Thursday, December 08, 2011

Instrumental Backing Tracks of the Gods (An Occasional Series): Folk You!

No Listomania clue today, for the simple reason that it's been a crazy week and I didn't have time to get a Listomania together. Rest assured, however, that the List will return next week, in fighting trim.

Also, that intertube radio show appearance I made on Tuesday is now archived over at Area24; when you get there, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Lost at Sea for December 6th. Pretty funny stuff, I think, and some interesting music gets played as well.

And finally, just because I'm that kind of guy, here's something quite gorgeous -- the almost final take of the instrumental track to The Byrds' epochal recording of "Mr. Tambourine Man" from 1965. After this was released, the world became a seriously different place, and that's actually not hyperbole.



Said it before and I'll say it again -- a Rickenbacker electric 12-string guitar, well-played, is the most beautiful sound occurring in nature.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

For me it's the bass chording that really sets the tone for the song.

buzzbabyjesus said...

If I'm not mistaken, Jim(Roger) McGuinn is the only Byrd on the track.
It's nice hearing it this way. Thanks.

steve simels said...

And the bass player -- the guy who invented that immortal opening riff -- is the late great Larry Knechtel, who was most famous as a keyboard guy (he's the piano on "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" among countless other great records)...

buzzbabyjesus said...

The Wrecking Crew, I presume.

Anonymous said...

Excuse me I'm getting a little verklempt. There is zero percent hyperbole in you're saying the world became a different place after this single was released. This is the Rosetta stone that translated beach music into folk rock, transitioned pop into hip, and brought the Brit Invasion full circle.

You can barely hear, but you definitely feel in your chest, the bass droning electric piano in the right channel. Whoever's idea that was, was brilliant. Melcher? It was shocked/impressed to hear (very recently) the stereo mix of flip side I Knew I'd Want You with the same electric piano in the background.

The Wrecking Crew documentary includes McGuinn talking about this session vs sessions with the band. You get the impression he preferred working with the studio guys than his own band . . .

AP

danny1959 said...

Leon Russell on electric piano?

steve simels said...

Peter-- yup, I was talking about you and your blog. And I'm tickled to death that you heard the show....