“I play things with strings…”

As a bassist for Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, David Crosby, and Neil Young in their innumerable configurations – Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuels complimented his bandleaders’ wayward folk, rock, blues, and country yearnings with soulful bass passages borne of his love for Muddy Waters, Count Basie, and Fats Domino.

Nowadays Fuzzy is a bandleader who records under his own name – which, incidentally, does not include the last “s” in his surname.

Fuzzy Sound & Vision

“Carry On” from CSN&Y Four Way Street https://youtu.be/BAkMlzOBFbc

“Me Wanna Go Home” from Love Don’t Taste Like Chicken https://youtu.be/Gv2yax5QOSs

Tracks from Fuzzy’s Island Breeze https://www.calvinfuzzsamuel.com/media

Manassas “Rock and Roll Crazies” / “Blue Grass” https://youtu.be/09dYiDz8Fmo

Courtesy Buffalo Springfield Com

By Thomas Semioli

Derailed by substance abuse, Bruce Palmer’s career could have been much more – as evidenced by his lone solo slab The Cycle Is Complete (1971) wherein the multi-instrumentalist / bassist turns in a turns in a rather engaging and eccentric jazz, psychedelic, new age song-cycle comprised of extended electric Miles- like jams and improv.

His first band of renown was Jack London & The Sparrows, a smokin’ rhythm and blues outfit that featured a cat who went on to fame and (mis)fortune as Rick James. Bruce assumed the bass chair from RJ’s player Nick St. Nicholas, later of Steppenwolf – and they took flight as the Mynah Birds, adding another Canadian, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Neil Young. The band scored a deal with Motown which fell apart when James was busted for going AWOL from the United States Navy. Neil and Bruce headed to Los Angeles wherein they formed Buffalo Springfield and the rest, as they say, is history…

Though Stephen Stills and Young were the primary composers, according to Stills and Atlantic Records honcho Ahmet Ertegun – Bruce emerged as the rhythmic glue that held the band together. However drug busts and deportations in ’67 and ‘68 caused Palmer, a Canadian, to leave the band on two occasions. The troubled bassist was eventually replaced by Jim Messina and bassist Jim Fielder, later of Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Palmer failed an audition with CSN&Y and Neil tried in vain to get Bruce in playing condition for his early 80s Trans tour, but to no avail. Bruce Palmer passed in 2004.

Bruce Palmer Sound & Vision

“For What It’s Worth” https://youtu.be/1eD-8NTwP9I

“Sit Down I Think I Love You” https://youtu.be/bLvKvEeyNtA

The Cycle Is Complete https://youtu.be/yCl2zI8c-D4

By Thomas Semioli

To my recollection, he was dubbed “Rick the Bass Player” on the Howard Stern Show during one of several raucous Joe Walsh appearances.*

 Among the top sidemen on the LA scene until his passing in 2014, Rick Rosas was an exemplary pocket / song player whose list of credits include several laudable slabs and tours with Neil Young (including CSN&Y, as a sub for Billy Talbot in Crazy Horse, and for a Buffalo Springfield reunion), Joe Walsh, Johnny Rivers, Terry Reid, Etta James, Ron Wood, and Johnny Rivers to cite a select few.

Rick appeared as “Buster” the bass player in Jonathan Demme’s final film Ricki and the Flash (2015).

*According to bassist Bill Cherensky Prior to Howard Stern, Joe Walsh had a show on FM radio (WPLJ, I think). He was Rick The Bass Player on there. The funniest thing I ever heard was his brilliant skewering of McCartney’s Silly Love Song. I mean, it takes talent to use bass playing as satire!

Rick Rosas Sound & Vision:

Joe Walsh “The Gamma Goochie” https://youtu.be/SVo8QQelhvU

Neil Young “Living With War” https://youtu.be/P5tNjdgLqws

Live with Terry Reid and Waddy Wachtel “You Don’t Know” https://youtu.be/C2OG7FXht6E

By Tom Semioli 

As Mr. Young proclaims in Jim Jarmusch’s essential Year of the Horse (1997) documentary, Billy Talbot’s bass playing is more about “sound” rather than articulation or rhythm.

He is the most basic of bassists, laying down massive legato quarter notes to underpin Neil’s legendary Crazy Horse ensemble – a gig he’s held for a quarter century.

Raised in New York and New Jersey Billy commenced his career as a doo-wop crooner on city street corners before migrating to Los Angeles, where he hooked up with future Horse hombres Ralph Molina and Danny Whitten – forming the collective Danny and The Memories. A move to psychedelic San Francisco prompted a change in name to The Psyrcle and a chance meeting with Neil, and the rest, as they say is history…  

What most folks don’t know is that Talbot, in addition to his bass duties, is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist. In 2004 he formed The Billy Talbot Band wherein he waxed two platters and toured various club circuits. When he’s not on the road with Crazy Horse, or the BTB, Talbot toils in the collective Wolves with Molina, George Whitsell, and Ryan James Holzer.

Billy Talbot Sound & Vision:

With Neil & Crazy Horse

“Cortez the Killer” Live https://youtu.be/x-XnPXL_HMA

“Down By The River” https://youtu.be/TiX8Rz5C3LY

Dig Billy’s funky passage from solo Crazy Horse – “Gone Dead” https://youtu.be/o2XSGfatK1Q

The Billy Talbot Band “His Song” https://youtu.be/X81jLbnlbkA

The Billy Talbot Band “Ring The Bell” https://youtu.be/fETAW6W-opY