“Harmony” by Elton John cover

[Mike Neer]

This is an arrangement I put together of a childhood fave of mine from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

One of things I have been thinking about is that I hear things in “steel guitar” now, which means that an arrangement will come to me with the steel guitar as the lead instrument, and not just any steel guitar, but the sound of my own steel guitar. I think that has happened as a result of playing so much and recording so often, and also from not listening to much, if any at all, steel guitar recordings. When it was new to me, I listened constantly. These days, I avoid it completely.

I played the Sol Rickenbacher on this, which can be very difficult to play. You really have to be precise and clean on it because that pickup gets every detail. But tone to the bone.

In the other thread about making a full-time commitment to steel, I mentioned putting other instruments aside. I did that for quite a long time, but I use them now in service of the steel guitar arrangements. It all works out in the end.

Here’s Harmony.

https://youtu.be/cnRSZSD5jro?si=BKLmysVPwOuTezIV

[Craig Stock]

Great cover Mike, Love Elton and you made it even better!

[Mike Neer]

Thanks so much, Craig. About half way through making this recording, I had decided it wasn’t really a good vehicle after all, but I pushed through. The song still has a haunting quality to it, with the opening chord being one I’ve never forgotten.

Happy New Year!

[Steve Cunningham]

Sounds great Mike .That tone is very unique, I can really hear your musical voice coming through.

[Mike Neer]

Sounds great Mike .That tone is very unique, I can really hear your musical voice coming through.

Thanks Steve. Not a tube anywhere in sight. I’m sure that is obvious, but I am able to achieve that kind of glassiness that I’ve always wished I could get out of a tube amp. A Digitech RP1000 into a Roland JC40 mic’d with an SM57. But I have always loved the sound of plugging straight into the board—that’s how I thought those Speedy West records were recorded when I first heard them. I’d really like to have that kind of Standel high fidelity sound.

[Tony Oresteen]

Mike,

Harmony is on my song list to do with a steel guitar! Great minds must think alike! I was in a band in the 70's and we did Harmony.

I have always thought that it was the unsung hero of GBYBR.

Nice job!

[Tony Oresteen]

Mike,

Harmony is on my song list to do with a steel guitar! Great minds must think alike! I was in a band in the 70's and we did Harmony.

I have always thought that it was the unsung hero of GBYBR.

Nice job!