No Way To Know

This is something I've not heard on the forums since I've been a regular poster - a pedal steel instrumental. This is the style that might have been heard at the end of the traditional country sound. The name of the song comes from a pedal steel player in our band back in St. Louis in the 1960s. Almost any question you asked him, his answer was "No way to know." So, this is for the memories I have of those great times. Hope you enjoy it.

I attempted to get the sound Sarah Jory gets on pedal steel. She's from Ireland and I've been a fan of hers for quite a few years. If you're not familiar with her, here's a link to one of her performances. Did I get fairly close? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuI23wEa8Bg

I saved the mix a we bit loud, just so you know.



****** Song Summary – No Way To Know *************

File:No Way To Know.SGU
Key=Bb , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=3:23

Style is _HANKER.STY (Hanker Fretless Bass Ctry w Solo)

RealTracks in song: 366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 2813:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm GospelSlowBalladMike Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 2824:Pedal Steel, Soloist CountryEddy12-key Ev 085
RealDrums in style: PopRock8ths^06-a:Closed Hat, Sidestick, b:Ride, Snare

Alan

A pretty instrumental - and I don't think I've heard a pedal steel one either (unless Tom has played one).
Nicely put together.

Peter

Thank you very much, Peter. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And I was thinking of Tom Adams when I posted it. He's not too shabby! Again, many thanks. Best to you.

Alan

Very expressive that, Al. The pedalsteel "talks" like nothing else. Listening to
Sarah Jory I`d say you got pretty close! Lovely tone on the RT.

Robert

What a lovely instrumental. I've actually really come to like the sound of pedal steel thanks to this forum. Thanks for sharing!

Yep.... that is probably as close as you can get without bringing Sarah in to play it for you.

Nice work on the song.

A local steel player posted that Brian May ( from QUEEN ) song, LAST HORIZON on his facebook page. Sarah isn't too shabby, nor is her guitar player.... love that video.


So... nits.... right after 2:04 there was some disagreement in the steel with the backing.... So... to try to resolve that, Have real band generate the track several times. There's a good chance it will play something different each time. Use a DAW to comp the track parts. Not a fan of how it ended.

All in all though, the mix is stellar and crystal.


There's just something angelic about a steel guitar.

Really nice sound. You've put a lot of feeling too.
Sergio

Beautiful Alan. Such a cool song. I loved this instrument. Well done..

Very nice,

you always coax the best out of biab

I hear no flaws, sounds awesome

Kenny

Wow - what a tune! It flows smooth as butter, and it isn't often you hear the pedal steel as the star of the show. But this really showcases how great of a sound it really is. It has a lot of texture, and the backing tracks you chose compliment one another perfectly.

Great work, and thanks for sharing

An instrument we have been fans of since childhood.

So many folks never get beyond the "weeping steels" of classic country (which we like) but the instrument can be so expressive in so many ways. Tom got us interested in Sacred Steel as an example of its versatility.

We much enjoyed this!

J&B

Alan,

Nicely done. Excellent mix (as always) - nice balance between the steel and the piano.

Enjoyed the listen.

fj

I find it a very expressive steel guitar. Then I listened to Sarah Jory, and I see what you mean. Really nice.

Nice job. I enjoyed listening to that!

Will

Alan, this is one of the best instrumentals ever posted here! Of course I may be a bit biased. I have been listening to Sarah for years. The best thing about her are the expressions on her face and how she physically is so involved in the performance. Get into it girl! Her YouTube video of Ray Price’s City Lights is a great watch. https://youtu.be/kGS2J1A5bbA You nailed the tone. Eddy Dunlap is one of the best up and coming players in the younger group of Nashville players. The chord changes you have chosen are what drives the melody and makes this such an interesting listen. I hope to get my recording space finished where I will have room to keep the steel set up and try to use it more in the coming year. I seem to say that every year and yet they keep on slipping by. Best to you and Di, Tom

Very nice Alan! I'm imagining all kinds of melodies and lyrics here! Look forward to seeing what you do with this later on! Thanks,Torrey

Man, what a great sound!

