Conference napalm::guitar

    Definitely not late 1800s.
    
    I recently bought a best of compilation by Leo Kottke on CD here
    in the UK. I can remember him from the mid 70s when I almost bought
    an album he released. Only now have I got some of his material.
    
    He's a recognised exponent of the 12 string. The CD I have has one
    or two vocal numbers, the rest are instrumental including probably
    his most 'commercial' piece, a cover of WHEELS.
    
    If any LK fans respond here I have some questions as well...
    
    My 'Best of' CD has no info on accompanying artists. Can anyone
    enlighten me? Specifically, I'm sure there are TWO guitarists on
    most tracks. Or are there! Are some tracks double tracked or is
    it really one man!
    
    Regards,
    Richard
    Basingstoke, UK

    Herewith a short discography up to about 1980.
             Name 			Year	Lable		Ref
    Circle around the sun		1970	Symposium 	2001
    Mudlark				1971	Capitol		682
    6 & 12 string guitar		1972	Sonet uk       SNTF 629
    Greenhouse				1973	Capitol		11000
    My feet are smiling			1973	Capitol		11164
    Ice water				1974	Capitol		11262
    Dreams and all that stuff		1974	Capitol		11335
    Chewing pine			1974	Capitol		11446
    Best of				1976	Capitol	     CAPS1003
    Leo Kottke				1976	Chrysalis    CHR 1106
    Burnt Lips				1978	Chrysalis    CHR 1191
    The Best				1978	Capitol      ESTSP 21
    Leo Kottke 1971/76			1976	Capitol		11576
    Balance				1979	Chrysalis    CHR 1234
    Live in europe			1980	Chrysalis    CHR 1284
    
    	Reproduced without permission from The Rock Record Directory
    of Albums and musicians.
    
    	If any of you are from the Crescent in Basingstoke, I keep this
    book at my desk and its full of interesting titbits about most of
    the music world but it was published in 1981 and is therefore not
    up to date.
    
    Cheers
    Gavin Burke (781-4104)

    Leo is a superb guitarist.  I don't know where this 1800's rumor
    started; the guy is probably in his mid-to-late 30's (maybe early
    40's).I have seen him play several times and he is awesome.  Most
    (if not all) of what you hear on that album mentioned in .0 is him
    playing with no overdubs.  Just straight 6 and 12 string guitars.
    Some of his other albums have some vocals by Leo too.  He says that
    he didn't sing on his early albums cause he thought his voice sounds
    like a bullfrog farting (or some eimilar analogy), however I like
    his singing.

    
    Leo has a pretty odd sense of humor, thus the rather bizzare liner
    notes on some of his albums.  
    
    There are two guitars on some of his recordings, he has also done some
    pieces with guitar and dobro, guitar, bass and drums and some more
    offbeat ensembles (check out the Jack Nitsche arrangements on "Leo
    Kottke" on Chrysalis). 

Leo was born in 1947 (a vintage year :^)) in Athens, Georgia.

My favorite part of "The Best" is the live stuff.  I also like his singing
(goose fart).  

Leo carved out his own niche in the guitar world.  He developed his personal 
style from a pretty limited bag of tricks, but he plays with so much control,
power, feeling, imagination and wit that he'll probably be remembered for 
generations as one of the Greats.

I think he started out on banjo, which would explain a lot about his approach
to fingerpicking.

Bob

    "A Shout Toward Noon" (1987 Chrysalis release) is a very relaxing CD,
    and several of the tracks are very interesting from a guitar-playing
    perspective (ie. they make you say "My God! How the hell is he doing
    that!" or "How can he possibly play that part so cleanly!")  All of
    the cuts are instrumental only and all digital recordings.

    In the liner notes to this one Leo answers the question "What do the
    titles of the album tracks mean?"  It turns out they have no intended
    meaning, they are simply collections of words that sound interesting
    when placed next to each other.   Hmmmm...this reminds me of another
    artist's album title:  "Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma;" it sounds
    so cryptic it must have a deeper meaning, right?  Nope.

    The first time I ever heard of Leo Kottke was last fall when he made
    a couple TV commercials for the Minnesotta Gazzette (or some such
    tourist-grabber literature).  It got to the point where I couldn't
    wait for the next commercial break so I started hunting around for
    some recordings.  Didn't find a single thing until April.

    RE: .2   Wow!  I had no idea he had been recording for so long.
             When I had such bad luck finding anything with his name
             on it I just figured he was a new artist and had only
             been recording for a couple years.  Oh well, looks like
             I have some shopping to do.

