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Do you think the inspiration for this came from Jet's sound?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o_5z6-OIPY

'Lonely surfer' dates from 1963 I think, so perhaps just a case of parallel development - Bass VI instrumentals are all going to sound quite similar...

George

Hi Paul

More likely his main influence was from Duane Eddy I would think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZSqzrff79w

For more of the same with a truly unforgettable 60's clip from the "Village of the Giants"

Cool doesn't even quite do it justice

Dick

Just in case there is any misapprehension about it, Jack "Needles And Pins-er" Nitzsche was not a guitarist - he was a pianist, composer, arranger and producer of some note.

I expect that someone like Tommy Tedesco or Howard Roberts played the Bass VI on The Lonely Surfer. The whole twelve-track album is available for listening on Spotify, and most of the tracks don't have the same sound, though celebrated surf tune Baja is somewhat in the same vein.

JN

Hi Jim

I believe that the main guitarist on these recordings was Al Caiola who was very closely associated with Jack throughout their careers.
Al & Duane were at Jamie records together (amongst many other things) & that was where I got the link to Duane from.

Cheers

Dick

At that time, the guitar had become popular , not only through rock’n’roll, country and pop, but as a lead melody instrument often in an orchestral setting- probably because a lot of film, TV and stage music had dramatic theme and soundtrack music written specifically for westerns, spy films, detective and mystery shows, documentaries etc. Some of this music absolutely suited the sound of the electric guitar, especially with echo, tremolo and/or reverb effects, and also the baritone or six string bass guitar.

In other words, in those 'middle of the road' 'adult' oriented styles of music, which sold LOTS back then, it was quite trendy to have a big TWANGY guitar (or 6 string bass used as a lead guitar) up front from about 1958 to 1963.

Just a few examples- Think of Duane's contemporary stuff -Because they're Young, Peter Gunn, Paladin theme. And orchestral film and TV themes at that time- Magnificent Seven/Marlboro cigarette advert, Bonanza, James Bond Theme (Vic Flick), and all the surf guitar hits in 1963 before the Beatles arrived..

Good stuff, all of it!