Loved this one, Alan, good job on the production and mix.

Hi Robert.

Thanks for the listen. Glad ya liked it. I thought it sounded a fair amount like Sarah Jory - thanks for the validation. Best to you.

ALan

Hi Ember!

Thank you for dropping in for a listen. Glad you liked it and that it reinforces your favorable perception of the pedal steel. It's been one of my very favorite instruments since I was a kid (I'm almost 72 now). best to you and all the staff at PG Music.

Alan

Hi Herb!

Many thanks for the kind visit. I laughed to myself as I read part of your comment because I thought as I posted this "Herb ain't gonna like that ending very much!" Ha! I know how you feel about resolving to the tonic chord in most cases. We somewhat disagree on that - but that's okay.

That bit of dissonance you hear right after 2:04 and again a couple of times thereafter is intentional. The song is in the key of B-flat. The verses start in B-flat and then moves to E-flat for two measures. In that first measure of E-flat, the bass stays in B-flat and then moves to E-flat in the second E-Flat measure. I kind of liked that contrast.

But I'm delighted you liked it over all. And thanks for the nice words on the mix! I appreciate your comments very much. Wishing you the very best.

Alan

Hi Sergio,

Thank you very much. And yes, pedal steel creates a lot of emotion for me. Best to you.

Alan

Hello Scott.

Thanks for the visit and listen. I'm delighted you thought the song had a "cool" sound. I've always loved the pedal steel. Most casual listeners of country music immediately think of the "crying, Whiny" steel from early country songs (which like Tom Adams, I also like), but it has so much more to offer. A typical pedal steel has two necks - one tuned to E9th and the other to C6th. That C6th neck can play some real fine jazz! This song would have been played on the E9th country tuning but was played to accommodate amore "fat and luxurious" sound. They are quite verstaile.

Thanks for the kind visit. Best to you.

Alan

Hi Kenny,

Why thank you very much for the very nice comment. I spend "MANY HOURS" experimenting with BIAM RTs and styles. Sometimes I get something pretty decent. But it's always fun to see what I can come up with. Thank you agaon for the great review! Best to you.

Alan

Hello Deryk!

Smooth as butter, eh? I'll take that - thanks! I'm glad it comes together nicely for you. Thanks for letting me know. Wishing you and the entire PG Music staff the very best.

Alan

HI Guys!

Thanks for the listen and very kind comments. And you're right - most folks who aren't country music fans, or just recently have become one, think of the pedal steel as the "crying, weeping, damn I'm depressed" style. And like you two, I'm just fine with that. But, as you said, there is so much more to the instrument. It can cover so many genres and evoke so many different emotions. If I could afford to buy one - those puppies are mucho expensive - I'd learn to play the thing to the best of my ability. And yes, Tom is a really good player. let's face it - the guy has many musical talents that most folks don't have.

Again, many thanks. Best to you.

Alan

Floyd,

Thank ta so much! I appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed it. Wishing you the very best.

ALan

Hi Marty,

Always great to hear from you - wish it were more often. I'm delighted to hear you appreciate the expressiveness of the instrument - that's very nicely put. And yeah, Sarah's pretty dang good! Wishing you well.

Alan

Hi Will,

Thank you for that. I enjoyed reading your kind comment! Wishing you the best.

Alan

Hey Tom!

I've been waiting for your comments!

Thank you so much for those very, very nice comments. I am flattered!!!

It surprises me how many country musicians are not aware of Sarah Jory. I've had the pleasure to see here in person twice and listen to her often all those years I lived in Europe. She attended numerous steel guitar conventions. Her health took a serious blow and she was out of the loop for several years. When here father died a few years ago, his last wish to her was that she return to playing again when her health permitted. She rejoined "the club" several years ago and is making country and country-rock fans smile again with her immense talent.

I've had that link to her "City Lights" performance bookmarked for several years. That's true country steel at its best, in my opinion.

I grew up when it was nearly mandatory you have a steel player in your band if you were doing country - the likes of Buddy Emmons, Jimmy Day, Weldon Myrick, Buddy Charlton, Sonny Garish, Lloyd Green, Norm Hamlet and John Huey. There were a few others, too.