    Just in the past month Strawberries (U.S.A. record store chain)
    has been stocking up wildly on all Leo Kottke albums/tapes/CD's
    as well as most artists in the "New Age Music" catagory.  Just back
    in March I found a pretty limited selection, but now it has at least
    doubled in size/selection.  Many of the titles in the .2 reply look
    familiar now.  I'm sure I saw some of them in the CD section.

    I am not sure why, but Leo Kottke reminds me of a younger version of
    Chet Atkins.  Probably because his playing, like Chet's, has the
    distict ability to make my jaw slam to the floor then bounce back up
    and hit me in the forehead.  I like to take the time about once a week
    to listen to either of these guys as sort of a humbling session to
    remind myself that the only way I am ever gonna be able to *really*
    play the guitar is to practice, study, and disipline my playing.
    Many a time I have wanted to cut my hands off because I know I will
    never be able to play anything like these guys or be able to do any
    justice to the instrument we call the guitar.  But, at the same time,
    I can dream anything I want when I enter that Infinite World between
    the headphones.  (Ahhhhhh...)

    I saw him at the Felt Forum, opening for Procol Harum, back in, I guess
    it must have been around 1975 or so.  He was absolutely incredible live
    with no back ups or anything - just him and a 12 string. 

    
    	he did some high school time with a friend of mine, i once got
    to meet him and try and play his 12-string. Basically,
    
    		in high-school he wanted to be Bob Dylan. That did not
    work out, but he did hear John Fahey once and that was enough. He
    became a protoge of sorts of Fahey - learned to play real well and
    as any listen will tell ya, certainly got his own style and he is
    certainly VERY good.
    
    	Mostly, it's just him playing by himself. His 12-string has
    the highest action of any guitar i've ever played, but then Leo
    has massive and strong hands. A few weeks after we met him (at
    Paul's Mall, long time ago) he came out to my friends house where
    they treated him to some lobster and got him pretty sh*tfaced. They
    taped him playing his custom made 6-string (made by a fellow named
    bozo - yes that;s right, in nyc). He kept apologizing to this guys
    mother 'cause he did not have the 12-string, but as you may expect,
    he was terrific.  Imagine how BAD we felt when a few months later
    we accidently wiped part of this very precious recording with some
    real junky, drunk, "let's play band" cellar garbage.
    
    At anyrate, not only was it a real treat to meet him and play his
    guitar's in the dressing room between sets, but i also got to meet
    the Persuasions (fantastic acappella group) to boot. A fine memory
    indeed. 
    
    A signature tune for Leo is Eight-Miles High - does a terrific job
    with it.
    
    	bs

    	Leo just released a new album titled, My Father's Face. I have
    only heard two cuts off the album, but it sounded like a more layed
    back Leo than his earlier stuff such as My Feet Are Smiling and Ice
    Water. Again, this is based on two cuts. I may try to pick this album
    up tomorrow. 
    
    DonH
    

    I saw Leo unaccompanied in high school in '72...my how time flys! 
    There is an album by a guitarist named Cal Hand.  I was told that he
    played backup for Leo on his albums.  The album that I have by Cal is
    titled "The Wylie Butler" and is excellent!  The album touches on a
    Blue Grass/C&W sound to a spacey Pink Floyd sound- sample "They Only
    Moved the Stage".
    
    The album is produced by Leo Kottke & Paul Martinson with Leo playing
    all backup guitar.  In essence it is a Leo Kottke album that has never
    been reconized.  The album is by TAKOMA Records, Inc. C-1056 copywrite
    1977.
    
    -Bill
     

RE: < Note 1319.10 by DPDMAI::COXC "Oooh Noooo- Mr. Bill!" >

>    There is an album by a guitarist named Cal Hand.  I was told that he
>    played backup for Leo on his albums.  The album that I have by Cal is
>    titled "The Wylie Butler" and is excellent!  The album touches on a


Cal Hand plays on one cut on "The Best" - Bill Cheatham, an old fiddle tune.
He plays Dobro with Leo backing him on rhythm guitar.

BTW, there's a public TV special about Leo.  Channel 30 in Atlanta shows it
this coming Wednesday, channel 8 shows it the 12th.  Check your local 
schedule.

Bob

    Friend of mine bought a Bozo here in the UK.
    
    It was built in Japan supposedly under Bozo's direction.
    
    It was junk.
    
