Menu
I differ with Phil just a little bit here.....
While you may be correct about Dick Dale's bass player (Ray Samra or Rick
Rillera most likely) being the only Del-Tone on the sixties' Capitol
recordings, I believe he also used (or only used) either Art Munson or Nick
O'Malley (his rhythm guitarists). One of these days (and soon), I MUST sit
down with Nick and get his story written. It's bound to shed a lot of new
light on that period.
As for the Surfaris, I believe it's correct to say that Bud Dant determined
that Ron Wilson was the real talent in the band early on. So, he brought
in some heavy studio hitters for some (don't know about "all") of The
Surfaris' vocal numbers for their Decca recordings. I believe Jim Fuller
recorded one or two lead vocals during that time as well.
john blair
Phil Dirt
<phildirt@reverbc
entral.com> To
Sent by:
SurfGuitar101@yah cc
oogroups.com
Subject
Re: [SurfGuitar101] Re:
11/02/2005 01:32 Chicago......ringers???
PM
Please respond to
SurfGuitar101@yah
oogroups.com
Ah, the bubble bursts. Sorry 'bout that. Chicago may have faired better
than most bacause they were accomplished musicians. Few major label
artsits escape this curse completely. It's the nature of the usiness.
Even so-called alternative acts get misrepresented this way.
The Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks" features only two Sex Pistols
on disc (Lydon and Cook), with Vicious replaced by ex-Pistol bassist
Glenn Matlock ('cuz he could actually play bass), and Jones replaced by
the amazing Chris Spedding - a guitar god in his own right. Fabricated
punk from the get-go! Great album, nonetheless.
The only member of the Del-tones on any of Dick Dale's studio
recordings from the sixties is the occasional appearance by his bass
player. The usual suspects (studio liazrds) were on hand.
Only Ron Wilson appears on Surais vocals (for the most part) once they
signed with Decca. Bud Dant (producer) thought they were a sloppy band,
just kids. We lucked out because he did not think the instrumentals
were anything more than filler, thus allowing the band to actually
recorded those.
Phil
--- Jonathan Villegas <> wrote:
> Phil, All:
>
> Studio musicians? What blasphemy!
>
> I've been a fan of Chicago since HS and college years
> in the '70s, which started my love for horn bands. So,
> to hear this news now about "ringers" is a surprise.
>
> Next thing you know, you're gonna tell me Amanda
> Lepore is not a real woman....
>
> ~ Jonathan
> www.lbop.net
>
>
> --- wrote:
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:37:43 -0800 (PST)
> From: Phil Dirt <>
> Subject: Re: Re: Chicago......ringers???
>
> I don't know about the early days after album 1 (when
> they were still
> CTA), but it's a very common practice. When the first
> record was cut
> before CBS signed them, it was all them. After that,
> it's anybody's
> guess. CBS like every other major signed the band name
> and rights, and
> frequently replaced musicians in the studio.
>
> Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin), current guitarist
> with Chicago, told
> me that when their new albums come out, they get an
> davance copy so
> they can learn the arrangements and guitar hooks from
> the record to
> play it that way live, 'cuz only a couple of key guys
> are actually on
> the disc.
>
> Phil
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Yahoo! Groups Links
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I overstated - speaking in genrallities. And I do recall Art Munson
telling me he was on a couple of tracks, now that you mention it. The
larger point holds, but as usual John, you're command of the detail is
greater than mine. You may also be right about Fuller singing here and
there. I think my strongest impression of the Surfaris sessions is the
lasting venom from Jim Pash about the band usually being cut out of
sessions, and Jim did tell me on a couple of occassions that Dant
thought Ron was the band, and that the instrumentals were of little
consequence. Perhaps that was somewhat colored by his unresolved
resentment.
BTW, John, I just received the Ace Fireballs tribute - your track 9and
Marty's) is wonderful. What a cool compilation!
Phil
--- wrote:
>
> I differ with Phil just a little bit here.....
>
> While you may be correct about Dick Dale's bass player (Ray Samra or
> Rick
> Rillera most likely) being the only Del-Tone on the sixties' Capitol
> recordings, I believe he also used (or only used) either Art Munson
> or Nick
> O'Malley (his rhythm guitarists). One of these days (and soon), I
> MUST sit
> down with Nick and get his story written. It's bound to shed a lot
> of new
> light on that period.
>
> As for the Surfaris, I believe it's correct to say that Bud Dant
> determined
> that Ron Wilson was the real talent in the band early on. So, he
> brought
> in some heavy studio hitters for some (don't know about "all") of The
> Surfaris' vocal numbers for their Decca recordings. I believe Jim
> Fuller
> recorded one or two lead vocals during that time as well.
>
> john blair
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Phil Dirt
>
> <phildirt@reverbc
>
> entral.com>
> To
> Sent by:
>
> SurfGuitar101@yah
> cc
> oogroups.com
>
>
> Subject
> Re: [SurfGuitar101] Re:
>
> 11/02/2005 01:32 Chicago......ringers???
>
> PM
>
>
>
>
>
> Please respond to
>
> SurfGuitar101@yah
>
> oogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Ah, the bubble bursts. Sorry 'bout that. Chicago may have faired
> better
> than most bacause they were accomplished musicians. Few major label
> artsits escape this curse completely. It's the nature of the usiness.
> Even so-called alternative acts get misrepresented this way.
>
> The Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks" features only two Sex
> Pistols
> on disc (Lydon and Cook), with Vicious replaced by ex-Pistol bassist
> Glenn Matlock ('cuz he could actually play bass), and Jones replaced
> by
> the amazing Chris Spedding - a guitar god in his own right.
> Fabricated
> punk from the get-go! Great album, nonetheless.
>
> The only member of the Del-tones on any of Dick Dale's studio
> recordings from the sixties is the occasional appearance by his bass
> player. The usual suspects (studio liazrds) were on hand.
>
> Only Ron Wilson appears on Surais vocals (for the most part) once
> they
> signed with Decca. Bud Dant (producer) thought they were a sloppy
> band,
> just kids. We lucked out because he did not think the instrumentals
> were anything more than filler, thus allowing the band to actually
> recorded those.
>
> Phil
>
> --- Jonathan Villegas <> wrote:
>
> > Phil, All:
> >
> > Studio musicians? What blasphemy!
> >
> > I've been a fan of Chicago since HS and college years
> > in the '70s, which started my love for horn bands. So,
> > to hear this news now about "ringers" is a surprise.
> >
> > Next thing you know, you're gonna tell me Amanda
> > Lepore is not a real woman....
> >
> > ~ Jonathan
> > www.lbop.net
> >
> >
> > --- wrote:
> >
> > Message: 6
> > Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:37:43 -0800 (PST)
> > From: Phil Dirt <>
> > Subject: Re: Re: Chicago......ringers???
> >
> > I don't know about the early days after album 1 (when
> > they were still
> > CTA), but it's a very common practice. When the first
> > record was cut
> > before CBS signed them, it was all them. After that,
> > it's anybody's
> > guess. CBS like every other major signed the band name
> > and rights, and
> > frequently replaced musicians in the studio.
> >
> > Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin), current guitarist
> > with Chicago, told
> > me that when their new albums come out, they get an
> > davance copy so
> > they can learn the arrangements and guitar hooks from
> > the record to
> > play it that way live, 'cuz only a couple of key guys
> > are actually on
> > the disc.
> >
> > Phil
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> >
> >
> > .
> > Visit for archived
> > messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home
> page
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>