The Don Felder Site

Larry Carlton Plays the Sound of Philadelphia alert!

Just prior to its February 15th release, Larry has generously posted the album online. We’re talking FULL tracks, ladies and gentlemen.

Old schoolers like ourselves really appreciate Larry’s treatment of the timeless sound of Gamble and Huff. Despite the fact he’s assembled a superb band and vocals for this recording, it’s all about the guitar. Don’t miss this!

Be sure to root for Larry at this year’s Grammy Awards. He’s nominated in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category with Take Your Pick,recorded with Asia’s premier guitarist Tak Matsumoto.

Creed Taylor Incorporated, “one of the most influential independent labels in the history of modern jazz,” celebrates its 40th “anniversary” with Masterworks’ release of the CTI Records: The Cool Revolution box set. The now defunct CTI spent the 70′s securing a niche in jazz recording history and also helped launch the career of entertainer George Benson. By the way, the label’s very first production in 1970 was an album by an unknown free-form jazz quartet featuring a young crack guitarist by the name of Don Felder. . . . . .Sony Pictures Home Entertainment plans to release the 1981 animated cult film Heavy Metal in blu-ray technology on January 25. The nice side effect: fans of the soundtrack will be able to enjoy Don’s contribution “Heavy Metal – Takin’ a Ride” in 5.1 DTS-HD master audio. . . . Speaking of listening to Heavy Metal. Get tickets to Don’s upcoming California show on November 20 in Coachella at the Spotlight 29 Casino Showroom here.

Guitarist Frank Simes, pictured with Don on the left, is a seasoned musician who’s been around the block and back when it comes to being able to step in, tune in and blend in with the likes of some of rock and pop’s biggest names.

In this month’s issue of Premier Guitar, he recently teamed up with seven sought-after sidemen to shed some light on the job of playing and performing on the edge of the spotlight.

Update! Part 2 now online (11/12/2010)
Image: C. Clingan

Regular site visitors are probably wondering why we haven’t posted any Larry Carlton news lately. Shame on us.

Larry’s upcoming album – a tribute to Gamble and Huff’s “The Sound of Philadelphia” – is undergoing finishing touches in order to hit the shelves in October. The work will be released on Larry’s own 335 Records label and will also include a “making of” DVD.

Larry Carlton plays dates in Hawaii this week and will be joined by Michael McDonald for two shows in the Nashville area on October 7th & 8th before he criss-crosses the globe to perform in Hong Kong, Taiwan and selected European cities.

We’ve been Gordon Lightfoot fans for a long time. Even back before it was hip.

But asking us to name our favorite from his 250+ song catalog is like, well, asking us to choose a favorite child. We can, however, easily place “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” in our top five without having to second guess, simply because THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR ARRANGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS TUNE IS AWESOME, whether it’s a studio recording or live version. The song demonstrates how Gord basically put the word “song” in “songwriting.”

So what do we care that the Trilogy, which Lightfoot was commissioned to write by the CBC for a 1966 television documentary commemorating the railway’s centennial, will be made into an illustrated book for release later this year?

Because the lyrics are damned awesome as well. You see, Lightfoot was also responsible for putting the word “writer” in “songwriter.”