Bernie Leadon - Eagle on a B-Bender - Ask Zac 140
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- Опубликовано: 7 ноя 2022
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Bernie Leadon played guitar, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, and sang harmony vocals on the greatest-selling album of all time, Eagles Greatest Hits, Volume 1. For many guitarists, he is known as one of the earliest exponents of the B-Bender, a mechanical device that allows the "B" string to be raised a whole step via a system of cranks and levers. His work on "Peaceful Easy Feeling" is an excellent example of the sound the device allows and is by far the most accessible and most often heard example of a guitarist using it. Today we take a look at Leadon's work through the years, spotlight some of his session work, and discuss his original Pull-String equipped Telecaster. We also cover how he ended up on the History of the Eagles tour, and the spartan setup that he used for the 170 dates back out on the road with his old band.
Buddy Emmons book - Amazon Affiliate link amzn.to/3zHaqfy
Bernie Leadon Playlist
open.spotify.com/playlist/72M...
Gear Used:
Crook Paisley with Glaser B-Bender
1959 Harvard amp
Boss CS3 comp, MXR Reverb, MXR Looper
Bass - Danelectro Bass 6
Rhythm - Baxendale Kay Mandocello
#askzac #bernieleadon #eaglesband
I have seen the all the eagles documentary’s…They talk up Joe Walsh,Don,But Bernie doesn’t get the respect…Such a great band member..Plays for the song!
Bernie somehow almost manages to be unsung, a hero never the less. Seems like he’s been integral to Californian country. I love these mini lectures Zac! Thank you.
Bernie was THE Eagles country rock sound. without Bernie no country rock. for the Eagles!
@@leeryan4003 I totally agree.
@@paul_grimsley Thanks Pauli REALLY appreciate it !
On the Gainesville, FL “magic”, don’t forget that Stephen Stills also passed through Gainesville and even played in a band there with Don Felder.
Bernie Leadon is reason I play guitar, mandolin, banjo and Telecaster. My significant other likes when I sing “Train Leaves Here This Morning” which was credited to Bernie and Gene Clark. It is a remnant of the Dillard and Clark days and appears as the first song on side two of Eagles debut record. He’s a humble person and claims to have not contributed much to that song or to “Witchy Woman” also on the debut Eagles album. Bernie does great interviews. Thank you Zac.
There is a great RUclips video of Linda Ronstadt appearing on “Playboy After Dark” performing “Long Long Time” with just Bernie on acoustic guitar. The video is remarkable and foreshadows the greatness to come.
Dude had a huge influence on me -
if you listen to his interview on rock history leadon says he wrote "all the music" for witchy woman, henley the lyrics. bernie is a great guy,
Cool to give Bernie some love. I grew up in Gainesville FL and played a lot of guitar with one of his younger brothers Mike, who is also an incredible musician. Of course Tommy is no slouch either as Mike Campbell will tell you. Ten Leadon kids and they are all talented.
Bernie is a legend! His sound started the Eagles on their path, they wouldn't have had such a good start without him.
Great show! Loved the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers acknowledgement. I'm 70, and both my older brothers were bluegrass players and devotes. They had that album and played it often.
I've been playing guitar in bands since 1966, and like most of us, I learned those b bender licks by hand, manualy, since I didn't know what a bender was much less have one. Now that I have a Glaser Bender, it's really fun and challenging to keep both skills separated and yet integrated, if that makes any sense. Always look forward to your work. Thank you.
So glad, Zac, that you reminded fans that it was Glenn Frey playing the beautifully understated lead guitar on the album version of "I Can't Tell You Why." The Eagles music video convinced most fans that Don Felder must have composed and played those leads.
Bernie's guitar work and Glenn's voice made the band, IMO.
Agree with your IMO. Those first 2 albums had the *vibe* for sure.
Dare I say - Eagles went downhill with 'Hotel"... after Bernie left. But who Am I to argue with one of the best selling albums of all-time that put them over the top in stardom.
I'd be a crappy record producer, I guess.
He’s the guy that influenced me on my telecaster quest
Nice one Zac I was explaining the B bender to a band mate the other night. Marty Stuart has taken it to a new level.
