Breakfast with the Gold Star /Wrecking Crew boys; extra fun today: James Burton!

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Steve Hoffman, Mar 25, 2003.

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  1. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Breakfast with the Gold Star boyz...

    We had our usual Tuesday morning breakfast with the Wrecking Crew and Gold Star Studio boys this morning with a few surprises.

    Lezz see: Kevin Gray was there, along with the usual crowd, Larry Levine, Stan Ross and Dave Gold of Gold Star Studios, plus producer Fred Darian ("Mr. Custer", "The In Crowd"), DCC's own Jerry Tolmich, songwriter Mel Levin (101 Dalmations, Babes In Toyland), Randy Van Horne (Randy Van Horne Singers: The Flintstones, The Jetsons, etc.), Art Fein (host of TV's "Poker Party", the rockabilly performance show), etc. Hal Blaine was in Palm Springs.

    There were a few who joined in by cell phone: Nino Tempo and Harry N.'s arranger George Tipton. A few non-regulars dropped in who were most welcome: My favorite arranger, conductor keyboard player Don Randi (also founder of LA jazz club "The Baked Potato") and legendary promo man Ray Ruff who started doing A&R with Norman Petty in 1956, then did A&R for DOT and founded Curb Records with Mike Curb while at the same time producing some of the best records in rock and country history. It was great seeing Ray in person. He's one of those larger than life guys.

    A few minutes later, legendary guitar great James Burton joined us! Yes! The King Of The Telecaster! I had just seen him on a Ricky Nelson clip from Ozzie & Harriet ("Fools Rush In") and was very happy to be able to shake his hand. I asked if I could buy his '68 paisley Fender Telecaster and he said "no, sorry". I tried, folks.

    I looked up a few of the records that James played lead guitar on. Check this out:

    1958 Dale Hawkins Oh! Susie Q
    Rick Nelson Ricky Nelson
    Rick Nelson Ricky Sings Again
    1959 Rick Nelson Songs By Rick
    1960
    Rick Nelson More Songs By Rick
    1961
    Rick Nelson Rick Is 21
    1962
    Rick Nelson Album Seven By Rick
    1963
    Rick Nelson It's Up To You
    Rick Nelson A Long Vacation
    Rick Nelson For Your Sweet Love
    Bobby Darin Golden Folk Hits
    1964
    Rick Nelson Rick Sings For You
    Rick Nelson The Very Thought Of You
    Rick Nelson Spotlight On Rick
    The Crickets California Sun
    1965
    Dino, Desi & Billy I'm A Fool
    Rick Nelson Best Always
    Rick Nelson Love And Kisses
    The Everly Brothers Rock 'n' Soul
    The Everly Brothers Beat 'n' Soul
    1966
    Buck Owens & The Buckaroos Roll Out The Red Carpet
    Merle Haggard Swinging Doors
    Rick Nelson Bright Lights And Country Music
    The Everly Brothers In Our Image
    The Everly Brothers Two Yanks In England
    The Monkees Meet The Monkees
    1967
    Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield Again
    Ian Whitcomb Yellow Underground
    Merle Haggard I'm A Lonesome Fugitive
    Merle Haggard Branded Man
    Nancy Sinatra Sugar
    Rick Nelson Country Fever
    The Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers Sing
    The Monkees More Of The Monkees
    1968
    Buck Owens The Best Of ... Vol. 2 ("Open Up Your Heart ...")
    Cass Elliot Dream A Little Dream
    Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Incredible
    James Burton & Ralph Mooney Corn Pickin' And Slick Slidin'
    Johnny Rivers Realization
    Judy Collins Who Knows Where The Time Goes
    Lee Hazelwood Love & Other Crimes
    Mason Williams Phonograph Record
    Merle Haggard Sing Me Back Home
    Michael Nesmith Wichita Train Whistle Sings
    Randy Newman Randy Newman
    Sandy Nelson Rock'n'Roll Revival
    The Byrds Sweethearts Of The Rodeo
    The Everly Brothers Roots
    The Monkees The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
    1969
    Al Wilson Searching For The Dolphins
    Arlo Guthrie Running Down The Road
    Bobby Jameson Working!
    Dale Hawkins L.A., Memphis & Tyler, Texas
    Elvis Presley Elvis In Person At The International Hotel, LV Nevada
    Eric von Schmidt Who Knocked The Brains Out Of The Sky
    Hoyt Axton My Griffin Is Gone
    John Hartford John Hartford
    Mark Spoelstra Mark Spoelstra
    Marry K. Miller Handcuffed To A Heartache
    Merle Haggard Mama Tried
    Merle Haggard Same Train, A Different Tiime (2 LP)
    Merle Haggard Workin' Man Blues
    Steve Young Rock, Salt & Nails
    The Monkees Instant Replay
    The Monkees The Monkees Present
    Tongue & Groove Tongue & Groove
    Townes Van Zandt Our Mother The Mountain

