Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is this James Kirkland playing Rick bass with Rick Nelson (Jim Burton on pedal steel)?

See page 61 of the Smith book. He identifies the bass player as James Kirkland.

Is that pic a copyright of the Smith book? If so, it probably shouldn't be on the forum.

Um . . . no, it is an old publicity shot I got from RIC provided to me with permission to use in the book. Couldn't find it on the RIC website Gallery, though, or else I would have linked to it. Perhaps I should have explained that with the question. I hope to use the shot in my book's 4000 chapter and wanted to get the I.D. right. So, I shouldn't post it here? Let me know.

Kinda looks like him as seen in this picture: Found (with a few others) at:
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JamesKirkland.html

Great shot of a 4000 with the large pg on that link.

Has anyone ever posted any Jim Reeves youtube videos?

These are pretty good quality, from 1961. Featuring the ultra cool Blue Boy Rickenbackers...including the 4000 bass.

Only bits of the 4000 get screen time at the beginning and end of this video, but it sounds nice and is played well:

In a Mansion Stands My Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I1QXIgc_NA

This one doesn't show the 4000 until the very end, but there is no doubt that it is indeed the 4000.

Losing Your Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsQgI5oEUZ0

Very nice, smooth voice on Jim Reeves. And nice bass playing too. That must be James Kirkland on bass?

Enjoy!



I think these videos deserve their own thread so I'm going to re-post this.

cjj wrote:Found (with a few others) at:
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JamesKirkland.html

Pretty cool info at the link above. Especially this part:

Shortly before Reeves got killed in a plane crash, Kirkland got an invitation to return to work for him, but he declined. Nashville had left a bitter taste in Kirkland's mouth, too much politics and ego trips. When he left Nashville, he left his Rickenbacker electric bass and amplifier in Reeves' basement. He returned home to Texas discouraged but would play the occasional jam session or club. In 1983, he retired completely from the music business. He had grown tired of the rat race; making a vow he would never play music again. He had his own welding business and wanted to stay close to his family. He has three sons and has been married to his beautiful wife Jeanine for twenty-three years.

So he left a one of a kind fifties 4000 blue boy in a basement, Wow, just.... Wow