Power Guitar Riffs and a Box of Shiraz

This weekend I’m going to take you back in history and revisit some of the best guitar riffs and and power songs in history. There are seventeen selections tonight and another seventeen tomorrow. The songs were selected by several criteria. First, was there a great hook or guitar part that sticks in your mind like a worm devouring your gray matter? “Songs like Walk Don’t Run,” “Day Tripper,” “Louie, Louie,” or “Satisfaction” are representative of this category. Second, did the song have such an impact that it’s been re-recorded or covered numerous times? It seems like every acoustic guitarist has to have a version of “Here Comes The Sun” in their repertoire. Third, were they just real guitar anthems like Pinball Wizard or Watchtower? Fourth is a miscellaneous category. The song defined an era. And last but not least, fifth, I just plain liked it.

Judging from the fact that each entry of this blog gets about 75-100 hits, it’s a good bet that some of the songs tonight were probably recorded before many of my readers were born. So, a little background may be in order. Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen was a classic, yet scandalous, rock tune in the sixties. There were all kinds of takes on the lyrics and supposedly they were quite sexually explicit. If so, the Kingsmen never sang that version publically. The Ventures were an all guitar, all instrumental group. I had all of their records (vinyl) and my favorite all time bass guitar was a Mosrite, the guitar the Ventures played. It had a 30” scale, lightning fast neck, and killer tone.

Wherever possible, I’ve linked to the original videos, i.e. the Beatles videos are taken from their early TV recordings. Try not to laugh at the hairstyles and clothes of the gals and guys. They were cool back then.

One thing you will not see either tonight or tomorrow. No “Free Bird.” I hate that song. Sorry. Hope you get a kick out of tonight’s collection.

Kingsmen

Louie Louie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cec1JInytH0

The Ventures

Walk Don’t Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0jy1H5qTo

Pipeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K40ryWp3Ro4

Beach Boys

Good Vibrations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrKKbaClME

Beatles

Day Tripper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EwHnCDJljo

I feel fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLJegqXIgM

Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_pSCCzuU4Y

Here comes the sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWwrhUX3iTM

Jimi Hendrix

Purple Haze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjMuKP1GpLY

Watchtower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2bYJQFQMs8

Rolling Stones

Satisfaction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhNm3WI8myM

Honkey Tonk Woman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRXrFP7HGA

Jumpin Jack Flash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ9D0UHP7x4

Who

Won’t get fooled again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6-wG5LLqE

Pinball wizard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GE8nR-5kL4

Led Zepplin

Immigrant song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlNhD0oS5pk

Cream

Sunshine of your love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqh54rSzheg

There’s a lot to listen to here so I’m going to suggest a box wine, namely Hardy’s Shiraz South Eastern Australia. (about $20.00 for 3 liters). I love a good jammy Shiraz and this is a good one for a boxed wine. Lots of blueberries, black raspberries, and spice with hints of oak and a bit of vanilla. Nothing complex, it’s just a juicy, plush wine. Stick it in the Fridge for an hour to give it a slight chill. Three liters should last through the set. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Indigo Girls and Saint-Amant Grangeneuve

Although I was a professional bassist when I was younger, I took up the acoustic guitar because playing the bass by myself was boring. I used take my Martin D-35 and play regularly at a particular coffee house in college. So, although I’m a jazz/blues musician by training, I have always loved the folk scene.

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers make up what I consider to be one of the premier duos to ever hit the music scene—the Indigo Girls. The only other due that comes close to their melodies, harmonies, and lyrical beauty is Simon and Garfunkel. They first met at Laurel Ridge Elementary School near Decatur, Georgia. They didn’t become friends until high school because Emily was a year older than Amy. While attending Shamrock High School, they recognized their musical love and started performing together, first as “The B-Band” then as “Saliers and Ray.”

After graduating, they went their separate ways, Saliers to Tulane University and Ray to Vanderbilt. Both became homesick and returned to Georgia where they attended Emory University and reunited as a musical duo. They needed a name and began going through the dictionary looking for words that struck them. Indigo was the winner and they began performing publically under the name Indigo Girls.

Around 1988, the duo seemed to fit into the category of “the next big thing,” following the success of artists like Tracy Chapman and Suzanne Vega. As a result, Epic Records signed them to their first major recording contract. Their first release, “Indigo Girls” contains one of my all time favorites, “Closer to Fine.” The album won a Grammy award for best folk recording.