Appreciate the tree of music, loved Bernie's banjo!
really added the "flavor and spice" to those early albums
Visions was my favorite tune not many eagles fans remember this one
The Eagles were never as good after Bernie left. And I love the Desperado album,
Ain't that the troof?!!!
When Randy and Bernie left there was no more Eagles thought I do like Joe and Fingers
In 1975,Bernie Leadon co-produced "Midnight on the Water" with Brian Ahern- an album by the David Bromberg Band with a galaxy of guests including Jesse Ed Davis. On "Mr Blue" Bernie played the most wonderful acoustic guitar solo- as on "Sweet Dreams" as Zac mentions. I actually bought this album early in 1976 while staying with a friend for the weekend to see Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band! Emmylou, Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt sang back up vocals on the album as did Ricky Skaggs. It was a time when so much great music in this vein was being made in LA. Of course, I got to see James Burton that night and many years later became friends with the guitar tutor at the Yehudi Menuhin school- and he was also at that concert as he was studying guitar at the Northern School of Music, Manchester- the city where the concert took place. That live Hot Band album is that same concert set! Great times and great music!
Great, Great Episode! PLEASE, keep ‘em comin’!
Every time I watch one of these, my “woodshed working list” grows, like a LOT. My bender will be back from Joe’s place next week and Peaceful Easy Feeling will be where I start. Bless you brother
That is awesome!
Greatness! Nailed that part right at the top! Never knew it was a b bender on that, now it seems so obvious 🙂
Great edition, thanks Zac!
In the Eagles doc, Irving Azoff mentions he has a plaque that says the Eagles Greatest Hits is the top selling album of the 20th century, which is going to be how it will ultimately be remembered. I think it's 4th of 5th (maybe lower) of all time at present in the nearly 23 years since, but Hotel California was/is right behind it, so between those two albums, they have 2 of the 10 highest sellers ever...unbelievable.
First of all, Great episode! I love Bernie, he’s such an underrated piece of the Eagles sound. I spent 6 hours in my studio Saturday recording my version of “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” It’s such a fun tune and the layers of sonic goodness are so cool. Also, your patreon is such a blessing to musicians that want to know the technical aspects of our favorite pickers. Really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. Take care.
JP from Alabama
Once you mentioned there was a new biography on Buddy Emmons, there was no hesitation on my part, it was straight off to Amazon to order a copy. Many thanks for the heads up.
I'm not a Eagles fan but I clearly recognize and appreciate their talent.
Great piece on Bernie Leadon!! I learned a bunch of stuff I didn’t know. Also I just finished the Buddy Emmons book and agree wholeheartedly that it’s a great book. One of the best music biographies I’ve read!
Wait there's a Buddy Emmons autobiography book? Where have I been
@@jenningsjennings2051 it’s written by former Emmylou Harris steel player Steve Fishell. It’s excellent.
Zac
I do thoroughly enjoyed this session about Bernie. Such detail and your knowledge base astounds me. His work feels like the soundtrack of my youth. And then to end it with the plug about Buddy E, i was in Heaven.
Loved the stories and background on these guys. I’d love to see same on John McFee.
Yeah... He's had an interesting and varied career. Played steel on Van Morrison's Wild Night... Ronnie Montrose on guitar. The ONLY version that matters 😎
So glad to see Bernie getting his due here hell of a player and great guy he was around 17 or 18 when he was playing on those records.I listened to an interview with Bernie the radio he recounted his career.Love the paisley bender Zac beautiful guitar.Great playing.
I love the Desperado album, I still play a lot to this day.. Doolin Dalton etc.. fantastic..peck
I’m longing for my old album collection which was mostly from the 70s to 80’s. I know Bernie‘s name was in quite a few albums that I had besides the Eagles. Great episode Zac!
Bernie is a very classy musician- he plays with precision- he does not throw notes around unnecessarily- he always hits the spot. There was a great Country Music Hall of Fame tribute to Buddy Emmons a few years back. Apparently, Roger Miller got Buddy to come along and play bass in his band as he just wanted Buddy around! They had been in Ray Price's band together many years earlier. There's a fabulous clip of Buddy and Ray Price together playing Night Life- and Buddy's insane solo just cracks Ray up- absolutely amazing!
