Respect...
I think I tend to be an enigma... especially when it comes to music. I can post videos and talk about musicians... and the band/musician/song of the post is always my mostest favoritest... it just happens that way.
Today, I got to thinking about The Allman Brothers Band...
The Allman Brothers Band
At the Fillmore East...
This is the cover photo, above, of possibly the greatest live album ever recorded... the album is a compilation of recordings made over a two day period... and produced into one recording.
I tend to think of myself as a frustrated musician... and if I am being honest about things, I am probably a better teacher than I am a musician... but it sure brings me much joy to try to be a musician...
My instrument of choice is the bass guitar... I was hooked on bass the first time I ever saw The BeaTles on Ed Sullivan... there's a photo over there on the right hand side of my blog of me playing one of my first guitars... a '63 Gretsch Bass...
My first actual bass guitar was similar to this one...
Norma Bass
Mine was blue sparkle... just like this one... only it had two pick ups... I wish I still had it today... it sounded like crap, but it was fun... and it would sure look cool today!!!
Over the years at work... I've been asked from time to time what would be doing had I not gone into teaching... and my response was, "well, I always wanted to play bass for The Allman Brothers Band..."
I would imagine that being able to play bass for them would have been the shiznits...
Back in the day, they had this fellow for a bassist...
Berry Oakley...
Berry and 'The Tracktor'
He could lay down a groove like none other... his bass of choice was a modified Fender Jazz bass... he had the neck pick-up moved back to the bridge of the guitar, and had a Hagstrom bass pick-up installed... it seems to have given him his signature bass sound.
One Way Out
This clip above is one of my favorite songs from "... The Fillmore East recordings." At the 2:51 mark, the drummers carry the beat while Duane Allman and Dickey Betts trade licks... at about the 3:19 mark, Berry comes in a beat early on bass... and the rest of the band has no choice but to follow him... it takes a measure or two, but they straighten it out, and get back into tempo.
There are bands today that don't recognize the error, and try to play it exactly this way... and it turns into a trainwreck... The Allman Brothers certainly pulled it out!
Berry was killed in a motorcycle accident... you may be thinking, 'no, ~shoes~... that was Duane who was killed in a motor cycle accident...'
Well... that is true, too, but Duane was killed about a year earlier in a motor cycle accident... just months after "At the Fillmore East" was recorded...
Duane and Berry
Side by Side...
If'n I was wanting to play bass for them, that would have been great timing, but at that time, I wasn't aware that was what I wanted to do...
So... instead of hiring me, they hired a fellow by the name of Lamar Williams to play bass...
... and Duane really couldn't be replaced... so Chuck Leavell was brought in to play piano and keyboards instead of bringing in another guitarist. Both of these musicians, plus one of the drummers, Jaimoe later went on to form 'Sea Level'... after the Allman Brothers dissolved in 1976. Lamar was soon diagnosed with lung cancer... and doctors were able to link it to his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Viet Nam... he died in 1983.
So... instead of hiring me, they hired a fellow by the name of Lamar Williams to play bass...
... and Duane really couldn't be replaced... so Chuck Leavell was brought in to play piano and keyboards instead of bringing in another guitarist. Both of these musicians, plus one of the drummers, Jaimoe later went on to form 'Sea Level'... after the Allman Brothers dissolved in 1976. Lamar was soon diagnosed with lung cancer... and doctors were able to link it to his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Viet Nam... he died in 1983.
So I think you can see where this is going...
Some time in the late 80's, the Allman Brothers reformed... this time taking on Warren Haynes on guitar and Allen Woody on bass...
Warren Haynes is a monster on guitar... and Allen brought back the melodic bass lines that Berry provided... in between touring with the ABB, Haynes and Woody also formed a trio by the name of Government Mule.
Haynes on guitar, Woody on bass...
These two guys really ignited the ABB...
... however, on August 26, 2000, Allen Woody was found dead in his hotel room...
So... for the sake of mortality, I don't want to be the bass player for the Allman Brothers Band anymore...