While their guitar and vocal harmonies are captivating, don’t miss the poetry of their lyrics starting with “Closer to Fine.” Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Closer to fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgwM1Ky228

Galileo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI1keSSwdcI

Least complicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBZ_dkGpJ4

Power of two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj0yVN8pFNw

Blood and fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIDyGTD6EZw

Prince of darkness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY9-98tkfvg

Hammer and a nail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTI2GGNFR_U

Romeo & Juliet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEcMzxLxSgo

Chickenman/Bitter root: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-rxBU5p2cs

Tangled up in blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PKoMxd3Idk

Share the moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGPAwHHHpQ

Bus bus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZMkqdgzI8

Opened a bottle of one of my favorite wines recently, which is very appropriate since the Indigo girls are one of my favorite folk groups. The 2009 Saint-Amant Grangeneuve Beaumes-du-Venise is a Southern Rhone crafted from 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Viognier. In the glass it’s dark purple with aromas of red raspberries and spice. Its tastes like a bowl full of raspberries and cherries with a bit of pepper due to the Syrah. At $17.00, it also a bargain. Get your local wine shop to order a case and enjoy it with the music of the Indigo Girls.

Cheers!

Sue Foley & Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc

Sue Foley, born March 29, 1968, is one of the finest blues artists on today’s music scene. She grew up in Ottawa, Canada listening to rock and roll and blues-rock groups like the Rolling Stones. But at the age of 15 she saw a performance by James Cotton that convinced her to take up the guitar. She started her professional career at the age of 16 playing with a number of local bar bands. At the age of 21, she moved to Austin, Texas and began recording for the legendary blues label, Antone’s Records. Her “Young Girl Blues” debut release established her as a serious blues guitarist and songwriter.

During the 90’s, she traveled the country playing her trademark paisley Telecaster honing her craft with the likes of Buddy Guy, BB king, and John Lee Hooker. She moved back to Canada where she’s garnered a host of awards including the Juno Award for her CD “Love Coming Down” as well as 17 Maple Blues awards.

Sue’s got some wicked guitar chops that makes her a rarity on par with female blues guitarists like Bonnie Raitt. Her guitar complimented by her singing and song writing put her in a class by herself. Hope you enjoy this talented lady.

Blues in D/Queen bee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFxmVIWaYGM

Hooked on love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tq2zBQw2Y8

Treat me right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqorlJc1YMw

Long distance lover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ED2vFmtG28

The snake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITinS_jtKT8

At the Bottom Line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSQKsUc5Sg4

So far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8IeKDIJ8eA

Fool me good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxnZ73KC2rk

Two trains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGHQZ7K1aKk

Big city blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y--nYNN5J5w

Same thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nJzphIwXRo

Gone blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4dQsuTtMYA

Absolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3MZDhfvjtU

New used car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fohou3uUZw

Sue Foley’s blues guitar reminds me of summer, a good thing since it’s frigid here right now. In memory of summer, I suggest a 2010 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc  ($17.00). The wine is crisp with aromas of citrus and melon that follow on the palate augmented by hints of apricots and vanilla. It’s a very refreshing wine and if you turn up the fireplace and close your eyes, you can almost convince yourself that what you’re feeling is the warmth of summer. Enjoy.

Cheers!

Guitar Cornucopia & Campo Viejo Tempranillo Rioja

There are many fine guitarists I find as I surf the web for likely musicians to review on this blog. I like to have at least ten selections with most of them live performances in order to make the review worthwhile and give the reader a good picture of the musician’s style. But quite often, I run across very talented guitarists for whom only two or three recordings are available. So tonight, I’m presenting a cornucopia of a number of talented musicians with a limited presence on YouTube. I’ll leave it up to the reader to pursue any favorites for further investigation.

Not all of them are unknowns. Danny Gatton was heralded as a master of the Telecaster until he took his life some years ago. I first heard Bill Connors when he emerged on the scene with Chick Corea in the original Return to Forever group. Connors actually has quite a few recordings, but not many live performances. I have a sentimental favorite in Frank Portolese, one of Chicago’s finest jazz guitarists. Frank and I played together through our college years and he played at my wedding.

The styles are diverse, stretching from celtic to jazz to blues. Hope you find something you like. Enjoy!

