Johnny B. Goode

The song Johnny B. Goode has proved to be the number one song in rock n’ roll history, with more than 25 covers by many iconic bands. Recorded by guitarist and songwriter Chuck Berry, the song was released on March 31^st of 1958 by Chess Records, immediately striking the music scene and later becoming rock’s best representation.

Spoken by Chuck Berry himself in 1972 to the Rolling Stone Magazine, the song is a fictional-autobiographical reference of the songwriter’s climb to stardom.

Similar to Johnny B. Goode’s story of a poor country boy who becomes a rock star, Berry was working as a beautician in Chicago in 1955, when he met Chess Records’ main star Muddy Waters.  Waters referred him to Leonard Chess, co-owner of the record label he was working with, and by 1959 Chuck Berry had become a legend in the world of rock.

Johnny B. Goode reached #8 on Billboard’s pop charts not only due to Chuck Berry’s energy filled guitar play, but also due to cultural role the song played upon its release. The themes that were covered by music players have always been ample, but until 1958’s release of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode, there had been no songs developing the ‘American Dream’. The song talks about a poor country boy who rises to stardom, despite his unprivileged resources. The message of hope was identified and understood by many, making Johnny B. Goode an pop icon that has since been utilized by the media to represent not only the essence of rock n’ roll, but also the attainable opportunities behind U.S.A.’s famous dictum.

One of the most acclaimed popular references to Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode appears on the film Back to the Future that opened in 1985. After travelling back in time to 1955, protagonist Marty Mc. Fly plays the hit song at a High School Dance, after the band’s guitarist Marvin Berry (note Berry) injures his hand.

In the middle of McFly’s futuristic performance, Marvin calls his cousin Chuck to listen-on, to which Chuck says is the “new sound [he's] been looking for.”

The song has also been used in the presidential campaigns of candidates John Kerry in 2004, and John McCain in 2008 as a resource to appeal to bigger audiences while representing the U.S.’ reputation as the ‘land of opportunity.’

Johhny B. Goode was recorded by Chuck Berry on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass, Fred Below on drums and Lafayette Leak on piano, for the album ‘Chuck Berry is on Top.’ The number one covered song in music history, Johnny B. Goode was interpreted by over 25 bands and artists. These include B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Sex Pistols, Johnny Winter, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Beatles.

Due to its popularity,  later in his career Berry recorded songs with the names ‘Bye Bye Johnny’, ‘Go Go Go’ and an album named ‘Concerto in B. Goode’, extending the legacy of the tune.

Truly a song of the people and for the people, when Johnny B. Goode plays it’s hard not to be reminded of the opportunities life can bring to even the most unfortunate.  With Johnny B. Goode, Berry stroke a chord of hope for the people of the world, creating a new thread to the themes that can be addressed by the music repertoire. One of the first musicians to be inducted to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Berry still continues to perform, tour and record today.

“If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’” John Lennon

Well, here is my version, I am doing the Jimmy hendrix version

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Lady Fantasy

Hi All.

I saw Camel  in Cardiff about 1975, I was really taken with this song.

They just released their  ”snowgoose” album

Well, I decided to do a “jam” to their Lady Fantasy from their “Mirage” album

Tony J.

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Andes To Amazon

 

Andes To Amazon

A Musical Journey

Andes To Amazon.

I have always liked natural history documentaries

And in particular Andes to Amazon. I loved the title music and the incidental music throughout the series.

In one episode there was a piece on a Manakin a small bird that lives in the rainforest. It performs a dance to invite a mate. The film maker overdubbed some music to this which gave me an idea to do the same. Well one thing led to another and I decided to take a musical journey from “Andes To Amazon”

I used a Korg M50 , A Line6 JM4 Looper , A Gigsby Bass , A Jim Duncan Electrcoustic and my pride and joy Paul Reed Smith-Swamp Ash Special.

It was recorded on a Boss Micro BR

Hope you enjoy the journey

                                  Tony J.
 

