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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

805.0. "Robben Ford" by CRONIC::PCUMMINGS () Mon Aug 29 1988 14:09

    I just picked up a copy of Guitar Player and checked out the Sound
    Page included.  A tune by Robben Ford, this knocked my socks off!
    Nice playing!  Has anybody got his new LP?..."Talk to Your Daughter".
    
    How 'bout his other recorded work?  I picked up an old Yellow Jackets
    record (Dumb!) from the cheapo bin, which he plays on, but after
    hearing the Sound Page, maybe 'Daughter' should have been the one.
    
    /paul
    
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805.1Sort of a Review...PIWACT::JMINVILLEOnly a fool would say thatMon Aug 29 1988 18:0319
    Yeah, after hearing the soundpage I went right out and bought the
    album.  It's good "blues" (the reason it seems like "blues" to me
    is because some of it is really funked-up, jazzed-out blues and
    some of it is more straight blues).  He does some really nice solos
    and does a lot of the vocal work too, sounding like B.B. King at
    times doing little solo ditties in between lines of the verse.
    
    As I recall there are two Robben Ford originals on the album and
    everything else is covers of old blues songs.  Jeff Porcaro plays
    drums on one song and there's a little bit of sax and harmonica,
    but otherwise it's just guitar, keys, drums, and bass.  It cooks!!
    
    Another album with Ford all over it is "Tom Cat" by Tom Scott and
    the L.A. Express.  There is some really nice guitar stuff on there
    especially the solo for "Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. America and All
    The Ships at Sea".  Anyway, I feel that "Talk To Your Daughter"
    is very good effort, I like it, but I ain't no expert either.
    
    joe.
805.2Ford=New BluesFTMUDG::HENDERSONMon Aug 29 1988 22:1811
    	I picked up "Talk to Your Daughter" a couple of weeks ago and
    after several listens, I think Robbin will be around for some time.
    I thought this album had a bit of a Robert Cray feel to it, especially
    on some of his leads. As the previous note said, Robbin can go from
    straight ahead blues to a mellower blues with jazz influences. I
    have the GP sound page but I haven't checked it out yet.
    	I did happen to pick up a Yellowjackets album he played on (I
    forget the name) but was very disappointed. I'm sure there must
    be a guitar buried in the mix somewhere!
    
    DonH
805.3Robben Ford is hardly a newcomerDREGS::BLICKSTEINYo!Tue Aug 30 1988 09:4826
    re: .2
    
    > I think Robben will be around for some time
    
    Robben *HAS* been around for sometime.  He's been one of the top
    LA studio guitarists for at least 10 years, and I wouldn't doubt
    if it was more than that.
    
    For some reason though, unlike  Carlton, Tedesco and Ritenour, he
    never seems to get much mention in the music press even though he's
    always been in those guys leagues.
    
    Chances are you already have quite a few records he's done.
    
    re: .1
    
    If you want another Tom Scott/LA Express album with great guitar
    playing you should check out the album with that gorgeous female
    bellybutton/waist on it (I can never avert my eyes from that long
    enough to look at the actual title).
    
    Larry Carlton plays on the "bellybutton" album and he is awesome.
    His playing on that album strikes me as being noticeably different
    from all his other work.
    
    	db
805.4Charles FordFROST::SIMONI just ain'tTue Aug 30 1988 10:0320
	Check out the records he did with the Charles Ford Band.  I have
	the live one ("Reunion" or something like that on Rocket Records).
	He plays some incredible stuff on that record.  The only problem
	is I don't know where you could find it.  The studio one they 
	put out is available in the Elderly Instruments Record catalogue
	under Blues.  I've been meaning to order it myself.

	Also, if you like Robben and you're willing to check out somebody 
	else who plays non-slide style like Robben (as well as great slide
	guitar) check out Sonny Landreth.  He's put out a couple records
	on Blues Unlimited out of Louisiana  "Blues Attack" and "Bayou
	Rhythm"  which have both been seeing a lot of time on my turntable
	and car stereo.  "Blues Attack" mostly straight ahead blues with
	some Zydeco overtones while "Bayou Rhythm" is quite a mix of Blues
	Zydeco/Cajun and african rhythms (actually hard to describe). 
	Worth checking out....

	-gary

805.5More Robben Ford facts.PIKES::MAEZIt's cheap but it ain't free...Tue Oct 18 1988 16:1041
There is more Robben Ford info earlier on in this file. I think it is under 
favorite ax-men or something like that. 

