Search - Herb Pedersen :: Southwest

A Precursor of His Splendid Desert Rose Days

Alan Rockman | Upland, California | 04/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herb Pedersen recorded "Southwest" back in 1976 at a time when his future DRB and duo partner Chris Hillman had just left the S-H-F band, and a time when the Eagles jettisoned their last vestiges of Country in favor of disco and stadium rock. Yet the music here is timeless.



Herb stayed true to the Country (and Folk) Rock path on "Southwest", with splendid covers of the Beatles' "Paperback Writer", the Cajun-flavored "Rock and Roll Cajun" and a couple of tunes that tipped off the old ten-gallon towards his days in the Dillards ("Hey Boys") and of the glorious future ahead in DRB and as Chris and Herb ("Our Baby's Gone", "Wait A Minute").



Herb has one of the finest voices in Country, Folk, and Bluegrass music - and his crystal clear tenor has graced many a Linda Ronstadt, John Denver and Vince Gill album, not to mention countless others. Here he shines on his own.



A worthy addition to afficinados of the Burritos, Desert Rose, Dillards and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band sounds."

For the love of california country rock

Arnaud | Ermont France | 10/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a great admirer of country rock performers of the 70's. Herb Pedersen stands as a major contributor to the genre. He played and sung on many major recordings of that time. On his first album, he delivers a strong set of songs that fit perfectly between the Eagles, Poco and the Nitty Gritty band. Some songs have become bluegrass standards like "wait a minute", but if you may ear some banjo and mandoline playing, don't get it wrong, it is really a country rock germ!"

THE UNSUNG "HARMONY" PIONEER OF COUNTRY ROCK

John E. Beland | 04/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If Bob Dylan started country rock as we know it, then Herb Pederson was the first to stick a bluegrass harmony or two on it. From his groundbreaking direction on the Dillards classic albums "Copperfields" and "Wheatstraw Suite" to his many appearances on the recordings of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and just about everyone else of importance in LA, Herb remains one of the most important figures in the history of country rock music.

Herb had no equals..still doesn't. He virtually changed a pleasant enough, but typical, bluegrass band like the Dillards into one of the key country rock trail blazers of the 60's. Herb brought the harmonies of the Louvins, the Everly's and the Beach Boys into the world of pop rock, and almost single handedly made it cool to sing like the Beatles while playing banjo's and mandolins. He remains a master of harmony and a damned fine songwriter.

This solo album captures Herb at full throttle in the mid-70's. It's all there..all the taste, style and creativity that he brought to the L.A table, starting from the day he stepped into the shoes of banjo viruoso Doug Dillard. Never had a subtle replacement turned out to be such an A Bomb of surprises.



More than just a great banjo player, guitarist and singer..Herb Pederson was a map maker, one who set the course and helped make bluegrass and country music "hip" for all us LA guys who were trying to emulate him. This album is a true "must" for all collectors of California country music.

John Beland

Flying Burrito Brothers

www.johnbeland.com"