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A Well Fired Cannon-Pachebel Variation

Hi All,
 
This is my variation of Pachebel’s Cannon. I call it ‘a well fired cannon’ I played it on my PRS Swamp Ash Special, on the bridge pickup & a Yamaha APX5 12 string Acoustic.

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 I have placed the backing track I made here for you to download , so that you can jam too it. Anything in D seems to fit

well-worked-canon-backing-track

 
Enjoy
 
Tony

A Minor Harmonic Scale Video

Hi All

This is the A Minor Harmonic Scale. It’s useful to use for improvising when playing blues in A minor.

A flavour of the Orient!

Have fun

Tony J

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Hughie Thomasson-The Outlaws

Hi All,

This is a tribute to the late HT (Hughie Thomasson) Myself and my friend Andrew Clem from the Boss Br site done a collaboration. Andrew’s lyrics are fantastic and a voice like one of the Van Zant’s brothers in my opinion. This is the result. If you would like a go at putting your own lead guitar in , you can download the backing track at the bottom of the page.

 Hugh Edward Thomasson Jr.

Guitarist and songwriter Hugh E. Thomasson Jr.- better known as Hughie Thomasson, was born in Tampa, Florida on August 13th, 1952. Father of 2, loving husband for over 20 years, and founding member of The Outlaws; Thomasson died in his home on September 9th, 2007 of an apparent heart attack while asleep. He performed his last concert with The Outlaws on September 8th in a Nevada casino.

Hughie Thomasson dedicated most of his life and music talent to the Southern-rock band The Outlaws, a group that upon debut rocked the 70’s with a solid triple lead guitar attack, and albums like their self-titled ‘The Oulaws’, ‘Bring it Back Alive’ and ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’. In 1996, during the longest hiatus in The Outlaws’ career, Thomasson was a member of the iconic southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which he left in 2005 to reform his founding band.

During his whole music career, Hugh E. Thomasson amazed the world with his rousing Strat and Telecaster country-blues rock riffs, his jovial spirit and charitable musicianship.  He is known in Florida, as well as everywhere around the world for offering benefit concerts for various different causes. Having being influenced by great performers like The Eagles, The Byrds, Neil Young and many of the rock-blues – “British Invasion” -bands that impressed the US in 1964, Hughie Thomasson had plenty of inspiration to add to his talent; and he surely transmitted that well through his songwriting and music-making.

Before passing away, Hughie Thomasson had been working on the production of a new album called ‘Once an Outlaw,’ a release which’s date still continues to be determined by the continuing band members.

In spite of having disbanded and reformed several times, despite going through extended line-up changes and switch ups; notwithstanding a recovery after the tragic loss of original members Hughie Thomasson, Frank O’Keefe and Billy Jones, today The Outlaws continue to play, still remaining faithful to that country/blues/hard-rock, powerful guitar driven style that Thomasson passionately evoked in his founding.

 

The Outlaws – The Early Days

“I like to think of us as the hard-rock version of The Eagles”
Hughie Thomasson to the Tampa Tribune during an interview in 1988

Discography:

1. Outlaws (1975)
2. Lady In Waiting (1976)
3. Hurry Sundown (1977)
4. Playin’ to Win (1978)
5. Bring it Back Alive – Live (1978)
6. In the Eye of the Storm (1979)
7. Ghost Riders (1980)
8. Los Hombres Malos (1982)
9. Soldiers of Fortune (1986)
10. Hittin’ the Road Live! (1993)
11. Diablo Canyon (1994)
12. So Low (1999)
13. Once an Outlaw (TBD)

The Outlaws formed in Tampa, FL in 1967. Then called The Rogues, and later The Four Letter Words, the original members include H. Thomasson (guitar), Hobie O’Brien (guitar), Frank Guidry (guitar), David Dix (drums), Phil Humberg (bass) and Herb Pino (vocals).  The name The Outlaws came along when Guidry joined the group and offered his former band’s name as their title.
Hobie O’Brien and Phil Humberg left the band a year later, giving place to Frank O’Keefe to take over the role of bassist.
Upon failing their first attempt to record an album at Epic Studios in New York city because of a difference of opinion with the recording producer, Guidry left the band dissatisfied with Paul D’s management.
A second, also failed, attempt was made in Miami’s Criteria Studios where the same issues with the producer came in the way of the albums release.

