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Session Musicians

247 articles

Joe Meek, Outlaws, The (UK), Gene Vincent: Rumour About The Outlaws Made Their Disc Company Panic...

Profile by Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 29 June 1963

THERE WAS a rumour last Christmas that the Outlaws were to break up. It was of course, untrue, but the rumour spread pretty quickly throughout ...

Billy Fury, The Tornados: It Took All Day — It Was Fantastic

Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 16 November 1963

WE WANT BILLY! IS BILLY FURY SINGING THE SONGS HE LIKES TO SING ...

John Paul Jones: Bass With Every Thing

Interview by Peter Jones, Record Mirror, 25 April 1964

STRIKING OUT on his own with a new solo disc: John Paul Jones, bass guitarist with the Tony Meehan Group. And the disc which could ...

Jimmy Page: The Session Men No. 1: Jimmy Page

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, August 1965

Each month B.I. receives letters asking for information on various session men. In fact, last month, we published one from J. Townsend of Wolverhampton, who ...

The Fortunes: Fortunes Admit It: They Use Session Boys!

Interview by Keith Altham, New Musical Express, 29 October 1965

THE FORTUNES go on record as the first group I have met who have had the honesty to admit they use session musicians on their ...

Dee Dee Warwick, Dionne Warwick: Dee Dee Warwick: 'Dionne encouraged me to go solo' says Dee Dee

Interview by Richard Green, Record Mirror, 8 January 1966

TWO SISTERS used to do the backing tracks on other people's records. Then one of them made her own discs and became a star. Her ...

Bob Dylan, Foggy Mountain Boys, Charlie McCoy, Elvis Presley: "Recording Sessions I Have Known" by Charlie McCoy

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, May 1966

When you hear a harmonica wailing in the background on currently popular blues, country, folk or pop recordings, it's probably being played by an ultra-talented guy ...

Chet Atkins, John D. Loudermilk: Nashville: The Town With The "Fresh Sound"

Report by Lillian Roxon, Sydney Morning Herald, the, 19 June 1966

It started with Grand Ole Opry ...

Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: Jimmy Will Change Yardbirds Sound!

Interview by Kevin Swift, Beat Instrumental, September 1966

JIMMY PAGE, one of our top guitarists, turned his back on the session scene, took up bass for the first time in his life and ...

The Monkees: Monkees Amid Controlled Confusion

Report by Louise Criscione, KRLA Beat, 11 February 1967

WHAT IS THIS, Knock The Monkees Year? Some sort of a giant conspiracy to destroy, devour and flush four people down the drain to wallow ...

Booker T & The MGs, Eddie Floyd, The Mar-Keys, Carla Thomas: Stax Volt

Profile and Interview by Peter Jones, Norman Jopling, Record Mirror, 25 March 1967

Sometimes, fame comes to a label as well as a star — like Tamla Motown. Now here's Stax Volt from America with hot soul discs, ...

Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper: The Stax Story: Steve Cropper (part 1)

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, September 1967

This Steve Cropper interview begins a series on Stax Records in Memphis. ...

Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper: The Stax Story: Steve Cropper (part 2)

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, October 1967

IN THIS FINAL installment of the Steve Cropper interview, Steve gives some excellent advice to guitarists who want to become studio musicians. We hope you ...

Booker T & The MGs, Booker T. Jones: The Stax Story (part 3): Booker T. Jones

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, November 1967

BOOKER T. JONES was born in Memphis, Tennessee, November 12, 1944. He started playing the organ professionally at the age of fourteen. During his high ...

Booker T & The MGs: The Stax Story (part 4): Al Jackson

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, December 1967

BORN NOVEMBER 27, 1935, in Memphis, Tennessee, Al studied drums in high school, and played with his father's band until he formed his own nine-piece ...

Booker T & The MGs: The Stax Story (part 5): Duck Dunn

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, January 1968

DONALD V. DUNN was born on November 24, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee and he learned to play the bass in high school. He now resides ...

Bob Dylan, Mike Bloomfield: Impressions of Bob Dylan by Mike Bloomfield

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, June 1968

As told to Jim Delehant ...

Booker T & The MGs: Booker T. puts hits before tours

Profile and Interview by Richard Green, New Musical Express, 25 January 1969

SOUL is a much maligned word which tends to bring a sneer to the lips of the musical cynics, probably because there has been so ...

Chet Atkins: The Day Elvis Split his Pink Britches

Interview by Alan Walsh, Melody Maker, 8 March 1969

WHEN ELVIS Presley recorded 'Heartbreak Hotel', the record that launched him to adulation level in Great Britain, he really tore the studio apart. ...

Booker T & The MGs, Carla Thomas: Stax Horns Into the Pop Market for Sound Success

Profile and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 1969

MEMPHIS — A run-down movie theater in a threadbare black neighborhood is the home of Stax Records, a label whose 40 employees and 10 or ...

Dennis Coffey: Guitarist Dennis Coffey: "No Room for Temperament in Music"

Interview by Mike Gormley, Detroit Free Press, 7 November 1969

WHEN YOU talk to him he impresses you as a confident man. He knows what's going on but chooses to do things his way rather ...

Jesse Ed Davis, Taj Mahal: Taj Mahal's Band

Interview by Jim Delehant, Hit Parader, January 1970

JESSE EDWIN DAVIS/lead guitar ...

Hamilton Bohannon: Bohannon: "The Band Doesn't Get the Proper Respect"

Interview by Mike Gormley, Detroit Free Press, 2 January 1970

MOST MOTOWN groups don't perform on stage while playing their own instruments. It would be rather difficult for The Temptations to go through their dance ...

James Burton, Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley's Lead Guitarist, James Burton, Talks About Working With King

Interview by Ann Moses, New Musical Express, 3 January 1970

Special QUESTION-TIME conducted by ANN MOSES IN HOLLYWOOD ...

Steve Cropper: Cropper: The Living Legend from Memphis

Interview by Royston Eldridge, Melody Maker, 21 February 1970

A MELODY MAKER EXCLUSIVE BY ROYSTON ELDRIDGE ...

Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper: ROY CARR, who joins NME this week, conducts an Ask-in with... STEVE CROPPER

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 14 March 1970

Guitar ace with Booker T, Stax producer and formerly with Otis Redding's show ...

Led Zeppelin: ASK-IN with a LED ZEPPELIN a week: Bassist JOHN PAUL JONES

Interview by Ritchie Yorke, New Musical Express, 4 April 1970

Part one of an exciting New Series by RITCHIE YORKE ...

Glen Campbell – Former Beach Boy and Elvis Guitarist!

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 6 June 1970

IT MAY NOT be generally known that Glen Campbell is a former member of the Beach Boys... that he was once a brilliant session guitarist ...

Merry Clayton, The Rolling Stones: Merry Clayton: She Was Born on Christmas Day

Interview by Todd Everett, Rolling Stone, 25 June 1970

LOS ANGELES — There is a world of confusion in the music press — not to mention that among record companies — about the identity ...

Booker T & The MGs: Booker T. & the M.G.s: McLemore Avenue (Stax Stereo SXATS 1031).

Review by Rob Partridge, Record Mirror, 4 July 1970

A COVER VERSION of the entire Beatles Abbey Road album — complete with Booker T. and the boys in Beatle-like post on the cover — ...

Jeff Beck: Strange Scene at Tamla

Interview by Alan Smith, New Musical Express, 8 August 1970

...reports Mickie Most ...

Joe Cocker, Leon Russell: Leon Russell: King of the Delta Rockers

Interview by Mark Plummer, Melody Maker, 29 August 1970

Top US session man LEON RUSSELL talks to Mark Plummer. ...

Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper: Al Kooper, Blood Sweat & Tears creator and Dylan sideman, brought brass and jam sessions back

Interview by Roy Carr, New Musical Express, 16 January 1971

WHEN IT comes to the subject of owning-up-time, I suppose we've all got to admit to having a dusty, decaying skeleton hanging up in our ...

Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper: MM in Memphis: Cropper Soul Picker Supreme

Interview by Richard Williams, Melody Maker, 30 January 1971

Richard Williams with the first of a series of profiles from America's soul centre... ...

Jeff Beck, Nicky Hopkins, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Rolling Stones: Nicky Hopkins: Have Piano, Will Travel

Interview by Michael Watts, Melody Maker, 3 April 1971

Michael Watts talks to sessionman supreme NICKY HOPKINS ...

The Byrds, The Kentucky Colonels: The Byrds: Byrd Watching (part 2)

Interview by Richard Williams, Melody Maker, 8 May 1971

THE COUNTRY consonants of Clarence White's guitar have fooled a lot of people — me included — into thinking that the man must have come ...

The Dixie Flyers, Rita Coolidge: The Dixie Flyers

Interview by Roy Hollingworth, Melody Maker, 15 May 1971

THEY'VE BEEN called the best rhythm section in the States — don't ask me who called them that, but I figure the guy who did ...

Harold Battiste, Sam Cooke, Lee Dorsey, Dr. John, Barbara George, Tami Lynn, Prince La La, Sonny & Cher, Allen Toussaint: Behind the Scenes with Harold Battiste

Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1971

FREQUENTLY, we receive letters from readers' asking us to write about the people behind the scenes in our music. For example, the features we did ...

Carole King, Danny Kortchmar, The Fugs, James Taylor, Jo Mama: Danny Kootch: Danny Boy

Interview by Roy Hollingworth, Melody Maker, 24 July 1971

YOU GET this sweaty little record company office and you're issued with the regulation afternoon tea or coffee. Danny Kootch looks suitably bloated by both ...

King Curtis Dead

Obituary by uncredited writer, Melody Maker, 21 August 1971

KING CURTIS, whose wailing tenor sax was heard on many hit records over the past decade, was stabbed to death on New York's West Side ...

King Curtis: a Tribute

Obituary by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 August 1971

CURTIS OUSELEY – known the world over as King Curtis – was fatally wounded and died on Friday, August 13 only a few yards away ...

Al Kooper: The (Almost) Complete History of Al Kooper

Interview by John Tobler, ZigZag, October 1971

Tell me about the first Supersession.Well the concept came from that Grape Jam album (given free with Wow in the States but not released here), ...

King Curtis: A Good Man Gone

Obituary by Michael Lydon, Fusion, 29 October 1971

MAYBE THIS should be a collection of unrelated notes. I’m not sure how the things I’m thinking about fit together. King Curtis is dead. That ...

Nicky Hopkins

Interview by Andrew Tyler, Disc and Music Echo, 4 December 1971

DURING THE NEXT 12 months Nicky Hopkins, the world's best-known anonymous pianist, will be the fourth German on the right no more. After years of ...

The Bill Black Combo, Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Ann Peebles, Bill Withers, O.V. Wright: Willie Mitchell: Sounds like it's Memphis

Profile and Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 11 December 1971

IF ANY one man personifies the solid beat of Memphis soul then surely it's Willie Mitchell. Not only has he turned out 14 hit albums ...

Billy Preston: Billy's Feelin' Real Good

Interview by Penny Valentine, Sounds, 29 January 1972

A BROOKLYN friend of mine who had this uncanny knack of being able to spot a rising star at 100 yards said to me a ...

Merry Clayton: The Spotlight's on Merry

Profile and Interview by Mike Jahn, Baltimore Sun, 5 March 1972

MICK JAGGER, the satin-pants Satan, is o-o-o-ing ominously through 'Gimme Shelter'. He is doing all right, rocking the boat but not overturning it. But behind ...

Electric Flag, Jimi Hendrix, Wilson Pickett, Santana: Buddy Miles: Big black hunk of funk

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 3 June 1972

BUDDY MILES ON SANTANA, HENDRIX ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Section: The Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Section: Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica CA

Live Review by Richard Cromelin, Los Angeles Times, 13 November 1972

Mahavishnu Headlines Rock Concert ...

Captain Beefheart, Ry Cooder, Randy Newman: Ry Cooder

Interview by Charles Shaar Murray, New Musical Express, 9 December 1972

On himself, BEEFHEART and RANDY NEWMAN — and backing JAGGER by remote control. ...

Sharks showing their teeth

Interview by Andrew Tyler, Disc, 30 December 1972

SHARKS KNOW enough riffs to play hard-to-get. If they really wanted to wear Mexican sandals, army socks from Badges and Equipment and be very mysterious, ...

Cornell Dupree, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, King Curtis: Cornell Dupree: "Mean N' Greasy"

Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, March 1973

"IT'S HIGH time that session musicians were given greater recognition. After all, it's often their playing which makes a hit record, rather than the singing ...

Timmy Thomas: The One Man Band

Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 March 1973

MOST PEOPLE probably figure that 'Why Can't We Live Together' is the first time they have heard the hypnotic and highly individualistic style of organ ...

Cornell Dupree: The Boss Guitar of Cornell Dupree

Interview by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 10 March 1973

CORNELL DUPREE's name will mean nothing to the general public, but those who scan LP sleeve credits will recognise him as one of America's busiest ...

Sharks, Chris Spedding: Chris Spedding: Confessions Of a Top UK Session Guitarist

Interview by Andrew Bailey, Rolling Stone, 29 March 1973

LONDON — Chris Spedding flicked his eyes anxiously down to his wrist-watch. It was coming up to 10 PM. The three-hour session, Chris' second of ...

Heads Hands and Feet, Jerry Lee Lewis: Jerry Lee Lewis: The Session Men

Report and Interview by John Pidgeon, Let It Rock, May 1973

"WHAT HAPPENS when some of today's great pop stars put a session together in London with a rock 'n' roll legend?" asks the ad for ...

Nicky Hopkins: Sixth Stone Rolls Alone

Interview by Chris Charlesworth, Melody Maker, 11 August 1973

THE NEWS THAT the Rolling Stones are to tour next month without their long serving pianist Nicky Hopkins will come as a surprise to those ...

Billy Preston, The Rolling Stones: Billy Preston: The Way Billy Planned It

Interview by Michael Watts, Melody Maker, 1 September 1973

When The Stones hit the road this month BILLY PRESTON goes with them. Here, he talks to MM's MICHAEL WATTS in Los Angeles ...

Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds: Session Star: Jimmy Page

Interview by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, 1 September 1973

JIMMY PAGE is as wary of discussing his formidable past as he is talking to the press in the first place. ...

Nicky Hopkins

Interview by Harold Bronson, Zoo World, 25 October 1973

ALTHOUGH NICKY Hopkins' bouts with more than casual illness are no secret, the British pianist has one of the more prolific careers as a session ...

Danny Kortchmar, The Section: Viva Section!

Profile and Interview by uncredited writer, Beat Instrumental, November 1973

"YIKES, WHAT mellow Caballeros," reads the poster for the Section's first album. The British public discovered just how mellow these Caballeros are when they played ...

Carol Kaye's Bass: Solid Gold Hitmine

Interview by Judith Sims, Rolling Stone, 22 November 1973

LOS ANGELES — Carol Kaye is one of the few successful female session musicians, certainly one of Los Angeles' finest and busiest bassists. Her list ...

Jesse Ed Davis

Interview by Steven Rosen, Zoo World, 6 December 1973

TAKE ONE Oklahoman Indian; stick one guitar in his hand and what you come up with is a singer/songwriter/guitarist more impressive and powerful than all ...

MFSB: A Family Affair

Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 March 1974

SO, THE time has arrived when we can have anonymous soul artists topping the charts. Already this year, the Love Unlimited Orchestra has topped both ...

Art Neville: Meter Man

Profile and Interview by Bill Millar, Let It Rock, April 1974

THE RAINBOW, July 2nd last. Art Neville saved the show. Didn't he? Dr. John made a gas of an entrance but, from then on – ...

MFSB: set for a smash despite the slagging?

