Robert Randolph - The Jimmi Hendrix of gospel pedal steel guitar?

Posted by: jcs_smith on 17 October 2006

I went to a couple of weddings in Philadelphia earlier in the year and I was amazed to discover that the gospel band consisted of a drummer and a pedal steel guitarist. Now my knowledge of gospel music is a bit sketchy - I don't know much beyond Andre Crouch, Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharp so I was surprised to learn that there is a large, thriving pedal steel gospel movement in the smaller black Pentecostalist churches in the states. Since then I've been listening to a lot of instrumental recordings by Robert Randolph. They are incredible. He is a technical and improvisational genius. He sounds more like a bottleneck blues guitarist than a country pedal steel guitarist. Imagine Stevie Ray Vaughan, John McLaughlin or Jimmi Hendrix on pedal steel and you've a rough idea of what he's like. The trouble is his stuff is very difficult to get hold of. Does anyone know where I can get any more or of any other people to check out?
Posted on: 17 October 2006 by BigH47
Memory fails. Is it Robert Randolf on the Crossroads DVD? If it is he is amazing.If it's not him then that him is amazing also.

Howard
Posted on: 17 October 2006 by jayd
jcs_smith:
Which of Robert's recordings do you already have?

Howard:
if you mean Clapton's Crossroads festival, yes. If you mean the 80's movie with Ralph Macchio, no.
Posted on: 17 October 2006 by jcs_smith
I have unclassified and Live at the wetlands
Posted on: 17 October 2006 by jayd
Then you've got the best of his output. The new album, "Colorblind", doesn't do it for me the way those two do.

But you absolutely need this: Sacred Steel Live!



and then get the 2nd disc in the Sacred Steel series, The Campbell Brothers - Pass Me Not
Posted on: 17 October 2006 by jayd
PS - Chuck Campbell is the Jimi Hendrix of the pedal steel. Smile
Posted on: 06 November 2006 by jayd
Picked up Masters of Sacred Steel - None But the Righteous this weekend, and it's equally essential, IMHO. Broader coverage than Sacred Steel Live!, and it includes several cuts by Sonny Treadway, who really shouldn't be missed.
Posted on: 08 November 2006 by ewemon
As he allows people to record his concerts pop over to archive.org. Get a programme that will decode FLAC files (freebie) and download shows to your hearts content. I think at last count there is 203 shows for download. But DO NOT SELL THEM ON EBAY as you will be hunted down and exterminated.