By Tom Semioli

 

You’ve heard him on the radio…you’ve heard him on the juke box on the song “Juke Box Hero” among many others….and you’ve likely seen him on the concert stage. Rick Wills commenced his remarkable chart topping career as a bassist with British blues rockers Jokers Wild in 1965 – which also featured future Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. He also anchored hard rockers Cochise for a few slabs which never quite reached their commercial potential despite their stellar output.

 

Among the most sought after recording and touring bassists in the album rock era (1970s-1980s), Rick plies his craft with a decidedly rhythm and blues disposition, usually on a Fender Precision. His high profile gigs include Peter Frampton’s Camel, Roxy Music (Viva Roxy / 1975), solo Bryan Ferry, and the revamped Small Faces. In 1979, Rick commenced a fourteen-year career with Foreigner – waxing several platinum slabs whilst filling arenas around the globe.

 

In 1992 Rick joined Bad Company following Boz’s second or third exit, and helmed the bass chair for Lynyrd Skynyrd for a spell when their original bassist left for health reasons. In recent years Rick and Small Faces / Faces / Who drummer Kenny Jones are on the bandstand under the guise of “The Jones Gang.” 

 

Among Rick’s stellar recordings include David Gilmour’s self- titled debut (1978) wherein he utilizes flange and chorus effects and harmonic extensions to augment the guitarist’s best work outside of the Floyd.

 

Rick Wills Sound & Vision and Zoom Zessions:

 

Cochise: “59^th Street Bridge Song” https://youtu.be/VQtMF8ljtGg

 

Peter Frampton:

 

“Don’t Fade Away”  https://youtu.be/D3HB6ZWVCWo

 

“All I Wanna Be Is By Your Side” https://youtu.be/AoOu5Xa-Iw4

 

“It’s A Plain Shame”  https://youtu.be/pgwEFO651bE

 

“Do You Feel Like We Do” https://youtu.be/CGczyG6-aAw

 

“Something’s Happening” https://youtu.be/mif_MW8YeUU

 

“Doobie Wah” https://youtu.be/3VM0wb7RqeI

 

With Bryan Ferry and Chris Spedding “Let’s Stick Together” https://youtu.be/Z9EbR0ckb40

 

David Gilmour: “Mihalis” https://youtu.be/HTQHA0tOG9A

 

 Foreigner:

 

“Night Life” https://youtu.be/4cAy3hK5tNs

 

“Juke Box Hero” https://youtu.be/W_TOsFvnmeQ

 

Small Faces: “High and Happy” https://youtu.be/U0cnbOo6fe8

 

Bad Company: “Clearwater Highway” https://youtu.be/5aTwhe5seSg

 

The Jones Gang EPK: https://youtu.be/hkYXyAh65us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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He is among the most revered British sidemen – session cats ever. Every record Alan anchored is worthy of exploration.  Among his most noted recorded works include Jesus Christ Superstar (1970), Joe Cocker! (1969), Leon Russell (1970), Paul Kossoff Back Street Crawler (1973), Alvin Lee In Flight (1974), and Roxy Music Avalon (1982).  You’ve heard him on stage and on record with Joe Cocker’s Grease Band, Roxy Music, Jim Capaldi, Paul Kossoff, Spooky Tooth, Alvin Lee, Kokomo David Coverdale, Bryan Ferry, Peter Frampton, Donovan, Steve Winwood, Ted Nugent, and Leon Russell, among many, many others…

 

If it were only for his incomparable bass passages on Jesus Christ Superstar (1970), Alan Spenner is legend. Spenner spins lines that exuded a soulful, rhythm & blues disposition akin to Motown masters James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt. Alan’s first professional gigs were with the blues/jazz outfit Wynder K. Frog which featured an impressive line-up of keyboardist Mick “Blue” Weaver (Mott the Hoople, Keef Hartley, David Gilmour), guitarist Neil Hubbard (Bluesology), drummer Bruce Rowland (Ronnie Lane, Fairport Convention, Joe Cocker), percussionist Reebop Kwaku Baah (Traffic), and saxophonist Chris Mercer (Bryan Ferry, Chris Farlowe, John Mayall). All these musicians intersected on many of the record dates that Spenner helmed.  Sadly, Alan passed at a young age (43) from a sudden heart-attack. 

 

Among Alan’s primary weapons of choice are Fender Precision – fretted and fretless. In his later years Alan switched to Wal basses. 

 

Alan Spenner Sound & Vision: 

 

Roxy Music “Same Old Scene” https://youtu.be/vXOgQN1a7bE

 

Roxy Music live “Avalon,” “Love is the Drug” https://youtu.be/co9TRT4Dar0

 

From Jesus Christ Superstar: “What’s The Buzz” https://youtu.be/c3LM2iQ8p7A

 

Tom Jones & Joe Cocker: “Delta Lady” https://youtu.be/V1gxVOcLZcI

 

Tony Senatore’s renditions of Alan’s passages from Jesus Christ Superstar 

 

“Gethsemane” https://youtu.be/vbLvAyrB6cU

 

“Herod’s Song” https://youtu.be/jBVVKbmwQu8 

 

“Heaven On Their Minds” https://youtu.be/ttnashv77K4

 

Alan with Joe Cocker at Woodstock: “Something’s Going On” https://youtu.be/kGbK5y94LOE

By Thomas Semioli

He’s had quite a life in rock and roll…and he’s still going strong on record and on the bandstand.

Salvatore Maida was among the stellar bassists employed by one of the most influential collectives in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, Roxy Music.

And he anchored one of the great lost glam pop ensembles of the 1970s – Milk ‘n’ Cookies.

