Carl Radle Bass player

[HornetAMX]

Some great bass playing on Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs. Carl and Jim Gordon were joined at the hip. Too bad about Gordon also. He did the fine drum work on "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and a lot of other session stuff. Wish I had some pics of Carl with his Stingray. Looks like an early '77 example with the white pickup.

 

[Big Poppa]

Wow Im glad this came up. I helped set up Carl with the stingrays. it was the same time that Eric started using Music man amps. Carl loved his Earthwood too. I was on the road for a week with clapton and band in 1979...I cant tell all of the stories but carl seemed pretty straight then...It was Eric back then that I worried about.

 

[phatduckk]

Wow Im glad this came up. I helped set up Carl with the stingrays. it was the same time that Eric started using Music man amps. Carl loved his Earthwood too. I was on the road for a week with clapton and band in 1979...I cant tell all of the stories but carl seemed pretty straight then...It was Eric back then that I worried about.

damn Pops, youve been everywhere man

 

[oldbluebassman]

Wow Im glad this came up. I helped set up Carl with the stingrays. it was the same time that Eric started using Music man amps. Carl loved his Earthwood too. I was on the road for a week with clapton and band in 1979...I cant tell all of the stories but carl seemed pretty straight then...It was Eric back then that I worried about.

Oh C'mon You must have one or two stories you can tell. Eric's situation is well documented in his biography.

He popped up at a small local gig a couple of weeks ago as an unpublicised surprise guest of Gary Brooker (Procul Harum) and by all accounts played a blinding set.

 

[dlloyd]

Wow Im glad this came up. I helped set up Carl with the stingrays. it was the same time that Eric started using Music man amps.

How did that all come about?

 

[newtley]

mo' pix

BP... you musta had access to a camera then too...howboutit... whip them pix out! ..and whilst yer at it..get that memoirs project rollin..


Dave- a quick hop onto the googler shows your contributions to an '05 TB thread on Carl where you had links to a photo album that doesn't seem to still be up. Did you have any pics of Carl that aren't on his current website?

One of my "one that got away" stories is a missed opportunity some time ago to buy his (allegedly) tele bass..

 

[Big Poppa]

The story of how it came about has been told several times. Willy Spears was ERics Guitar Tech and a wonderful guy. WIlly used to road manage Leon Russell and when Eric came back for the oceans blvd cd Willy was asking me about amps because Eric was using dual showmans and wasnt happy. I told him that my godfather had designed a new line of amps and that he should try them. I also told him that the new company included Leo Fender but it was a secret because there were about 18 nonths left of Loe's non compete with CBS who had bought Fender.

We luggedd a few stacks in my godfathers 68 caddy...I still dont know how we fit them in and met Eric on at the sound check at Long Beach Audiotorium. Eric really liked them and from there Carl tried and loved the basses. ONe of Music Mans first ad vwas for Clapton and it was really big in launching the amps.

Music Man amps were very good and really popular in the late 70's early 80's Eric even had a music man combo amp on an album cover I think it was time pieces..not sure exactly
Phatty Ill be 52 next week Ive got some miles on me

 

[dlloyd]

Cool story, thanks BP.

Music Man amps were very good and really popular in the late 70's early 80's Eric even had a music man combo amp on an album cover I think it was time pieces..not sure exactly

That'd be Backless...

 

[Big Poppa]

thanks dave I knew I had it wrong after posting.

 

[Kirby]

BP, those old Music Man amps are great! I occasionally play with a steel player who runs two of the smaller ones in stereo and it is a great sound. Blows away anything I have heard a steel through before.

 

[stretch80]

Great thread! I grew up listening to EC and Delaney and Bonnie, and it's great to go back and listen now and remember what a good player Carl Radle was. Just a great roots-rocking feel. Thanks for the stories too BP.

 

[Big Poppa]

thats what old guys are good for ....stories

 

[SteveB]

thats what old guys are good for ....stories

Don't forget wills!

 

[tkarter]

How's come ya dint fix Eric up with a MM guitar BP?


tk

 

[bovinehost]

How's come ya dint fix Eric up with a MM guitar BP?

Tom, you ever see one of those Stingray guitars?

With due respect to Leo, wherever he may be, those were not, um, likely to replace EC's Strats.

There's one on eBay right now:

eBay: Rare Musicman Stingray 1 Guitar 1977 (item 120068836336 end time Jan-06-07 04:47:32 PST)

 

[tkarter]

I was actually think more about EC now days.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

Ah.

I see what you mean....but EC without a Strat is like....BP in a business suit. It would work, sure, but everyone would point and stare.

 

[tkarter]

Sorta like they do when you aren't playing a bongo with cowpilot ey?

tk

 

[dlloyd]

Dusting off the thread...

Speaking of Stingray guitars, check out this clip... there are probably at least three Musicmans up there. George Terry (?) is playing a Stingray Guitar, Carl Radle is hiding behind Yvonne Elliman (or is it Marcy Levey?) with a Stingray Bass and I'm pretty certain Clapton was using MM amps at that point.

 

[Spectre]

Not a Stingray, but it's a Ball...

That's a biggin