''Les Paul Echo Guitar'' by Carl Perkins and George Harrison

February 15, 2013 1:13 AM

''Les Paul Echo Guitar'' -- Carl Perkins and George Harrison, a clip from A Rockabilly Session with Carl Perkins and Friends

See also

George Harrison Rehearsing For Carl Perkins Special
"That's Alright Mama" -- George Harrison, Carl Perkins and Joe Brown

And back in the day...

Blue Suede Shoes -- Carl Perkins (1956)
Matchbox - Carl Perkins (1956)
Dixie Fried - Carl Perkins (1956)
Matchbox - Carl Perkins (1959)
Boppin' The Blues - Carl Perkins (1959)

posted by y2karl (18 comments total)

And here is a short documentary about the recording of Honey Don't...
posted by y2karl at 1:58 AM on February 15

That's some damn fine picking', there, Carl!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:08 AM on February 15

Isn't it, though ?
posted by y2karl at 2:19 AM on February 15

Talk about serendipity; I was down a YouTube rabbit hole last week and found myself watching (or more accurately, listening to) some old Stan Freberg clips. I searched for "Waiting for the Sunrise" ( a song he covered) and what clip do you think came up? The very first clip in this FPP.

I had always assumed that Les Paul's "echo" effect on the original track had been created electronically, as Paul was well-known to create & use new gadgets. But nope, he's doubling each note himself, by plucking then hammering. Fun stuff!

Here's Les Paul's take on the tune.
posted by ShutterBun at 3:26 AM on February 15 [2 favorites]

That's some damn fine picking', there, Les!

Wow, but could Les Paul play guitar.

Thank you so much for that. I much prefer to give the song title when I know it or can figure it out but I didn't bother to scan the comments in that clip. So, d'oh!
posted by y2karl at 4:33 AM on February 15

I came across some of these videos a few months ago when I needed to cop some rockabilly licks and my mind was absolutely blown. Carl Perkins is so far out of my league that it's just sad.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:01 AM on February 15

I came across some of these videos a few months ago when I needed to cop some rockabilly licks and my mind was absolutely blown. Carl Perkins is so far out of my league that it's just sad.

I recall reading in one of my guitar mags that Carl Perkins nearly lost two fingers in some type of fan accident (and I don't mean music fan :-) ). He had to convince the doctors not to amputate, and then teach himself to play guitar all over again once he healed.
posted by superelastic at 5:42 AM on February 15

He had to convince the doctors not to amputate, and then teach himself to play guitar all over again once he healed.

Reminiscent of Paul Newman getting his thumbs broken by some toughs in "The Hustler" and having to slowly get his pool game back together. Never knew that about Carl Perkins... damn!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:54 AM on February 15

He had to convince the doctors not to amputate, and then teach himself to play guitar all over again once he healed.

Well, shucks, here again, Les Paul beat him to it:

In 1948, Paul nearly lost his life to a devastating car crash that shattered his right arm and elbow. Still, he convinced doctors to set his broken arm in the guitar-picking and cradling position.

The World Has Lost a Remarkable Innovator and Musician: Les Paul Passes Away at 94
posted by y2karl at 6:38 AM on February 15

Fantastic playing from both Les and Carl, I liked how George was watching so intently. Good stuff!
posted by zeoslap at 8:11 AM on February 15

Loves me some Carl Perkins. Thanks y2karl!
posted by Mental Wimp at 8:53 AM on February 15

Well, great, no work is getting done for the next hour.
posted by jeffamaphone at 8:56 AM on February 15 [1 favorite]

I had always assumed that Les Paul's "echo" effect on the original track had been created electronically, as Paul was well-known to create & use new gadgets. But nope, he's doubling each note himself, by plucking then hammering. Fun stuff!

Uh...Les Paul did use an echo effect. This was Carl attempting to replicate the sounds of the echo effect without using an echo effect, and succeeding. It doesn't mean there was no echo effect in the first place.

Kinda like the story about Joe Walsh laboriously figuring out how to play the whole lead part on "And Your Bird Can Sing" by ear, only to have Harrison tell him years later that the whole part had been built up in overdubs and was impossible to actually play with one pair of hands.
posted by anazgnos at 9:58 AM on February 15 [1 favorite]

Wow. I'm speechless. Thank you, Y2Karl, I haven't enjoyed watching a youtube link as much as that in ages. Switched on for a look, watched the whole 57 minutes. Amazing, and Carl's speech at the end was the icing on the cake.
posted by ciderwoman at 10:34 AM on February 15

TV has just gone all to hell since 1955. Thanks for posting that clip, ShutterBun.
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:33 PM on February 15

That video is vivid proof of what I've been saying for decades.

1. The Beatles were crappy musicians.

2. Clapton is God.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:52 PM on February 15

1. The Beatles were crappy musicians.

So true! Oh, and Antarctica ain't cold, either.

2. Clapton is God.

The man has nary a shred of humor or playfulness in his delivery (with neither his vocals or with his guitar) which makes him, I suppose, a stern and wrathful sort of God. Not one I'd ever worship!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:53 PM on February 15 [1 favorite]

And we haven't even touched on his racial views....
posted by y2karl at 1:57 PM on February 16