Bernie pioneered that early sound that has become the Eagle's signature. That sound and feel that is the mark of the Eagles
Can you make a Bernie leadon pedal steel licks lesson showing a bunch of pedal steel licks with the B bender and without also getting those pedal steel licks
Great episode Zac; thank you. I just finished reading John Einarson's book "Desperados: the roots of country rock" & I can't recommend it enough to your viewers. Well written, informative reading on all those great bands/artists. My favorite is Poco...
Thanks Zac, don't know if you were ever a DJ, but you would make a great country/soul/roots DJ. You highlight the "deep cuts" of guitar players, and always provide cool history, too. (I do check out your Spotify playlists, so I guess you already are?). Also, that might be the best Paisley Tele I've seen in awhile-I think the same guy makes one that's more gold around the edges? Either way, great guitar and great playing.
Watching Bernie play Peaceful Easy Feeling live. . . . . . . . . Is what "Eagles" were ALL about, for me. Hotel California was the beginning of the end. I can remember being a teenager & listening to The Long Run & thinking, wth is this?!! & now? The epitome of a cash grab.
Way to go Zac - another great episode! Looking forward to seeing the California Country exhibit next time I'm in town.
Have fun!
I always enjoy your videos, Zac, but that one was exceptionally good. I learned so much. What a great player Bernie is. Now I’ve got to get the Emmy Lou/Linda Ronstadt album (and the Buddy Emmons book!)
Enjoy!!
I play a Tele, in large part, because of Bernie, along with seeing Buck Owens on Hee Haw as a little kid. Over the years I noticed that everyone from Clarence White (co-inventor of the Parson-White Bender), Keith Richards, Waylon, Roy Nichols & Merle, Albert Lee, Ray Flacke, Steve Wariner (sometimes) Brent Mason; then the neo-Traditional Country guys like the amazing Brad Paisley, Jimmy Olander among many others. Another commonality is the Bender - at least most of my favorite players.
I never knew this! Nice!
Loved Bernie’s playing. Thanks for an informative episode Zac.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow! I always assumed it was a pedal steel on that solo! Thanks Zac!
You bet!
Beautiful sounds
Thank you 😋
I really need to see a picture of this Vibrolux amp with the western grill
Hey Zac, thanks for this trip through country rock history featuring Bernie Leadon. Every time I hear "Midnight Flyer" I listen to Bernie's banjo work, but I had no idea how widely his talents appear with other artists. I've always been an Emmylou Harris fan, especially the albums you mention in the video (Pieces of the Sky, Elite Hotel, and for me, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town).
I might have to see about getting a Joe Glaser B-Bender on one of my Telecasters!
I'd just been walkin' around singin' 'Take it Easy' and you posted this really trippy and interesting vid/story...
Thanx so much (timing is everything)
Glad you enjoyed it
cool show Zach thanks for all the info on bernie.
The Eagles documentary u mentioned is really great
Glad you enjoyed it!
Always wondered what his story was before, during and after. Thanks Zac,
Bob's just has a plywood rim around the perimeter of the back of his guitar and no backplate. I have a copy of the blueprints he and his dad drew up.
Another great episode! Bernie's parts sound relatively easy, but they are brilliant and exactly what the songs needed. Great musician.
Bernie rocks!
I remember buying a Bernie Leadon-Michael Georgiades album long ago, post-Eagles, that had a cool song 'Rotation' on it.
Zac awesome b-bending playing on the intro your old nashville buddy Ernie the bassman
Hello Mr. Zac, this episode inspired me to put my benders in action. On guitars with high action tuned to open E so my Slidestuff sounds a little bit pedalsteel-ish. That book about buddy emmons is great. Thanks and all the best. Greetings from Germany
You treasure you!!!
Of course, Joe Walsh was just on a regular bender.
Awesome show
The first two Eagles records are really a showcase for Bernie and his multi-instrumentalist chops. A great player - The CMHOF is missing Chris Ethridge's suit. It was stolen from him years ago and never recovered.
