Leland Sklar’s YouTube page is really helping me get through these strange days. He’ll usually play along to a track he’s recorded and then tell a story of two. A calm voice in the storm. Here its Stratus off Billy Cobham’s Spectrum album. A record I bought back as a spotty teenager for the Deep Purple connection and he talks lovingly about poor Tommy Bolin here. If I’m honest, it took years before that album made any sense to me! The MO pop up in this one and he’s toured with Phil Collins for years so there’s plenty of that. But its the stories and his soothing voice that I’m really recommending and its well worth digging in for those.
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retropath2 says
Come on, @grac : we’ve been warned about just using the name of a musician to head a piece….. TTF, he ain’t popped his clogs, relax….
Cool, cool dude: it was his reliable biblical presence with Genesis at Band Aid that, frankly, gave ’em any credibility that day. I spotted him and thought fair play, and they went back up in my estimation.
Funny, tho’, I always saw him as the next in line for bass legendary status behind Carl Radle. Had Radle not drunk himself to death, I wonder whether Lee would have shone quite so bright, not that I feel he doesn’t deserve it.
Feedback_File says
Genesis at Live Aid – methinks it was that cheeky chappie Collins playing a solo set.
retropath2 says
Just checked and you are right. So who did he pop up with and raise their game and/ or credibility?
grac says
Oops, apologies! He’s an absolute treasure so lets hope that post is far in the future.
Podicle says
I’ve been watching him too. Very relaxing and he seems like a thoroughly nice guy.
Lemonhope says
Nice – I didn’t know who he was before watching this.
That bass line is the one Massive Attack sampled on Safe From Harm, isn’t it?
Junior Wells says
Yep. I thought the bug had got him too. Right vintage. Thankfully no.
Amused to read you got into Spectrum via the DP connection.
grac says
All true I’m afraid. I have a copy Cobham’s Best of which I must’ve bought first before I came across a copy of Spectrum. Purple were the first band I really got into so I have many side projects and solo albums from various members. The two Tommy Bolin solo albums I have outshine just about everything else from the others. Still have a soft spot for him and still pull those records out occasionally.
Twang says
Wow brilliant, thanks. He’s done a few excellent podcasts I have re-listened to a number of times because he does good story.
Billybob Dylan says
You might enjoy this, too:
grac says
Yes and Leland just spoke warmly of Guy in a recent video.
Black Type says
Feel very fortunate to have seen him and Waddy Wachtel in the Judith Owen band supporting Bryan Ferry in 2015.
Twang says
Wasn’t it Russ Kunkle on drums too? I’d love to have seen that. What a backing band.
Gatz says
I saw Lee and Russ (no Waddy) when Judith played a headline show at Bush Hall a few years ago. I got to say hello to Leland before the show and met Harry Shearer (Mr Judith Owen) afterwards as a bonus.
hubert rawlinson says
Russ Kunkel on drums, though when I saw her at Bury Met Waddy Watchel had dropped out.
Black Type says
Yes indeed.
Twang says
Lucky lucky lad. Waddy is superb. As are the others of course.
DanP says
I wonder if Waddy wasn’t busy in court on a few of these occasions.
https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/stevie-nicks-guitarist-waddy-wachtel-allowed-australia-despite-child-porn-charges/
I’m guessing he’s too old to have been ‘cancelled’
Twang says
Don’t know. The story was he bought a second hand laptop and took it for repair and they found deleted child porn images on the hard drive he said had nothing to do with him. It was no contest because he couldn’t deny they were there but they didn’t go for a full trial and conviction either so presumably the authorities agreed.
DanP says
Fair dos. Probably more a comment about 21st C trial by media than anything else. I don’t really know much of his work outside X-pensive Winos, but he produced The Church’s Starfish album so that’s contribution enough for me.
Freddy Steady says
@black-type
Are you David Coverdale?
Black Type says
Hmmm…I’m certainly no fool for your lovin, @freddy-steady. Why do you ask?
Freddy Steady says
@black-type
He always used to say “Yes indeed” a lot on his live albums. Yes indeed!
Baron Harkonnen says
Here`s Mr Sklar with friends doing a rather good Warren Zevon number;
Twang says
Fantastic. Which Waddy co-wrote actually.
Baron Harkonnen says
Didn’t know that, thanks @Twang
Twang says
And Mick Fleetwood/John McVee are the rhythm section! I listened to a good interview with him…
http://www.friendsofdanmusicpodcast.com/waddy-wachtel/
retropath2 says
Lovely version, bringing back the James to the cosmeticised Taylor/tailor line. Most excellent
Podicle says
Did anyone see this episode with a tour of Lee’s yard in LA?
Holey moley! I suspect he is living in digs substantially better than most of the music legends he has supported over the years. I think the recipe of no drugs, no alcohol and no ex-wives for the duration of his long career have done wonders for him financially. I was delighted when I saw this.
Mrbellows says
Guy Pratt is great too. We’re thinking of starting a band together when this is all over.