Tag Archives: Paul McCartney

DownTown Blog – 10 Albums That Influenced DownTown Mystic

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courtesy of @markmaryanovich

I recently wrote a Featured article for Goldmine Magazine where I had to pick my Top 10 albums that had an influence on my music. As you might imagine, it was not an easy assignment. Trying to narrow down all the great albums that had an influence to only 10 required a good deal of thought. 1964-1972 were the years for the albums that I chose, and we all know how many great albums were made in that time period!

The albums are listed from 1 to 10 in order of the year they were made. This means in the order that I heard them and not in the order of importance.

The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

This is the first album that John (Lennon) and Paul (McCartney) wrote all the songs. In the U.S. we only got half a side of Beatles, and the other side was instrumental music from the film. RIPOFF!! Years later I bought a new stereo and decided to buy all the English albums (on vinyl) to experience the records the way The Beatles made them. I started buying their import albums on Parlophone but got an import Hard Day’s Night album from Japan. It sounded amazing. I couldn’t believe how bad the Capitol records sounded in comparison. Side 2 is pure Beatles 1964. This album shows how much John dictated the grooves with his rhythm playing. This is how I learned rhythm guitar from the master himself! Lennon’s “If I Fell” is pure and simple genius. I started writing songs because of this record.

The Beatles – Revolver (U.K. 1966)

Revolver is widely considered to be The Beatles best album, for sheer creativity and innovation. Nothing sounded like this before. Lennon called it their “guitar record” which makes it even better to me. This was their idea of hipper rock and roll in 1966. It certainly had an impact on me and my psyche as to how I listened to records and my taste in music. I also include the “Paperback Writer”/“Rain”single as part of the album. The Beatles would always record and release a single before an upcoming album, usually months in advance, and hearing this single when it was released was AMAZING!!

The Beatles – Yesterday and Today (U.S. 1966) 

Note: DOES NOT COUNT AS 1 OF THE 10 ALBUMS!!)

I had to mention the Yesterday and Today album on Capitol because THIS was probably my favorite Beatles album. This is the album with the infamous “Butcher’s cover.” It starts off with “Drive My Car“! We didn’t know that this was the first track on the U.K. Rubber Soul album because Capitol took “I’ve Just Seen a Face“ from Side 2 of the U.K. Help album and made it the first track on the U.S. Rubber Soul album! Even crazier, Capitol took three tracks from the UNRELEASED U.K. Revolver album and put them on Yesterday and Today, which is why I loved this record! I wasn’t that knocked out by Revolver when it came out three months later because it was missing thee of my all-time fave Beatles songs. That’s when I found out from a friend, who got an import of the U.K. Revolver on Parlophone with 14 songs, that the U.S. releases were BOGUS!!! Capitol got the message from the Butcher cover and stopped f–king with their releases.

The Rolling Stones – Aftermath (1966)

This is the first Stones album that Mick (Jagger) and Keith (Richards) wrote all the songs. It features band founder Brian Jones as “the soul of the band” with his amazing musical skills on full display. Without his added musical colorings to songs, playing a variety of instruments, there would be no Stones. I’m partial to the U.K. release. Classic tracks like “Under My Thumb.” “Mother’s Little Helper” (U.K.), “Paint It Black” (U.S.), and the 11-minute opus “Going Home.” That’s right, The Stones put out an 11-minute track in the pop world of 1966. I could always count on The Stones to show me where rock and roll was at when the music world was following whatever The Beatles released.

Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold as Love (1967)

I know his first album Are You Experienced made him a star and has his greatest hits on it, but it’s his second album Axis: Bold as Lovethat was a strong influence on me. I also believe that it was Jimi’s serious effort to showcase his songwriting. It’s a masterclass in subtlety featuring some of his best guitar work. His playing on this record taught me that there was more to guitar than just shredding. Songs like “Castles Made of Sand,” “Little Wing” and “If 6 was 9” are brilliant. Another example of hip sounding rock that influenced my taste and sensibility about what rock could be.

Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969 Debut)

This record probably had as much impact on me as any record I’ve ever heard. Hearing it for the first time was unbelievable! The vocals and Stephen Stills guitars changed my life and my music. My songwriting was heavily influenced, as was my acoustic guitar and harmonies. I’m growing up and here’s this grown up, mature music. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” is a masterpiece in writing, arranging and performing. There’s never been anything like it, before or since. I had been a fan of Stills work in Buffalo Springfield and this record is his and the payoff of the potential he showed in the Springfield.

