Why Did The Instrumentals Die Out?

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:12 pm

Well-l-l...that little band I play in, PW3, has two CD's out and more than enough material for a third, and it's all strictly instrumental. I s'pose that's also the case with the two gamelans I'm a member of...

There's a rumor going around that the Ivory Billed Woodpecker's still hanging in there, too...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:11 pm

The Ventures were king for me and actually still are and I have many of their LP's also. I learned as many of their tunes as I could when I was a kid of 13 and 14. I played guitar back then BTW and can still play many of them to this day although I'm a little rusty on guitar.

Oh and I think The beatles definitely did the instrumentals in also, they just took over everything, completely changed music just about overnight.
Paul you definitely have a cool look going for you.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:14 pm

Thanks. Playing "Misirlou" is fun on a Rick 12 String acoustic...

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:49 am

At the tail end of the instrumental guitar hits, I recall that there were some country recordings that had much in common with the Shadows, Ventures and others.

I remember being taken by the Buckaroos' (with Buck Owens) "Buckaroo." I think that this song was released around 1965.

It had all the ingredients of a hit instrumental and I enjoy it to this day, dated though it may be.

I also have a memory of the Byrds doing a version of this tune? Does anyone else recall this?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:40 am

Well, now that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

How 'bout everything Chet did? All kinds of stuff filtered through Chet's wonderful hardworking hillbilly genes and his matchless touch and tone.

Then we have Les Paul from the Olden Days.

One of my top ten albums to this day remains Chester and Lester (1976?), which on vinyl is to die for. The followup (Guitar Monsters) is just OK, and Chet's album with Mark Knopfler (Neck and Neck) is not as good as I expected then, although I understand it's worth some swap meet bucks.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:02 am

Yes, the county instrumentals are quite a different offering Paul. They do, however, manage to captivate and engage the listener quite well and certainly had their chart success.

While the melody lines in Buckaroo are somewhat less pronounced and undulating there is some interesting scale work nonetheless.

There is some fine picking in this country genre and enough to have more than one aspiring guitarist green at the gills with envy.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:04 am

Roy: Did Hank Marvin cross over to the "country side" at one point?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:37 am

"There is some fine picking in this country genre and enough to have more than one aspiring guitarist green at the gills with envy."

...like the young George Harrison, perhaps?

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:45 am

I would not say Hank crossed over to country Peter, you may have something specific in mind.

Some tracks on the Marvin<Welch and Farrar albums could be classed as bordering on country I suppose.

Hank's last album "Guitar Player" was acoustic and certainly devoid of the sound he is known for.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:58 am

I would agree that some of the Marvin, Welsch and Farrar tracks are bordering on country. But I was thinking that out the massive number of recordings that he has had, and his love of many styles, would take him to the country side sooner of later.

I did a brief search and there is at least one of his songs that is very well done that I consider is an example of his country playing. The track is from one of his EPs entitled Sound Of The Shadows No. 2 on Columbia and is Cotton Pickin.

I have come to the conclusion that this is nothing that Hank can't play.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:59 am

Speaking of country picking, while this is not an instrumental, ever hear "Country Boy" by Ricky Skaggs? There is some mighty fine picking, in that tune. I brought it to Peru and all the musicians I played it for were amazed. I love bluegrass.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:12 am

And then there's the Dixie Dregs...

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:56 am

Yes, there are lots of pickers out there, but very few of them were around in the 1960s that still perform today such as Marvin. He still seems to have a large following in the UK. How did he manage to hold on while others faded?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:59 pm

Um, Fiesta Red Stratocaster?

Oh, wait, those fade, too...

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:18 pm

Hard for Americans to understand I suppose but in UK he has almost legendary status.