Just sayin'...
I stated earlier above... that Duane and Berry were killed in separate motorcycle accidents... about a year apart. Story has it that Duane and Dickey liked to write songs in a cemetery in Macon, GA... and there was one grave site that always capivated them... the grave of Elizabeth Jones Reed Napier... this fascination led to Dickey Betts writing of one of their best instrumentals ever...
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed...
Listen to this...
... and turn it UP!!
I'm sure it's just by coincidence... but Duane and Berry are buried very close to the grave site of Elizabeth Reed... just the way she and they would have wanted it.
I guess I could still be a roadie for the Allman Brothers though...
~shoes~
Hello Shoes, you frustrated, bass playing musician!
ReplyDeleteI played 'In memory of Elizabeth Reed' VERY loud in my office this morning ;) Like.
Yes I would suggest roadie rather than bass player...too much death going on there!
Good morning, you... :o)
DeleteI just LOVE this version of that song!!
I'm gonna fire it up here in my office in just a bit...
~shoes~
Did you dance like no one was watching or did you do air guitar? Just curious...
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi there, Juliette...
DeleteSince it was at work... I was chair dancing... ;o)
... and maybe just a tad bit of air-bass...
:oD
~shoes~
I too, just played Elizabeth Reed while enjoying my coffee. I'm sure this is going to put extra pep in my morning run.
ReplyDeleteI've just picked up the violin, I'd post a snippet on my blog - but then no one would ever come to visit me again.
Good morning, Ella...
DeleteI'm not sure I could play a violin... I do have a fretless bass that I have enjoyed a great deal... Whereas guitars/basses tend to be tuned in 4ths, I think violins are like mandolins and are tuned in 5ths... I would have to rethink some things...
I can't imagine that your violin playing would ever run anyone away from your blog... ;oD
~shoes~
I always (with NO exceptions) fancied the bass player in most of the bands I followed. He was always the coolest dude of them all. Enigmatic, zoned out - lusting after me of course, in my dreams!
ReplyDeleteHey you... how are things in your world??
DeleteSome of us bass players just stand there and 'look at our shoes'... that means we watch our hands on the fret board... I fear I am guilty of that.
And of course, ALL bass players would lust after you...
No? ;o)
~shoes~
Yeah for that same reason I decided I didn't want to be the drummer for Spinal Tap!
ReplyDeleteBut you gotta' look at it this way too, the bass player never dies from drowning in his own vomit! Sometimes you have to look on the bright side!
P.S. - I've always had the theory that the bass player was always the best musician (classically speaking). They were usually the one that knew the most about real music rather than just being skilled at playing by ear.
Good morning, Ryan...Yeah... I remember that Keith Moon had a less than memorable departure from this Life.
DeleteHowever, so did John Entwistle... I imagine that the drugs were Hell, but the whores could have been fun... ;oD
Re: bassists tending to be good musicians... I would agree... there are many things a bassist can do other than playing roots and fifths to set the tone of the music...
How are things going for you??
~shoes~
It's always so sad when talented people's lives get cut short. Keep playing your bass!
ReplyDeleteHi there, Sherry... thank you for coming by!!
DeleteI guess we get to live for as long as it was planned or intended... It's what we do with our Lives that counts!!
I play some every day in some form or fashion!!!
~shoes~
Very interesting post, Shoes. I always learn something from these music posts. That is cool about the two being buried in the cemetery so close to their muse.
ReplyDeleteRoadie sounds good. Don't want anything happening to you!
Hi there, Ms Robin!
DeleteThank you... I try to be somewhat informative... I can't do ALL BS, can I? HAR!!
Yeah... I like the idea that they are buried together, and near the location of Elizabeth Reed...
Are you geared up for your big trip??
~shoes~
Nice! I have a lot of friends in the music business, here in Houston. I'm always going to listen to live bands play. My fave instruments to listen to are the bass and the saxophone. Oh my, very sexy! I tried playing the flute in in the 6th grade band in school, but I didn't get past the audition. ha!