The Beatles – Abbey Road (1969)

The final album. This is The Beatles at their best, considered to be the height of their professionalism, in regard to recording. It’s a perfect record that lets the band leave on a very high note. Side 2 pushes the album as an art form to new heights. It’s progressive in sound and scope and laid the groundwork for what was to come like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon.

Leon Russell – Leon Russell (1970)

This is the album that got me into playing piano. Leon was “The master of time and Space”, especially in 1970. He was the “sideman’s sideman”, having been a fixture in L.A.’s Wrecking Crew that had the top studio session players in the 1960s. This album was his coming out party to the rock and roll world. He was the hottest in-demand player on the planet and this record helped to cement his reputation. Honorable Mention: Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection (1970)

Dave Mason – Alone Together (1970)

This was a huge record at the time of its release, and I can’t underestimate its impact on me. Dave Mason had left the original Traffic and put this out, his first solo record with its multi-color vinyl. The songwriting is stellar and features a band with Leon Russell playing piano. I was always interested in rock and roll records that made new statements on the genre and this was one of them.

Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)

This was Rod the Mod’s big breakthrough record. It features the stellar guitar work of Ronnie Lane and like Dave Mason’s record, it was a big rock and roll statement. I was into acoustic guitar and this record used the acoustic guitar as integral part of rock and roll in new ways. “Maggie May“ was the hit that broke the record but it’s the title track that is an epic rock and roll track for the ages.

Joe Walsh – Barnstorm (1972)

This album was a mindblower. I knew of Walsh from his James Gang records and heard he had a new band called Barnstorm. I searched down the record and couldn’t believe what I heard when I put it on. This record was next level, and I wasn’t expecting it from Joe Walsh. It’s progressive in its overall style and takes rock in another direction. It would come out a few months before another progressive classic—Dark Side of The Moon. In fact, there’s this weird acoustic piece that I swear Pink Floyd used on their album. Barnstorm had a real impact on me production-wise and I know I became more and more interested in producing after hearing this record

As you might imagine, there were so many great albums that had an impact on me and choosing only 10 was nearly impossible. But when I think of my influences and how they were shaped, I think these 10 albums come as close as anything. Can you name 10 albums that had the same impact on you and your tastes? Think about all that music you’ve listened to. Try it sometime. It ain’t easy!! 😊

DownTown Blog – Creating A Classic Rock’n’Roll Sound

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Rock and Roll is what made America great. The music that was created in the USA back in the 1950s was the sound heard around the world. It inspired a generation of British teens who would bring it back to new heights in the 1960s and beyond, inspiring a new generation of American teens to rediscover their own roots. I was one of those American teens who heard that sound and never looked back. I started playing guitar and writing songs, while buying and listening to the greatest records ever made. It was a golden age for 20th Century music, with Rock and Roll front and center.

In 1967 it started to be called “Rock” to give it a more serious image. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band transformed the world of popular music. This wasn’t I Want To Hold Your Hand anymore. FM Radio was giving Radio a facelift with hipper DJs and cooler sounds not heard on the AM side. New publications like Rolling Stone and Creem began to cover and give voice to the artists and take them seriously, no longer fodder for the Teen magazines. The term Rock and Roll became a cliché, used to describe the Oldies shows.

Like most things retro, Rock and Roll has found its way back into the lexicon. Thanks in part to Americana artists keeping the flame alive and those ageless wonders, The Rolling Stones, Rock and Roll is alive and kicking in the 21st Century. The late great Tom Petty shared his thoughts on rock’n’roll in his Musicares Person of The Year speech in 2017. Tom said “I was collecting records—Rock and Roll records. Not rock; this was Rock and Roll. The roll designates a swing—there’s a swing in the roll.”