Tony McManus

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqphR8wgWtY&feature=relmfu

Celtic Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unFIeE7VZgw

Julian Kleiss

Spirited Chameleon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxUmhSVVq34

Living Under Water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcl87ZSGfB4

Mike Dawes

Boogie Shred: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-hJU-68pFQ&feature=related

DADGAD Jazz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZSzmim4brk&feature=related

Frank Portolese

St. Louis Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EltYqjD6fM

All the things you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XutUdjt_cI

Roman Miroshnichenko

Stairway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pACg14PhYI

Sliverish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j64cBo01ktg&feature=relmfu

Mark Sganga

Fragile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4fjSuRx2EU

Suite Judy Blue Eyes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz1KpoIEKrQ

Pete Barrenger

Downtime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov12JWLQfLk

Instrumental #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIbKUOmq5BQ

Travis Vega

Eastside Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLRHHa0fJIw

Club Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TemDRnrEWZ4

Bill Connors

Floor to floor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k38--kFO2E&feature=related

Add Eleven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S8Gt8-95dA

Danny Gatton

Funky Mama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUpP7CnW4yA&feature=related

Redneck Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxZpE9DQM3A

D.R. Auten

Runaway Train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DFo4Zx1p5M

Angela: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h7TtTM_Puw

Paul Brett

The Gryphon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwekDzSeak8&feature=related

Double Trouble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIfxfAhjNCw&feature=related

Rick Ruskin

Me and the devil blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u782y2pq4Rg&feature=related

Ain’t misbehaving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYUCWhVtNuU&feature=related

Tim Sparks

 I’ll fly away: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-be8E6od4ao

Mississippi Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uis3gZ2mraw

With the diversity of musical styles represented by these guitarists, I thought I’d pair them with a “best buy” that should be widely available. The 2007 Campo Viejo Tempranillo Rioja ($10.00) is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo. The wine is garnet red with sweet aromas of cherry, raspberry, and vanilla. The palate follows with cherry, blackberry, caramel, peppery herbs, and soft tannins. This is a smooth drinking wine that pairs well with food or works fine on its own. For $10.00, it’s a bargain and a great alternative to that six-pack of beer you planned on consuming during the football games this week end. Plus, it’s heart healthy. Skip the half time shows and sip a glass of Campo Viejo Tempranillo Rioja while you listen to some very fine guitarists.

Cheers!

Carl Verheyen & Franciscan Merlot

For the past 25 years, Carl Verheyen has been one of LA’s elite “first call” session players. His guitar work can be heard in films like Star Trek, The Crow, The Negotiator, Gladiator, Walking Tall, True Lies, and Ratatouille as well as TV shows that include Cheers, Scrubs, Samantha who, Frasier, Married with Children, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, and Happy Days. His playing graces albums by everyone from the Bee Gees to Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton to Glenn Frey, Cher to Dave Grusin, and Tiffany to Victor Feldman.

In 1996 Carl won the LA Music Awards category of Best Guitarist. He holds a position as an adjunct instructor of studio jazz guitar in the Thorton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

 As an elite “first call” session player, Carl is an expert in blues, jazz, pop, country, rock, and even orchestral music where he is expected to sight-read a score one minute, then launch into an improvised metal shred the next without dropping a note. But in addition to session work, Carl has followed in the steps of guitarists like Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Howard Roberts, and Steve Lukather pursuing a career as a solo artist, composer, and band leader. He’s been a member of the British rock group Supertramp since 1985 and still plays with them as well as touring with his own group.

Not only is he a technical master of the guitar, but his tone is superb, in some ways reminiscent of the sounds Eric Johnson gets out of his instrument. Carl is one of the best. Hope you enjoy him.

Constant as the wind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYnqC7R-UZQ

Garage Sale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_0WV3CLbqo

Little wing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Ibqf55WRA

Take one step: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtQapyal-js

New Years Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5MAY3K4saA

Eastern Steppes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akKIJpYny6M

All you need is love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05bPKHBtw4E&feature=relmfu

No walkin blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QNl0Kj14fE&feature=relmfu

Topanga Hoedown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLLYGwHVUWo&feature=relmfu

Down like hail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_rOhvC2dNU&feature=relmfu

In the stream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNtolOH4mQ&feature=relmfu

Maggie’s Ladder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqKRWiBQEm0&feature=related

Good Bye Pork Pie Hat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qXC402o7us&feature=related

Henry’s Farm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHFXzFUpDfs&feature=related

I’m pairing Carl with a 2008 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Merlot that I picked up at Costco for $16.00. It features dark berries and spices on the nose followed by cherry, blackberry, dark plums, and a touch of vanilla on the palate. It’s a smooth drinking wine with a nice mouthfeel and a long, elegant finish. Pick up a bottle and enjoy it with Carl Verheyn’s incredible guitar.

Cheers!