I you've not seen/heard it, here's a Buddy Emmons clip you might enjoy. It gives great support to the fact a talented steel player can hold his own with Jazz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BtaQq4ZhaU

Thanks again, Tom. Wishing you well - and get that dang music room built!

Alan

Hi Torrey,

Thank you so much. And yea, there are quite a few avenues to explore with this one. Glad you enjoyed it. Wishing you the best.

Alan

Hi Dave,

Well, thank you so much! Glad it works for you. I love the pedal steel - had one in almost every band I played in for 50+ years. Best to you.

Alan

Alan, thought I’d chime in again. While on vacation in GatlinBurg Tn, I met Gary “Biscuit “ Davis, the only 4 time national banjo champion. In the course of our conversation it turned out that his father in law was Herby Wallace , one of the all time great C6 players. At a convention a few years later I ran into him again and helped him load in. My wife was a little late getting there and she walks up a says” I’ve been looking for you “ . I said quick get a picture of this because the guys in the band told me I couldn’t even carry Herbie’s guitar case and I want proof they’re wrong! We all had a good laugh and Herby introduced me to John Hughey later on. My wife also won the door prize which was a set of Jeff Newman teaching tapes. That was a memorable day. This is a clip of HW with Biscuit playing guitar. He was a monster. Gary still is playing at Dollywood. Tom. https://youtu.be/TxaC28Ak1Ng

Alan,

Really nice pedal steel!
I entirely agree with Robert.
Very expressive. The pedalsteel "talks" like nothing else.
Beautiful! The chord progression is also very nice and perfect fits this kind of music.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Steel guitar instrumental?

I came in with doubts, and left a believer!

Nice... Except for that ending.

Beautiful song, the Steel is just awesome. Love the feel of it, and oh yeah great JOB !!!! Cliff

Tom,

I wasn't familiar with Biscuit until you sent me that link. Thanks for that! I am quite aware of Herby Wallace - I've seen him in person several times. I guess you showed them about carrying Herby's guitar case - Ha! I think John Huey played the prettiest pedal steel I've ever heard. Although he wasn't too shabby on the C6th neck, he owned the E9th neck. Are you familiar with Larry "Wimpy" Sasser? he's another terrific player. Of course there's Paul Franklin and Larry White, as well as my friend, John Heinrich.

Are you familiar with DeWitt Scott ("Scotty"), from St. Louis? He put on the International Steel Guitar Conventions in St. Louis every year for about 30 years. He was a good friend of mine. I spent many dollars at his music store! It's a shame he passed on last year and the conventions are no longer being produced. He did a lot for the steel players, the pedal steel industry, and the fans of the instrument. On top of all that, he was a classy gentleman.

Best to you.

Alan

PS: You ain't too bad yourself!!!

Hi Shigeki!

Thank you very much. The pedal steel can produce more emotion than any instrument I'm aware of. Glad you liked it! Best to you,

Alan

Hi David,

Glad it made you a believer! As far as the ending - people love them or hate them when they don't resolve to the tonic chord. I kinda like 'em. When i don't resolve to the tonic I usually end them on the 6m chord, but in this case I went to the 4m9. But I'n delighted you enjoyed the rest of it. Many thanks.

Alan

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for the visit and the listen - glad ya liked it! I love the pedal steel. Wish I knew how to play it! I appreciate the nice words! Wishing you the best,

Alan

hi alan this is amazing really well done great mix and tone thanks for sharing this eric

Hello Alan,

how could I have missed that fine piece...? Very, very nice melody, grat chord progressions and everything sounds so brilliantly... Another treat from Alan's apparently inexhaustable sea of fantastic songs.I love it !

Cheers, Stefan

Very nicely done...
sad for me because it triggered memories of a pedal steel player/friend of mine who died a few years back...
No more "Danny Boy" or "Steel Guitar Rag", or Ray Price tunes, or even "Gunsmoke"...
But like you, the memories remain.
Thanks.