OK I like JJ Cale, I really like his version of "Cocaine", of course he wrote it. But again he is a just a great guitarist without a really good backup band. Same goes with E Clapton. Besides having just session players his music has been lacking in intensity and drive but still an awesome guitar player. I will repeat it again, the Yardbird's rendition of "Smokestack Lightning" with the hard driving lead guitar of E Clapton and the almost mythical bass and rhthym guitar playing of the rest of the band still makes it the greatest song ever. It is raw and exciting. With JBeck at the helm of the group it is different more stylish/even more bluesy but just as exciting. I never heard JBeck/JPage Yardbirds do the song but god I would love to hear that one!! Speaking of blues bands that were electric try any album or cd with Muddy Waters, Otis Spann,and Willie Dixon. Saw Muddy in 1969 awesome guitar work all finesse and grace and the rhythm section was superb;those guys do not waste a note. If you like to try something different try "Fathers and Sons" with M Bloomfield. P Butterfield, with Muddy Waters, Otis Spann and crew. Jimi Hendrix was technically great but his band did not share the spotlight ;it all was shown on Jimi. That is why this thread was on Guitar Bands not Guitar Players
Greatest Guitar Band
I thought just before Christmas I'd get a good thread going. IMHO,the greatest guitar band was the Yardbirds, not because E Clapton,or J Beck, or J Page was in it but because Chris Deja, and Paul Samwell-Smith were great rhythm and bass guitarists that could rock and keep up with the above. Plus Jim McCarty the drummer could keep the group in line and fine harmonica work from Keith Relf(ok not the greatest vocalist, more of a finesse singer).They had it all, I cannot think of another band that had three great guitarists in the band at one time(J Beck, C Deja, P Samwell-Smith). In 1967, when J Beck and J Page were in the band togther as co-lead guitars, they were the lead in band for the rolling stones, they just blow them away,ok, that is not a fair comparison considering the rolling stones still cannot play their instruments very well. But in comparison to say Led Zepplin, LZ did not have a rhthym guitarist(except J Page would overdub that part on recordings). That made them sound not as well rounded live as far as guitar work is concerned. I am not saying LZ was a bad band on the contrary,they put on probably the best show ever, but I do not consider them a guitar band per se. Besides, J Page stole vitually from his former band anyway. Remember "How Many More Times" is a repackaged version of the YBs "Smokestack Lightning", a Howlin Wolf tune. YBs version is in my mind the best rock song ever. So what do you think????
- ...
- 93 posts total
- 93 posts total