Earl talked about how the new album — the band’s first in seven years — came about, including a touching insight on Kim Simmonds’ co-writing three tracks that were included. Simmonds — the guitarist/leader of British blues rock band Savoy Brown — hired Earl, then a teen, to be Savoy Brown’s drummer in 1968. Simmonds passed away in 2022 at 75.
The album, the 17th from the band which formed in 1971, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart. Foghat plays Mohegan Sun Arena on May 21 in Uncasville, Conn.
On Stage: Foghat, featuring (from left) “Lonesome” Dave Peverett, Tony Stevens and Rod “The Bottle” Price, on stage. (Richard E. Aaron photo).
Earl is the lone founding member who remains in the band. He was part of the Savoy Brown line-up of guitarist Dave Peverett and bassist Tony Stevens during what is considered the band’s greatest period.
Following the release of Savoy Brown’s Lookin’ In, the trio along with guitarist Rod Price formed Foghat. Under the management of Tony Outeda — who started working in the music industry with Brian Epstein — the band gained a fortuitous audition with Albert Grossman who signed them to his fledgling Bearsville Records. They would soon move to the United States.
Among other artists, Grossman managed Bob Dylan, The Band, Janis Joplin and Peter, Paul and Mary. He wired Foghat $10,000 to record their first album which was produced by Dave Edmunds.
Got A License?: Roger Earl on the cover of Foghat’s Fool For The City. New York City police officers asked Earl if he had a fishing license. They would assist by making sure motorists didn’t interupt the photo shoot.
The self-titled debut came out in 1972. Boosted by a cover of Willie Dixon’s “I Just Want To Make Love To You” — it remains an FM radio staple — the band hit the charts in the U.S. with a hybrid boogie blues style that remains characteristic of its sound to this day.
Having played on such critically acclaimed Savoy Brown releases as Blue Matter, A Step Further, Raw Sienna and the aforementioned Looking In, Earl, Peverett and Stevens had gained invaluable experience in the studio and on stage playing with Simmonds. The addition of slide-guitarist Price, formerly of the Brit blues band, Black Cat Bones, cemented the basis of the Foghat sound.
Through the 1970s and into the 80s, the band went through personnel changes, but continued making radio-friendly releases, usually mixing originals with tasteful blues or soul covers. Coincidently, Sonic Mojo has a Willie Dixon and Chuck Berry cover, just like their debut. Since their early days, the band was renowned for delivering the goods when it came to live appearances.
The tradition continues with the latest line-up, including bassist Rodney O’Quinn and guitarist Bryan Bassett along with newest member, guitarist/vocalist Scott Holt who spent 10 years working with Buddy Guy.
Still Delivering On Stage: The current line-up in concert featuring (from left) Rodney O’Quinn, Roger Earl, Scott Holt and Bryan Bassett. (Joe Schaeffer photo)
Renowned musicians King Errisson, Carol Kaye and Dave Mason shared thoughts on some of their experiences with Gordon in studio or on stage.
Selvin spent nearly 40 years as a columnist at The San Francisco Chronicle and has written 20-plus books. His work on Gordon is the first truly in-depth and empathic view of the late drummer’s life. Selvin was last on WRTC when he discussed Altamont: The Rolling Stones, The Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day.
Foregoing a music scholarship at UCLA, Gordon went professional as he joined the Everly Brothers on a 1963 European tour. He was 17 and had just graduated high school.
‘High’ Flyers: Joe Cocker, followed by Jim Gordon and Don Preston, during the 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. (Linda Wolf photo)
Living in the metro-Los Angeles area in the mid-1960s, Gordon quickly became a first-call session player as the recording industry went into overdrive on the West Coast. Gordon would play on some of the biggest records of the era.
He appears on classic tracks by The Beach Boys, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, Sonny & Cher, John Lennon, George Harrison, Dave Mason, Joe Cocker, Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, Harry Nilsson, Ike & Tina Turner, Helen Reddy, Hall & Oates, Gordon Lightfoot, Maria Muldaur, Glen Campbell and even The Muppets, to name but a few.