Profile by Roger St. Pierre, New Musical Express, 4 May 1974

A NUMBER one album and single in the American pop charts, with strong chances of rivalling the success of 'Love's Theme' in the UK, make ...

MFSB, TCB

Profile by Tony Cummings, Black Music, August 1974

MFSB GREW as the Philly soul scene grew. As, in the sixties, recording activity escalated in the city, a hard core of musicians, some black ...

Cornell Dupree: Teasin' (Atlantic)

Review by Jonh Ingham, New Musical Express, 7 December 1974

THE COVER sums this one up: a comfy sofa and an old electric fan and a Coke machine that's about fifteen years old, with the ...

Elton John: "It's Not All Down To Elton..."

Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 January 1975

...he's just part of a band'. And that's the way Elton John's always wanted it, drummer Nigel Olsson tells CHRIS WELCH, in a rare behind-the-scenes ...

Chris Spedding: Spedding to a Goal

Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1975

LIFE CAN GO speeding by as any rock and roller will tell you. When you are as good a musician as Chris Spedding, there is ...

Pacific Eardrum, Big Jim Sullivan: Big Jim Sullivan: Mister Guitar

Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 July 1975

From Eddie Cochran to the Bay City Rollers, taking in Tom Jones, the Kinks, the Small Faces and hundreds of others. The career of BIG ...

Tom Scott: Tom Scott In LA

Review by Max Bell, New Musical Express, 26 July 1975

NAT HENTOFF really should know better. Having, in the past, written liner-notes for the very best (Davis, Trane) he now finds himself eulogising the "scope ...

James Burton

Profile and Interview by John Tobler, ZigZag, April 1976

IF ANY OF YOU missed seeing Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band on their recent tour, you were either very unlucky or very foolish. I ...

Stuff et al: The 'Citteh'

Report and Interview by Davitt Sigerson, Black Music, October 1976

Davitt Sigerson investigates New York's soul music underground ...

Stuff: Bottom Line, New York NY

Live Review by Stephen Demorest, New York Daily News, 1 January 1977

The Stuff stars are made of ...

Pete Brown and His Battered Ornaments, Jack Bruce, Roy Harper, Nucleus, Sharks, Chris Spedding: Chris Spedding: This Guitar for Hire

Interview by Dave Schulps, Trouser Press, April 1977

Sessionman asserts himself ...

Jackie DeShannon, The Everly Brothers, The Kinks, Jimmy Page, The Who: Jimmy Page Gives The Interview Of His Life

Interview by Dave Schulps, Trouser Press, September 1977

A Three-Part Series — Part One: Pre-Yardbirds ...

Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: Jimmy Page: Paging the Yardbirds

Interview by Dave Schulps, Trouser Press, October 1977

JIMMY PAGE gives his version Part 2 of a three-part interview by Dave Schulps ...

Jackson Browne, Kaleidoscope, David Lindley: David Lindley: Stringing Together an Aesthetic Sound

Profile and Interview by Richard Cromelin, Los Angeles Times, 1 January 1978

  LOS ANGELES folkies fondly remember David Lindley as the perennial winner of the Topanga banjo-fiddle contest. Some rock fans, among them Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page ...

Patti Austin: Jingle tills

Interview by Robin Katz, Record Mirror, 21 January 1978

PATTI AUSTIN tells why she prefers shoe polish to the bright lights ...

Ralph MacDonald: The Sound of a Syndrum

Interview by John Swenson, Rolling Stone, 9 February 1978

RALPH MACDONALD has done for percussionists what McDonald's did for hamburgers. In a short time his collection of congas, bongos, cowbells, shakers, triangles and countless ...

Patti Austin: The Jingle Queen Breaks Out

Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, 14 February 1978

David Nathan talks to a soulful lady whose dulcet tones can also be heard on numerous American TV commercials ...

Ralph MacDonald: The Percussive Roots Of Ralph McDonald

Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 April 1978

Ralph's new album traces his musical roots from Africa to the Islands and America. Here he talks about his dual roles as artist and producer, ...

Cissy Houston, Singers' Singer, Steps Out

Profile and Interview by Joe McEwen, Rolling Stone, 29 June 1978

Legendary background vocalist ...

John Cale, Robert Gordon, Mickey Jupp, The Sex Pistols, Chris Spedding, The Vibrators: Have Guitar, Will Travel: Chris Spedding

Interview by Richard Grabel, New York Rocker, November 1978

CHRIS SPEDDING — the name that launched a thousand session credits. He's played guitar for everyone from John Cale to the Wombles, including Bryan Ferry, ...

Jerry Wexler: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios: Jerry Wexler on Years in 'Boogaloo Country'

Interview by Sam Sutherland, Record World, 19 May 1979

WALK THROUGH the lobby of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and, hanging near all those gilded singles and albums, you'll see the face of veteran producer ...

Muscle Shoals: A Look at Who Makes It Cook

Profile by Sam Sutherland, Record World, 19 May 1979

THE MUSICAL traits that have earned the Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section the respect and admiration of artists and producers around the world aren't obvious ...

The Brecker Brothers: Brecker Brothers: The Studio And Its Discontents

Interview by Steve Bloom, Downbeat, 21 June 1979

It would be nice if we're going to do this to say some shit. I don't know what, but I'd really like for once to ...

Melissa Manchester, Tower of Power: Tower Of Power: Pro Blowing Section

Interview by Michael Goldberg, Downbeat, February 1980

THE BASIC tracks were cut in Atlanta, Georgia. The strings were arranged and overdubbed by Gene Page, and Melissa Manchester put down the lead vocal ...

The Blues Brothers, Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper, The Mar-Keys: Steve Cropper: The Man Who Wrote The Book

Interview by Bill Bentley, L.A. Weekly, 1 May 1980

THE LATE sixties were a time for guitars, and five musicians — fifty fingers — appeared to naturally jump to the center of attention: Jimi ...

Chet Atkins: Custom Of the Country

Profile and Interview by Richard Harrington, The Washington Post, 20 September 1980

Chet Atkins' Guitar Enters the Smithsonian ...

Rico Rodriguez, The Specials, Eddie "Tan-Tan" Thornton: Rico Rocks Tout Soul

Report and Interview by Chris Salewicz, New Musical Express, 4 October 1980

Big day for JA precludes Specials occasion ...

Richard Tee: Natural Ingredients (CBS 84194)

Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 October 1980

'What A Woman Really Means'; 'Now'; 'The Nut's Off The Screw'; 'Tell It Like It Is'; 'Us'; 'Back Door Man'; 'Spinning Song' ...

Paul Anka, Burt Bacharach, Doobie Brothers, Loggins & Messina, Michael McDonald, Steely Dan: Michael McDonald

Interview by Sam Sutherland, Musician, January 1981

Songwriter, keyboardist, arranger, member of the Doobies and owner of The Voice reveals himself as a somewhat reluctant superstar. Thrust into pop music's center stage ...

The Blues Brothers, Steve Cropper: Cropper: Into The Spotlight

Interview by Don Snowden, Los Angeles Times, 8 March 1981

POP FANS shouldn't have much difficulty in identifying Wilson Pickett with 'Midnight Hour' or Otis Redding with 'Dock of the Bay' but mention the name ...

The Sex Pistols, Chris Spedding: The No-Frills Attack of Chris Spedding

Interview by Van Gosse, Guitar World, May 1981

Don't ask this guitar star what gauge of strings he uses. He just might punch you in the face. ...

Junie Morrison: The Junie Vibe

Interview by Andy Schwartz, New York Rocker, July 1981

WALTER "JUNIE" Morrison sinks wearily into an armchair in his hotel suite. Not until 3 o'clock this morning did he leave the stage of the ...

Keni Burke, The Five Stairsteps: Keni Burke, One Step Ahead

Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, 14 July 1981

As a member of the Five Stairsteps in the mid-sixties, Keni worked on a number of Soul gems. Now, with his second solo album, he's ...

