-
Lot of influential musicians came out of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the '60s and '70s: Leon Russell, JJ Cale, The Gap Band, David Gates (Bread), bassist Carl Radle (Derek & The Dominos et al).
But there's more to the story...
Oklahoma Today | Oklahomatoday.com - Mad Songs & Oklahomans: The Tulsa Sound Part One
Oklahoma Today | Oklahomatoday.com - Take Us Back to Tulsa: The Tulsa Sound Part Two
Leon Russell's Shelter Records studio was called The Church. Historic Recording Studio of Leon Russell - The Church Studio
-
09-01-2021 05:29 PM
-
...and Chandler also was there...
-
I respect all those guys, but JJ Cale is just one guy I haven’t gotten into. Great songwriter of course, but when he performs it sounds like he mumbles, and I’ve never gotten into his guitar playing.
He plays and sings at a level 2 and needs to be turned up to a level 6 or 7 (which is pretty much what Clapton did for his songs).
That said, I really like his version of Magnolia. What a great song, and one of my favorites from the ‘70’s.
-
Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff
I lived in Nashville at the time (9th grade?) and the weekend section of the paper (-called various names by various papers) always included the lyrics to a popular song and the chords for it. I saw "Crazy Mama" in there and the only chord listed was E. (All the vocals ARE on one chord in that song; the turnaround isn't a vocal part.) I thought, "Gee, that's not a lot of help!" Of course, one should not need much help to play that song!
But the laid-back feel of "The Tulsa Sound"---blues, rock, gospel, country, the whole shmear but in the pocket---appeals to me. When I was a kid, I didn't know who was from where and didn't know from "The Tulsa Sound" but I liked Leon Russell and JJ Cale and that side of Clapton that goes to town on JJ Cale songs, that whole feel.
And hell, "Tulsa Time" by Don Williams (who was not from Tulsa but from Texas, though he had a laid-back quality to his voice and music)... One of the great two-chord songs of all time!
-
Well I do admire the feel. Those guys were very influential. Don't forget Jim Keltner.
Slight digression...
Back when I lived in Minnesota the (now ex) wife and I would drive down to Kansas to stay with her family for holidays. Often we would drive through Tulsa. I remember the transition from a flat prairie to a big plateau., and crossing the Arkansas River. I thought it was a pretty area.
I did go to a wedding in Oklahoma City, which was nicer than I expected. But I hate tornadoes, so never thought once about moving there, and got out of Kansas as soon as I could. (Should've gotten out of the marriage as soon as I could, but that's another story.)
-
The original Tulsa sound was Bob Wills. He was there for many years.
-
Originally Posted by sgosnell
Can’t find a trace of MMMbop in there though.
-
Originally Posted by sgosnell
-
Originally Posted by MarkRhodes
Oh yeah "Magnolia" is recurrent in my personal rep since '76. Love those Maj7ths!
-
A news story about The Church, the studio Leon Russell built.
-
JJ Cale with Leon Russell doing "After Midnight."
-
Leon Russell from 1964----first time I ever saw him without a beard!
-
Another bit of "Shindig," with Glenn Campbell on banjo for "Jambalaya."
-
Leon Russell and the Gap Band from 1974.
-
Originally Posted by MarkRhodes
That is a very laid back way of playing. It seems to suit the mid/late 70’s well, which was when Steely Dan put out Gaucho and most groups were moving away from a hard rock, 180 bpm style.
-
Originally Posted by MarkRhodes
JJ Cale is probably the guitarist I’ve spent the most time transcribing, especially his live solo work, without a band, where he plays a lot of what we now call “fingerstyle.”
Great band here.
-
Originally Posted by Kirk Garrett
-
Originally Posted by supersoul
Ex:
-
Another:
-
Also this (and more…but enough for now.)
Really great.
16" 1920s/30s L5
Today, 08:44 PM in For Sale