    I had to stop at 1969; the list goes on until yesterday.

    At any rate, it was great eating pancakes with these guys. So much music history at one table, from 90 year old Mel Levin to, well, the youngest (me). Spanning many eras of music. The usually blase Art Fein snuck out to his car to get his camera! Heh. It was a great morning and I wanted to share.

    :)
     
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  2. ZIPGUN99

    ZIPGUN99 Active Member

    James Burton is the greatest. One of the best concerts I ever saw was Jerry Lee Lewis with James Burton on guitar, 1984.
     
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  3. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Stan and Kevin must have been totally jazzed about it too. Sounds like a historical event. If you have pictures that you can share, by all means!
     
  4. RetroSmith

    RetroSmith Forum Hall Of Fame<br>(Formerly Mikey5967)

    Location:
    East Coast
    here in NYC, a couple of years ago, the "Elvis" show came thru town, and I went to see it, and James was on guitar, and BEHIND him, was a 30 foot screen of him in the 70s backing Elvis. It was surreal, and SO great!!
     
  5. RetroSmith

    RetroSmith Forum Hall Of Fame<br>(Formerly Mikey5967)

    Location:
    East Coast
    Sure about James on the Monkees Lps?

    I thought that was Gerry Magee, now with The Ventures.
     
  6. MMM

    MMM Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    Lodi, New Jersey
    I always enjoy hearing your Tuesday Morning Breakfast Tales - thanks Steve :).
     
  7. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    It's just so neat talking about my favorite music (from the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's) with the very people that created it. A real high for me!
     
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  8. Evan L

    Evan L Beatologist

    Location:
    Vermont
    Another blast with the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club. Worth getting up that early for a meeting with the great James Burton, eh, Steve? You lucky dog! Just the stories about playing with Elvis alone would make it cool!
     
  9. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Yeah, I set my alarm for that Tuesday morning early call. Most weeks I make it, glad I did today.

    James Burton was always one of my Guitar Gods. His blistering Telecaster lead lines really cook. His Chicken Choke is one of my favorites; copied by generations of guitar players.
     
  10. Bob Lovely

    Bob Lovely Super Gort In Memoriam

    Steve,

    Thanks for sharin' breakfast - what a treat - Wow!

    Obviously, today was special....love James Burton's work.

    Bob:)
     
  11. GuyDon

    GuyDon Senior Member

    Steve, if you are comfortable commenting, how is James doing (health wise)? A few years back I read he was having trouble with his feet/legs (possibly complications from diabetes if I remember correctly). Thanks.
     
  12. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    He said he was feeling fine, and he looked great; had his wife with him and all seemed rosy...:)
     
  13. GuyDon

    GuyDon Senior Member

    That is good news - thank you for the information on how he is doing.
     
  14. RetroSmith

    RetroSmith Forum Hall Of Fame<br>(Formerly Mikey5967)

    Location:
    East Coast
    Steve, any thought on wether James Burton and Hal Blaine were on the same session. I would think in the last 30 years they would have to have been.
     
  15. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Sure, on the Sammy Davis, Jr. stuff. A whole bunch of stuff...
     
  16. czeskleba

    czeskleba Senior Member

    Location:
    Seattle
    James Burton appears only on the Nesmith-produced tracks on the first two Monkees LPs, not the other stuff.