G.E. Smith: An Ace Axeman Steps Out Front

Interview by Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 6 August 1981

NEW YORK CITY — "All I've ever wanted to call myself is a player," says unsung guitar legend G.E. Smith as we sit down to ...

Change, Luther Vandross: Luther Vandross: The man most likely...

Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 November 1981

With a wealth of musical experience behind him, via a string of hits with Change, background sessions for a host of Soul's top names and ...

Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen: Clarence Clemons: Born To Rock

Report and Interview by Jim Sullivan, The Boston Globe, 14 January 1982

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN," announces a raspy-voiced Bruce Springsteen from the stage of the Capitol Theater in Passaic, N. J. It's the 75th performance of the ...

Darlene Love, Phil Spector: Darlene Hits Local Scene, Reviving an Old Spector

Profile and Interview by Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 July 1982

THE FAMOUS sound of Phil Spector will hit Bay Area stages for the next three nights when Darlene Love makes a round of local appearances. ...

David Bowie, Change, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick: Luther Vandross, Into the Limelight

Profile and Interview by Richard Harrington, The Washington Post, 21 November 1982

  LUTHER VANDROSS is singin' on top of the world nowadays, master of a string of professions: singer, songwriter, arranger, producer. ...

Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, James Burton, Rick Nelson: James Burton

Book Excerpt by Stuart Grundy, John Tobler, 'The Guitar Greats' (BBC Books), 1983

ONE OF THE GREAT rock'n'roll guitarists of the 1950s, but a man who remained virtually unknown to all but the cognoscenti until comparatively recently, is ...

Phil Everly (1983) [transcript]

Audio transcript of interview by John Tobler, Rock's Backpages transcripts, 1983

This is a transcript of John's audio interview with Phil. Listen to the audio of this interview. ...

Joe Cocker, Jennifer Warnes: Jennifer Warnes: With a little help...

Interview by Mark Cooper, Record Mirror, 12 February 1983

WHEN JOE Cocker met Jennifer Warnes, he didn't know who she was. She, however, had first seen Cocker's appearance on America's Grammy Awards and been ...

Culture Club, Helen Terry: Helen Terry: Hellenic Culture

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 17 September 1983

CULTURE CLUB'S 'BOLSHIE' MEMBER — HELEN TERRY — LETS RIP ...

Carlos Alomar, David Bowie: Carlos Alomar: Hard Driving Anchor Man For The David Bowie Show

Profile and Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar World, January 1984

IMAGINE THE fairy-tale scene this way, since this is how it actually happened: It is 1973, the setting is RCA's recording studios in New York ...

Heaven 17, Carol Kenyon: Carol Kenyon: Oh Carol!

Interview by Colin Irwin, Melody Maker, 4 February 1984

Could this be love? Almost certainly. Colin Irwin (drooling reportage) and Andrew Catlin (provider of lascivious images) feign maturity in the presence of CAROL KENYON. ...

Carlos Alomar, David Bowie: Who The Hell Is Carlos Alomar?

Interview by J.D. Considine, Musician, March 1984

The Guitar Power Behind Bowie's Thin White Throne ...

Miles Davis, Marcus Miller, Luther Vandross: Marcus Miller Gets Around

Interview by J.D. Considine, Musician, May 1984

THE FUNKY THROUGH-LINE BEHIND LUTHER VANDROSS & ARETHA; THE JAZZY AGITATOR BEHIND MILES, GROVER & SANBORN ...

Jerry Jemmott: Session Bassist — The Groovemaster: Jerry Jemmott

Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar Player, May 1984

WHILE HIS name may not ring any bells, you've heard his bass before, setting the groove for Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Wilson Pickett, Roberta Flack, ...

Dennis Brown, Sly & Robbie, Yellowman: Sly & Robbie: Night of the Living Dread

Report and Interview by Roy Trakin, Musician, August 1984

The Riddim Twins Celebrate Ten Years ...

The Roots Radics: Roots Radics: Cheque It! (please!!)

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 6 October 1984

The ROOTS RADICS — the session trio — talk about run (how they never seem to run into any pay) All ears, SEAN O'HAGAN ...

Chic, Nile Rodgers: Nile Rodgers of Chic: '80s Funk with 60s Roots

Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar Player, November 1984

GUITARISTS SINCE Charlie Christian have spent a lot of time and effort trying to play guitar like a horn. Nile Rodgers does it differently; he ...

Little Richard, Earl Palmer, Bruce Springsteen: Earl Palmer: Palmer Days

Profile by Bill Bentley, L.A. Weekly, 1 November 1984

WAY BACK when rock & roll radio was first coming into its own, stuffing listener's ears with the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Fats ...

Chuck Berry, Al Green, Willie Mitchell: Willie Mitchell (1985) [transcript]

Audio transcript of interview by Barney Hoskyns, Rock's Backpages transcripts, 1985

This is a transcript of Barney's audio interview with Willie. Listen to the audio of this interview. ...

Earl Palmer (1985)

Interview by Ira Robbins, Rock's Backpages audio, 15 February 1985

The legendary session drummer looks back at his time in Cosimo Matassa's New Orleans studio backing the likes of Fats Domino and Little Richard, through his time in the L.A. studios where he played behind just about everybody!

File format: mp3; file size: 15.2mb, interview length: 16' 36" sound quality: ***

Luther Vandross: Labours Of Love Made Easy

Interview by Paolo Hewitt, New Musical Express, 6 April 1985

LUTHER VANDROSS used to sing jingles for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now he licks his voice round painful love lyrics. PAOLO HEWITT hears his confessions about ...

Hamilton Bohannon, John McLaughlin, Lou Reed, Fernando Saunders, Steve Winwood: Fernando Saunders' Lead Bass

Interview by Rob Tannenbaum, Musician, June 1985

Pop Royalty's First-Call Bassist Is Into More Than Keeping Time. ...

Billy Idol: Steve Stevens: The Idolmaker

Interview by Rob Tannenbaum, Musician, July 1985

Billy Idol's Six-Strinq Sidekick Fortifies the Image with Proto-Punk Musical Muscle. ...

Bernard Fowler, Sly & Robbie: Sly & Robbie: Hand in Glove

Interview by Paul Mathur, Melody Maker, 10 August 1985

Paul Mathur, scribe about town, ambles on down to the Kensington Hilton to meet Jamaica's supreme rhythm team, SLY DUNBAR and ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE. Rock, reggae ...

Joan Armatrading, Jimmy Page, Paul Young: Pino Palladino Doesn't Fret

Interview by Rob Tannenbaum, Musician, October 1985

Paul Young's Bassist Shines Through The Screaming Hordes ...

Wally Badarou, Grace Jones, Level 42, Robert Palmer: The Producers: Wally Badarou

Interview by Chas de Whalley, International Musician & Recording World, February 1986

Wally Badarou gets together with Chas de Whalley and puzzles over their possible family relationship ...

Daryl Hall & John Oates, G.E. Smith, Tom Waits: With Hall & Oates: G.E. Smith — "Call me a contemporary commercial pop-rock guitar player."

Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar Player, February 1986

"IF THERE'S anything worth writing about me, it's that I'm a guy like most of the people who read Guitar Player," insists G.E. Smith. "I'm ...

Chic, Led Zeppelin, The Power Station: Tony Thompson: It Ain't The Meat, It's The Emotion

Interview by J.D. Considine, Musician, March 1986

The Power, the Glory, and the Groove: Our Man from Chic Hits Hard and Hits Big, from Zep to Power Station to Madonna ...

Wally Badarou, Marianne Faithfull, Grace Jones, Level 42: Wally Badarou's All-World Keyboards

Interview by Rob Tannenbaum, Musician, May 1986

The Synthesizer Star of Compass Point on Getting and Keeping International Feel ...

Larry Carlton: Mellow Madness

Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar World, November 1986

LARRY CARLTON could sit on his laurels, coasting on his rep from countless albums and sessions. But he keeps pushing himself — and his guitar — to higher spaces. ...