Great video, I love the B-Bender and the music and the history of that era. However you forgot to mention that the album that really kicked off the Eagles and that whole California country rock sound was "Sweethearts Of The Rodeo" by the Byrds with Clarence White, and before that California country people like James Burton and Ralph Mooney with fantastic records like "Corn Pickin' and Slick Slidin'", Buck Owens and the Bakersfield sound etc.. The B-Bender was invented by Gene Parsons and Clarence White. Bernie Leadon's "Peaceful Easy Feeling" solo made that sound globally famous. Perhaps someday you could do a video with one of the current Masters Of The B-Bender in the world today---- Marty Stuart, who owns Clarence's original Tele B-Bender.
Don’t forget about Gram.
I really like your country record recommendations 😊
I started playing guitar in the 70's and I live outside Gainesville Fl. Would go to liphams music store to buy guitars and amps. They had a lot of good guitarist around that music store back then.
I know it's not really related, but maybe some would find it interesting that Travis Tritt got the eagles back together in the 90s
There's that album he did with Michael Georgiades in the late 70s also.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was going by that name in the Fishin' in the Dark era (late 80s). They went by "The Dirt Band" in the late '70s and early '80s.
They actually played at my small county fair and rodeo in SW Washington State, which must have been in the summer of '87, because they played Fishin' in the Dark which had just come out in '87, and I remember not being able to buy a beer yet (I wouldn't turn 21 until early in '88) so it could only have been in '87.
Looking back it seems strange that such a big country band with a recent big hit out would be playing my small county fair and rodeo. But they were fantastic. I especially remember a kick ass harmonica solo. I had no idea at the time that a former Eagle was on guitar, and from my favorite era of the Eagles, too.
He was a great neighbour
I get this feeling I may know you...
Saw BL with very early Eagles but saw the Rick Roberts and Hillman version of the Burritos. Bernie was a great addition to any group I would guess.
Stephen Stills was also in Don Felder’s garage band.
Zac, are you going to post video of you finishing your 57?
Those clips of the work on the 57 are 2 years old, but I just found them and decided to release them. The 57 is done, as you see me play it in many of my videos.
I've read that the label cursed the Desperado album as a #!% cowboy album upon hearing it. Sales were disappointing, but college kids loved it; I was 20 and a sophomore when it was released; seemed like everybody on campus was digging it, and FM radio gave it plenty of spins. Today it's considered a classic, with Desperado being covered by dozens of artists. It's really a great example of the Eagles as a country rock band, and an excellent concept album as well. Bernie's banjo on Twenty One is amazing by the way. Whatever Happened to Saturday Night is one of their very finest ballads. Every song on the album is worthy and it plays beautifully in track order.
Didn’t know you used to live in France ! My home country! Probably a subject for another video !
James Burton, Hank Devito, Bernie Leadon, Gene Clark, Clarence White, Albert Lee, Waddy Wachtel, Ry Cooder, Buddy Emmons, and I was going to say where is Al Perkins, and then he was mentioned also. We covered Money Honey, the Flying Burrito way. Pretty sure that was Al on guitar, not steel.
Poco, Mike Nesmith, Rick Nelson & Stone Canyon Band, The Byrds, all contributed strongly to the country rock sound b4 The Eagles hit the scene. Especially Poco.
Poco was KILLER!
@@vayabroder729 yes, I saw Poco several times and they were fantastic. I once saw them with JJ Caleb’s their opener. Amazing concert.
Don’t omit Linda Ronstadt’s Capitol albums, starting in ‘69.
Zep's "All My Love" might give "Peaceful Easy Feeling" a run for its B-Bender money.
I still have and play the Natural Progressions album.
Mike Nesmith should get some credit for the California / Country sound
True
Zac you should do a segment on one of the most unique bands Bernie was in, Run C&W.
Berny was undeniably at his very best with Gene Clark, the Giant so few know of. Berny said he actually did most of the guitar and Banjo work on the Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark. Gene spoke very well of Berny, saying he loved to write songs with him.