A fear of dissolution haunted the band upon the recurrent failure. They tried several line-up changes to improve and ultimately achieve their signature sound.
With O’Keefe switching over to play a third guitar, Ronny Elliot joined to take on bass, but with Elliot’s departure in ’69, O’Keefe resumed his role at the bass. Upon substituting David Dix temporarily, Monte Yoho eventually became a permanent member and new drummer of The Outlaws.
New changes arose once again in 1971 when Paul D.  and the band brought their relationship to a close. Henry Paul (guitar, vocals) joined this same year, and friend Billy Jones (guitar) was also summoned.

The Outlaws – The Prime Years of The Florida Guitar Army

With a new, solid, three-guitar lead line-up, persistent Thomasson at hand of new manager Charlie Brusco, guided The Outlaws into popularity.
Brusco established a partnership with Alan Walder, manager of the group Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Soon after, in 1974 and upon Ronnie Van Zant’s recommendation, Clive Davis of Arista Records signed The Outlaws, after seeing them perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Columbus Civic Center in Georgia.
With a triple lead guitar attack, they released their self-titled debut album in 1975 and sold incredibly well. Consequently, The Outlaws gained increased recognition over the years with hits like “There goes another love Song” and “Green Grass and High Tides” that reached #13 in Billboard’s Hot 100.  Their live album ‘Bring it back Alive’ granted the band an even higher profile status in the Southern Rock music genre.

The Hiatus – Thomasson in Lynyrd Skynyrd

During early 1980 the band’s popularity dramatically decreased, as they began to drift from the original sound that once attracted their audiences. Their re-worked release of  ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’ sold gold and gave The Outlaws a reinstated spot at the top, sustaining their popularity during the, not as well-liked, release of their follow-up records.
By the beginning of the 1990’s Thomasson was the only original member from The Outlaws that remained, something that aided him in his decision to take an offered guitarist spot in VanZant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Reform and Final Demise of The Outlaws’ Hughie Thomasson Era

Until 2005 and for over 9 years, Hughie Thomasson played for Lynyrd Skynyrd, leaving then to reform The Outlaws with David Dix, Henry Paul, Monte Yoho, Chris Anderson, Randy Threet (bass) and Dave Robbins (keyboards). The only two members who did not rejoin were late Billy Jones and Frank O’Keefe who had both passed-on in 1995 from suicide and overdose, respectively.

Upon reforming in 2005, The Outlaws began touring and performing almost anywhere that they could. The band played everywhere, from free shows in honor of the American troops in Ohio, to benefit concerts to sustain scholarship endowments for students at the Pasco-Hernando Community College in Florida. In 2007, the band was performing in the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam and touring extensively, playing with artists such as Dickey Betts and the Marshall Tucker band.

On September 9th of 2007, after having had dinner with his wife; Hughie Thomasson passed away from a heart attack while asleep in his sofa chair, at his home in Brookville, FL.
The band hurt profoundly from Thomasson’s death, but managed to move on and continue the legacy Hughie had worked so hard to establish. They group still hasn’t announced the release of the last album written and produced by Thomasson ‘Once and Outlaw’.

 

Lyrics & vocal by Andrew Clem

Guitars by Tony Jones

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the-outlaws-no-lead

Top 10 Air Guitar Juke Box Tracks

Here is my top 10 air guitar juke box tracks kind, the ones that everybody at a wedding or , you know thebirthday party starts to rock too!

OK, who have I misses out? and what is your top 10?

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