Sidetrack Liner Notes

A deep discussion with John Sebastian concerning his boyhood and musical development in Greenwich Village and the folk movement, his founding of The Lovin' Spoonful, his move to California and his solo career which continues today. A raconteur of the first order who has had a front row seat when he hasn't been on stage himself to some of the most important events in American popular music of the last 60 years. 

Zeke Schein is our guest to discuss his discovery of what many believe is the 3rd photo of Robert Johnson King of the delta Blues and the writing of his new book, "Portrait of a Phantom". This discovery is not without controversy. Zeke lays out the story of finding the photo and his struggles to discover the identity of the 2 men in the photo. Zeke was optimal placed as first salesman an Greenwich Village's Matt Umanov Guitar Shop. He daily was able to share the image with some of the world's most knowledgeable and enthusiastic blues experts and fans. Zeke is an accomplished musician himself and has delved deeply into mastering the Robert John repertoire. His stewardship of the image and writing of the book make for a fascinating podcast. 

Martin Kelly is best known to SLN listeners for authoring the book "Fender The Golden Age" along with his brother photographer Paul Kelly and previous SLN participant Terry Foster. We visited him outside London where he lives with his wife Sarah Cracknell singer of Saint Etienne for this interview which covers his history and fascination with vintage guitars and amplifiers and his career as a musician, manager, label owner and producer of films. A joyous conversation full of info and details of a life devoted to music and collecting.

In pt. 2 of our conversation with John Cohen he discusses his trips to Kentucky to record Roscoe Holcomb, his collaboration with Ralph Rinzler for the first concerts for The Friends of Old Time Music, Doc Watson's trips to New York, The New Lost City Ramblers residency at The Ash Grove in L A where Johnny Cash stood in for Mother Maybelle and The Ramblers road trips with Ms Carter, Newport "65, and printing books with Steidl. A wonderful summation of a rich lifetime of creative projects revolving around music.

John Cohen This man has done it all, photographer, musician, film maker, teacher, historian. He started in the late 50s on the Lower East Side with the abstract expressionist and beatniks. By the 60s he was in the thick of the Folk Music Boom in Greenwich Village where he helped form the New Lost City Ramblers on of the best bands performing "Old Time Music" now referred to as "Americana". He tells us of photographing and filming then newcomer to the Village, Bob Dylan. Also stories of explorations to the South to locate, photograph, film and record original country musicians. A rich and varied life, tales well told by a remarkable gentleman.  

Recorded in Kingston N.Y. Part 2 of our conversation with Geoff where he discusses his time in the steel business (go figure?) and return to music recording the wonderful personal C D, "The Secret Handshake" , his 8 year classical music project in Antwerp, "Private Astronomy, the C D that features his arrangements of classic Bix Beiderbecke tunes, The Roots of Geoff Muldaur a project that now numbers 8 C Ds of material (the actual source recordings) that have inspired Geoff. Let's hope the notes for this project will become an autobiography and trips to Japan that result in The Martin Guitar Co. producing the Geoff Muldaur Model Martin Guitar. If you caught SLN podcast #16 we know you've been waiting for part 2. 

We sit down in Kingston, N y with Geoff and have a far ranging conversation on all things musical. We get into his early fascination Blues and Jazz recordings accompanied by his friend Joe Boyd and Joe's  brother Warwick. Geoff's involvement with the Cambridge scene including his time with the famed Jim Kweskin Jug Band. Geoff and his wife of the time Maria's  2 L Ps followed by his time in Woodstock as vocalist for Paul Butterfield's band Better Days. Just too much to list here plus there will be a part 2 podcast #17. 

