Sneaky Pete Kleinow

Not many people can honestly say they played on the first three Flying Burrito Brothers albums and helped animate Gumby, but Sneaky Pete Kleinow was just such a man, and in addition to a long run with the Burritos, his pedal steel guitar licks graced recordings by everyone from John Lennon to Stevie Wonder to Sandy Denny. Kleinow, who lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease in 2007, recorded a handful of albums for the country rock specialists label Shiloh Records from the late '80s to the first years of the 21st century, and The Shiloh Records Anthology features 17 tunes from his recording for the imprint, along with a live recording from a reunited lineup of the Flying Burrito Brothers. Folks who love the sound of the pedal steel guitar should find a lot to like in The Shiloh Records Anthology; Kleinow's touch on the instrument was smooth and sure, and while here he seems more interested in its melodic possibilities than in flashy licks on these recordings, numbers like "Beat the Heat" and "Cannonball Rag" show he could play with blazing speed and dexterity when he was in the mood. Kleinow was also an innovator in the use of outboard effects on the pedal steel, and on "It Makes No Difference" he uses distortion to effectively emulate a horn section, while a touch of phasing adds to the tone on "Silverbird." However, while Kleinow's playing is splendid throughout, most of these tracks move in a placid, mid-tempo groove that's pleasant but unremarkable, and while there are some outstanding musicians backing him up, including Albert Lee, Skip Battin, and Gib Guilbeau, the arrangements often come off as faceless and unremarkable as Kleinow and his pals play a polite selection of covers. Sadly, The Shiloh Records Anthology captures the sound of a gifted session musician who, like many session players, doesn't show a lot of personality on his own even when he brought out the best in the folks who hired him. There's no arguing that The Shiloh Records Anthology is a labor of love that gives Kleinow the spotlight he often deserved but rarely received, but if you really want to hear him at his best, try the Flying Burrito Brothers' The Gilded Palace of Sin instead. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide