Guitars Galore - George Barnes

[Meggy]

I have been lent a few old jazz vinyl albums by a friend, mostly jazz guitar, one of which is "Guitars Galore" by George Barnes, recorded in 1961 I think. I know about his stuff with Bucky Pizzarelli, and Ruby Braff of course, but I had not heard this album before. It uses a multi-tracked "guitar orchestra" including a specially designed/built high-pitched guitar (built for George by Guild). Anyway, I love the music, it just puts a grin on your face, and is so well done - try "Singin' in the Rain" (on YouTube) for a good taster.

Does anyone have any interesting information about this music, or the making of the album, or indeed any similar music in the same kind of style? I guess there are some similarities to some of Les Paul's recordings. I believe George made one other album in this multi-track kind of way called "Guitar Galaxy" which I would also love to hear. These records do not seem to be avalable on CD at the moment, which seems a shame.

[Meggy]

Come on people! Someone must have something to say about this stuff?

[brad4d8]

I have "Guitars Galore," but haven't listened to it in a while, so can't really comment. I saw George with Bucky Pizzarreli around 1971, great show. As to the Guild guitars, they had two designed for him. The Guitar in F mentioned in the original post and the George Barnes Acoustilectric. If I remember, the latter was an archtop guitar without F holes, might have been a little thinner than some.
Brad

[Meggy]

Originally Posted by brad4d8

I have "Guitars Galore," but haven't listened to it in a while, so can't really comment. I saw George with Bucky Pizzarreli around 1971, great show. As to the Guild guitars, they had two designed for him. The Guitar in F mentioned in the original post and the George Barnes Acoustilectric. If I remember, the latter was an archtop guitar without F holes, might have been a little thinner than some.
Brad

Thanks for your post brad - at least I can say I have generated a little interest now! I think I may have seen the Acoustilectric pictured somewhere - YouTube maybe - now you mention it. For me, "Guitars Galore" made quite an impression, there is just something irresistable about it, and I can't believe it isn't on CD, but I guess there must be an awful lot of good jazz that never got to CD. The more I find out about George Barnes though, the more impressed I am. He seems to have been a pioneer of the electric guitar in jazz, but is seldom mentioned alongside Charlie Christian in this role. In retrospect, maybe he deserves a bit more recognition (though I realise a lot of people on this forum will be well aware of him).

[Mark1961]

I too have Barnes' "Guitars Galore." It was my fathers, and I have all his old jazz albums. He too was a professional guitarist.

Guitars Galore has been getting a lot of play at my house lately. Produced by Mercury, it was one of those recordings done on 35mm magnetic tape which was suppose to capture more depth and fidelity. I don't know about all that, but it is a great album regardless.

I was looking for a stereo version of it via a Google search and this forum post came up.

Another album that gets a lot of play at my house (my 2 year old daughter loves it) is by "Al Caiola and his Magnificent Seven" and entitled "Midnight Dance Party." Closer to dixieland jazz than anything else, but it will get your toes to tapping. Anybody else familiar with this album?

[63Bigsby]

^Not familiar with that Al Caiola LP, but his High Strung is really nice. Barnes, Pizzarelli and if I remember correct, Don Arnone are also on that album.
Many of Barnes' early LP's are in that multitrack Les Paul style. I guess it was so popular back then that other major labels tried to cash in too, and Barnes was Decca's #1 jazz guitarist. Guitars...By George is another LP in this style. Less known Lp is Barnes' Country Jazz which was issued on Colortone, a label releasing cheapo "easy listening" LP's sold in drugstores and department stores. It features Barnes' uptempo interpretations of hoe down fiddle tunes, such as Turkey On A Straw ( named Turkey Cobbler ), Pop Goes The Weasel ( Rockin' The Weasel ) and others. This album is not done in that multitrack style, although Barnes has overdubbed another guitar on some tracks, rather it's close to the early rock'n'roll-style, which Barnes also mastered convincingly:
YouTube - ‪Janis Martin - Ooby Dooby (The Female Elvis)‬‏

[Meggy]

Originally Posted by Mark1961

I too have Barnes' "Guitars Galore." It was my fathers, and I have all his old jazz albums. He too was a professional guitarist.

Guitars Galore has been getting a lot of play at my house lately. Produced by Mercury, it was one of those recordings done on 35mm magnetic tape which was suppose to capture more depth and fidelity. I don't know about all that, but it is a great album regardless.

I was looking for a stereo version of it via a Google search and this forum post came up.

Another album that gets a lot of play at my house (my 2 year old daughter loves it) is by "Al Caiola and his Magnificent Seven" and entitled "Midnight Dance Party." Closer to dixieland jazz than anything else, but it will get your toes to tapping. Anybody else familiar with this album?

Originally Posted by 63Bigsby

^Not familiar with that Al Caiola LP, but his High Strung is really nice. Barnes, Pizzarelli and if I remember correct, Don Arnone are also on that album.
Many of Barnes' early LP's are in that multitrack Les Paul style. I guess it was so popular back then that other major labels tried to cash in too, and Barnes was Decca's #1 jazz guitarist. Guitars...By George is another LP in this style. Less known Lp is Barnes' Country Jazz which was issued on Colortone, a label releasing cheapo "easy listening" LP's sold in drugstores and department stores. It features Barnes' uptempo interpretations of hoe down fiddle tunes, such as Turkey On A Straw ( named Turkey Cobbler ), Pop Goes The Weasel ( Rockin' The Weasel ) and others. This album is not done in that multitrack style, although Barnes has overdubbed another guitar on some tracks, rather it's close to the early rock'n'roll-style, which Barnes also mastered convincingly:
YouTube - ‪Janis Martin - Ooby Dooby (The Female Elvis)‬‏

Nice to get some more replies to this thread! Funny also that Al Caiola is mentioned, as I have been lent 3 of his albums recently. Two of them are good straight ahead jazz albums: "Serenade" and "Everything happens to me" (this is possibly a reissue of an earlier album, as I can't find it listed anywhere on the web). But it is evident that Caiola was more than capable as a jazz musician. Bernie Previn plays trumpet on both albums also, adding a distinctive swing/early jazz flavour (IMO) which I rather like. The third one is Ciao - a collection of cheesy easy listening style Italian numbers! but well done and still worth a listen.

Still love that Barnes album, and thanks for the extra information on some of his other recordings 63Bigsby, much appreciated!

[63Bigsby]

Meggy, you're welcome! And while we're at it, you might want to check this out too:
Accompaniment CD Recordings and Sheet Music Books | Music Minus One : Ten Duets for Two Guitars [MMO CD 3613] - $14.98

Ten duets with Carl Kress and an instructional book to boot, real value for the money!!

[Mark1961]

Al Caiola is a fav of mine, and he is still with us at the age of 90, and still performing! Amazing. I'd love to catch him somewhere.

[wizard3739]

Originally Posted by 63Bigsby

Meggy, you're welcome! And while we're at it, you might want to check this out too:
Accompaniment CD Recordings and Sheet Music Books | Music Minus One : Ten Duets for Two Guitars [MMO CD 3613] - $14.98

Ten duets with Carl Kress and an instructional book to boot, real value for the money!!

This was the first play-a-long record I had many, many years ago. I wore it out rather quickly and didn't find anything else until Aebesold started his series.

wiz