Adrian Belew, David Bowie, King Crimson, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Frank Zappa: Adrian Belew: Twang Bar King

Interview by Gene Santoro, Downbeat, December 1986

IN THE decade since he first burst into the big-time music world, guitarist Adrian Belew has persistently challenged and reshaped the boundaries of his instrument. ...

Lee Ritenour: Session Monster, Guitar Fusioneer, Pop Bandleader...? Will The Real Captain Fingers Please Stand Up.

Interview by Steven Rosen, Musician, January 1987

"THE GUITAR is a very difficult instrument to get a great sound on. There's no doubt about it — it takes a lot of years." ...

Robbie Nevil: Robbie Nevil (Manhattan Records)

Review by Laura Fissinger, Rolling Stone, 12 February 1987

MY BEEF with Robbie Nevil is such a stock critic's kvetch that it seems only mannerly to preface it with kudos and huzzahs. Which, by ...

Sly & Robbie: Rhythm Killers (Island)

Review by John McCready, New Musical Express, 2 May 1987

BONDED BRILLIANCE ...

Sly & Robbie: Murder!

Interview by Sean O'Hagan, New Musical Express, 16 May 1987

Legends of world rhythm SLY & ROBBIE have responded to advances in all musics by making a technological masterpiece of an LP. SEAN O'HAGAN meets ...

Curiosity Killed The Cat, Sly & Robbie: Sly & Robbie

Interview by William Shaw, Smash Hits, 20 May 1987

They've played with Curiosity Killed The Cat, Cyndi Lauper, Grace Jones and now they've got their own hit single with 'Boops (Here To Go)'. "You ...

Miles Davis, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn: Marcus Miller: Bass for All Seasons

Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar World, June 1987

What is it about MARCUS MILLER'S eternal thump that makes him Miles' choice bottom and the Bee Gees' top choice? ...

Marcus Miller, Miles Davis: Marcus Miller: Bass For All Seasons

Interview by Gene Santoro, Guitar World, June 1987

What is it about MARCUS MILLER'S eternal thump that makes him Miles' choice bottom and the Bee Gees' top choice? ...

Sly & Robbie: Popstars and the Strange Things They Own: Sly & Robbie

Interview by John Aizlewood, No. 1, 25 July 1987

"MUSIC IS with us all the time. We don't take holidays. I even dream about music." ...

Sly & Robbie: Can the Riddim Twins Rock the Mainstream?

Interview by Alan di Perna, Musician, August 1987

AS SUPPORTING players, they've become as recognizable and popular as comic book superheroes. Is there anyone who isn't familiar with Sly Dunbar's brightly-colored tams and ...

Carlos Alomar, David Bowie: Carlos Alomar

Interview by Gene Santoro, Downbeat, November 1987

WE'RE SITTING in Bogie's, a neighborhood bar in Chelsea not far from Carlos Alomar's loft. The bartender is putting together a Long Island iced tea ...

Gail Ann Dorsey: Bimbo Backlash — Gail Force

Interview by Sheryl Garratt, The Face, July 1988

THE REIGN of the bimbo over the British charts has been a long one. There's absolutely nothing wrong with pretty faces fronting other people's songs ...

The Memphis Horns: Two-Man Memphis Horns Keep Punching Those Sounds

Interview by Fred Shuster, Los Angeles Times, 27 January 1989

QUESTION: What do recent hit albums by Peter Gabriel, Steve Winwood and Robert Cray have in common with earlier best sellers by Otis Redding and ...

Kirsty MacColl (1990)

Interview by Ira Robbins, Rock's Backpages audio, April 1990

The much-missed singer-songwriter talks about, well, everything: her love of collaboration and those she has worked with; her family; the UK Poll Tax riots and politics; the epiphany of 'Good Vibrations' and so much more.

File format: mp3; file size: 70.8mb, interview length: 1h 17' 16" sound quality: ****

Marc Ribot: Master of the Sideways Guitar

Interview by Ted Drozdowski, Musician, November 1990

The odd man in is proud of his mistakes ...

Londonbeat: Fine Young Cannibalization?

Interview by Rob Tannenbaum, Rolling Stone, 30 May 1991

Londonbeat hits Number One with a familiar-sounding song ...

Milli Vanilli: The Award Sinners

Report by Caroline Sullivan, The Guardian, 17 August 1991

The Milli Vanilli affair rocked the secretive world of pop. CAROLINE SULLIVAN on the scandal of stars who don't sing — and the judge with ...

Elvis Costello, Phil Spector: Larry Knechtel Emerges

Interview by Alan di Perna, Musician, September 1991

On Phil Spector, waltzing with Elvis Costello and "arm playing" ...

King Curtis: Blow Man, Blow! (Bear BCD 15670)

Sleeve notes by Pete Grendysa, Bear Family, 1992

"BLOW MAN, BLOW!" The big man with the glittering horn sent showers of squeals and shrieks out over the heads of his ecstatic shouting audience, ...

Earl Palmer the Rhythm Bomber, the Funk Machine from New Orleans

Retrospective and Interview by Tony Scherman, Musician, January 1992

From Bessie Smith to Elvis Costello, the Amazing Life and Perfect Time of a Great Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer ...

Jerry Donahue: Taking Tele 'Round The Bend

Interview by Alan di Perna, Musician, September 1992

THE BRASS NUTS OF A COUNTRY FIREBALL ...

Soft Machine: Who Was That Masked Voice?

Report and Interview by Chas de Whalley, Vox, April 1993

So what if Elvis Presley isn't available for commercial breaks these days? Just get someone in who can impersonate him — the Hofmeister bear, for ...

The Faces, Ian McLagan: Ian McLagan: Face the Face

Interview by Alan di Perna, Musician, October 1993

On the finer points of three-chord karate ...

Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Luther Vandross: Marcus Miller: Back to the Future

Interview by Jeff Lorez, Blues & Soul, 12 October 1993

CATCHING UP with Marcus Miller is no easy task. Forget about trying his home in New Jersey because he's hardly ever there. Chances are you'll ...

Al Kooper, Blood Sweat & Tears: Al Kooper: The Adventures Of Kooperman

Retrospective and Interview by Jeff Tamarkin, Goldmine, 18 February 1994

THE COVER of Rekooperation, Al Kooper's new album, his first in 12 years, is divided into 16 postage stamp-sized photographic portraits of the artist as ...

Carleen Anderson, Madeline Bell, Rhoda Dakar, N'Dea Davenport, Pauline Henry, Marsha Hunt, Denise Johnson, Dee C Lee, Shara Nelson: The New Soul Rebels

Report and Interview by Lucy O'Brien, Vox, April 1994

Singing hairdos? Not any longer. Britain's new breed of single black females are feisty, independent and take no prisoners ...

Alex Chilton, Jim Dickinson: Jim Dickinson: Earth Father

Retrospective and Interview by Robert Gordon, MOJO, October 1994

Backwoods, Mississippi. Home to Jim Dickinson, the revered producer and professional redneck whose work spans the story of Southern music from Sun Records to Big ...

Me'Shell NdegeOcello

Interview by Evelyn McDonnell, Rolling Stone, 29 December 1994

WHAT A DIFFERENCE a year makes. Twelve months ago bassist and band leader Me'Shell NdegeOcello's debut album, Plantation Lullabies, had just been released by Maverick. ...

James Burton: Play It, James!

Book Excerpt by Colin Escott, 'Tattooed on their Tongues' (Schirmer), 1996

JAMES BURTON CRADLES a dark red 1953 Telecaster. The finish is cracked in a few places and the fretboard is worn, but it's got ...

Kenny Gamble, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, MFSB, O'Jays, The Salsoul Orchestra, The Spinners: Brotherly Love: The Musicians

Sleeve notes by Vernon Gibbs, Epic/Philadelphia International, 1997

Original contribution to sleevenotes for The Philly Sound: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff & The Story Of Brotherly Love (1966-1976) (Epic/Philadelphia International) ...

