Pete Drake and his talking steel guitar - Forever

[ezgzpz]

sublime ..



[Geepsterr]

Just great ain't he? Now no disrespect but He did not invent it : Alvino Rey beat him by well over 2 decades to the talking steel guitar, albeit by another more advanced means (and better too). In 1939 Alvino began using a vocodor that he adapeted for musical use as the Sonox on his steel guitar . Also Alvino was a Big Band leader and developed the first good pickup protptype for Gibson .

[Dburnage]

though the 60's had a lot going for it musically, i don't think it was ready for this.

[JubalCalif]

Heavens to Murgatroid! This is odd, bizarre, weird...but oh so strangely compelling! Seems like I saw this fella on TV or in a movie way back when I was a little kid in the early 60's! What a truly unique talent! THANKS for uploading this delightful "blast from the past"! :-)

[LaDiDaSongVideos]

Literally the best thing.

[ghostdog7575]

drake invented it???? NO WAY!!! it was invented in 1939 by alvino rey!!!!

[dhoosee]

Unknown Hinson on the drumkit! 

[dhoosee]

creepy.....

[philwoodford]

This is some of the weirdest s**t I've seen in a very long time.

[Mrrocknrollhistorian]

one of the greatest - breaks my heart

[woodbell67]

David Lynch, eat your heart out

[ezgzpz]

@woodbell67 I was just about to say that !

[gilligilli78]

is that martin sheen on the left :) yes of course! he told me about this clip :)

[Kikrokos]

Innovative! 

[chris2low]

holy crap frist ever generation of the talk box thats awsoem

[VersaViseProductions]

So autotune was invented long before? T-pain made it sound horrible.

[Erik2Ammo]

@VersaViseProductions

Autotune is something completly different than a talkbox.

[VersaViseProductions]

@Erik2Ammo I wasn't serious.

[mikethekhotmailcom]

Very very good and a bit haunting. Thanks forvposting. It appears thatbthis is an extract from a longer production. From where was this taken?

[cgillyard]

Indeed funky, original, and smooth! I like!.

[pesrritox]

Forever :)

[dreadnought45]

This brings back memories of my high school days and the girls I used to know when this was a hit song. I guess they're all grandmothers now, just as I am a grandfather.

Ken, Toronto, Ont.

[spahjrp]

You look and act silly...BUT...you could understand the words and the performers didn't leave you feeling "dirty" afterwords.

[joeownsyourmom]

so so sos sososososoosos good.

[bluesintheblood]

did david lynch direct this?

[bascombferd]

Trippiest video on youtube.

[micktheMaag]

NO way...  Peter Frampton's Grandpa.... cooool....

[jarymica]

ohhhh man.......many thanks for you and c&l

[BrokenCurtain]

1960s autotuned

[TheCINDYBATES]

ABSOLUTELY GREAT!!!!



[FunkMasterKRoc]

and the rest is history....thank you for the humble beginings of the talkbox

[jovocoenn2]

hes in the wrong context! so surreal. and the song is actually really nice. its not just a gimmick :)

[MdNgtRyder]

This man is Great ...can't figure it out ... So ahead of his time ...

[MdNgtRyder]

Real Romance.

[thehotgoalie]

This is OG talk box right here.

[chiparoo222]

Thank YOU __ This is Priceless ! ! !

[Acruhf]

Man this is so surreal. All those people in old-fashioned costume on a fake outdoor set, and Peter Drake has a piece of sophisticated new (for the time) technology in his mouth. 

[bullhatesu]

Does anyone know who else did versions of this song?

[DakahriGT]

Jimi should've had one of those

[BCRification]

That was great.....5 stars and a shot of Crown for you!!!

[baermtn]

david lynch has this video to thank for his career.

[sundralsbabbro]

This Cat was ahead of his time. great

[Pickinbuddy]

Pete Drake actually brought the "singing steel guitar" back into popularity--but it was Alvino Rey who did it first in 1940--then Peter Frampton utilized this effect in the mid 70s.

[guitarboogieshuffle1]

awesome!

[sfratpack]

I remember it well and bought Pete's 45. This video recalls an ancient time when people were still making music to soothe the soul rather than to sex you up or incite violence.

[minimanomus]

@sfratpack sir, you are VERY wrong, music does NOT incite violence.... i've been listening to heavy metal and punk rock since i was 5-6 years old cu my dad used to listen to it around the house, i now, i am a young man of 21 and i have had only 4 fights in my entire life.

