The Definitive B-Bender Song List?

[mleffler]

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!

[Ramblin Ray]

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.

[Raybob]

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

[djalt]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Ray

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 ??!

[Ramblin Ray]

Originally Posted by djalt

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!

[onenotetom]

Here is a little history by Gene Parsons:

[coloradojeff]

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

[Don Miller]

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...

[TelePeter]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Ray

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.

[TelePeter]

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

[TelePeter]

Originally Posted by djalt

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!

[TelePeter]

Thanks Coloradojeff for this one!

[Rich_S]

[smithcollector]

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

[John Thigpen]

Originally Posted by Raybob

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

+1.

[John-By-The-Sea]

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

[Ramblin Ray]

Originally Posted by TelePeter

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.

[helle_man]

[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...

[djalt]

Thanks helleman! Great album....

[duffy03]

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!