Sidetrack Liner Notes

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.