Was Sir Elton the first guy to use Pedal Steel in Pop-Rock tunes?

[Taverner]

Granted, his use was nothing short of sublime. He used it even on non-country-ish songs like "Rocket Man"

[MadHound]

1. No, he wasn't the first

I can think of three others, Garcia played pedal steel for the dead, as did Ron Wood for the Rolling Stones and Jimmy Page for Led Zep. There might even be more if you do some digging.

[Taverner]

2. True with Garcia

But he did bring it in their more Country-ish songs, and I would never really call the Dead "pop-rock"

Stones...I gotta hear it

And LedZep did pepper Led Zep III with pedal steel....

[MadHound]

3. Listen to Honky Tonk Woman

Also I think Brown Sugar and a couple of others have some pedal in them.

Also, way back in the day, Buddy Holly also used pedal steel in his. In fact Holly is one of the most underrated rock and roll innovators around. Did things that wouldn't be done for years, strings, pedal steel, etc.

[6000eliot]

5. "Marrakesh Express" isn't a country song.

[Rambis]

9. Pic here

He did play on CSN Deja Vu as well as the new riders

[obreaslan]

4. Don't forget Dave Gilmour with Pink Floyd...

on Dark Side of the Moon 1973 & ealier....

[Taverner]

6. He wasn't playing pedal steel but slide guitar

Similar, but very different

This is a pedal steel guitar

[wildhorses]

7. who is that?

out in the country?

[obreaslan]

10. He actually was playing pedal steel on Dark Side, I just couldn't...

find a good picture. :)

Look here at the comments on the first song, Speak To Me/Breathe...

http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/features/pinkfloyd/

[Burma Jones]

8. Teach Your Children

The Boxer

I think those two pre-dated Elton John....

[obreaslan]

11. That's actually Jerry Garcia on Teach Your Children...

Pretty cool playin'. :)

[Hissyspit]

12. The Beatles? The Byrds?

[WCGreen]

13. That's who I was going to say....

Credence Clearwater.....