!
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 28 Aug 2012 6:19 pm
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| Duncan Hodge wrote: |
I think I read that Al played a ZB S-11, somewhere, on "Torn and Frayed". And Chris, I know what you mean by that open E. I played the intro again over the past two nights and realized that I had been hitting that note, quite clearly, since about 1979. It does really make the song.
Duncan |
Duncan it's those little bits that always intrigue me. And Exile has a lot of those moments.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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