Anyway, Robben indeed *has* been around for much longer than 10 years.
I was living in So. Cal in 77-80 when I first heard his Tom Scott stuff. 
After that I became a big-time Robben fan. The Yellowjackets were his 
backup band for quite awhile. I saw them live at the Golden Bear in 
Huntington Beach and they kicked-ass. I was surprised to hear the negative 
comments previously on his work with them. There are some outrageous solos 
on that stuff. Check out his other solo stuff if you are so lucky as to 
find it. I know he has two other solo efforts from the mid-late 70's. One 
is called "INSIDE STORY" and the other is just Robben Ford I think. 
INSIDE STORY is a F&^(%* (insert any word) masterpiece. He is much more 
funk and fusion oriented than with the "'Daughter" album. I think 
"Daughter" is a classic Ford and worth gettin' but "STORY" is a killer.

Partial discog.

ROBBEN FORD... with his earliest recorded group is the Charles Ford stuff. 
I've never seen this but would love to find it somewhere.

ROBBEN FORD...a solo effort by this name and Rock-Blues oriented used 335

TOM SCOTT and the LA Express TOM CAT.	ROBBEN FORD not enough of him for 
me.

ROBBEN FORD...INSIDE STORY ('Jackets backing him up) A masterpiece!
 
With the YellowJackets for their first 2 LPs. I almost liked them better 
with Robben than without. Listen to these again. they'll grow on you.

With Miles Davis for the last coupla' years from what I understand. Anyone 
know the discography on this stuff?

Talk to your Daughter...Good, but too much vocal and cover stuff. I know 
he's capable of sooo very much more.


I hope this helps a little.		

Rick�  A_Robben_Ford_fan_for_years_and_glad_he's_back_!!!!!
805.6fun ford foto factsRICKS::CALCAGNITue Oct 18 1988 16:233
    there's a photograph I love of Robben wailing away in Tom Wheeler's
    "The Guitar Book" that says it all; Robben sounds the way he looks
    in that picture.
805.7More R.F. informtionCSC32::G_HOUSEThe Freak Phone - DTN 522-4715Tue Oct 18 1988 18:504
    There is also an interview and a transcription of one of Robbin
    Fords tunes in "Guitar World" this month.
    
    Greg
805.8What else is in there?PIKES::MAEZIt's cheap but it ain't free...Wed Oct 19 1988 15:4713
RE:
    �There is also an interview and a transcription of one of Robbin
    �Fords tunes in "Guitar World" this month.
    

Greg;

Is there a complete discography in there too? I don't know if I've ever 
seen a Guitar World around here. I know there's GUITAR & KEYBOARD PLAYERS
around.


Rick�
805.9I'll look...CSC32::G_HOUSEDeath, Disease, and FamineWed Oct 19 1988 18:4812
    re: .-1
    
    I'll have to look it over when I get home, I haven't read it all
    yet.  I'll post what I find.
    
    "Guitar World" magazine may be purchased at many music stores and at
    B.Dalton Booksellers (that's where I got mine).  I've seen them at
    Citadel Music (as much as I dislike actually buying anything there),
    since I know you're in Co. Springs. 
    
    Greg
                                
805.10Oh well...CSC32::G_HOUSESlime DevilFri Oct 21 1988 11:265
    Sorry Rick, there doesn't seem to be a discography with the article
    (unless they hid it somewhere else).  The tune that's transcribed
    is "Getaway", from the album "Talk to your Daughter".
    
    Greg
805.11GP had a discographyFROST::SIMONI just ain'tFri Oct 21 1988 12:108
	There was a complete discography in Guitar Player about three
	issues ago.  This was the one that had Robben on the cover and
	the floppy record with him inside.  Probably the september
	issue (I think.).

	-gary

805.12Did anyone watch German TV?!UTROP1::MILOWed Dec 21 1988 08:4618
    I saw Robben Ford a couple of months ago in a German TV program
    called "Ohne Filter". He played two tunes, "Talk to your daughter"
    and "Help the poor". He was incredible, especially in "Help the
    poor". 
    
    After doing his own thing, he also accompanied Steve Miller during 
    three or four tunes. That really showed that there's guitar playing
    and there's guitar playing.
    
    I recorded most of the TV show, but because of atmospheric interference
    I lost large parts of the sound! 
    
    If there's anyone in Germany that recorded that particular show
    on VHS, I would sure like to have a copy of it! In return I could
    get them a copy of Dire Straits & Clapton at the Nelson Mandela
    concert (and/or STING, and/or Eurythmics).
    