Most people are unaware that the classic intro to The Incredible Bongo Band’s version of “Apache” — featuring Gordon and ace percussionist King Errisson — remains one of the industry’s most sampled tracks, especially by rap and hip-hop artists.
Rhythm Kings: (from left) Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon and Carl Radle supporting Joe Cocker during the 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. (Linda Wolf photo)
While studio work proved to be a great way to make a living for Gordon, who often garnered high union-scale pay for his services, the allure of playing on stage — especially as the live music industry was growing — was too tempting. By 1969, he was in the band backing Bonnie and Delaney Bramlett on the road.
A short stint with Delaney & Bonnie & Friends — which included such “friends” in various lineups as: Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Dave Mason, Bobby Keys, Jim Price, Carl Radle, Billy Preston, Bobby Whitlock and Rita Coolidge — led to Gordon’s next touring job.
Thanks to his friendship with Leon Russell, another young session player who was making a name for himself in L.A., Gordon joined Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen lineup for which Russell was the music director.
Which One’s Derek?: (from left) Carl Radle, Jim Gordon, Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock formed Derek and the Dominos in 1970 and recorded Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs with Duane Allman (right).
Radle, Keys and Price from the Delaney and Bonnie band were also included. The audacious tour was brilliantly chronicaled by photographer Linda Wolf in Joe Cocker Mad Dogs & Englishmen Memory Book and later, Tribute: Cocker Power.
While the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour provided incredible live performances, the oft-not spoken about background of the proceedings from beginning to end, was far darker and at times downright menacing.
In 1970, Cocker was at the top of his performing life and riding a wave of fame following his appearance at Woodstock only a few months earlier. Whether it was due to U.S. immigration insisting that he had to tour or lose his work visa or heavies in the criminal underworld — long attached to the music industry — pushing him to tour, Cocker tabbed Russell to put a band together.
Traffic’s Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
Russell had only a week to get a 10-piece band and 10 back-up singers — nicknamed the Space Choir — ready for a run of 48 dates across the U.S., including a stop at The Bushnell Memorial Hall in Hartford.
The pace of the tour — combined with the voracious appetite for drugs and alcohol for much of the traveling group — was compounded by Gordon’s then-undiagnosed acute paranoid schizophrenia.
Following the breakup of Blind Faith, which Delaney and Bonnie supported on its only U.S. tour, Clapton. who sat in with the Bramlet’s frequently, joined the band for a spell before putting together what would become Derek and the Dominos.
New Sound: The ‘Low Spark” Traffic forged a new sound for the band which included (from left) Chris Wood, Ric Grech, Jim Gordon, Rebop Kwaku Baah, Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood
Having played with Radle and Whitlock in Delaney and Bonnie’s band, Clapton started piecing together the new group. It wasn’t until they went into the studio to back George Harrison for his three-record masterpiece, All Things Must Pass, did Gordon become the drummer for the band.
A heavily drug- and alcohol-fueled Derek and the Dominos toured; recorded Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (with Duane Allman); went back on the road and then made a stab at recording a follow-up before breaking up.
Gordon literally went from being in the studio with Derek and the Dominos to joining Traffic to record the pivotal Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. He and bassist Ric Gretch co-wrote the lone single from the album, “Rock and Roll Stew”.
On The Road: Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett & Friends at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Feb. 14, 1970 with (from left) Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon, Eric Clapton and Carl Radle. (Marshall Bohlin photo)
After leaving Traffic, Gordon continued to do studio work and, in addition to being part of Frank Zappa’s Petit Wazoo and Grand Wazoo tours, also supported others on the road.
Tragically, Gordon’s mental health continued to decline as “the voices” grew louder and his drug/alcohol intake wreaked havoc on his life.
Urged by his mother Osa, Gordon sought help and did a series of stays in rehabilitation centers, each failing to properly diagnose and treat his conditions.
In 1983, during a psychotic episode, Gordon killed his mother. A year later, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 16 years to life — unable to use an insanity defense at the time due to a recent change in California law.
Despite coming up for parole a number of times, Gordon never attended a parole hearing. He died March 23, 2023, spending the final 40 years of his life in prison.
