MICK GREEN WITH BILLY J. KRAMER, "I CALL YOUR NAME"

Here's a textbook example of how guitar players can benefit from listening to also-ran recordings. Briefly, I'm talking about the phenomenon of lesser recordings containing stellar guitar playing. Many would probably dismiss or ignore this Billy J. Kramer clip, since it's a weaker version of the Beatles song "I Call Your Name." Okay, Billy J. is no John Lennon, but I'll let others engage in that debate elsewhere. We Tele pickers are concerned with Mick Green's A+ playing. I love George Harrison, but whereas George was a little-engine-that-could type of instrumentalist, working harder than many contemporaries to develop technique that didn't come naturally to him, Mick Green is one of the technical greats of British rock. Ignored in this country, like Hank Marvin, Peter Green, etc., Mick Green kills on cut after cut. I'm slowly working my way through these youtube clips, looking for classic Mick Green playing. There are tons of clips of Green with the Pirates, a solid and in fact pretty intense hard rock band, but these Dakotas clips are a different animal. In a less rocking setting, Green does what James Burton, Nokie Edwards, Jimmy Page, George Barnes et al do so well-- he brings some raunch to a pop session. This kind of approach gives me an almost religious feeling when I hear it.

I'm in the process of putting together some videos where I demonstrate some playing inspired by Green, Burton, and others in that elite group. Look for these to show up soon, knock on wood. (I suppose that wood should ideally be alder, or swamp ash.)
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MICK GREEN WITH BILLY J. KRAMER, "MY BABE"

Here's Mick Green with Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Billy J. and his group are one of the many also-ran British groups that popped up in the wake of the Beatles-- pretty limp, but any Mick Green sighting is important. Green is better known for his intense work with Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, but even in this more subdued setting he plays some good stuff. The second solo is a little more raw, the first a little less exciting, but there's good playing throughout. Little Walter's "My Babe," much like Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning," and Dale Hawkins/James Burton's "Susie Q," is ground zero for open E bluesy/swampy licks. You don't have to play this stuff on a Tele, but it helps.

Thanks to Bob Craver for posting this on facebook.
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