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Unheralded Sideman

There's a story from the first US tour of the original Jeff Beck Group that after a performance in Central Park's Wollman Skating Ring a PR type from the record label ran up to the group's vocalist, Rod Stewart, and said, "Great show Jeff, and your band has a really good guitarist too!" So much for the intelligence of PR reps, but there are occasions where I think the sidemen musicians are at least as interesting, if not more interesting, than the star performers. Some of my favorite sidemen are:

James Jamerson - bass, Motown house band
Jack Ashford - tambourine, Motown house band
Charlie Watts - drums, Rolling Stones
Jack Cassady - bass, Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna
Bruce Thomas - bass, EC & the Attraction

Anybody eles have their favorite sidemen?
128x128onhwy61
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Venetta Fields for "side" female vocals
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Zaikesman really nailed this one-- good post. Others that come to mind for me are Jim Keltner on Drums, and Ry Cooder on guitar-- especially slide guitar. I don't know if they're "sidemen" in the conventional sense as both have become somewhat musically famous in their own right. Cheers. Craig
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Yeah, they're sidemen, absolutely, even though they've done work under their own names as leaders. I like 'em better as sidemen.
jayboard
301 posts
 
Some of Steely Dan's guitar collaborators, like Denny Diaz, Larry Carlton (not so unheralded), Dean Parks. I love Jesse Edwin Davis (guitar) -- wish I heard him a lot more. I think Procol Harum's B J Wilson was one of the best rock drummers ever.
bbyer
18 posts
 
two piano players:

Chuck leavell played piano for eric clapton, the rolling stones, the allman brothers (who do you think played the piano solo in jessica?), black crowes, etc...

Johnnie Johnson started a small band that was joined by a guitar player named Chuck Berry. Chuck took all the credit but no Johnnie is suing for songwriting credit and money I am sure. He has done a couple of great solo albums but his piano playing with chuck berry is awesome.
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