The Whole Band: Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen on stage in 1970. (Linda Wolf photo)
Strictly Roots aired a two-part, four-hour tribute to Aston “Family Man” Barrett, the legendary bassist and founding member of Bob Marley’s Wailers, who passed away Feb. 3 at the age of 77.
In addition to his work with Marley, Barrett was also part of Lee “Scratch” Perry’s in-house backing band as well as a member of the The Upsetters and The Aggrovators.
Barrett’s legacy shines bright as a prime example of how a humble musician’s mastery and message shaped and changed the music world. There is no doubt that “Family Man’s” technique and sound will continue to influence generations of musicians to come and listeners in the future.
Summing up the importance of the bass, Barrett once said: “The drum, it is the heartbeat, and the bass, it is the backbone,” He added,”If the bass is not right, the music is gonna have a bad back, so it would be crippled.”
Barrett joined the Wailers band in 1974. He was also known for collaborating with other international reggae acts like Burning Spear and Peter Tosh.
He was considered a reggae music ambassador and one of the most crucial bassists to help cultivate acceptance, growth and popularity during the subsequent explosion of reggae music on the international music scene in the 1970s with Marley serving as the primary catalyst.
Almost all of the Wailer’s albums have Barrett involved and nearly everyone of Marley’s most celebrated tracks include his killer bass lines, including “Could This Be Love”, “Jammin’”, “Lively Up Yourself”, “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Three Little Birds”.
Raymond Scott isn’t a household name compared to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig or the Roadrunner, but the composer played a vital role in the groundbreaking work at Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.
In addition to an interview with Sanford, there was a tribute to Les McCann who passed away at the age of 88 on Dec. 29, 2023.
Multi-instrumentalist Sanford, who moved to San Francisco from his native New York City in 1976, started playing clarinet at age nine and was heavily influenced by Benny Goodman and The Great American Songbook. The classic 1956 release, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, remains pivotal to his musical direction.
Sanford inherited 16 file cabinets of big band sheet music, including compositions by Scott whose work was admired by Carl Stalling, the musical director at Warner Brothers. Over the years, Stalling would adapt Scott’s material for more than 120 cartoons produced by Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies.
A half-dozen of Scott’s compositions appear on the new CD.
In the modern era, Scott’s compositions found their way onto a wide range of cartoons, including: The Ren & Stimpy Show, Bluey, The Oblongs and Duckman.
Sanford’s Cartoon Jazz Band formed in 2002 and has specialized in mastering the incredibly challenging style of music Scott was renowned for which proved to be very entertaining, yet tough to play.
Sanford shares insight on Scott and the task of making Playland at the Beach a reality.
Move over Billboard, here’s WRTC’s top 70 rock albums for 2023.
The Z3, the funky Connecticut trio dedicated to keeping the music of Frank Zappa alive and well, led the list with Filibuster For Frank.
The Who (Who’s Next: Life House (Super Deluxe); Low Cut Connie (Art Dealers); Peter Gabriel (I/O) and The Rolling Stones (Hackney Diamonds) made up the top five.
Richard Wright (Wet Dream (2023 Remix); Olivia Jean (Raving Ghost); RPWL (Crime Scene); Steven Wilson (The Harmony Codex) and The No Ones (My Best Evil Friend) rounded out the top 10.
Rankings were determined by “spins” as recorded by Spinitron which WRTC integrated on its web site on June 1.
