I always forget about Burton when I'm searching YT for players to inspire me when I feel I'm in a rut.
Thanx, subby

HE'S TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT, HE MUST HAVE NO SOUL!

I love old-school country and rockabilly, and I have to say...

That video kinda blew. Maybe the dude's done some great things, but that video was just full of wank. I'm not gonna bother with the "no soul" stuff, but in terms of enjoyability, that rates pretty low. It was like a back rub that feels real nice except every once in awhile the masseur slaps the back of your head.

Unless you're into that sorta thing...

leftymcrighty: I love old-school country and rockabilly, and I have to say...

I also love old-school country and rockabilly, and I have to say...

...you clearly don't know anything about it.

leftymcrighty: Maybe the dude's done some great things,

"Maybe the dude's done some great things"?

Yeah, maybe (new window).

This is JAMES BURTON, and his playing is directly responsible for many of the things you say you love.

Ricky Nelson, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Merle Haggard, Waylon, Everly Brothers, Johnny Rivers, Gram Parsons... etc etc etc. He played with them all.

He wrote the "Susie Q" lick for chrissakes'...

If you think the video blew, find me a better video of a better player in the style. (And Albert Lee don't count 'cause he learned everything from JB anyway).

For my money, this is the guy. If you wanna hear a PERFECT guitar solo, meaning one that fits the song absolutely, and sounds great, and sounds easy but is just impossible to play perfectly, check out JB's solo on "Hello Mary Lou".

/ yeah, I'm the subby

If you were "the man" enough to get Elvis farking Presley to hire you, then no more need be said.

/Digging out Elvis concert boots

I believe the late Albert Collins would be the Master of the Telecaster, not that Burton doesn't deserve his props but...

here is a taste (new window)

eejack: I believe the late Albert Collins would be the Master of the Telecaster

I agree that is traditionally the iceman's title, but often shared by others.

The Dynamite Monkey: *a whole bunch of stuff*

I'm not saying he's not a great guitarist, I'm not saying he's not important. It's just that the video... it's kinda boring. It's well-played, sure. But the tempo's all over the place, there's super-fast picking that seems completely out of place in a blues jam, there's absolutely no cohesion from start to finish, except that it's the same key.

There's one really great chunk in the video: from about 1:30 to 2:00, he plays an actual SONG of sorts, going through a progression, keeping the tempo and feel all regular. That part was biatchin'

The Dynamite Monkey: his playing is directly responsible for many of the things you say you love

I go a bit more old-school than you think. I don't really listen to much stuff recorded after 1960.

The Dynamite Monkey: find me a better video of a better player in the style

These guys may not be better, but the videos are more entertaining (to me):

Merle Travis^

Chet Atkins^

Doc Watson^

James Burton pretty bad ass but that video is not a great representation of his work.

Brent Mason and Vince Gill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeJHnkUKg_M

Vince Gill solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFPrvjwRtj0

Brad Paisley also rips. That is all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFPrvjwRtj0

leftymcrighty: The Dynamite Monkey: find me a better video of a better player in the style

These guys may not be better, but the videos are more entertaining (to me):

We'll I must say you did a pretty good job with the video challenge. I had seen two of them, but never the one of Chet, and I enjoyed it very much. I get pissed at myself because i watch these guys and it is like their thumbs are possessed and controlled by someone else. I try and try and can't get the bass rock steady like that. I guess I am not practicing hard enough. (And I know I am not practicing slowly enough...)

So maybe I misread your post as a slight on JB, and if I did I apologize.

Scatter: James Burton pretty bad ass but that video is not a great representation of his work.

While I disagree, I see what you are saying -- but I liked that he was playing ALONE, and once I saw the close up on the "TCB" band medallion (man i wish i had one a those!) I was sold.

More on the subject of chicken pickin'

Albert Lee, Wince Gill, and the Late Danny Gatton (new window). Sound mix and tones arte a little too "modern country" for my taste, but that's about 10,000,000 pounds of guit-tar talent on one stage.

The Dynamite Monkey: I try and try and can't get the bass rock steady like that

Dude, me too. It's taken me a year, and I can only JUST BARELY pick that style. I have a hard time disassociating my fingers and thumbs enough to carry separate rhythms. But I'm a hell of a lot better than I was a year ago (enough that I was able to attempt in front of a crowd the other night), so that's motivation to keep plugging away.

What the heck are we fighting for anyway? We country fans should be uniting against all the nay-sayers who've never given REAL country a chance...

Your Lee, Gill and Gatton video was awesome

The Dynamite Monkey's profile: If you came here maybe I pissed you off somehow. Sorry about that. I don't know very many things, and I am not especially smart, but I probably know more about rock and roll than you do. Don't take that the wrong way, it's just a fact. That's why it's usually only music threads I get my Irish up in.

haha, that's awesome...

I remember seeing Roy Orbison's Black and White Night when it first aired and out of all the big stars on stage, I was most intrigued by the guitarist who I soon learned was James Burton.