I had no idea that Jim Gordon was schizophrenic and died in prison for murdering his mother.
But as for session musicians and their scope and importance, Jim Keltner is the name that comes to my mind. I mean, CARNEY, TAKIN MY TIME, three of Randy Newman’s greatest albums, seven albums with George Harrison, TIME OUT OF MIND, KING OF AMERICA, 11 with Ry Cooder… and on and on.
True, if anyone comes without spitting distance of Jim Gordon it’s Jim Keltner. ( hear Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishman album or catch the concert film of the tour to witness these two percussion giants playing together.) Any musician who has worked with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Fiona Apple, and Bob Dylan is indeed worthy of the canon. I hope to write about my dual interview with Keltner and Charlie Watts someday.
Lest we forget: Hopkins is the star of "Session Man" on FACE TO FACE. Was there another session musician that got a chance to play a session of a song about their own playing at a session?
(Ray Davies on Nicky Hopkins, from The New York Times, January 1, 1995)
SESSION MAN
His best work in his short spell with the Kinks was on the album "Face to Face." I had written a song called "Session Man," inspired partly by Nicky. Shel Talmy asked Nicky to throw in "something classy" at the beginning of the track. Nicky responded by playing a classical- style harpsichord part. When we recorded "Sunny Afternoon," Shel insisted that Nicky copy my plodding piano style. Other musicians would have been insulted but Nicky seemed to get inside my style, and he played exactly as I would have. No ego. Perhaps that was his secret."
The things I learn from reading you…
I had no idea that Jim Gordon was schizophrenic and died in prison for murdering his mother.
But as for session musicians and their scope and importance, Jim Keltner is the name that comes to my mind. I mean, CARNEY, TAKIN MY TIME, three of Randy Newman’s greatest albums, seven albums with George Harrison, TIME OUT OF MIND, KING OF AMERICA, 11 with Ry Cooder… and on and on.
True, if anyone comes without spitting distance of Jim Gordon it’s Jim Keltner. ( hear Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishman album or catch the concert film of the tour to witness these two percussion giants playing together.) Any musician who has worked with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Fiona Apple, and Bob Dylan is indeed worthy of the canon. I hope to write about my dual interview with Keltner and Charlie Watts someday.
Lest we forget: Hopkins is the star of "Session Man" on FACE TO FACE. Was there another session musician that got a chance to play a session of a song about their own playing at a session?
Indeed!
To quote The King of the Kinks:
(Ray Davies on Nicky Hopkins, from The New York Times, January 1, 1995)
SESSION MAN
His best work in his short spell with the Kinks was on the album "Face to Face." I had written a song called "Session Man," inspired partly by Nicky. Shel Talmy asked Nicky to throw in "something classy" at the beginning of the track. Nicky responded by playing a classical- style harpsichord part. When we recorded "Sunny Afternoon," Shel insisted that Nicky copy my plodding piano style. Other musicians would have been insulted but Nicky seemed to get inside my style, and he played exactly as I would have. No ego. Perhaps that was his secret."