    The neck was like a tree and the strings were not grouped in six
    pairs of two, they just seemed to be twelve strings across the neck.
    
    It was a sob to keep in tune (even more so than most 12s).
    
    All in all not a good buy for the 600 pounds plus he paid for it.
    
    btw for those who are unfamiliar, Bozo is the first name of Bozo
    Podunavac, a European emigree to the USA who is a luthier.
    
    I believe that Leo playing the Bozo did wonders for the sales.
    
    When I saw him playing in England he used a Martin conversion. 
    
    Virtually all the published interviews I have mention the first
    12 Kottke owned, which was a Gibson (I believe similar to the Gordon
    Lighfoot type) and which was stolen from him after a gig.
    
    andy
    

    There was an excellent interview with Leo in Frets (whatever happened
    to that magazine? I never see it on the nestands anymore.) about 18
    months ago.
    
    Leo had a major problem with tendonitis and had to stop playing and
    develop a new technique in order to recover from a parlysis in his
    right hand.  He credits a now deceased classical instructor with
    helping him rebuild based on "touch" rather than power in his picking. 
    He does most of his work now on 6 strings and with fingertips, not
    fingerpicks.
    
    He is amazing.  He was a fairly regular on "A Prairie Home Companion",
    some of the performances incredible, some (while he was coming back
    from his injuries) flawed.  Disney Channel videotaped about a dozend of
    these radio shows, he is in at least two.
    
    Leo is one of those guys to listen to when my playing gets into a rut,
    he reminds of the range of sounds you can get out of the instrument
    (not that I can, but is nice to have something to shoot for).
    
    - Evan

I saw the PBS show about Leo on Channel 44 out of Boston just last week; 
it was on a couple of times--maybe they'll repeat it again.

It combined some concert footage with a visit to his home, including a drive 
in his car while he talked about his kids, and a visit to the room where he 
puts all his guitars that have "misbehaved."

At one point, I believe they referred to him as a guitarist/humorist, which 
from this show seemed to be an accurate description. 

There was also a nice clip of him playing a song with Chet Atkins.

Nice show; catch it if you can,

Peter

    This is now available on video.
    
    I just bought My Fathers Face on cassette and there is an order
    form for the video on the inlay card.
    
    Question is - is it available in the UK or at least on PAL rather
    than NTSC.
    
    andy
     

    I've been a fan for some years now.  I started with "Balance" in about
    1981.  His music seems to have become more commercial over the years.
    "My Father's Face" doesn't have much in the way of technically
    brilliant guitar tracks (like "Busted Bicycle" or "Whine" on it. 
    
    I'd really like to see him live but have never seen any concerts
    advertised, I suppose he would play at some small venue without
    much in the way of advertising so I'd probably miss it (like Paco
    Pena did).  So I'd be very interested in any videos available, and
    also if there is a fan club.
    
    He has had a music book published.  It has transcriptions of Mona
    Ray, Bean Time, The Fisherman, Three Walls and Bars, Jack Fig and
    some others.  The Fisherman is quite easy to play, if you can master
    the rhythm.  I found the technique of picking only about half the
    notes with the right hand and fingering the rest with the left very
    tricky.  Jack Fig sound great on a 12 string, but I cheat and just
    hammer all the strings :-).
    
    I've got a copy of "The Best" on record, however the two pages of
    information inside are all in French, anybody ever translated them
    or is there an English version ?
    
    Trev

>    "My Father's Face" doesn't have much in the way of technically
>    brilliant guitar tracks (like "Busted Bicycle" or "Whine" on it. 
    
I haven't heard Leo play anything like the heavy-duty 12-string stuff
from the seventies since ... well, the seventies.  I think it's probably 
because of his bout with tendonitis.  Playing hard and fast on a 12-string
with finger picks puts a serious strain on the wrist (You kids at home, don't 
try this).  He's given up the finger picks and doesn't seem to play the 
12-string much anymore.

Bob

    Leo has a new release out, it's called "That's What".  I always get a
    kick out of his off-the-wall approach ;-)  He's still a great acoustic
    player too!
    
    Mike

    
    
    			Do anyone of you Leo Kottke fans know how
    	to get hold of any of the following on CD or ALBUM:
    
    		Circle araound the sun
    		Mudlark
    		6 & 12 string guitar
    		Greenhouse
    		My feet are smiling
    		Ice Water
    		Dreams and all that stuff
    		Chewing Pine
    		Leo Kottke 1971/76
    		Live in Europe
    		And the one with Cal Hand called "The Wylie Butler"
    
    		I have most of the stuff after 1976 but have not found
    	a way to get most of the Capitol albums. I have just about given
    	up trying. I had the Mudlark album in my hands once but did not
    	know Leo Kottke at the time so I didn't pick it up. 
    		Do any of you care to sell your copies of these?
    