    I was surprised to see some Buck Owens stuff on the list. I didn't think Buck used session guys. Was Don Rich out sick that day or something?
     
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  17. Ken_McAlinden

    Ken_McAlinden MichiGort Staff

    Location:
    Livonia, MI
    James Burton's playing on the Gram Parsons solo albums as well as just about every 70s Emmylou Harris album is pretty great, too!

    Regards,
     
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  18. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    In the 1970's, James Burton played on these:

    1970 Doug Kershaw Spanish Moss
    Elvis Presley On Stage - February, 1970
    Elvis Presley That's The Way It Is
    John Phillips Wolfking Of L.A.
    Johnny Rivers Slim Slo Slider
    Longbranch Pennywhistle Longbranch Pennywhistle
    Michael Parks Long Lonesome Highway
    Original Soundtrack Baby Maker
    Phil Ochs Greatest Hits
    1971 Delaney & Bonnie Genesis
    Elvis Presley Country
    Elvis Presley Love Letters
    Elvis Presley Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas
    James Burton Guitar Sounds Of James Burton
    James Hendricks James Hendricks
    John Hurley Delivers One More Hallelujah
    Johnny Rivers Home Grown
    Michael Nesmith Nevada Fighter
    Ronnie Milsap Ronnie Milsap
    1972 Benny Hester Benny
    Elvis Presley Now
    Elvis Presley He Touched Me
    Elvis Presley Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden
    John Stewart Sunstorm
    Joni Mitchell For The Roses
    Kim Carnes Rest On Me
    P.F. Sloan Raised On Records
    Waylon Jennings Heartaches By The Number
    1973 David Cassidy Dream Are Nothing More Than Wishes
    Dick Curless Tombstone Every Mile
    Elvis Presley Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite
    Elvis Presley Elvis
    Elvis Presley Raised On Rock / For Ol' Times Sake
    Gram Parsons GP
    John Hurley Children's Dreams
    Phil Everly Star Spangled Springer
    Sammy Johns Sammy Johns
    1974 Alexander Harvey True Love
    Elvis Presley Good Times
    Elvis Presley Elvis As Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis
    Gram Parsons Grievous Angel
    Henry Mancini Country Gentleman
    Hoyt Axton Life Machine
    Michael Edward Campbell Michael Edward Campbell
    The Hagers The Hagers
    Tina Turner Tina Turns The Country On
    1975 Elvis Presley Promised Land
    Elvis Presley Today
    Emmylou Harris Pieces Of The Sky
    Emmylou Harris Elite Hotel
    Hoyt Axton Southbound
    Ignis Fatuus Ignis Fatuus and Guy Finley
    Jim Connor Personal Friend Of Arthur Kuykendall, ...
    Johnny Cash John R. Cash
    Johnny Rivers Wild Night
    Mac Davis Burning Thing
    Tom Snow Taking It All In Stride
    1976 Alan Rich Class Heart
    Elvis Presley From Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis, Tennessee
    Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers Sleepless Nights
    Hoyt Axton Fearless
    Jonathan Edwards Rockin' Chair
    Mary Kay Place Tonite! At The Capri Lounge, Loretta Haggers
    Sammy Walker Sammy Walker
    Silverado Silverado
    Tom Pacheco Swallowed Up In American Heartland
    1977 Billy Joe Shaver Gypsy Boy
    Elvis Presley Moody Blue
    Elvis Presley Elvis In Concert
    Emmylou Harris Luxery Liner
    Jesse Winchester Nothing But A Breeze
    John Denver I Want To Live
    Marilee Rush Marilee Rush
    Mary Kay Place Aimin' To Please
    Roger Miller Off The Wall
    1978 Barbara Mandrell Moods
    Emmylou Harris Quarter Moon In a Ten Cent Town
    Joanne Mac Kell Joanne Mac Kell
    John Denver Live At The Sydney Opera House
    Marshall Chapman Jaded Virgin
    Nicolette Larson Nicolette
    Rick Moses Face The Music
    Rodney Crowell Ain't Living Long Like This
    The Oak Ridge Boys Room Service
    The Flying Burrito Brothers Burrito Country
    1979 Demis Roussos Man Of The World
    Duane Eddy Duane Eddy
    Emmylou Harris Blue Kentucky Girl
    Emmylou Harris Light Of The Stable - The Christmas Album
    Hank Williams, jr. Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
    Hoyt Axton A Rusty Old Hallo
    Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis
    John Denver JD
    Ronnie Hawkins The Hawk
    Rosanne Cash Right Or Wrong