Earl Palmer, Dave Bartholomew and Alvin "Red" Tyler (1997)

Interview by Tony Scherman, Rock's Backpages audio, March 1997

Three giants of New Orleans R&B — bandleader Bartholomew, drummer Palmer and sax player Tyler — look back on the days on the bandstand and NOLA studios: on recording with Fats Domino and Little Richard; on the characters — Lightnin' Slim, the unlucky Smiley Lewis and more; on hassles with the Musicians' Union; on Palmer leaving for L.A.; on squeezing in bebop; on the beloved Dew Drop Inn... and what made the Crescent City sound. [NOTE: The most audibly prominent voice belongs to Tyler, with Palmer's the most distant. Bartholomew's is somewhere in the middle, with the deepest register.]

File format: mp3; file size: 94.7mb, interview length: 1h 38' 35" sound quality: ***

Booker T & The MGs: Memphis Sunset: The Mysterious Death of Stax Heartbeat Al Jackson, Jr.

Retrospective by Andria Lisle, Grand Royal, Fall 1997

JULY 31, 1975 – Booker T & the MGs drummer and Stax session musician Al Jackson, Jr. is shot in the chest with a .22-caliber ...

Little Walter, Dave Myers, Junior Wells: Dave Myers: They Used To Call Me The Thumper Because I Played So Hard

Interview by Robert Gordon, Oxford American, July 1998

THE FINGER-POPPING, head-bobbing joie de vivre that Dave Myers exudes all over his new CD is not readily apparent when I call him up to ...

Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer: A Vote for the Hired Guns of Rock-and-Roll

Comment by Tony Scherman, The New York Times, 26 July 1998

EVER SINCE the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame gave itself the ticklish job of anointing a rock-and-roll pantheon, one of its stated goals has been to ...

Leon Russell: Even Under the Guise of Hank Wilson, Leon Russell is a Legend in his Time

Interview by Steve Roeser, Goldmine, 11 September 1998

"How many days has it been since I was born/How many days until I die/Do I know any ways that I can make you laugh/Or ...

Leon Russell (1998)

Interview by Steve Roeser, Rock's Backpages audio, Spring 1998

From the clubs of Tulsa, via Los Angeles, Phil Spector and the Shelter People, to Nashville and a return to country roots — Leon Russell remembers... well, some of it.

File format: mp3; file size: 55.9mb, interview length: 58' 10" sound quality: * (phone interview)

Paul Griffin

Letter by Jonathan Singer, unpublished, 4 March 1999

Transcribed below is a letter written by Jonathan Singer to David Hinckley of the New York Daily News. The letter led to Mr. Hinckley's article ...

Backbeat — Earl Palmer's Story By Tony Scherman (Smithsonian Institution; 196 pages; $24.95)

Book Review by Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 July 1999

Earl Palmer Laid Down the Rhythm of Rock 'n' Roll ...

Hall-of-Fame Hitter: Drummer Earl Palmer gets his due

Retrospective and Interview by Ted Drozdowski, The Boston Phoenix, 31 January 2000

LIKE ANY GOOD GRANDFATHER, Earl Palmer has tried to find interests to share with his grandkids. So far, coin collecting has been a favorite. It's ...

Fred Ford, 1930-1999

Obituary by Andria Lisle, Living Blues, March 2000

FOLLOWING A STRUGGLE with cancer, legendary saxophonist Fred Ford died on November 26, 1999. He was 69. Ford, a pillar of the Memphis music community, ...

Top of the Pops albums: Better than the real thing?

Retrospective and Interview by Kieron Tyler, MOJO, September 2000

Bikini models, Kraftwerk covers and dodgy Mick Jagger impersonators. Kieron Tyler examines the 95p world of the Top Of The Pops album phenomenon. ...

Jack Nitzsche: Jack of Hearts

Retrospective by Ian Penman, The Wire, October 2000

Ian Penman celebrates the late Jack Nitzsche, the rogue composer whose soundtrack legacy reads like a rollcall of the Hollywood damned. ...

James Burton

Book Excerpt by Phil Hardy, Dave Laing, The Faber Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music, 2001

b. 21 August 1939, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ...

Jerry Reed

Book Excerpt by Phil Hardy, Dave Laing, The Faber Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music, 2001

b. Jerry Hubbard, 20 March 1937, Atlanta, Georgia, USA ...

King Curtis

Book Excerpt by Phil Hardy, Dave Laing, The Faber Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music, 2001

b. Curtis Ousley, 7 February 1934, Fort Worth, Texas, USA, d. 13 August 1971, New York ...

Pete Drake

Book Excerpt by Phil Hardy, Dave Laing, 'Faber Companion to 20th Century Popular Music', 2001

b. 8 October 1932, Augusta, Georgia, USA, d. 29 July 1988, Nashville, Tennessee ...

Ace Cannon: The Best of Ace Cannon: The Hi Records Years

Sleeve notes by Colin Escott, The Right Stuff/Hi Records, 2001

SPARE, FUNKY, and disarmingly simple. Ace Cannon and Bill Black defined a sound. There was never a surplus note or inflection. These were records that ...

Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: Jimmy Page: Educating Jimmy

Retrospective by Kieron Tyler, MOJO, May 2001

Before Jimmy Page became a rock god, he was a sonic apprentice par excellence. ...

Ian Dury, Chaz Jankel: Chaz Jankel

Interview by Bill Brewster, Faith, 2002

CHAZ JANKEL made his name as Ian Dury's collaborator and founder member of backing band, the Blockheads. As a solo artist, he's most well known ...

Mel Brown: Whaddya Mean You've Never Heard Of… Mel Brown?

Retrospective by James Maycock, MOJO, 2002

"WITH THE GUITAR outselling all other musical instruments today," declared a Down Beat editor confidently in 1967, "it's good to have Mel Brown around to ...

Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant: Robert Plant (2003) [transcript]

Audio transcript of interview by Barney Hoskyns, Rock's Backpages transcripts, 2003

This is a transcript of Barney's interview with Robert. Listen to the audio of this interview. ...

Harmony Grass: Buried Treasure: Harmony Grass' This Is Us (RCA)

Retrospective and Interview by Kieron Tyler, MOJO, May 2003

This month, Tony Rivers and the making of the great lost UK sunshine pop album. ...

Larry Carlton: Sounds Familiar

Profile and Interview by Fred Shuster, Los Angeles Daily News, 22 March 2004

YOU'VE HEARD his licks a million times. If you were in the music biz during the '70s, you marveled at his Prince Valiant hairstyle. As ...

Hi Rhythm, Willie Mitchell: Hi Rhythm: Love and Happiness

Retrospective and Interview by Andria Lisle, Memphis Flyer, 2 July 2004

Hi Rhythm, Memphis' other soul house band, made music into a family affair ...

Brian Bennett: Aim High

Sleeve notes by Kieron Tyler, RPM Records, October 2004

Aim High is the soundtrack to a film that was never produced. ...

Tower of Power's Emilio Castillo: An Interview

Interview by Carl Wiser, Songfacts, 11 October 2004

The Tower Of Power horn section is one of the best in the business. The group not only performs as a solo act, but is ...

Beat That!

Report and Interview by Chris Campion, Daily Telegraph, 11 December 2004

What happens when veteran soul drummers and top hip-hop DJs improvise together? Chris Campion reports. ...

Kiki Dee: Dee Liberation

Interview by Lois Wilson, Record Collector, December 2005

Kiki Dee on working with Motown, Elton John and Boots The Chemist. ...

A Swamper Tells the Muscle Shoals Story: An Interview with David Hood

Interview by Carl Wiser, unpublished, 2006

ABOUT TWO minutes into 'I'll Take You There', a sultry bass groove plays while Mavis Staples implores, "Little David, help me out now..." ...

