Nice piece. One note that the solo on the Zappa CD wasn't the only recorded Jim Gordon solo. He played one on the Derek and the Dominoes live album ("Let It Rain").
thanks! i was unaware of this particular zappa live recording with jim gordon on it.. listening now.. reminds me a bit of some of my favourite zappa albums - grand wazoo being right up there and in a similar time frame.. regarding the layla credits, in rita coolidges autoboigraphy - her and gordon were going out ( bonnie and delaney tours and etc ) until he punched her in the face - she claims she wrote an important part of that song which she never got the credit for... jim gordon ripped her off essentially.. the story sounds believable... regardless the guy got around the block and some! sad life though and i wouldn't wish that on anyone..
ps - i used to listen to traffic as a young person - favourite album - john barleycorn must die... jim capaldi - fantastic drummer from that era and generally always overlooked..
I've been on a Jim Gordon binge these past few days — this happens every once in a while. I love just about everything he'd recorded over the years, but the moment he truly grabbed me was when I heard the title track of 'The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" as a 13-year-old. That ringing, swinging ride...those melodic, tom-centric fills...the essense of Gordon is all right there in that song.
Thanks for the great article! You missed another appearance on a Zappa release - the concert included in the recent Waka/Wazoo box set is the final concert by the 10-piece band, and thus the final concert with Gordon. It was recorded at Winterland Ballroom on December 15, 1972. I highly recommend it.
Hi Roz! Love your writing, greatly appreciate your FZ writing in particular. Gordon and Frank really were great together, and this was such a creative moment for FZ. Thanks for reading, thanks for writing, and best wishes!
“ If Mel Lewis had been a rock drummer…” You nailed it.
Thanks Mark!
Nice piece. One note that the solo on the Zappa CD wasn't the only recorded Jim Gordon solo. He played one on the Derek and the Dominoes live album ("Let It Rain").
Nice catch! Thanks pb…I guess I did NOT hear the whole D&D Fillmore album…thanks for reading and I shall update accordingly.
thanks! i was unaware of this particular zappa live recording with jim gordon on it.. listening now.. reminds me a bit of some of my favourite zappa albums - grand wazoo being right up there and in a similar time frame.. regarding the layla credits, in rita coolidges autoboigraphy - her and gordon were going out ( bonnie and delaney tours and etc ) until he punched her in the face - she claims she wrote an important part of that song which she never got the credit for... jim gordon ripped her off essentially.. the story sounds believable... regardless the guy got around the block and some! sad life though and i wouldn't wish that on anyone..
Yes, I came across that story multiple times. It stands to reason that he stole the tune, and that he was violent. It's simply awful.
ps - i used to listen to traffic as a young person - favourite album - john barleycorn must die... jim capaldi - fantastic drummer from that era and generally always overlooked..
same time frame - grand wazoo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Wazoo
Big fan of Grand Wazoo, great writing, great playing. Thanks James!
I've been on a Jim Gordon binge these past few days — this happens every once in a while. I love just about everything he'd recorded over the years, but the moment he truly grabbed me was when I heard the title track of 'The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" as a 13-year-old. That ringing, swinging ride...those melodic, tom-centric fills...the essense of Gordon is all right there in that song.
I hear you Mark. He sounds so great on that track. Enjoy!
Thanks for the great article! You missed another appearance on a Zappa release - the concert included in the recent Waka/Wazoo box set is the final concert by the 10-piece band, and thus the final concert with Gordon. It was recorded at Winterland Ballroom on December 15, 1972. I highly recommend it.
A complete chronology of his appearances on Zappa releases can be seen here, starting September 1972: http://www.donlope.net/fz/chronology/1970-1972.html
Another good catch! Thanks!
Thanks for this! As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, I’m big on Zappa and Gordon was a great fit for this era of his music
Hi Roz! Love your writing, greatly appreciate your FZ writing in particular. Gordon and Frank really were great together, and this was such a creative moment for FZ. Thanks for reading, thanks for writing, and best wishes!