Yes, for those who are serious about their RnR, there’s a “feel” to playing it that differs from Rock. Some might call it a “backbeat” or a “groove” that is not found in modern rock. I’ve been at this for a while now and I’ve been recording and producing music to make my contribution to keeping the sound alive and hopefully, inspire a new generation to play Rock and Roll and make it their own. With that said, here are some tips:

TIP #1: THE PLAYERS

This is where it all starts. For me it’s about finding the right musicians who know how to play Rock and Roll. I’ve had the privilege to record and play with some great musicians like Garry Tallent and Max Weinberg from The E Street Band. (Hey I’m from Joisey!) I’ve done most of my studio work with the great rhythm section of drummer Steve Holley and bassist Paul Page. These guys know how to play RnR! I know that it’s not that simple and it took me years to get to this point. Like most, I started playing RnR by forming a band. I could probably write a book on this subject. Bands by nature are something special. There’s a certain camaraderie and excitement playing in a band. When it’s working it’s as good as it gets. When it’s not…needless to say, there are not too many RnR bands that make it to the “toppermost of the poppermost”. This doesn’t mean you can’t create classic RnR by yourself. Just check out Maybe I’m Amazed by Sir Paul.

TIP #2: KISS (not the band): Keep It Simple Stupid

Rock and Roll is a simple style of music. It’s best played with a band or group of musicians. Don’t overthink it. Let the rhythm be your guide. Try to keep it loose, allowing yourself to feel the beat with the other musicians. You’ll know it when you’re all in sync and when you are, the fun begins. When I’m tracking in the studio I try to keep the number of takes on a song to 3-4 takes at the most. You want it to sound fresh and not rehearsed to death.

TIP #3: RETRO IS WHERE IT’S AT

courtesy of @markmaryanovich

Rock and Roll is all about the electric guitar and it started in the 1950s when Leo Fender introduced the Telecaster and the Stratocaster, two of the most iconic guitars ever made. Add to that the Gibson Les Paul and ES-335T, along with the Gretsch Duo Jet and 6120 (I can’t forget Rickenbackers), and you have the beginning of the Golden Age of RnR guitars. A new Strat in 1956 cost $175. I have a 1964 Strat that I bought for $150 in 1972…ok, it’s probably worth around $10-20,000 today, but the sound is classic and that’s what you want to hear. I know the prices are crazy now, but you can still buy a good Tele or Strat at a decent price. Also, there are great new guitar makers and modern technology is always improving with plugins and effects pedals that can give you the sound of classic guitars and amps that can be very impressive sounding.

TIP #4: SuSuSTUDIO

Joe DeMaio and SG

Of course, recording on 2” analog tape on a Studer 24-track machine is a sure way to get a classic sound, but Pro Tools has pretty much made that extinct. Nevertheless, if you really want to create a classic Rock and Roll recording, then you owe it to yourself to record in a studio. I feel sorry for the younger generation of musicians today who will not have a chance at recording in the great studios that once dotted the RnR landscape. So many incredible and fabled recording studios have gone the way of the dodo, but there are still some around. Your best bet is to find a studio with a “Lifer” running it. These are the guys that will never quit and are always looking for vintage gear like an archeologist looking for that rarest of finds. They know how to get that classic sound. The early studios like Sun or Chess were primitive compared to what came later, but back in the day, they cut killer tracks. Today, vintage outboard gear like compressors and limiters are highly sought after, along with vintage mics. There’s your classic sound. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore! I’m very lucky to record at Shorefire Studios in Long Branch, NJ. It boasts the last Helios recording console ever made. This was the console used at Trident Studios in London, where all those classic records were made by The Stones, Led Zep and many others. Also, owner and engineer (“Lifer”) Joe DeMaio has all kinds of vintage amps, keyboards, and drums. It’s like working in a RnR museum! lol

TIP #5: EXPERIMENT

Some of the coolest sounds on classic records were created by experimenting. Sometimes trial and error are the way to go. The goal of any classic recording is to create a “Vibe”. That’s a certain feeling a track has that’s just undeniable and undefinable. I like trying to create magic in the studio whenever I can and sometimes that occurs by paying attention to the little things like mistakes I like to call “happy accidents”. You never know when it’s going to happen, but when it does, try to be alert and willing to go with it. Garry Tallent once told me a story that when recording with Bruce Springsteen “mistakes” would occur. Bruce would go home and listen to the recordings, and after much listening, Bruce would not hear the “mistakes” anymore. To him they were now part of the song, and Garry said, the band would have to learn the “mistakes”. 🙂

Rock and Roll has a rich tradition and I’m honored to be part of carrying it on. But this is also the 21st Century with a new generation that can take all the new technology and information at their fingertips and create something that’s never been heard before. All it takes with Rock and Roll is a little inspiration.