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Topic: Pedal steel players who excelled at chicken pickin' |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2023 6:46 am |
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| An acquaintence recently asked me which steel players he should listen to who could emulate the popular chicken pickin' Telecaster guitar style. Weldon was the first who popped into my mind. Who else? |
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Duane Becker
From:
Elk,Wa 99009 USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2023 7:33 am
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| Jimmy Crawford and Russ Hicks |
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scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 22 Apr 2023 11:47 am
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Crawford and Hicks had the albums Chicken Pickin Good and Chicken Pickin Plus
Ralph Mooney did Corn Pickin & Slick Slidin with James Burton
to name a few more:
Lloyd Green
Hal Rugg
Doug Jernigan
JD Maness
Bobby Black
Tom Brumley
Norm Hamlet
Leo LeBlanc
Buddy Emmons
Sonny Garrish
John Hughey
Jim Murphy
Julian Tharpe
and check out Lew Houston with Conway Twitty:
https://youtu.be/FOZ4AWWLtXw
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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
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Mike Polansky
From:
Austin, TX
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Posted 22 Apr 2023 10:53 pm
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I’ve been trying to get this Lloyd Maines chicken picking solo down. It’s extremely chickeny.
https://youtu.be/hFum3Vnu5kA - starts around 2:50. |
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Craig Stock
From:
Westfield, NJ USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2023 4:32 am
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Great song the Joe Ely Band with Lloyd are some of my favorite albums
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Regards, Craig
I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.
Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days |
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Norman Evans
From:
Tennessee
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Gary Hoetker
From:
California, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2023 8:06 pm
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| Lou Houston!! |
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Franklin
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Posted 24 Apr 2023 2:39 am
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Hi Jack,
Chicken Picking can be found within every recorded steel players discography's. But none of those players used chicken picking for their entire body of work...Try informing him towards specific cuts instead of giving him specific names. Within all of the names mentioned in this thread there are many styles being played in their discography. The style originated in the 60's.
As with all things go back to the creator of the style..In this case it was Mooney
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-lohQ8w9EQ
This Connie cut probably defines Weldon's interpretation of the style best...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTbyoTGDweU
This is Lloyd's interpretation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTyiiMz3eZI
Have him listen to a more subdued interpretation in Hal Ruggs chorus release fills so he can get a complete grasp of where the style goes
Slightly off topic but this is the way I am interpreting the style to fit into modern times...This combines the Weldon and Mooney inflections with some Hammer ons with slight distortion...It rocks but can not be confused as being too close to a guitar...My belief is we need to ID the instrument especially since the 90's are back...This is from the very soon to be released Chris Jansen CD...Good news is producers are asking steel guitarists to play...You can bet I will rely on this aggressive style every chance I get!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fqzPF_Oqco |
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scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 24 Apr 2023 1:17 pm
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it does make more sense to cite specific examples rather than players.
I thought about adding a link to each of the names I mentioned above but only got as far as Lew Houston 
I'm thinking some of us have a broader definition of "chicken pickin" as well
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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Marco Schouten
From:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Posted 25 Apr 2023 7:27 am
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To me this is the earliest example of what I consider chicken picking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqHQbSxCZrs
I feel that Ralph Mooney's style is different, his unique Mooney style. Also Weldon on I'll come running isn't what I consider to be chicken picking (But still fabulous fast picking).
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo |
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Marco Schouten
From:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Posted 25 Apr 2023 7:32 am
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1BHadRECU
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JCH SD-10 with BL XR-16 pickup, Sho-Bud Volume Pedal, Evidence Audio Lyric HG cables, Quilter Steelaire combo |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 25 Apr 2023 8:41 am
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should read HAMMIN' It Up 
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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
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Tommy White
From:
Nashville
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Posted 25 Apr 2023 7:23 pm
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Paul Franklin doesn’t need confirmation in regards to “Chicken Pickin” obviously.
I will say, I began pedal steel in or around 1966, as my dad played, and played quite well. You might say I was raised with pedal steel.
That sound was around when I started. Most every pedal steel recording of that era had elements of Chicken Pickin , especially the pedal steel instrumental recordings. Again, I’ll agree with my life long friend and hero Paul Franklin. I’ll always tip my hat to those who could play that style, whether live or on recordings.😊
As a side note, my first influences of “ Chicken Pickin” was/were and still are Lloyd Green recordings on the Little Darlin label. Lotsa good stuff there. Just slamming staccato picking and not at all hoaky or corny. For me, Lloyd’s early recordings are still a go to for great technique. 😊 |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2023 1:56 am
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Buddy Cage has always been a big early influence on me; listen to "Panama Red", or 'Hello Mary Lou"
Also check out John Call, from Pure Prairie League doing "I'll Fix Your Flat Tire Merle". Live version is best.
One of the best chicken pickers that no one seems to mention much here is Joe Wright. Listen to his YouTube video of "Rocky Top". His blinding speed & muting technique are awesome.
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A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 26 Apr 2023 5:00 am
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I always thought chicken picking was what you did when you were a little unsure of the chord changes…
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John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar |
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Joel Jackson
From:
Detroit
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Bill Cunningham
From:
Atlanta, Ga. USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2023 7:18 pm
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I always thought this cut was the chicken picking “gold standard”. Legend has it that they did about 25 takes to get it right but Lloyd was flawless on every one of them. Maybe someone who is connected with Lloyd could get his recollections.
Lynn Anderson-“Rocky Top” [url] https://youtu.be/WROkIhZJLSY[/url]
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Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA |
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scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 29 Apr 2023 3:16 pm
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and Hal Rugg played on the original https://youtu.be/FzG97IPg0y8
that's pretty great Joel!
(derka derka: chicken pickin or no?)
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1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
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Joel Jackson
From:
Detroit
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Posted 30 Apr 2023 8:15 am
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 Scott, derka derka is the first thing that pops into my mind when someone says chicken pickin’. |
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Joe Goldmark
From:
San Francisco, CA 94131
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 1 May 2023 9:48 pm
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| Jimmie Crawford & Russ Hicks – their "Chicken pickin' good" album is the best example you will find anywhere. "Fowl Play" and "Roostin' the Rooster" are the definitive chicken pickin' tracks. None of the others mentioned here come close, not even Lloyd! Sadly not available on neither Youtube nor Spotify, it seems. |
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Peter Dollard
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Posted 6 May 2023 1:27 pm Not Lloyd
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| It was Bobby Thompson who played the 24 perfect banjo soloes Lloyd said HE had to do 24 passes to get his steelpart down at least thats what he told me |
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