Maida, who migrated to London from Little Italy at the onset of the glam rock movement to pursue his craft, shines on two stunning tracks which outstrip their respective studio versions – “Pyjamarama” and “Chance Meeting” – included on the iconic ensemble’s only live collection released during their 1970s reign as vanguards and innovators.

Utilizing a plectrum and a 1965 Fender Precision, and Dan Electro Longhorn, Sal lives for the pocket with a penchant for plying inventive upper register countermelodies.

Maida, who is also a writer/producer, additionally worked craft with the Sparks (Big Beat / 1976), David Lowery (The Palace Guards/ 2011), and Edward Rogers, among many others.

Sal was also a member of Cracker and appears on Greenland (2006) Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey (2009). Sal is married to singer songwriter, recording artist Lisa Burns, with whom he has collaborated with on several projects including her solo sides Unadorned (2004) and The Last Day of Winter (2014) by George Usher and Lisa Burns, among others . 

But don’t let me tell you about Sal, read his extraordinary autobiography Four Strings, Phony Proof, and 300 45s: Adventures from Roxy Music, Sparks, & Milk N’ Cookies (Perfect Press)

Dig Sal Maida on Know Your Bass Player On Film Season One – 2015 New York City, Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/3lp6Wpb

Photo by Robert Ellis Courtesy of John Wetton Com

A contemporary of the Beatles by way Liverpool ensembles such as The Big Three, which were managed by Brian Epstein on the recommendation of John Lennon, and The Merseybeats, the late John Gustafson was among the classic rock era’s most versatile and in-demand bassists / vocalists as a band member, session cat, and collaborator.

 

Gustafson excelled at plying inventive passages in a wide array of styles as evidenced by his work with the jazz-fusion incarnation of the Ian Gillan Band. John was also a groove master with Roxy Music, working the pocket on such seminal sides as Stranded (1973), Country Life (1974) and Siren (1975), including Ferry’s signature composition “Love is the Drug.”

 

An accomplished singer and solo recording artist, John was the voice of “Simon Zealotes” on the original Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and rendered the vocals to “Watch Out for the Bat Now”  for Roger Glover’s  rock opera The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast (1974). Gustafson also anchored scores of seminal sides with Quartermass, Kevin Ayers, Ian Hunter, Rick Wakeman, Yvonne Elliman, Gordon Giltrap, Phil Manzanera, Steve Hackett, and Shawn Phillips, to cite a very, very select few.

 

John Gustafson Sound & Vision…

 

The Merseybeats “I Think of You” https://youtu.be/xroTLNvW2D4

 

The Big Three “I Got It” https://youtu.be/X0sJ8tVsHm0

 

Jesus Christ Superstar “Poor Jerusalem” https://youtu.be/VYfAIt1spGo

 

Quartermass “One Blind Mice” https://youtu.be/dWyIoBzaPAg

 

Ian Gillan “Live at the Rainbow” 1977 https://youtu.be/p9oElP5QVpQ

 

Roxy Music “Love Is The Drug” https://youtu.be/LIMJAuKl9Ko

 

“Watch Out for the Bat” from Butterfly Ball live 1973 https://youtu.be/dhiHrtRl1bo

 

With Ray Fenwick “Tight White Shirt” on bass and vocals https://youtu.be/7r317_RwVQk

 

Ian Hunter “Lounge Lizard” https://youtu.be/lQ7Mm_TkJOE

 

Says Paul Page, Ian Hunter and The Rant Band bassist: He did the bass track on “Lounge Lizard” from the 1st IH solo album. I’m still intrigued by it whenever it pops up on the set list and I actually borrowed elements from his version when we did the MTH version for the MTH ‘74 shows. It’s just so slippery and groovy.

Courtesy of Neil Jason Facebook

As reported by Frank Beacham, Neil once proclaimed from the stage of the P & G Bar in New York City “how hard can it be, it’s only four strings!”

 

A session giant who excels in every genre, Neil Jason’s place in bass history would be secure if it had begun and ended with his remarkable artistry on the Brecker Brothers’ live masterpiece Heavy Metal Be-Bop (1978). A former member of the Saturday Night Live Band (1983-85) and deputy for Will Lee with Paul Schaffer’s World’s Most Dangerous Band and the CBS Orchestra, Mr. Jason has also distinguished himself as a composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer.

 

Neil’s body of work is as expansive as it is stylistically diverse, encompassing seminal sides and concert dates by Diana Ross, Don Cherry, Harry Chapin, David Sanborn, John McLaughlin, Roxy Music, Nils Lofgren, John Lennon, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Mick Jagger, Sir Paul, Grace Slick, Harvey Mason Jr., David Johansen, Aldo Nova, Janis Ian, Gato Barbieri, Bryan Ferry, Michael Franks, Deodato, and Carly Simon to cite a very select few.

 

Neil Jason Sound & Vision:

 

Brecker Brothers:

 

“Some Skunk Funk” https://youtu.be/YeUgLV9C0j8

 

Dig Neil taking the lead vocal on “East River” https://youtu.be/wnfhHamrULc

 

Bryan Ferry: “Lost” https://youtu.be/_Ikpk1pTRsE

 

Roxy Music:

 

“Oh Yeah” https://youtu.be/so9OscJ2eUg

 

“The Main Thing” https://youtu.be/ib4-Lyxxyw0

 

“Eight Miles High” https://youtu.be/6ZAfAsN75T4

 

David Sanborn “Anything You Want” https://youtu.be/KhxqFOQt9Ww

 

Deodato “Shazam” https://youtu.be/FGNKZmpUWN8

 

Hall & Oates “Hard to Be In Love With You” https://youtu.be/BZ_O313vtnM