Sneaky Pete Kleinow (1979) Leaning On Your Love - LOST 70s GEMS

 Former Hollywood SFX man and Country Rock's go-to-Pedal Steel player in the 70s, Sneaky Pete decided to follow his Burrito Brothers, Chris Hillman and Gene Parsons into solo territory with this s 1979 better-late-than-never follow up simply titled Sneaky Pete. Full of his familiar skills at runs and melodies that animated the most lifeless ballads and country rock amalgams; particularly fine is his instrumental cover of the Gosdin Brothers' Love Of The Common People, taking it's beautiful central melodies and elongating it into drawling lines of pedal steel magic, this is frequently accompanied with fiddle work by Gib Guilbeau. Guest vocalist Connie Williams delivers Leaning on Your Love with an enraptured vocal, she really should have sung on the whole album; the tune also features some hints of it's era with a synth and pedal steel harmonised solo. Connie's next song on the album is Trains in the Station, another great dose of easygoing pop; sought of makes you wish it was released under her name it may of had success outside of the esoteric county rock market. It certainly fits in with the Urban Cowboy era of Country Pop heading into the 80s though Sneaky Pete's funky wah wah effected playing is distracting.

Sneaky sings on a few tracks like California and You, a sweet ballad which has more synth and exposes his vocal shortcomings. Beat the Heat starts with the most spritely multi tracked pedal steel lick, its a few seconds long but instantly grabs your attention with it's careering little run. The Oklahoma Stomp exhibits quite mellifluous jazz lines in a late night country session vibe, his clean lines combined with reverb sound stratospheric on this track like they are taking flight; extraordinary. Still the real star of the show are the two songs sung inch perfect by Connie Williams ironically, sneakily stealing the show away from Sneaky on his own album.