We introduce our recording engineer, Mike Crehore who helps us in the 2nd part of our  conversation with Richard Alderson. Richard discusses building his first recording in NYC, Some of his techniques and philosophies for recording The ESP free Jazz catalogue. More about the 1966 tour with Dylan and The Band. His feelings about tubes vs solid state and digital vs analogue. He concludes with discussion of the 51st anniversary re-release of "One Nation Underground" by Pearls Before Swine. A great follow up to his first podcast SLN #14

For years the tapes sat in the vaults of then Columbia now Sony. Now we can listen to the famous Bob Dylan and the Hawks/Band live tour of 1966 which includes the "Judus" concert in Manchester England. Richard is the audio & recording engineer that we can thank for these recordings. He has great stories of his early times in Greenwich Village in the late 50's early 60's recording Nina Simone, John Hammond and traveling with Harry Belafonte as sound man. He charted his on course as an independent recording engineer and is a great story teller with firm opinions of his own. He is a first hand source of information at the birth of modern music in New York. 

J. J. French doesn't let up in part 2 of his interview. Great tales of his early musical development and witnessing of the amazing scene in New York in the late 60s and 70s. He describes his initial involvement in the band Twisted Sister and some of the methods and attitudes that have made the band successful for more than 40 years.

We Sit down with J. J. French best know as the lead guitarist of Twisted Sister. J.J. tells us of his musical beginnings in New York, His musical forays to Greenwich Village and The Fillmore East where he witnessed an enviable number of bands. Very little escaped his eye. He tells his story with intelligence and humor. This is the first of at least 2 podcast maybe 3. This one will have you laughing right along.  Audition Template: 1 Mono Host track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Mono Interview track (with Speech Volume Leveler), 1 Stereo Sound FX with effects, 1 Stereo Music Bed track. 44.1k, 16 bit, Stereo Master.

Author, Terry Foster (Fender The Golden Age) discusses Leo Fender from childhood, his radio shop, partnership with Doc Kaufman and formation of Fender Electric Instruments. A deep dive into the company and it's early development. 

Pt.2 of our discussion with Brooklyn guitar wizard Flip Scipio where he discusses the music and guitars of Ry Cooder, David Lindley,Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Wes Montgomery and more. Informative and entertaining for sure. 

Flip is such an entertaining speaker that he could have a career in stand up. However, there would be a long line at his door in Bushwick in need of his guitar wizardry.  Imagine the following who’s guitars he’s worked on  lined up at his door: George Benson, Edie Brickell, Jeff Bridgers, Jackson Browne, Larry Campbell, Jim Campilongo, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, Tony Garner, Mary Halverson, Norah Jones, Patty Larkin, Will Lee, Adrian Legg, John Leventhal Paul MaCartney, Marc Ribot, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Slash, Bruce Springston, Leni Stern Stephen Stills, Suzanne Vega, Tony Visconti, and Rufus Wainwright. You get the idea. So settle down for a very informative and entertaining listen.

More great stuff from Dan, tips for buying and setting up guitars. His adventures as a pioneer of self produced guitar repair instructional videos. His inventions like a chair that holds your guitar while you sit on it and numerous recollections of musicians he's known. Dan's stories flow like water. check out the blog for a Spotify playlist  at www.sidetracklinernotes.com 

Dan Erlewine master guitar repairman and current spokesman for Stewart MacDonald discusses his life in music from his folkie roots in Ann Arbor, his blues band days in San Francisco, building guitars for Albert King and Jerry Garcia, the creation of his pioneering videos on guitar repair plus many fascinating stories and guitar tips. Extremely entertaining.

In part 2 of our conversation Andre' discusses his early trips to Nashville and Kalamazoo to research his first book  "Gibson Electrics" and his involvement with Fender leading to his books "The Fender Telecaster" and "The Fender Stratocaster". A fascinating discussion with a pioneer vintage guitar expert. 

Pioneer vintage guitar expert Andre' Duchossoir discusses early fascination with the guitar and music including attending the Beatles Paris concerts in 1964 and the groundbreaking early articles and books on vintage guitars

Author, writer Dave Rubin continues the discussion of the evolution of the electric guitar in R & B. with examples from Ike Turner, Curtis Mayfield , The Meters, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Cropper and Nile Rodgers. If you enjoyed episode #3 pt.1 then you won't want to miss this wrap up in pt. 2

Dave Rubin, author of over 100 books of guitar instruction and numerous articles on the blues based on personal interviews with many notables brings his formidable knowledge to our podcast. It will take 2 podcast for Dave to discuss the evolution of the electric guitar in Rhythm and Blues.