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Les Paul
Nov/21/08 18:04
I
watched a documentary last night
called
Les Paul - Chasing Sound
. It's about Les Paul (surprise!). Phenomenal documentary. I knew Les Paul was instrumental (sorry, had to do it) in creating the electric guitar. I didn't know that he also pioneered (actually, invented) multitrack recording. An artist and a genius, with a good sense of humor to boot.
After watching the documentary I downloaded this album,
which is very enjoyable. It fits in nicely
with my recent obsession with all things
1940's.
. It's about Les Paul (surprise!). Phenomenal documentary. I knew Les Paul was instrumental (sorry, had to do it) in creating the electric guitar. I didn't know that he also pioneered (actually, invented) multitrack recording. An artist and a genius, with a good sense of humor to boot.
After watching the documentary I downloaded this album
,
which is very enjoyable. It fits in nicely
with my recent obsession with all things
1940's.
I
watched a documentary last night
called
Les Paul - Chasing Sound
. It's about Les Paul (surprise!). Phenomenal documentary. I knew Les Paul was instrumental (sorry, had to do it) in creating the electric guitar. I didn't know that he also pioneered (actually, invented) multitrack recording. An artist and a genius, with a good sense of humor to boot.
After watching the documentary I downloaded this album,
which is very enjoyable. It fits in nicely
with my recent obsession with all things
1940's.
Les Paul started his career in Wisconsin playing country and hillbilly music. He was invited to do a radio show with another musician while he was still in high school and dropped out to pursue his music obsession when he was offered a steady gig on the radio.
He moved from radio to Chicago where he played country on the radio every morning at 6 am and after work he would head to the other side of town to play jazz with the greats. He played with Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and many other legends of jazz. He said that if he was going to make a good living as a musician, that he needed to learn as many different kinds of music as he could. He studied with the greats of jazz, and played with many legends of country as well, including Gene Autry.
During World War II Les was drafted and played for the Armed Services band for several years. His recordings were heard around the world by troops fighting their way through the war. This created a huge captive audience for his music, and when the war ended he went to L.A. to take his music to the next level.
Les took his band to the studio where Bing Crosby recorded his daily radio show, and played for Bing in the lobby of the building as Bing was leaving work. Les Paul's trio was hired on the spot and soon recorded what became an instant #1 hit: "It's Been a Long, Long Time." This is song is widely regarded as one of the marvels of recorded music. Many artists have rendered versions of this song, but Bing and Les recorded one that still causes recording engineers to sigh in repose at its beauty. You'd do well to find a copy (it’s included on the album I linked to earlier in the article).
Soon thereafter Les locked himself in his garage and said he wasn't going to leave until he'd come up with a new sound. He wanted to create a sound that had never been heard before. With the help of Bing Crosby gifting him the first ever magnetic tape recording machine brought to America, Les Paul continued to refine the machine until it was capable of over-dubbing. He used these techniques to record multiple tracks of himself playing, some sped up or slowed down, and Les Paul's new sound was born.
Once Les emerged from his self-imposed reclusion, he knew that he needed to find a singer because his ability to innovate would diminish over time. Gene Autry connected Les Paul with Mary Ford (one of Gene's backup singers) and the two went on to sell over 25 million records.
In 1965 the two parted ways because Mary was sick of being on the road. They were divorced soon after and Les Paul put his guitar in his garage and sword he'd never play again.
Les Paul had been in retirement for about 12 years, when he received a phone call from another guitar virtuoso, Chet Atkins. Chet is the younger brother of a long-time member of Les Paul's trio, and the two had met six months prior to the call and had jammed in a late-night hotel room session. Chet didn't forget how easily they played together. They got together and recorded this whole album in two days. Les Paul is in the left channel and Chet Atkins is in the right channel. And when these two get going, the gentle one-upping of each other never gets obnoxious. They obviously respected each other's game and each takes a turn showcasing his talents. Two virtuosos exchanging beautiful phrases in an understated simplicity makes for some damn fine music. Get this album.
Now. You need this.
Les Paul continues to play every Monday night in New York City, and my friend, Al, just moved there, so I'm booking a trip as soon as I can to see this legend while he's still able to play. He's down to two fingers on his left hand that don't have arthritis, but two is enough. He's ninety-two, and I plan on seeing him before he's ninety-three.
. It's about Les Paul (surprise!). Phenomenal documentary. I knew Les Paul was instrumental (sorry, had to do it) in creating the electric guitar. I didn't know that he also pioneered (actually, invented) multitrack recording. An artist and a genius, with a good sense of humor to boot.
After watching the documentary I downloaded this album
,
which is very enjoyable. It fits in nicely
with my recent obsession with all things
1940's.
Les Paul started his career in Wisconsin playing country and hillbilly music. He was invited to do a radio show with another musician while he was still in high school and dropped out to pursue his music obsession when he was offered a steady gig on the radio.
He moved from radio to Chicago where he played country on the radio every morning at 6 am and after work he would head to the other side of town to play jazz with the greats. He played with Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and many other legends of jazz. He said that if he was going to make a good living as a musician, that he needed to learn as many different kinds of music as he could. He studied with the greats of jazz, and played with many legends of country as well, including Gene Autry.
During World War II Les was drafted and played for the Armed Services band for several years. His recordings were heard around the world by troops fighting their way through the war. This created a huge captive audience for his music, and when the war ended he went to L.A. to take his music to the next level.
Les took his band to the studio where Bing Crosby recorded his daily radio show, and played for Bing in the lobby of the building as Bing was leaving work. Les Paul's trio was hired on the spot and soon recorded what became an instant #1 hit: "It's Been a Long, Long Time." This is song is widely regarded as one of the marvels of recorded music. Many artists have rendered versions of this song, but Bing and Les recorded one that still causes recording engineers to sigh in repose at its beauty. You'd do well to find a copy (it’s included on the album I linked to earlier in the article).
Soon thereafter Les locked himself in his garage and said he wasn't going to leave until he'd come up with a new sound. He wanted to create a sound that had never been heard before. With the help of Bing Crosby gifting him the first ever magnetic tape recording machine brought to America, Les Paul continued to refine the machine until it was capable of over-dubbing. He used these techniques to record multiple tracks of himself playing, some sped up or slowed down, and Les Paul's new sound was born.
Once Les emerged from his self-imposed reclusion, he knew that he needed to find a singer because his ability to innovate would diminish over time. Gene Autry connected Les Paul with Mary Ford (one of Gene's backup singers) and the two went on to sell over 25 million records.
In 1965 the two parted ways because Mary was sick of being on the road. They were divorced soon after and Les Paul put his guitar in his garage and sword he'd never play again.
Les Paul had been in retirement for about 12 years, when he received a phone call from another guitar virtuoso, Chet Atkins. Chet is the younger brother of a long-time member of Les Paul's trio, and the two had met six months prior to the call and had jammed in a late-night hotel room session. Chet didn't forget how easily they played together. They got together and recorded this whole album in two days. Les Paul is in the left channel and Chet Atkins is in the right channel. And when these two get going, the gentle one-upping of each other never gets obnoxious. They obviously respected each other's game and each takes a turn showcasing his talents. Two virtuosos exchanging beautiful phrases in an understated simplicity makes for some damn fine music. Get this album
.
Now. You need this.
Les Paul continues to play every Monday night in New York City, and my friend, Al, just moved there, so I'm booking a trip as soon as I can to see this legend while he's still able to play. He's down to two fingers on his left hand that don't have arthritis, but two is enough. He's ninety-two, and I plan on seeing him before he's ninety-three.
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