Here’s the complete list:
The Z3 — Filibuster For Frank
The Who — Who’s Next: Life House (Super Deluxe)
Low Cut Connie — Art Dealers
Peter Gabriel — I/O
The Rolling Stones — Hackney Diamonds
Richard Wright — Wet Dream (2023 Remix)
Olivia Jean — Raving Ghost
RPWL — Crime Scene
Steven Wilson — The Harmony Codex
The No Ones — My Best Evil Friend
The Record Company — The 4th Album
Atomic Bronco — Bull in a China Shop
Deer Tick — Emotional Contracts
GUM — Saturnia
Jethro Tull — Broadsword & the Beast (Monster Edition)
Teenage Fanclub — Nothing Lasts Forever
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit — Weathervanes
Duran Duran — Danse Macabre
The Customers — Sweet Fatality
Fleetwood Mac — Rumours Live
Ian Hunter — Defiance Part 1
Sufjan Stevens — Javelin
The Beatles — Now And Then
Babe Rainbow — Fresh As A Head Of Lettuce
Jethro Tull — RökFlöte
Mario Ortiz All Star Band — 60th Anniversary Spectacular
Noah Gundersen — If This Is The End
Trevor Rabin — Rio
Wilco — Cousin
Hawkwind — The Future Never Waits
HUNNY — new planet heaven
Movements — RUCKUS!
Allah-Las — The Stuff / Zuma 85
Animal Scream — Heartbroke Motel
Bombay Bicycle Club — My Big Day
Delly Ranx — Wildfire Riddim
Nick Piunti — Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies
Roger Waters — The Dark Side of the Moon Redux
Semisonic — Little Bit of Sun
The Damned — Darkadelic
The Mommyheads — Coney Island Kid
The Who — The Who With Orchestra: Live At Wembley
Assassin aka Agent Sasco — Boxing Around Riddim
Cowboy Junkies — Such Ferocious Beauty
Goose — Live at Radio City Music Hall
Graham Parker — Last Chance To Learn The Twist
Grateful Dead — RFK Stadium, Washington, DC, 6/10/73
Greta Van Fleet — Starcatcher
Jimmy Buffett — Equal Strain On All Parts
Juliana Hatfield — Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO
Love and Rockets — My Dark Twin
Lydia Loveless — Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again
SANDS — The World’s So Cruel
Sarah Terral — Le Morfil
sparkle*jets u.k. — Best of Friends
Stevie Face — Wildfire Riddim
The Groovy Nobody — Solarium
Babe Rainbow — Mushroom
Jenny Lewis — Joy’All
Jimi Hendrix — Live At The Hollywood Bowl: 8/18/1967
Renowned for his work as a founding member and guitarist for the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Kaukonen recently wrapped up Hot Tuna’s final electric tour with long-time bandmate bassist Jack Casady and drummer Justin Guip.
Although heavily influenced by Rev. Gary Davis — an iconic figure in the blues world that he has championed his entire career — Kaukonen is adept in rock, Americana and folk stylings.
The programwent deep and wide on the Kaukonen catalog and will also included portions of interviews with him from past appearances on Greasy Tracks.
Vega’s earliest professional gigs as a teen included work with Bo Diddley and Sly Stone, but over the years he would be on the road or in studio with everyone from Etta James, Paul Butterfield, Billy Preston and Tower of Power to Zero, KVHW, Carlos Santana, Olatunji, Jerry Garcia and Kitaro, to name but a few.
The program also included a handful of Paul Butterfield tracks as Dec. 17 is the anniversary of his birth. Vega was part of the line-up that backed Butterfield on his first European tour in 1978.
The annual WRTC fundraising marathon concluded Nov. 11.
On behalf of the staff and management, we thank all of our generous listeners who pledged to support the station.
As the non-commercial radio station of Trinity College, we offer a diverse schedule of 60-plus programs on a weekly basis. Aside from two part-time employees, we’re an all-volunteer organization.
Much of our financial assistance comes from our loyal listeners and we rely on your backing to keep us on the air doing what we do best.
Those who pledged will receive a pledge/payment form in the mail. Just follow the simple instructions and return it to: WRTC Marathon, 300 Summit St., Hartford, CT 06106.
You can also still donate securely online, just click…
“Thank You” premiums will be mailed out in the near future.
For more information, or to make a pledge by phone, contact the station at 860-297-2450.
Based in Buffalo, N.Y., Turner cites The Strokes, The Arctic Monkeys and Car Seat Headrest as inspirations based on their unique sounds and how each — much like Orange Dog Club — continue to evolve.
Learn more, as Turner talks about his background, groups that he looked up to and upcoming projects.
Don’t forget, it’s WRTC’s annual fundraising marathon. You can donate here.