Booker T & The MGs, Booker T. Jones: Booker T. Jones (2006)

Interview by Joel Selvin, Selvin On The City, KSAN 107.7, 2006

The Booker T & The MGs mainman talks about the Stax years, working with the likes of Otis Redding and Albert King, making 'Green Onions', and on to later projects with Santana, Neil Young and Boz Scaggs.

File format: mp3; file size: 25.5mb; Interview length: 27' 5"; sound quality: *****

Booker T & The MGs, Booker T. Jones: Booker T. Jones (2006) [transcript]

Audio transcript of interview by Joel Selvin, Rock's Backpages transcripts, 2006

This is a transcript of Joel's radio interview with the great M.G.s mainmain. Listen to the audio of this interview. ...

Linda Lewis: Turning Bitter Into Sweet

Retrospective and Interview by Terry Staunton, Record Collector, March 2006

Disco diva, Northern Soul icon, hippie singer-songwriter, reluctant stage show brat. Linda Lewis has been all of these and more. Terry Staunton hears tales of ...

Grateful Dead, The Tubes: Vince Welnick, 1951-2006

Obituary by Joel Selvin, SF Gate, 30 June 2006

WHEN VINCE WELNICK signed on to play keyboards for the Grateful Dead, some people said it probably saved his life. He had five good years ...

Big Jim Sullivan: The Man With The Golden Arm

Interview by Jon Stewart, Guitarist, September 2006

Jon Stewart talks about what it takes to make it as a professional musician with Big Jim Sullivan, the legendary UK session guitarist who has ...

Cabaret bands: Working Man's Soul

Retrospective and Interview by Bill Brewster, djhistory.com, November 2006

You can almost smell the crushed velvet. While Led Zeppelin were doing unspeakable things with sharks and glam rock was ubiquitous, thousands of musicians plied ...

Bob Dylan, King Crimson: Ian Wallace, 1946-2007

Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 27 April 2007

Drummer with King Crimson and Bob Dylan   ...

Booker T & The MGs, Steve Cropper, Booker T. Jones: Booker T. & the MGs: Soul Survivors

Retrospective and Interview by Andria Lisle, Memphis Flyer, 3 May 2007

Decades after helping create the Stax groove, no one represents the living legacy of Memphis soul quite like Booker T. & the MGs. ...

The Band, Janis Joplin: Richard Bell: Dazzling keyboard artist found a place in rock 'n' roll history

Obituary by Nicholas Jennings, The Globe and Mail, 23 June 2007

AMONG BLUES-ROCK soloists and accompanists, he had few equals. An exceptional pianist, organist and accordion player, Richard Bell left his mark on more than 400 ...

Elton John, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page: Guilty Grooves and Covered-Up Covers: When Stadium Rock Stars-In-Waiting Earned Their Tea-Breaks Anonymously In The Studios Of London

Retrospective by Alan Clayson, unpublished, December 2007

ON THE 17th September, 2007, Your Time In Gonna Come: The Roots Of Led Zeppelin 1964-69 was released by Sanctuary Records. Blighted severely by the ...

Michael Jackson, Steve Lukather, Spinal Tap, Toto: Toto: Get in the Van…

Interview by Scott McLennan, Rip It Up (Australia), February 2008

Steve Lukather's resumé over the last three decades not only showcases a prolific musician, it also suggests a wildly divergent talent unafraid of variety. The ...

The Master: Reggie Young

Profile by Barney Hoskyns, Uncut Legends, December 2008

REGGIE YOUNG is a southern institution: the session guitarist's session guitarist. His inimitable licks and fills, at once clipped and fluid, have graced a zillion ...

Motown's Guitarists

Retrospective by Jon Stewart, Guitarist, April 2009

Jon Stewart celebrates the magic of Motown’s multiple guitarists ...

Barry Beckett, 1943-2009

Obituary by Adam Sweeting, The Guardian, 16 August 2009

BEHIND EVERY star there is a great producer, musician or record company A&R man. Barry Beckett, who has died aged 66 after a series of ...

Music's intellectual-property eviction notice

Essay by John Pidgeon, The Guardian, 24 September 2009

What made old singles so great? Session musicians, that's what. So why are those players finding their royalties disappearing? ...

Jim Dickinson: "I'm Just Dead: I'm Not Gone"

Memoir by Bob Mehr, MOJO, November 2009

A Sun Records artist who played with Dylan, the Stones and Aretha and produced key albums by Big Star and Ry Cooder, Jim Dickinson was ...

Barry Goldberg: Barry Goldberg/Soul Riot

Review by Steve Roeser, hollywoodconcerts.com, December 2009

BARRY GOLDBERG has been flying under the radar forever, the man who always seems to be there in the thick of things, quietly, unobtrusively making ...

Phil Spector's Christmas Album

Retrospective by Johnny Black, unpublished, December 2009

GUNS HAVE LANDED Phil Spector in no end of trouble over the years. Usually, as in his confrontations with John Lennon, Leonard Cohen and the ...

Nick Drake: Robert Kirby, 1948-2009

Obituary by David Hepworth, The Word, December 2009

THE SPARSENESS of the three albums Nick Drake released in his lifetime are part of their enduring appeal. On two of those albums, string arrangements ...

Doug Legacy, Van Dyke Parks: Picture Sleeve Archive: The legacy of Doug Legacy and his L.A. Legends

Retrospective and Interview by Stephen M H Braitman, Goldmine, 20 April 2010

Doug Legacy & The Legends Of The West: 'Christmas In Prison' b/w 'Christmas On The Range' (Some Pun'kins Records, 1978) ...

Roben Jones: Memphis Boys – The Story of American Studios (University Press Of Mississippi)

Book Review by Mike Atherton, Blues & Rhythm, 2011

"THOSE SEVEN MUSICIANS, the American rhythm section, are the most creative and innovative studio musicians I know," said Memphis promotion man Marty Lacker, who, having ...

The Monterey Pop House Band

Book Excerpt by Kirk Silsbee, 'A Perfect Haze' (Santa Monica Press), 2011

THE UNTOLD STORY of 1960s rock is the often-uncredited role that studio musicians played in the records that were the soundtrack to the era's youth.  ...

Elton John: The Man Who Loved Records

Interview by Rob Fitzpatrick, The Word, March 2011

No downloads for Sir Elton John, thank you. No miming either. And don't get him started on Simon Cowell. Rob Fitzpatrick meets a passionate purist ...

Nashville Cats: David Briggs Reflects at the Country Music Hall of Fame

Report by Holly Gleason, No Depression, 26 March 2011

Nashville Cats: David Briggs at Ford Theatre, Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN ...

Dusty Springfield: Southern Harmony

Retrospective and Interview by Lois Wilson, MOJO, April 2011

She was one of the greatest vocalists of all time at the height of her powers but for Dusty Springfield the making of Dusty in ...

Cornell Dupree obituary

Obituary by Richard Williams, The Guardian, 23 May 2011

FOR A TIME in the mid-1960s, the band of the great rhythm and blues tenor saxophonist King Curtis contained two guitarists. The first, Jimi Hendrix, ...

Marc Ribot, Tom Waits: Marc Ribot: Swamp Thing

Profile and Interview by James Medd, The Word, November 2011

The genius fog-filled guitarist who pushed Tom Waits' signature sound off the piano stool. ...

Charlie McCoy: Fad Gadget

Retrospective and Interview by James Medd, The Word, January 2012

Multi-instrumental session vet Charlie McCoy has a motto: have harmonica, be eternally employable. ...

The Beach Boys: Jeffrey Foskett on the Beach Boys

Interview by Barney Hoskyns, Rock's Backpages, February 2012

NOTE: This is a transcript of the phone conversation I had with Jeffrey after interviewing Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David ...

Kent Hartman: The Wrecking Crew – The Inside Story Of Rock And Roll's Best-Kept Secret

Book Review by James Medd, The Word, February 2012

If it's Monday it must be the Beach Boys, Tuesday it's Sinatra. The fantasy life of L.A.'s fabled sessioneers told as soap opera ...