[sfratpack]

@minimanomus You make a good point and I thank you for stating it politely. I have also listened to heavy metal and punk for decades and yet remain a peace loving individual. Actually, those were not the specific types of music that I had in mind when I wrote that comment a year ago. However I loathe censorship and believe in freedom of expression and therefore will try to avoid condemning any type of music no matter how negative its message.

[minimanomus]

@sfratpack i hate the post 2000 rap though :D

[muzykaiswiat]

@sfratpack oh man this totally sexes me up actually :)

[Geepsterr]

@sfratpack Funny thing is this a LIP SYNC probably of that very 45 single . In order for this type of talk box to be heard live he would need a microphone pretty close to his mouth & no lapel nor overhead mikes are present on the set anyway. Typical for 60's TV.

[Gatorrock787]

@Geepsterr You got everything right, except: 1) This is a movie - "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar" 2) All the songs were lip-sync'ed for the movie, but not to the original recording. The artists made new versions of all the songs specifically for the movie soundtrack.

[Geepsterr]

@Gatorrock787 Which is why I qualified my statement with "probably" of the single so..... I don't know exactly when this was but the apparent time period and color quality would dictate film. You say a movie : Was it in theaters or a made for TV movie ? Oh and what year was this ? Alvino Rey plays "St. Louis Blues" with Stringy the talking steel guitar! is from a film in 1944 and appears to be live sound on the set with close ups edited in .

[Gatorrock787]

@Geepsterr If you lived in the South in the mid-sixties, you could have seen "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar" at a Drive-In theater near you. It was a theatrical release in 1966. You can read the details for yourself on IMDB dot-com. This was the second movie (after "Country Music on Broadway") produced and financed by Hank Williams widow, Audrey.

[Geepsterr]

@Gatorrock787 Thanks . The movie looks to be interesting ...ah but finding it...

[CookiesDen2]

Fabulous Pete Drake video...nice a nd sharp and great color. A great look at a great artist. I enjoyed this very much.

Rey

[nipsterstang]

Wonderful! Great video and sound quality on this Great song! That sure looks and sounds like Floyd Cramer on piano. Thanks for this beautiful song and video, with many Great memories attached!

[justmusicandme]

@nipsterstang : Yes, that has to be Floyd Cramer - one of my favorites!

[ChrisCurtisFan]

Just beautiful!!!! And what a beautiful trip down memory lane!!! Thanks for the share, Angel, and for the post, Gatorrock787!!

[dowopper51]

FANTASTIC post, right to my FAVs, thanks angelofbebop & Gatorrock787!

[anitashelby]

Wow, What A Beautiful Share & Post !...Thankyou for sharing Angel...:)

[thecountofbasie]

Fabulous...solid post Gator...5*****

[angelofbebop]

WOW! What a treat to see Peter Drake perform! He was one-of-a-kind and I could listen to him for hours! Thank you so much Gatorrock787!

Straight to favorites and playlists!

:-)

[thecountofbasie]

@angelofbebop Thanks for passing this side on...dreamy indeed...:-)

[AGibsonJ]

@angelofbebop, just beautiful ... there's nothing like a great pedal steel artist!! [Isn't this an amazingly clear color video for this period]

[angelofbebop]

@AGibsonJ

AGJ - You and I both ADORE steel guitars! It's just a fabulous video.....however, the rest of the singers and group needed to smile! :-)

[justmusicandme]

@angelofbebop : Yes - some of them look sort of unhappy! (They sound good, though!) Thanks, angel, for this share. I like it!

[lettermen1]

@AGibsonJ Great video! As my daughter would say-- "Nostalgia overload!!"

[thousandsmiles1]

@angelofbebop Always worth to visit your channel to find Beautiful videos like this one! Isn't it funny to see how the unique sounds for this sweet song were produced? Lovely!!

[belovia50]

@angelofbebop Thanks, Angel. I've always loved the steel guitar, but didn't know it could do this. *****.

[dangerboyok69]

Love it....Peter Frampton ...move over....:O)

[Rambo7Mr]

In the '40s, Pete's dad was a Pentecostal minister and had a mission on Harris St. in Atlanta GA. My mom was their pianist at the age of 12. He and my mom were childhood sweethearts. When his father was dying, Pete ran down and got my grandparents. They and my mom stood by his bed as he passed away. I met him once in the early '80s. He told me this. He was a very nice man. Mom's name at that time was Margie Toler. Johnny Peacock

[LathamJoe]

@Rambo7Mr

Wonderful story. Fantastic clip and the arrangement brings back so many fond memories .

[drakes67]

@Rambo7Mr

Please check your private messages. Would like to hear more about this.

[getthis162001]

what a clip..thanks!!!

[smokeemonkee]

Such great quality image...just beautiful!