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Author Topic:  The Five Greatest Solos?
Frank Freniere


From:
The First Coast
Post  Posted 14 Apr 2024 1:02 pm    
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The author probably should have titled this article “My Favorite Five Steel Guitar Solos.”

https://medium.com/shore2shore-country/the-five-greatest-steel-guitar-solos-in-country-music-history-aa40372f1eb
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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 14 Apr 2024 1:55 pm    
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De gustibus non disputandum est.
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 14 Apr 2024 4:33 pm    
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Veritas...
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Duane Becker

 

From:
Elk,Wa 99009 USA
Post  Posted 15 Apr 2024 7:01 am    
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Geeess. Really? Definitely the author's favorites, not mine, I'll go with Tom Brumley's Together Again but the number 4 and 5 shouldn't even be on any list.
If we are talking about the greatest solos in history how about
Curly Chalker's I Love You Because https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FxEpdys85g

Paul Franklin's Nervous Breakdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDPSXONhJm8

Buddy Emmons Remember Me (tenth song on the track)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb9tpckdNZY
Emmons really takes off at 29:00

Weldon Myrick Bells of St Marys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TrEXkh4VnY&list=OLAK5uy_npZC-Xz3qDYgAPrnbEgzNScmJTkzxLfMY
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Duane Becker

 

From:
Elk,Wa 99009 USA
Post  Posted 15 Apr 2024 7:21 am    
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I noticed my previous post was listing steel solos on the country side, so how about some rock:

Sneeky Pete Hot Burrito #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rrqBsG1yXs

David Lindley Running on Empty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFQKvtbD6Kw

John McFee South Side Midnight Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7kEqWlSyc
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robert kramer

 

From:
Nashville TN
Post  Posted 15 Apr 2024 8:10 am    
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Years ago, this great question was asked on the SGF and several players replied. Emmons and many other listed Ferlin Husky's "Just Like Jimmy" w/ Jerry Byrd on steel as their favorite:

"Next To Jimmy" - Ferlin Husky Capitol 4406 (1960)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCg5UJUZZXE

My favorite is Curtis Potter / Darrell McCall / Ray Sanders on"Soft Rain" from "Texas Dancehall Music" w/ Emmons on what sounds to me like a Bolt-On.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_1tuRYS1r4
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John Larson


From:
Pennsyltucky, USA
Post  Posted 15 Apr 2024 7:57 pm    
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"Together Again" is the gold standard imo.

Here are some personal favorites.
Son Volt - "Creosote" (Eric Heywood)
Bon Iver - "Beth/Rest" (Greg Leisz)
New Riders of the Purple Sage - "Death and Destruction"(Buddy Cage)
Dire Straits - "Brothers in Arms" (Paul Franklin)
The Byrds - "One Hundred Years from Now" (Lloyd Green)
Desert Rose Band - "Story of Love" (Jay Dee Maness)
Pink Floyd - "High Hopes" (Dave Gilmour)
Grateful Dead - "Dire Wolf" (Jerry Garcia)
Jimmy Buffett - "He Went to Paris" (Doyle Grisham)
Vince Gill - "Look at Us" (John Hughey)
Marshall Tucker Band - "Fire on the Mountain" (Toy Caldwell)
Bottle Rockets - "Kerosene" (John Keane)
Blue Rodeo - "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" (Kim Deschamps)
Drive-By Truckers - "Two Daughters and Beautiful Wife" (John Neff)
Not really a solo per se but that whole outro tail end of the song where the steel just weeps above it all combined with the subject matter is just...

Bonus: Had to include my favorite steelers twice.
Jeffrey Foucault - "Starlight and Static" (Eric Heywood)
Jackson Browne - "Looking into You" (Live from Home) (Greg Leisz)
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Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5
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Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 3 May 2024 8:10 pm    
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John you missed the steeler who played for Linda Ronstadt on Blue Bayou. name escapes me at moment.
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Ken Pippus


From:
Langford, BC, Canada
Post  Posted 3 May 2024 9:06 pm    
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Dan Dugmore.
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Darrell Criswell

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 7:46 am    
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Ralph Mooney "Rainy Day Woman"
Toy Caldwell "Fire on the Mountain"
Buddy Cage "Panama Red"

Anything by Joe Wright!
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Larry Baker

 

From:
Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 8:35 am    
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Lloyd Greens—Midnight Silence.
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Jim Arnold

 

From:
Texas USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 11:11 am    
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"Cowboy Peyton Place" Dan Dugmore. Doug Sahm song. Dan's intro and solo are beyond compare.
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Pete Finney

 

From:
Nashville Tn.
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 11:47 am    
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Quote:
"Cowboy Peyton Place" Dan Dugmore. Doug Sahm song. Dan's intro and solo are beyond compare.

That would be my old pal Tommy Detamore in Floresville, Texas playing the amazing steel on that track.

The original version that Doug Sahm cut back in the 7O's was with the late Harry Hess.
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Jim Arnold

 

From:
Texas USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 11:59 am    
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Thanks Pete for the correction.
Tommy's playing is just outstanding. I've listen to Cowboy Peyton place more times than I can count and it's always inspiring everytime I hear it.
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Craig Stock


From:
Westfield, NJ USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 12:15 pm    
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Hey Pete, I watched the movie Roadie a few nights ago, and saw your name in the credits. Such a great time capsule film. Wonder if you have any stories about it.
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I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

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Daniel Flanigan

 

From:
Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2024 4:57 pm    
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I could go on all day listing my favorite steel solos, so I won't attempt it. However, just a few of my favorites come to mind;


Tom Brumley on Rick Nelson's "Garden Party".

