Guest Book

On The Blues Sky topic: Yes those are indeed Duanes "fills" that you are hearing on Blue Sky on the studio recording as well as the 2 live versions we've heard with Duane. For those that may not know. This topic has been talked about a little bit here over the years but, for whatever reason after Duane died Dickey decided to change the key of "Blue Sky" from "E" to "G". As a fan and a guitar player I can tell you this gives the song a more of a "countrified" feel and tone since the songs theme, solos, fills etc. are played in a higher register on the neck of the guitar. To be precise it is played "3 frets higher" or a "step and a half". This gives "Blue Sky" more of a "twang" so to speak. This is the main reason why live versions of the song from say 1974 to the present, the song has never really has captured the tone and feel of the original version. I don't know exactly why Dickey decided to do this. The original key is actually easier to sing in as his voice got deeper over the years so that can't be the reason. My guess is - and its only a guess - is that Dickey wanted it to sound more like a country tune since that where a lot of his influence is from. Almost everyone would agree I think that its never sounded quite right in the later live peformances of the song. Thats not to say there aren't some really fine later versions with some great jamming but the "feel" is just different thats all..... On a side note, when Phil and Friends play the song and do it quite well I might add, they do it in its original key and you can tell the difference almost immediately - at least some can. I don't think I've ever heard Dickey give a reason for this change so its all speculation. Maybe one day he'll put it back to "E" which to my ears sounds a bit better. But yes, those beautiful pedal steel-like fills on the studio and early live versions are Duane's and they were perfect like everything else he played!. I don't believe Duane EVER played a bad note! Hope the info helps. Peace