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 Manassas" - Stephen Stills/Al Perkins
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CHIP FOSSA Member From: Monson, MA 01057 U.S.A. |
posted 03 December 2001 09:36 PM
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Just sitting here tonite and putting the WMP on the "shuffle" mode and didn't realize that a lot of stuff gets logged into this WMP.........so......."DON'T LOOK AT MY SHADOW, IT'S BEHIND ME" written, composed, and executed by the incomprable Stephen Stills, and with, no less, Al Perkins on steel, is one helluva an intro to this great song. Of course, "MR AL" does not leave us hanging, and continues thru this, should I say, bluegrass-style-tune, and continues to just BLOW-MY-MIND. [This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 03 December 2001 at 09:40 PM.] [This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 03 December 2001 at 09:41 PM.] |
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rayman unregistered |
posted 03 December 2001 11:49 PM
Al was probably THE reason that I took up steel. I fronted for the Burritos when he was in the band in the early seventies and his steel playing blew my mind. I got a chance to interview him for Steel Guitar World Magazine many years later. A real gentleman.Great palm blocker. [This message was edited by rayman on 03 December 2001 at 11:51 PM.] [This message was edited by rayman on 03 December 2001 at 11:51 PM.] |
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CHIP FOSSA Member From: Monson, MA 01057 U.S.A. |
posted 04 December 2001 05:02 AM
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Thanks for that insight Rayman. Those must have been some 'heady' times for you; I know they were for me, and I wasn't even playing with the FBB. ChipsAhoy |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 04 December 2001 08:14 AM
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fronted....? Rayman, story please, mucho details and recollections! |
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rayman unregistered |
posted 04 December 2001 03:09 PM
Jason. I was a cocky nineteen year old drummer in a local country rock band on Long Island in 71. I was a local hot shot on drums and thought I was "REAL GOOD". I got my a$$ handed to me when I went downstairs wandering through halls of thick smoke to the sound of the Burritos warming up for their show. It was Chris Hillman and Michael Clark, along with Rick Roberts and Al Perkins. I had never seen real talent at that level smack in my face. It unerved me so much that I shook like a leaf when we went on stage. My first back-up concert. Besides this they were all gentlemen and were real cool in nature. It taught me the biggest lesson I ever had in music. Always be a repectful gentlemen and never,never inflate yourself in your own mind. Al Perkins blew my mind on steel as I watched him do "My Uncle" and "Devil in Disguise" right in front of me. He showed me what real talent is. Needless to say Chris Hillman and the rest were flawless. Even asked the audience if they were too loud. For an added bonus, Byron Berline came out with The Country Gazette after us and showed me what a world class bluegrass fiddler sounded like. Chris Hillman played mandolin with them. It wasn't long afterword that I took up fiddle because of that night. The single most inspiring and humbling event in my thirty year musical career. I still use Al Perkins licks when I play. He played a ZB Custom 11 string. I have the honor of knowing Al and staying in touch with him. He still plays international with different people. |
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Pat Burns Member From: Branchville, N.J. USA |
posted 04 December 2001 05:38 PM
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..Thanks for the topic, Chip...Manassas, in the top 5 of my all-time favorite albums..the guitar player who most influenced my playing was Steve Stills, and the sound of Al Perkin's steel always haunted me until I finally bought one and took it up myself...I think I'll put on "It Doesn't Matter" and give it a listen before I practice tonight.. ..thanks for the story, Rayman.. |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 04 December 2001 07:12 PM
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Rayman, well that was great! Thanks for the story, I enjoyed it greatly. The Country Gazette portion is interesting as well, the groups merged for a late 1971-early 1972 tour in Europe, but by that stage Hillman and Perkins were with Manassas. |
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CHIP FOSSA Member From: Monson, MA 01057 U.S.A. |
posted 05 December 2001 01:08 PM
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The last time I saw Al on the tube was on the Nashville network where Chris Hillman and Desert Rose were playing. It was that show where everyone sort of sat around in a parlor setting and on this show She hails from Texas, and Chris played and sang with her, as well as Al on steel. They did two original Ninajosa songs that were just super. They're titles escape me now. I'll find out. It's in here somewhere. ChipsAhoy [This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 05 December 2001 at 01:10 PM.] |
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