    Gerard
805.13USRCV1::REAUMERACKITthenSTACKITFri Dec 01 1989 13:3414
      I just cought Robben live doing a club show on a Wednesday night.
    They were charging $8 at the door and had a real good crowd. Definitely
    a night of wailing blues guitar. A three piece act with a lot of
    six-string! I wasn't theat familiar with R.F. but a few other musicians
    I know said to check it out. I was glad I did. He's one of htese
    people that make yuou want to just quit your job and practice guitar
    (or give up altogether). 
      Guitars: He used a Fender Telecaster-like guitar that seemed a
    little fancier than a standard Tele (Elite, maybe?). He also used
    a Gibson hollow body with a double cutaway with points on them.
      Amps: Two Dumble Overdrives in a rack mount case. Effects: TC2290
    and a couple smaller pieces (Korg A3?).
    							-john r.
     
805.14I like Robben too....RAVEN1::DANDREAFry Zsa Zsa, Free James BrownFri Dec 01 1989 13:453
    Did he do "Talk to your daughter"? .....my favorite..8^)
    
    Steve
805.15RAVEN1::BLAIRFan mail from some flounder?Fri Dec 01 1989 13:529
    re: .13
    
    Nice report John.  I liked the gory details on the equipment (really).
    You may have a future with Guitar Player.  I think we should make
    John's report format standard for all reviews.  Steve, of COURSE he
    played Talk to Your Daughter.  He DID, right John?
    
    -pat
    	
805.16go south Robben!RAVEN1::DANDREAFry Zsa Zsa, Free James BrownFri Dec 01 1989 14:143
    Send that boy to South Carolina!  Pat, let's talk to Al or Melanie!
    
    -steve
805.17lucky youBUSY::JMINVILLEProbitas laudatur et algetFri Dec 01 1989 15:277
    Did he play, "Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues"???  Did you happen
    to catch the chords???
    
    I thought he played an Espirit??  You're right though, he makes
    me want to give up playing...
    
    joe.
805.18Another Legend?POLAR::HARPERFri Nov 03 1995 11:5913
    I just caught the Robben Ford/Sonny Landreth show at Barrymores in
    Ottawa and was completely blown away. An inspired set by Landreth set
    the stage for some of the most innovative blues guitar playing i've
    ever had the pleasure of witnessing! Man, that Robben Ford seems like
    he was born with a guitar in hands! Highlights included great versions
    of Talk To Your Daughter and Help the Poor. Landreth sat in for three
    or four tunes but his volume was non-existent. An unexpected surprise
    was an excellent version of the Animals' Please Don't Let Me Be
    Misunderstood. It's been quite a year for guitar legend concerts this
    year. Santana/Beck at Wonderland, Kim simmonds and Savoy Brown at the
    Ottawa Jazz Festival and now Robben Ford! By the way, Robben's new band
    is called "The Blue Line" and a new CD is in stores. I consider it a
    must buy.
805.19Details, we want details.MILKWY::JACQUESVintage taste, reissue budgetFri Nov 03 1995 13:305
    Any idea what tunes Landreth played?
    
    Sounds like a great show. 
    
    Mark
805.20As I shake my head in disbelief...POLAR::KFICZEREFri Nov 03 1995 13:492
    I've been waiting for that show!!! I can't believe I missed it. Bill,
    you should've called me....
805.21Boston show?GAVEL::DAGGMon Nov 06 1995 05:215
    
    Did these guys do Boston already? 
    
    Dave
    
805.22If there is a place for him....NETCAD::BUSENBARKMon Nov 06 1995 06:349
    Robben hasn't played Boston yet,but I'm not sure where he would play as
    he typically has played at Nightstage. As I understand it Nightstage
    has either closed it's doors or has changed it's venue. Perhaps they
    will book him into the Berklee Performance Center? What other club is
    like Nightstage in Boston? 
    
    
    			      			Rick
    	
805.23PIET01::DESROCHERSpsdv.pko.dec.com/tomd/home.htmlMon Nov 06 1995 07:0414
    
    	Well, I went to www.boston.com
    
    	then www.boston.com/thefix
    
    	then their Search option and put in Robben
    
    	It gave back a link to Mama Kin
    
    	Unfortunately, Robben Ford and Sonny Landreth played there
    	last night - Nov. 5th. !!!!!!
    
    	Tom
    
805.24PIET01::DESROCHERSpsdv.pko.dec.com/tomd/home.htmlMon Nov 06 1995 07:065
    
    	The search option is 
    
    		http://www.boston.com/thefix/fixsrch.htm
    
805.25good timing on my part!GAVEL::DAGGMon Nov 06 1995 08:115
    Darn! Missed it.  Thanks anyways
    for the pointers!
    
    Dave