Lloyd Green – Master of the Steel Strings
Lloyd Green’s iconic status among pedal steel guitar fans is well-deserved. His clever harmonies, curling, twisting licks, and empathetic accompaniment graced dozens of 1960s and 1970s Nashville hits, starting with Warner Mack’s 1965 “The Bridge Washed Out”. He’s also featured on Charley Pride’s On Stage LP and the Byrds’ Sweetheart Of The Rodeo.
Green left his mark on Little Darlin’, the short-lived (1966-69) label founded by Aubrey Mayhew and Johnny Paycheck. A regular on LD sessions, Green eventually became the label’s principal arranger; his style was particularly apropos to Paycheck’s edgy tunes. Following a modest 1974 hit cover of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” for Monument Records, Green’s profile receded until he recently resumed session work and released a 2003 comeback album featuring a cameo from, among others, longtime fan Junior Brown.
Drawing from two of Green’s three Little Darlin’ LPs, 1966’s Hit Sounds and 1969’s Green Country, this compilation explores every facet of his skills. “Sweet Cheeks” is playful and flippant; “The Cave” reflects a darker introspection; the instrumental “Little Darlin'” emphasizes twang and boogie. Instrumentally revisiting Paycheck’s hits “The Lovin’ Machine” and “Heartbreak Tennessee” along with “The Bridge Washed Out” allowed Green to expand upon the ideas he used as accompanist on the original singles.
While this collection cries out for new reflections from both Green and Mayhew, they’ve merely reprinted irrelevant notes from Green’s 1966 LP Day for Decision and the generic hype that graced the back of Hit Sounds. If nothing else, those who’ve admired — or haven’t yet discovered — Green’s genius can finally appreciate his unique approach to the instrument.