I'm so glad Midnight Flyer was mentioned, but I do want some clarification. Was that really Bernie playing guitar? I always thought that Bernie just played Banjo on it and Frey played a Les Paul Jr through a Fender Champ with the phase. I love the sound and wanna know for sure who it actually was, if you know
I think you are right
Nice video. Loving “Zac’s Book Time!”Where can I find some of these old Country Guitar magazines??
eBay
Hey Zac great video!! Never understood how good he was til you talked about him!! I’ve got a question on the song best of my love was that him on steel or not just wondering?? Because I didn’t look much at the credits when he was in the band just focused on the joe Walsh era credits the most!!
He is on steel
Hey Zac great video on one of my heroes! I’ve loved Bernie’s playing since he first started playing with the Eagles. I’ve followed him ever since but wasn’t aware of some of the side projects you’ve mentioned here like the Motown one. Just curios how long and where were you in France back in 1999? As I’ve spent a lot of time over there and happened to be there then as well. Have family over there and had a small business bringing used American guitars and amps over for musicians who wanted them.
I was there in 1999
@@AskZac where? Paris? Or somewhere else?
Cool Shirt!!!!!!!!
Great Info.Thanks
What do you think of Steuart Smiths work today.
New Riders of the Purple Sage.
Aloha!
My favorite eagles are the 2 guitar bernie and frey eagles
Mahalo!
Idiot me never really suspected B-bender on those Eagles tunes nobody could escape for all those years. Makes sense. Can't say I'm a fan of much of that CA country rock stuff, though some of the peripheral musicians are among my favorites (David Lindley in particular). I had already heard the Jackson Browne version of "Take It Easy" and considered the Eagles to be a little too... let's just say mainstream.
Anyway, who cares what I think? My real contribution here today will be a band name from deep in my past that's always made me smile. They were a sorta rockabilly/western swing aggregation that frequented the same circuit I was playing at the time in western NY. They were good too. The name? The Ken Hardley Playboys. Wonder whatever happened to them...
PS-- I just had to add an additional comment because of the subject of California country/country rock and the outstanding high standards of virtuoso musicianship that it all originated from. Is there a finer "Gold Standard" example of this, and a greater Fender Telecaster/pedal steel masterpiece than "Corn Pickin' and Slick Slidin'" by James Burton and Ralph Mooney? I do not know of any, thanks.
What echo pedal does Steuart Smith use ?
Boss DD3
Best is on Tequila Sunrise opening.
RunCMW = the Burns Brothers. Love Russell Smith also!
Bernie's pentatonic counter-melody intro to Already Gone is brilliant. Pure *Telecaster* ...although It's Felder who gets the credit for the rather boring 70s lead stuff on the LesPaul.
...Not dissing Felder, He's great ! but It's not *Telecaster*
Check it live, you'll see :)
How's life Zak I'm really Disapointed in last night out come . On 10-8-22
Hope You and Yours
Are doing good 👍
I am doing ok. I hope you are improving.
@@AskZac slowly
Not what I want .
Finely got theapry started couple months ago . 👍
Man you should do a show on Grady Martin.
Was it not Felder on “I can’t tell you why”?
Not on the recording
Funny, had no idea he was from Minnesota. Probably a far second to the greatest Tele player from Minnesota though.....
A Burrito on a b bender!
Regarding your comments re: Ralph Emery (R.I.P.) and his occasional lapse of good Southern Hospitality. One such toxic encounter between the Byrds and an emcee'ing Emery at the Ryman in the late 60's provided Messrs. McGuinn & Parsons from the Byrds the impetus to respond in song with a comical name-drop diss on their trucker-song lampoon 'Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man',) from their seminal country-rock magnum opus: 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo.'
Yep
I love all things Bernie. But Run C&W first record is absolutely one of the greatest albums of all time... BURNS! 😆
Spotlight on Ralph Emery... Maybe too much goodies powder 😆
Well said!
I Can't Tell You Why features a solo by Don Felder
Not true. Felder said it is Frey.
That almost sounded like only daddy that'll walk the line at the intro
If you were gifted another lifetime would you dedicate it to pedal steel?