Skunk Baxter on the track "Brooklyn" from Steely Dan's debut record.

Toy Caldwell, Ending solo from "In My Own Way" and "Keeps Me From All Wrong".

Ralph Mooney on Waylon's "Freedom To Stay".

Sneaky Pete Kleinow on Jackson Browne's "Take It Easy & Our Lady Of The Well". The transition solo from Take It Easy to Our Lady, in particular is truly one of the most beautiful steel parts ever recorded. This is my favorite solo overall.

David Lindley on Jackson Browne's "Walking Slow" and Eddie Money's "Gimme Some Water".

John Denver's "Rhymes and Reasons"(1973 Greatest Hits re-recorded version). Steel player unknown, likely Eric Weissberg who's credited with guitar and banjo on the album sleeve.

Jimmy Day on Willie's "She's Not For You". (Not a solo strictly speaking, but I've always loved the steel playing in this song.)

Scott Boyer on Gregg Allman's "These Days"

Dan Dugmore on James Taylor's "Carolina In My Mind" (1976 Greatest Hits re-recorded version). Again, not technically a solo, but one of my favorites all the same.


And finally, if instrumental tracks count, I'll include the following;

Buddy Emmons' "Blue Jade",


Tom Brumley and The Buckaroos' "Waltz of the Roses"


Jimmy Day's "Lonely Street" from "All Those Years"
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But this ain't the movies, so forget about me.


Last edited by Daniel Flanigan on 14 Jun 2024 8:54 pm; edited 1 time in total
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John Larson


From:
Pennsyltucky, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 1:56 am    
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Daniel Flanigan wrote:
Sneaky Pete Kleinow on Jackson Browne's "Take It Easy & Our Lady Of The Well". The outro solo on Take It Easy in particular is truly one of the most beautiful steel parts ever recorded.


That segue is absolutely beautiful. Whatever phaser effect Sneaky was using was absolutely perfect.
_________________
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5
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Dave Grafe


From:
Hudson River Valley NY
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 2:04 am    
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Many worthy rides posted here, but I humbly suggest that anyone who has spent a lifetime playing music knows that most of the greatest "solos" ever played were not recorded. Thankful for so many informative signposts but the road itself lies straight ahead in front of us, and it always will.
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Marc Muller


From:
Neptune,NJ USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 6:07 am    
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Duane Becker wrote:

John McFee South Side Midnight Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7kEqWlSyc

Skunk Baxter on this, no? At least on thestudio version. My 1st ears on a steel guitar in 72.
Also a vote for Sneaky Pete Take it Easy/Lady of the Well. So lyrical and unique on the Fender.
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Darrell Criswell

 

From:
Maryland, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 7:38 am    
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Bobby Springfield's steel solo on Frenchie Burke's Big Mamour. I think they lost the masters and later recordings Jim Loessberg copied and played it.
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Joachim Kettner


From:
Germany
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 11:20 am    
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Sneaky Pete on Never Going Back on the Lovin Spoonfuls last album. I was endlessly listening to it with my earphones on.
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Daniel Flanigan

 

From:
Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 1:31 pm    
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John Larson wrote:
Daniel Flanigan wrote:
Sneaky Pete Kleinow on Jackson Browne's "Take It Easy & Our Lady Of The Well". The outro solo on Take It Easy in particular is truly one of the most beautiful steel parts ever recorded.


That segue is absolutely beautiful. Whatever phaser effect Sneaky was using was absolutely perfect.



I couldn't agree more. To me, it's the best thing Pete ever played. I can remember the first time I listened to For Everyman, and that steel part that fades into Our Lady Of The Well has always stuck with me. I believe he used an MXR Phase-45, the original "Script" version of course, on that track. At least that's what it sounds like to me, and it pretty much nails the sound for me.

If you have a good HiFi, and you listen to that part very closely, you'll hear that Pete did several overdubs in the first 15 seconds or so after Jackson's vocal part ends. There are several different steel parts playing simultaneously. It's pretty subtle, but it adds to the beautiful, ethereal nature of it.
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I'm waitin' for the pardon that'll set me free,
But this ain't the movies, so forget about me.
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Mike Harris

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 2:50 pm     Best solos
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I've listened to a bunch of what people have listed here and have no hesitation mentioning Buddy Emmons on "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" (Judy Collins) and Jerry Byrd's solo on "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (Hank Williams). Not a pedal or lever to be found on that second one. Absolutely sublime conception and execution.
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Johnny Cox


From:
Williamsom WVA, raised in Nashville TN, Lives in Hallettsville Texas
Post  Posted 5 May 2024 6:01 pm    
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There are so many. Half A Mind Buddy Emmons (Ernest Tubb).
I'll Come Runnin' Weldon Myrick (Connie Smith)
And tons more but one that always gets me is Lloyd Green on Remember When (Alan Jackson).
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Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967.
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Bob Shilling


From:
Berkeley, CA, USA
Post  Posted 6 May 2024 9:27 am    
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Lot's of great solos here, but no one's mentioned Moon's solo on "A Couple More Years," on this 1983 video shot live in Stockholm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-urOq56Ofc
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Bob Shilling, Berkeley, CA--MSA S10, "Classic"


Last edited by Bob Shilling on 7 May 2024 10:18 am; edited 1 time in total
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