    				Thanks for any help,
    				Mark 
    				SOLVIT::MAY
        			264-3129
    
    	  
    

    Acoustic Guitar Magazine Features Leo this Month. I believe I read
    in there that some of his early stuff is being re-released on CD
    on some label in the UK. Maybe some of our UK friends might know
    more.
    
    jim

    Re: .19
    
    The "one with Cal Hand" is really a Cal Hand album with Kottke backing
    him up.  It's on the Takoma label which has always had really lousy
    distribution...they may not even have a distributor currently.
    
    						Brian

    		Here is a great place to see Leo Kottke in concert:
                 
    		If you want to see Leo Kottke in concert up close then 
    	    give the Nashua Center for the Performing Arts a call, 
    	    Nashua, N.H. For the past 2 years he has played one concert 
            in February. I have been able to get a table right on the 
            stage both years. The hall is small so call early. Tickets
            usually go on sale around December.
     
    
    				Mark
    				KOTTKE::MAY

    Leo will be performing Friday night in Atlanta at the Variety, for
    anyone who might be in the neighborhood. I'll be there.
    
    jim

>    Leo will be performing Friday night in Atlanta at the Variety, for
>    anyone who might be in the neighborhood. I'll be there.
    
>    jim


Rats!  I have to work Friday night.

I'd like to hear what Leo's been doing with 12-string since he returned to it.
The stuff he did several years ago was pretty amazing, but since then he's 
been through a case of tendinitis and has gone from finger picks to nails.

Bob

Show in Atlanta on Friday was quite good. Leo did two sets. Did probably
an equal bit of 6 & 12 String stuff. Used his signature Taylor 12 string
and a concert sized Olsen 6. The only slide stuff he did was a medley of
older stuff in the second set. Very nice.

He also did a fair amount of "new" (at least I hadn't heard it before) stuff.
A lot of his stuff now has traces of jazz and even some Latin influence.

Leo spent a great amount of time tuning the 12 string, and told quite a few
stories while doing it. He also didn't hesitate to switch tunings on the
12 string as well. He was more talkative than I recall him in the past
and kept the audience laughing with his very dry sense of humor.

He told some Pete Seeger anecdotes, and said something to the effect that
he got all his right hand stuff from Pete. 

He also told some Joe Pass anecdotes. He apparently has been running into
Joe along with Paco Pena. He mentioned possibly doing a tour of some sort
with Joe, Paco, & a third guitarist that I didn't catch.

As for other projects he mentioned he is doing some recording with a the
keyboard player from Little Feat (didn't remember the name).

Once again I was amazed, and am still wondering "How did he do that?"

    The Keyboard player from Little Feat is Bill Payne.  

 > He told some Pete Seeger anecdotes, and said something to the effect that
 > he got all his right hand stuff from Pete. 

    So ... did he use his right hand to jam a wood wedge into his capo?

>                 <<< Note 1319.27 by STAR::BECK "Paul Beck" >>>
>                     -< ... if you're gonna copy Pete ... >-


>    So ... did he use his right hand to jam a wood wedge into his capo?


Okay, Paul, you're gonna hafta explain that one.


Bob

    If you ever saw Pete Seeger play his 12-string back in the 70s (and
    probably 60s), he used one of those metal capos with the spring lever
    action on one side. It wasn't robust enough to hold all the strings down
    without buzzing, so he had a small wedge of wood he'd jam into the lever
    to hold it down tighter.

    If you've got a copy of the Rhino compilation Troubadours of the Folk
    Era (volume II), you can see what I'm talking about (page 4 of the liner
    notes).

>    probably 60s), he used one of those metal capos with the spring lever
>    action on one side. It wasn't robust enough to hold all the strings down


Sounds like a Jim Dunlop capo.  I used one until I noticed it was scraping
the finish off the neck.

Bob

    Has anyone come across any videos featuring Leo Kottke in concert.
    
    I've got our local "World Entertainment Music" shop to trawl through
    the catalogues but they can't find any in the UK.
    
    Regards,
    Trevor

    The man himself is back in the UK to play the Royal Festival Hall in
    March :-)))