Rock N Roll Guns for Hire: The Story of the Sideman

Well humoured, interesting. Earl Slick must be a laugh in person. 

BBC4 is just great most of the time.  

Tony Lockhart posted:

 BBC4 is just great most of the time.  

Agreed. I'm currently watching the excellent "Arena - American Epic" sessions that I recorded last month.

Cool.  How do I see it in the US?

Move to England. 

As far far as I know, that is the only way until the BBC releases it for other countries to show. 

You might be be able to watch it via a proxy server on the net, but I really wouldn't know. 

I missed this last night GraemeH, thanks for the tip, Ill look it up later on.

It was an interesting prog,  surprising how level headed & down-to-earth they are.  Rolling Stones vocals backup (not a backing singer)  Bernard Fowler really seems level & grounded.    The Stones have had a lot of 'sidemen' over the years,  can't not mention bass player Darryl Jones.

Skip,   this is the BBC blurb on the prog.   http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacent...story-of-the-sideman   BBC don't web stream outside UK so the only way & confirm Tony's suggestion is a proxy server,  its what I've done when overseas.  

BBC 4 on Friday night is always worth a look, at least to see who's on.  They have some outstanding old & new footage of all things rock 'n roll.   That said the prog that followed 'Sideman' was  'Girls in Bands at the BBC'  & that was definitely not one of those,  it was an ear (& eye) offending blast of punk/post punk noise,  most of which was mimed,  girls trying to look like rock 'n roll 'ard cases was woeful.  The one & only worth watching was the classy Elkie Brooks with Vinegar Joe.  I soon moved over to more mellow Claire Martin (24/192 WAV) with a final red one before up the wooden hill.   

The slight whiff of bitternes an always present undercurrent I thought too.

G

GraemeH posted:

The slight whiff of bitternes an always present undercurrent I thought too.

G

Yes I guess a natural thing,  most noticeable in the Prince side'girls' over Purple Rain.

Billy's Crystal seemed the happiest and most independent.

G

Nice one thanks for the tip.

Just love Earl Slick, that sound he has on David Live, the track Sweet Thing in particular, is one of the best guitar tones (and playing) ever! Gibson SG into a MXR Phase 90. Funny when I bought one and used it with my SG it sounded nothing like it. Possibly because I'd need a 100 watt Marshall stack in my study to get close.

My favourite sideman would be Zal Cleminson foil to Alex Harvey in the SAHB.

in a similar vein there is a film "20 feet from stardom" that captures the stories of some amazing backing singers - not always my cup of tea but total respect for the incredible talents on display

PaulM160 posted:

in a similar vein there is a film "20 feet from stardom" that captures the stories of some amazing backing singers - not always my cup of tea but total respect for the incredible talents on display

That's a great documentary. "Rape. Murder.....it's just a shot away!"

Thanks Graeme, that was a great documentary.  As said above, quite a hint of bitterness, I agree Crystal Taliefero didn't't show it, neither did Steve Cropper.

I was delighted to see that Cropper was a happy man, financially he would obviously be good, he had writing credits on some of the best selling songs ever, but he was dead happy being the session/side musician. He clearly has the respect of his peers (not that he has many, one of the greatest guitarists ever doesn't have many peers) and guitar lovers, which must be special to him. He wrote several of my favourite songs, and played on many more, after this I'm off to the river to order a big Stax box-set.