My first pedal steel session

[JeffM]

I was lucky enough to be asked to play pedal steel on a couple of songs on Phil Odgers' new solo album which has just been released. Although I've done quite a bit of lap steel, I've only been playing pedal steel for a year or so and this is my first time in a recording studio with itl.

I'm even more delighted that it has now come out on vinyl too as one of the Record Store Day releases this weekend.

[Danny Mitchell]

Nice job Jeff. It's interesting that you've moved onto pedal steel. I'm just curious, is it a case of horses for courses for you? Are you developing a preference for one over the other? And, please excuse my nosey-ness

[JeffM]

Thanks for the compliment, Danny.

I've always loved and been fascinated by pedal steel and bought one many years ago after seeing BJ Cole play. I got nowhere with it and was more interested in the old Hank Williams stuff anyway and found out I had the wrong instrument so I sold it and bought my first lap steel.

Even though I continued down the non-pedal path I still kept my fascination for pedal steel. On a whim I decided to have another go and this time, having a vague idea what my hands were supposed to do, it made a lot more sense.

But I'm definitely not abandoning the non-pedal. Most of my steel playing is still in that area and I have no intention of changing that. I see them as very different instruments and the music I play is definitely suited more to one or the other.

But I'm really glad I've landed an occasional pedal steel gig with an "outlaw country" band and managed to bluff my way onto a proper record too

[Uncle Roy]

Nice job Jeff, nice tone and respectful backing to the vocals. Nice to hear you in a different hat.
Both the non pedal and the pedal steel have their magical sound to me.

[Danny Mitchell]

Thanks for indulging me Jeff And I'm glad to hear you're keeping both plates spinning

I, myself, am a late starter who had no knowledge of all the incredible players out there and no particular ambition other than getting a little farther along the 'steel' road. The more I've been exposed to, mainly through the forum, I've 'discovered' it's western swing that really floats my boat! And this was after fully kitting myself out in the pedal department Funny old world. Actually it was your good self that pointed me towards Kayton Roberts, I thank yew