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I grew up in Pittsburgh, and moved to San Francisco after I got out of
school. Somehow I got hooked on "that sound" from old Hank Williams
and new Flying Burrito Brothers records, and started playing steel in
the early 70's. It wasn't long before I was playing the honky tonks on
Mission Street, paying my dues on country standards.
In 1978 I moved north to Sonoma County, California, because it was a
better place to raise the kids. I gave up trying to play steel "for
a living" in 1980 and took a day job. I still played on weekends,
though, in bars and local social halls.
I didn't grow up listening to steel guitar or country music - it wasn't
popular around Pittsburgh. Discovering Hank Williams, Bob Wills and the
wealth of "authentic country music" was a major turning point
in my life. I know that most steel guitarists grew up listening to the
stuff, but I wonder how many, like me, didn't even hear Hank until they
were old enough to drink.
-Bobby Lee
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CD:
Item #CD-BL01Q
$10.00
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"Quasar Steel Guitar"
This is the album that launched my web site back in 1995. It's
mostly instrumental (I sing a little bit) and all of the songs feature
the steel guitar. The music is mix of country, blues and Hawaiian.
Half of the songs are original. It's all 12 string E9th pedal steel
(Sierra Crown) except for "Sand", which was played on A6th neck of my Fender
Stringmaster.
I sold out of the original CD pressings, and have reissued this
at a lower price using CD-R discs burned on a computer.
- Sagebrush Shuffle
- Steel Guitar Rag
- Round The Horn
- Southern Sunday
- St. James Infirmary
- Alva's Occidental Melody
- Steelin' the Blues
- I Walk Downtown
- Theme Time
- Sand
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CD-R:
Item #CD-BL02H
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"Home Recordings 1998-2002"
Like many steel guitarists, I enjoy the quiet pleasure of recording
in my practice room at home. Here are the results of that hobby,
spanning a 4-year period. There is no packaging with this CD - I
just burned them on my home computer.
The first 7 songs were made on my F
Diatonic tuning - an interesting experiment that applies the
qualities of the pedal harp's tuning to the pedal steel. Next
I've included two songs with Band-In-A-Box accompaniment: a swing
tune on E9th and a "smooth jazz" tune on lap steel. I
closed the set with four of my favorite gospel songs, played as
steel guitar duets on the extended E9th.
This is not a typical steel album. I just wanted to get these tracks
out there so that people could hear them. I hope they'll inspire
more folks to write their own tunes and explore new directions for
the steel guitar.
- Minuet in G Major (duo arrangement)
- Courtship
- Waltz in C
- The Great Pyramid
- Old Toby
- Wishes
- Minuet in G Major (trio arrangement)
- I Ain't Got the Blues
- Love Abhors a Vacuum
- It Is No Secret
- In The Garden
- The Old Rugged Cross
- Amazing Grace
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CD:
Item #CD-BL03
$12.00
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John Reese & Open Hearts
"Show Me More"
I've been playing with singer-songwriter John Reese and his band
Open Hearts since 2000. You can read more about us at OpenHeartsMusic.com.
This isn't a steel guitar CD at all. I've included it here for
steel players who are interested in how the pedal steel can work
in a rock band without making the band sound country. Yes, we do
a few country tunes, but for the most part I approach the music
like a rock guitarist when I play with Open Hearts.
I play a 12 string extended E9th tuning. The low notes of
the S-12 are essential for this kind of music, as is the overdriven
sound of a good tube amp. Most of the rhythm crunch tones that you
hear on this CD are the low notes of my Sierra pedal steel.
But this album isn't about me - it's about John's tunes and the
band that identifies with them so well. I'm happy and proud to have
been a part of this project, and I hope that Open Hearts will find
a few more fans among steel players who enjoy rock music.
- Pieces
- Between Me and You
- Around the Bend
- It's All Right Now **
- Shining Light
- It Can Happen
- My Baby's Eyes
- Show Me More
- Bad Attitude *
- Early Morning Want You's **
- On a Ledge
- Blue Skies
all songs by John Reese except
* by John Reese and Bobby Lee
** by John Reese and Ron Smoot
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 CD:
Item #CD-CA01T $15.00
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The Country All-Stars
"Tribute To Tradition"
This is an "all country" CD of a nine piece band I played
with in Northern California. We did country standards in the classic
country style, playing mostly fairs and other large outdoor events.
The cover shows me standing at my Stringmaster, but almost all of
the steel work on the CD is pedal steel. (Can you find the lap steel
solo?)
- San Antonio Rose
- I Love Ya Honey
- King of the Road
- Act Naturally
- Cryin' Time
- My Shoes Keep Walkin' Back to You
- Honky Tonk Blues
- Take Me Back to Tulsa
- Sing Me Back Home
- Workin' Man's Blues
- Oh Lonesome Me
- Together Again
- San Antonio Stroll
- Blue Shadows on the Trail
- Ghost Riders in the Sky
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CD:
Item #CD-ST01W
$15.00
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Seth Truscott & the Connectors
"Waiting for You"
Seth Truscott is a modern country singer/songwriter who lives near
me. The Connectors are all good friends of mine who have been playing
together for a long time, in various combinations. We recorded Seth's
songs at a local studio over a period of three years.
I like this CD not just for the songs and arrangements (which
are very good), but also because it showcases the tone of my Sierra
Session guitar very well. Seth spent a lot of time mixing to get everything "just
right", and it shows. All of that rehearsal really paid off
too, as the band has never sounded better!
- Waiting For You
- Love Your Blues Away
- Mr. Right
- Hole In My Heart
- Good Enough For Me
- My Word, My Love
- Window Shoppin'
- Neon Sign
- Big Country
- Another Chance
- Turn It Around
- Dreams
All songs written by Seth Truscott
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