ReplyDeleteHey you... I LOVE going to see performers and listen to their music. I went to Oxford, MS this past weekend with a colleague to see a good band...
DeleteBass is one of those things that may not be appreciated at the time, but let the sound system go out, and have the bass drop out of the mix... and it becomes obvious.
Saxophone?? Oh man, I am working on a good saxophone post...
I'm not convinced that I am a good musician... but I sure enjoy it...
~shoes~
I've always connected with Wiping Post-- no surprise. I like this live album but being from Detroit I have to say Bob Seger, Live Bullet is a pretty good live album too. In my youth I was a fan of the J. Giels Band and their Live, Blow Your Face Out album.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Bathwater...
DeleteHow are things going, my friend?
Bob Seger Live is also great. 'Gamblin' Man;' is my all time favorite Seger song...
~shoes~
haha poor you, no respect comes due haha but have to keep on playing thoughwithout the bass not the same flow
ReplyDeleteHi there, Pat... thank you for stopping by!
DeleteHow are things in your world of Rhyme??
~shoes~
Greetings to you and your shoes :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a a bit of a ramblin' man. Thought I'd ramble on over to your site. And once again, my friend, your posting is packed with insightful information. You might be aware of the show "Top Gear" and the UK version's theme tune is "Jessica". I believe it was used in the first year of the American Top Gear equivalent.
Play the bass and enjoy the buzz.
Thanks for another stroll down a past I remember so well.
Gary
Good morning, klahanie/Gary...
Delete'Rambling Man' is one of my favorites as well... an outrageous bass line!! And "Jessica!" AAUGH!! What a great song!!!
I hope you have a great weekend!!
~shoes~
You mentioned the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, I've heard so many musicians talk about that particular episode and how after watching it they decided at that moment they wanted to be a musician. Talk about an impact!
ReplyDeletePrincess...
DeleteThat was one of the most magical moments of my Life, if one can imagine such a thing...
Those guys appearing on that show set off the entire British Invasion... and music was never the same...
The date of the first appearance was only months after the assassination of John F. Kennedy... I have read that there was hope that something like this could pull us from the doldrums of such a horrific event...
~shoes~
Maybe you want to apply for this job??
ReplyDeletehttp://www.craigslist.org/about/best/pdx/3130813075.html
LMBO!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere is what is in the craigslist ad...
Dear God of Bass Players
Dear God of Bass Players, I, a humble singer and guitar player, and my drummer compatriot, humbly beseech thee to send us a bass player, strong of wrist, fleet of finger, and wisened in the ways of rock and roll, particularly punk, post punk, and garage. Would that this bass player be over the age of 21, so that we may drink ale together and perform at local taverns. May he or she be in possession of a vehicle with which to travel, and professional quality gear with which to produce tones most pleasing to the ear. We ask that you grant us a battle-hardened bass player, possessing knowledge of scales, so that when I say "this song is in E-minor," he or she shall comprehend. May he or she be a punctual bass player, and not a lay-about, a rogue, a ruffian or a villain. In John Entwhistle's name we pray. Amen.
My take on this is that they need someone with a vehicle to carry gear!!!
Back in the day, we bass players would want to carry huge Ampeg stacks... or many cabinets so as to be able to move the room...
... then P.A. systems evolved... and most of us like to play straight into it, and if we have any kind of amp at all, we tend to use it more as a stage monitor so we can hear ourselves at a lower volume...
Thank you for this laugh!!!
~shoes~
Shoes
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this from start to finish packed with great music
and interesting facts. The Allman brothers played around
here not too long ago. I am not sure who was playing
bass but, if it had been you I would have gone for
sure. Dickie Betts has been doing some touring
on his own..he can still play a wicked guitar .
Just keep playing your bass even if it's just
forr you let the music play and play and play.
Oh and that blue guitar was a beauty..
Play like no one is listening and feel the magic