Big Al!
I had iTunes on shuffle this evening after dinner and this song came along. I couldn't place it...the guitar solo just slayed me. A great song, it's a Hank Williams tune sung by Skeeter Davis. I'm pretty sure that's her sister singing harmony, and the backing band is NRBQ. The guitar solo is Big Al Anderson...struck me as quite Jim-like and thought I'd share.
Like Jim, Big Al is one of my guitar heroes...I'd encourage everybody to check out the golden era of NRBQ for some really great Tele picking.
Like Jim, Big Al is one of my guitar heroes...I'd encourage everybody to check out the golden era of NRBQ for some really great Tele picking.
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I've been lucky enough to play with Big Al twice and it's a funny coincidence, I was rummaging threw an old box yesterday and I found a Little Willies rehearsal cassette with Big Al from 6 or 7 years ago.
At the time of this rehearsal, Norah (who is always on the prowl discovering great music) had discovered a Big Al solo record (his first solo record on Vanguard) and fell in love with it. She played it for us and we all loved it too... Long story short - We ended up backing him up for one night at the Living Room, playing mostly tracks from his great solo record.
No recording was made of that night, and the rehearsal tape is mostly laughing and talking.
Anyway, Big Al just blew us all away. A great singer, a tremendous, powerful guitarist and a warm, magnetic person.
Thanks for your post Jeff- it brought back good memories.
Hope all is well! -Jim
Al was fortunate to play with one of the greatest R&B rhythm sections ever, Joey Spampinato and Tom Ardolino. I can't say enough about that band during that period, the playing was just jaw-dropping all the way around, but they dug the deepest of grooves, it was just uncanny.
Recently came across a nice piece that touches on every version of the band through the years:
http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2013/11/06/the-last-days-of-nrbq-some-kind-of-blues/
Hope to see you soon, Jim.