Booker T & The MGs: Duck Dunn and the Stax Attack

Comment by Don Snowden, Rock's Backpages, 15 May 2012

DUCK DUNN was one of the lucky ones – he had a name right from the start. ...

Dennis Coffey, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Del Shannon, Edwin Starr, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder: Bob Babbitt, 1937-2012

Obituary by Dave Laing, The Guardian, 18 July 2012

One of the last surviving members of the Funk Brothers, the backbone of Tamla Motown ...

Joe South, 1940-2012

Obituary by Richard Williams, The Guardian, 12 September 2012

American singer and songwriter best known for 'Games People Play' ...

Big Jim Sullivan, 1941-2012

Obituary by Dave Laing, The Guardian, 3 October 2012

Session guitarist with more than 50 chart toppers to his name ...

Mickey Baker, 1925-2012

Obituary by Tony Russell, The Guardian, 2 December 2012

Versatile American guitarist who had a million-selling hit with 'Love Is Strange' ...

Van Dyke Parks: "I was victimised by Brian Wilson's buffoonery"

Retrospective and Interview by Dorian Lynskey, The Guardian, 9 May 2013

He co-wrote the Beach Boys' Smile and now works with everyone from Rufus Wainwright to Skrillex. But don't dare to call him quirky, says Van ...

Top 10 Hits from the '60s: Who Played on 'Em

Retrospective by Harold Bronson, Rock's Backpages, 14 January 2014

THE WRECKING CREW, a much-needed documentary about the behind-the-scenes elite crop of studio musicians who provided the instrumentation for many of the hits of the ...

Barefoot Jerry: Watchin' TV/You Can't Get Off With Your Shoes On and Barefootin'/Keys To The Country (Lemon)

Review by Mick Houghton, Uncut, February 2014

TAKING THEIR NAME from a grocery store, Barefoot Jerry evolved out of Area Code 615, a group of top-notch young sessioneers who saw the light ...

Bernie Worrell (2014)

Interview by Jim Sullivan, Boston Rock/Talk, June 2014

The "Wizard of Woo" talks about his hugely varied background in music; his time as part of P-Funk; fond memories of his association with Talking Heads; his current band and activities, and his desire to play music with whales and dolphins!

File format: mp3; file size: 26.1mb, interview length: 28' 28" sound quality: *** (phoner)

Bernie Worrell: "Intergalactic synth-drenched funk" coming to Dennis Port

Report and Interview by Jim Sullivan, Cape Cod Times, 28 June 2014

HE MAY NOT be a household name, but chances are you've grooved to his music over the years. ...

Bobby Keys, The Rolling Stones: Bobby Keys 1943-2014

Obituary by Kris Needs, Classic Rock Online, December 2014

FOR THE LAST 45 years, Bobby Keys was the closest the Rolling Stones got to sporting a sixth member; a larger-than-life force of nature blessed ...

Chris Spedding: 100 Club, London 

Live Review by Ian Gittins, The Guardian, 12 January 2015

CHRIS SPEDDING is a rare creature: both semi-legendary and utterly anonymous. One of the most prolific session musicians of all time, this virtuoso guitarist's 50-year ...

The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Righteous Brothers, Phil Spector: The Wrecking Crew Played On All Your Favourite '60s And '70s Songs (Seriously)

Report and Interview by Juliette Jagger, Huffington Post, 19 February 2015

IN THE '60s and '70s, a should-be-legendary group of studio musicians dubbed the Wrecking Crew played on the era's defining songs. ...

Blake Mills

Interview by Bud Scoppa, Uncut, March 2015

Recommended this month: a prodigious L.A. multi-tasker, anointed as Chosen One by Jackson Browne, Rick Rubin, Benmont Tench et al. ...

Ginger Baker, Remi Kabaka, The Rolling Stones, Wings: Talking Drummer: An Interview with Remi Kabaka

Interview by Steve Roeser, Rock's Backpages, July 2015

ON A SATURDAY afternoon in late May, I arrive at a large outdoor sports facility on the west side of Los Angeles.  There are several playing fields ...

Leon Russell, 1942-2016

Obituary by Dave Laing, The Guardian, 14 November 2016

IN 2010, ELTON JOHN surprised his fans by releasing an album in collaboration with the pianist, singer and songwriter Leon Russell, whom he described as ...

David Lindley: Behind the Curtain: David Lindley

Profile and Interview by Steven Rosen, Rock Cellar, 9 December 2016

THERE'S AN OLD saying about traveling to the beat of your own drummer. Taking the road less walked upon. Following your own muse. Making up ...

Blood Sweat & Tears, The Blues Project, Dion, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Gene Pitney, The Rolling Stones: Kooper Sessions

Retrospective by Mitchell Cohen, Music Aficionado, 2017

IF HE'D DONE nothing before or after he dropped by a Bob Dylan recording session in June 1965, sat down at the Hammond organ – ...

Saint Etienne: 10 of the best

Retrospective by Jude Rogers, The Guardian, 7 June 2017

In the early 90s, a trio from south-east England set out to fulfil pop's potential. Nearly 30 years later, they're still making bold, inventive music. ...

Bootsy Collins: Staying on The One: Bootsy Collins' Favourite LPs

Interview by Julian Marszalek, The Quietus, 2 November 2017

Bootsy Collins helped define the sound of funk, working with Parliament and James Brown, who taught him the mysterious concept of The One. In this ...

Elvis Presley: D.J. Fontana, 1931-2018

Obituary by Tony Burke, Record Collector, August 2018

DOMINIC JOSEPH "D.J." Fontana died in Nashville on 13th June. He was aged 87 and was suffering from complications of a broken hip. From 1954 ...

Charlie Daniels, Bob Dylan: In concert, Daniels doesn't mix politics with music

Interview by Jim Sullivan, Cape Cod Times, 16 August 2018

CHARLIE DANIELS is pretty clear about what you will hear and will not hear when he and his five-piece band take the stage Saturday night ...

James Ingram, 1952-2019

Obituary by Adam Sweeting, The Guardian, 30 January 2019

WHEN HE topped the US singles chart in 1990 with 'I Don't Have the Heart', it was the first time James Ingram had scored a ...

Clydie King, 1943-2019

Obituary by Tony Burke, Record Collector, March 2019

CLYDIE KING, who became one of the leading session and go-to back up singers during the 1970s, died  on 7th January, aged 75. ...

Donnie Fritts, 1942-2019; Jimmy Johnson, 1943-2019; Larry "The Mole" Taylor, 1942-2019

Obituary by Tony Burke, Record Collector, November 2019

SINGER, SONGWRITER and piano player Donnie Fritts – a key member of the session musicians who shaped the sound of soul music recorded in Muscle ...

Jimi Hendrix: Philip Norman: Wild Thing – The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix

Book Review by Bob Ruggiero, Houston Press, 11 September 2020

Wild Thing: the Latest — and best? — look at the Life of Jimi Hendrix ...

Steve Lukather, Toto: Steve Lukather: 33/3rd

Interview by Daryl Easlea, Record Collector, 25 March 2021

STEVE LUKATHER has played on countless records owned and streamed worldwide. For most musicians, just being a founder member and only constant of Toto would ...

Esther Phillips: Pee Wee Ellis' work with Esther Phillips: A tale of the tape

Memoir by Dan Nooger, Soul Source, 29 September 2021

PEE WEE ELLIS, best known for his groundbreaking work with James Brown, had worked as Esther Phillips' bandleader back in the 1970s. In an interview ...

The Beatles, Billy Preston: The blazing talent – and heartbreaking decline – of "fifth Beatle" Billy Preston

Retrospective by Ian Winwood, Daily Telegraph, 26 November 2021

The revered keyboardist saved Let It Be and put his fingerprints on countless rock classics. But he kept his true self hidden to the end. ...

David Lasley, 1947–2021

Obituary by Adam Sweeting, The Guardian, 15 December 2021

Singer-songwriter whose four-octave vocal range made him one of the most sought after backing singers in American music ...

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