The Definitive B-Bender Song List?

I've been thinking a while about putting together a list of the best B-bender songs and I'd like your help. To make it easy, let's divide it into "classic songs" that are popular and "must hear" songs that are awesome but not all of us have heard before. YouTube links are encouraged. I'm hoping that all of us will be introduced to new songs. Just the best songs please, no "anything by this guy". I'll start.

Classic Songs

The Byrds: Tulsa County - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_12IyhedQs
The Eagles: Peaceful Easy Feeling - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44A9iDQNrss
Led Zeppelin: All of my Love - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBI_Av00_Fo
Led Zeppelin: Ten Years Gone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8NXaYTi5fk

Must Hear

Albert Lee: Sweet Little Lisa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-T6Dp2UAZo
Diamond Rio: Meet in the Middle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWKpCmPdGmM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWKpCmPdGmM&t=33s)
Marty Stuart: Hummingbyrd - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH1u5j-1QZw

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Qr3romi9U this one is pretty cool bender use

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Qr3romi9U this one is pretty cool bender use

Yeah, Marty Stuart is pretty awesome with the B-bender!

lJSoaLChCq4

Here's another Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page bender song. The solo is at 3:07

InIYpuovgLo

Edit: here's an interview where Jimmy Page shows off his Telecaster.

Bxly3xq7nWE

More proof that benders can be used in rock, Metallica performing The Unforgiven II. Disregard the poor slide playing in the beginning. Let's give Kirk Hammett the benefit of the doubt and say that he couldn't hear his guitar since this is at a music awards show.

tUV1-L3fy_s

Go to 11:52 to see Bob Warford do the solo to "Mama Tried" with the Everly Brothers in 1971. Pretty awesome!

hT8jKRPJdtw

One of my favorite guitar players, Jimmy Olander from Diamond Rio using his Glaser benders.

Bob Warford on Linda Ronstadt's version of "Willin'"

Albert Lee on Emmy Lou Harris's version of "Pancho and Lefty" (forget the Willie and Merle version with that "Margaritaville" intro and the synth....)

How about...
Bob Warford on Herb Pederson's "Easy Ride"
Clarence White on Joe Cocker's "Dear Landlord"
Clarence White on The Everly Brothers "Cuckoo Bird"
Clarence White on The Everly Brothers "I'm On My Way Home Again"

My B-bender is the same model that's on Jimmy Page's B-bender Tele.

My favorite B Bender song would be "Sweet Dreams" by the Hellecasters.

David Nelson on the Grateful Dead's "Box Of Rain".

Hi Krinkle! Welcome to the forum! Thanks for reminding me about Sweet Dreams! I found a live version. FF to 4:32

bjR-CdRf3jA

My favorite B Bender song would be "Sweet Dreams" by the Hellecasters.

Me too!

These are great. What other great bender solos am I missing out on?

I had never listened to the '60s Everly Brothers with Clarence White. It's such a strange case of circular influence: the Byrds drew heavily from the Everly Brothers, then the Everly Brothers tried to sound like the Byrds trying to sound like the Everly Brothers.

Do yourself a favour, listen to as much Clarence as you can get your hands on,....
I like the live versions of "Lover of the Bayou". Thanks to Silverface, there are some wicked bootlegs out there that highlight Clarence's untouchableness when it comes to bending the B....
:)

Okay, I will also contribute the live version of "Bugler", also the Muleskinner blues, by the shortlived lineup of Muleskinner. David Grisman, Bill Keith, Pete Rowan and Clarence. Along with a wicked fiddler who deserves to be mentioned, but I can't remember the name at this second.

I think the fiddler in Muleskinner was Richard Greene, who is wicked as you say. I found a great live "Lover of the Bayou" with an excellent Clarence White solo. Any idea where I can find these bootlegs?

I can't make promises for him, but there is a member who goes by the handle Silverface who has been very kind, patient and generous with those who are genuinely interested and appreciative....

HfEfxAjeH9s

Here's a live version of "Lover of the Bayou".

I think the first one that caught my ear was "chestnut mare" from the Byrds double album (1970 or 1971?). I didnt know what it was at the time, but it stuck with me!

No offense to Jimmy Page, he's done some great guitar work over the years, but his Bender work is painful to listen to, IMHO. That being said--I think one of the most musical Bender solos, a composition in itself, is Clarence White's on "Tulsa County" from the Byrds "Ballad of Easy Rider" album.

My absolute, all-time favorite, classic, bender solo ever, is Bob Warford on "Dark End of the Street" by Linda Ronstadt.

3Us0zopFrnc

No offense to Jimmy Page, he's done some great guitar work over the years, but his Bender work is painful to listen to, IMHO.
Yeah, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. "All of My Love" is often quoted as a definitive B bender song, but it ***to me*** is a very bland example of how a bender can be used.
How about Freddy Weller's " Birmingham? Clarence AND Red Rhodes trading licks! How cool is that ??!

Yeah, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. "All of My Love" is often quoted as a definitive B bender song, but it ***to me*** is a very bland example of how a bender can be used.
How about Freddy Weller's " Birmingham? Clarence AND Red Rhodes trading licks! How cool is that ??!