    1980's:
    1980 John Denver Autograph
    Johnny Lee Lookin' For Love
    Charlie Rich Once A Drifter
    Byron Berline Outrageous
    J.J. Cale Shades
    1981 Emmylou Harris Cimarron
    Emmylou Harris Evangeline
    Original Soundtrack Kent State
    Hoyt Axton Live
    Kenny Rogers Share Your Love
    Amanda McBroom & Lincoln Mayorga West Of Oz
    1982 Michael Martin Murphey Michael Martin Murphey
    Chris Hillman Morning Sky
    Hoyt Axton Pistol Packin' Mama
    John Denver Seasons Of The Heart
    Stella Parton So Long ... So Good
    1983 Original Soundtrack Heart Like A Wheel
    John Schneider If You Believe
    John Denver It's About Time
    Johnny Cash Johnny 99
    Michael Martin Murphey The Heart Never Lies
    1984 Hoyt Axton American Dreams
    Chris Hillman Desert Rose
    1985 John Denver Dreamland Express
    Southern Pacific Southern Pacific
    1986 Elvis Costello King Of America
    John Denver One World
    1987 Elvis Costello Out Of Our Idiot
    The Del Fuegos Stand Up
    Tim Scott The High Lonesome Sound
    1988 John Denver Higher Ground
    Semi-Twang Salty Tears
    1989 Roy Orbison & Friends A Black And White Night
    Marshall Crenshaw Good Evening
    Jerry Lee Lewis Heartbreak
    Jerry Lee Lewis Rocket '88
    Jerry Lee Lewis Rockin' My Life Away
    Jerry Lee Lewis The Palomino Club Recordings
    J.J. Cale Travel-Log
     
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  19. Stax Fan

    Stax Fan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midwest
    You're a lucky dog, Steve! What a distinguished group...and then James Burton suddenly pops in. Telecaster King, is right! Geez, what I wouldn't give! Sounds like a blast! :cool:


    __________
    AC
     
  20. Gardo

    Gardo Audio Epistemologist

    Location:
    Virginia
    Breakfast with the Titans. My oh my. Couldn't happen to a more deserving fella than you, Steve, though I wish it would happen to undeserving people like ME.:)

    I saw James Burton live in 1989, backing John Denver in a Christmas show at Chapel Hill, NC. On the first couple of songs, unable to see James's face (I was a fur piece away from the stage), I couldn't figure out who was playing that pedal steel, especially since I couldn't find a pedal steel on stage anywhere. Then John introduced the band, and I knew who was playing pedal steel: James Burton, on his Telecaster.:thumbsup:

    Amazing player.
     
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  21. Cousin It

    Cousin It Senior Member

    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    Burton plays the guitar on the studio version of Buck's "Open Up Your Heart".Love his guitar solo on The Monkees "Papa Gene's Blues",one of his best.
     
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  22. Mick Jones

    Mick Jones Senior Member

    James Burton also toured as a member of Emmylou's Hot Band in the mid 1970s. I saw him in about 1976 at the Odeon Cinema in Birmingham England. I seem to remember that near the end of the set they played an old Smokey Robinson number, Shop Around, with some blistering lead breaks from James.
     
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  23. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Reopened by request
     
  24. jasonfoote303

    jasonfoote303 I'm a very magic tripper

    Location:
    San Francisco
    [​IMG]

    Love the red Tele!
     
  25. Greenalishi

    Greenalishi Birds Aren’t Real

    Location:
    San Francisco
    Played on JJ Cale’s album. Kinda cool. And that early Townes. Didn’t know.
     
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