Wow, I haven't heard that one--going to have to check it out! RayBob--You're right about Warford--all of his solos and tone are amazing. I'm partial to Clarence, but "Dark End Of the Street" is definately in my top 5!

Here is a little history by Gene Parsons:

pIilq3JdCT4

This one is my favorite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gD84jbVV3c. I always thought it was a pedal steel.

It was on the album version...Lloyd Green..there was no stringbender when it was recorded for Sweetheart of the Rodeo....Clarence copied the steel part for the live stuff...its one instance where the stringbender emulates the steel fairly well...Ive got a very bad recording of the show Clarence did with Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, etc in Philadelphia shortly before clarence died, and they do hickory Wind.. clarence cops the Steel part pretty good...but if you listen to much of wehats listened here. a stringbender can do much more that try to be a one pedal steel guitar...

No offense to Jimmy Page, he's done some great guitar work over the years, but his Bender work is painful to listen to, IMHO. That being said--I think one of the most musical Bender solos, a composition in itself, is Clarence White's on "Tulsa County" from the Byrds "Ballad of Easy Rider" album.

Hi Ray,

Yup, Tulsa County is the first on the list but while you may not love Page's bender work, it's nice to hear someone other than the Byrds represent the bender. I've always wondered why so few people use the bender. I love it and use it in all styles but not even many modern country players use it.

uUYkL8l6VLk

The Byrds - Chestnut Mare
Thanks mleffler for suggesting this one!

Yeah, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. "All of My Love" is often quoted as a definitive B bender song, but it ***to me*** is a very bland example of how a bender can be used.
How about Freddy Weller's " Birmingham? Clarence AND Red Rhodes trading licks! How cool is that ??!

I can't find "Birmingham" anywhere? What album is it off of? Sure, "All of my Love" isn't the best performance but I think it's definitely worth mentioning. What other songs can you recommend? I'm loving listening to all these songs that are new to me!

4gD84jbVV3c

Thanks Coloradojeff for this one!

7bnDoTBOLss

TelePeter
you can find the song "Birmingham" on the Clarence White album "Whites Lightnin" by Sierra Records. Look here: http://sierrarecords.goestores.com/storename/sierrarecords/dept/269836/ItemDetail-10633316.aspx

My absolute, all-time favorite, classic, bender solo ever, is Bob Warford on "Dark End of the Street" by Linda Ronstadt.

3Us0zopFrnc

+1.

Arlo's "Comin' Into Los Angeles." Clarence, w/ James Burton chiming in on the fade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrkDGxZexA


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NzrkDGxZexA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hi Ray,

Yup, Tulsa County is the first on the list but while you may not love Page's bender work, it's nice to hear someone other than the Byrds represent the bender. I've always wondered why so few people use the bender. I love it and use it in all styles but not even many modern country players use it.

I agree, you'd think it would be out there more. I also think some would say it's a gimmick of sorts-- "Oh, I can do that with my hands". They don't realize that a mechanically bent (or pulled) string sounds different than one done with your hands. I sometimes use combination bends, using both the bender and 3rd finger. I've been using my '76 #30 P/W for 36 yrs. now, and still love it. In '92 I had Gene modify it to a long stroke, which opened up a new dimension as well.

[QUOTE=John-By-The-Sea;4387345]Arlo's "Comin' Into Los Angeles." Clarence, w/ James Burton chiming in on the fade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrkDGxZexA

+1

The album that "Coming" is off of, "Running Down The Road", is the one singular album that turned my head around about what could be done in country rock. It led me towards developing my Stealth Slide ring, partly because I head Clarence White's playing on that album, but mistakingly thought it was James Burton, and had to try anything I could to approximate those B-Bender sounds!

I learned a lot of those licks "by hand", until years later when I got my first Hipshot. Then it all made sense...

Thanks helleman! Great album....

That Arlo cut is like a little master class on the styles of Burton and White.Hell if you just learned the licks from both of them on this one cut you be able to play with any band going.Beautiful stuff!

...and I was gonna add to the list "Thats When the U-Haul Pulls Away"...Will Ray..Invisible Birds album....check it out...

I love "Just a Season" by The Byrds from the "Untitled" album. The interplay between Clarence's bender and Roger's Rickenbacker still gives me chills.

When I first heard "Comin' into Los Angeles" I thought it was a pedal steel until a friend who played pedal steel set me straight. And until I read this thread, I never knew James Burton was on the track as well. I need to add that album to my Amazon.com wish list.

Heres one I used to do in a cover band back in the 90's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9DwX2cTtCw

Cool tune, rcrecelius!
Co written by Cam King, great bender player/songwriter.
Heard it performed by Cam, and my favorite band Denim
many times.

Well, I could make this simple by saying,"Anything Clarence ever recorded with a bender".
But here's one example of his sense of humour coming through. Especially the tasty solo.
"I Wanna Be a Politician"-live....
From the Palladium show...

Me too!

And me!

I am partial to Kelli Willis' version of Truckstop Girl..

As well as Mike Ness' version of Don't Think Twice...

vEHqHUMjktU