Davey Johnstone

[Paul in Colorado]

I watched an Elton John video today from 1992 in Barcelona. I'm not a huge fan, but I figure I can learn something from any performer. I was impressed by his guitarist, not so much for his playing which was good, but I realized he's been in Elton's band since the beginning. He's been the constant in Elton's music. When I met John Jorgensen, he'd just left Elton's band and when he was asked why he left, he said something like, "How many times can you play Rocket Man?" I guess Davey still finds it a good gig. He looked like he was having fun anyway.

So, here's to Davey Johnstone!

[getbent]

I dvr'd the classic albums episode on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and was really, really impressed by DJ. I dig that album and after watching that episode WHAT A BAND! I have always admired folks who 'stick to it' and I think it has probably been rewarding and made him a good living doing good work. Good call Paul. Maybe if you are there when the original sounds are being made and if you are making them it is not as difficult to re-create them every night.

[Tim Armstrong]

I know that Jorgensen says nothing but great things about Davey, that he's a great player and a really good guy...

Cheers, Tim

[e-merlin]

One of my favorites! Not only is he Elton's guitar player but he's the musical director.

He's had some bad times recently, though. Lost a son about two years ago. Can't remember the details, though.

[Tim Bowen]

All things considered, probably my biggest influence as a guitarist has been Davey Johnstone - because his parts are just incredible, and because he thinks more like a songwriter/arranger than as a guitarist. His mandolin work is excellent as well. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", "Grey Seal", "The B i t c h is Back", "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Bitter Fingers", "Tower of Babel", "Meal Ticket", and on and on and on - listen to those parts, they're absolutely perfect. The guy did the "guitar orchestra" thing before Brian May did, to the best of my knowledge.

When it comes to guitarists that "serve the song", several notables are often mentioned; depending upon who's conducting the list, you might see mention of George Harrison, Mike Campbell, Johnny Marr, Peter Stroud, Buddy Miller. I adore those guys. At the very top of my list is Davey Johnstone; he's long been my personal benchmark.

For that matter, I've always been a fan of the late great Dee Murray. That weird hybrid of Brit blues rock groove-meets-American twang that you hear on Tumbleweed Connection - well, nobody else played bass exactly like that. Big fan of Nigel Ollson, Taupin, Ray Cooper, Caleb Quaye, Gus Dudgeon,... pretty much everybody that Reg Dwight brought aboard until the records started taking a left turn. Can't say that I've often agreed with Axel Rose, but I certainly concurred when he stated that <paraphrasing, can't recall exact wording>, "Elton John made the best pop records of the 70's."

[TG]

He's done some good stuff over the years with Elton John. I just wish he'd never done any of that falsetto backing vocal crap. It always makes my skin crawl when the backing vocals start on Elton John tracks.

[jack.plugg]

... (DJ fans and JJ fans - you might already know this anyway), but these two brought out an acoustic instrumental CD about six or seven years ago, called "Crop Circles", which was part of a guitar series by different players, called "Groovemasters", on Solid Air Records.

[Tim Bowen]

Originally Posted by TG

He's done some good stuff over the years with Elton John. I just wish he'd never done any of that falsetto backing vocal crap. It always makes my skin crawl when the backing vocals start on Elton John tracks.

Which tracks? Elton's range during his heyday was pretty impressive. Can't call myself a great vocalist, but I cut my teeth learning to sing harmony parts to Elton's records. Even before I reached puberty, I had to falsetto some of that upper register stuff, can't even get some of it anymore. When I think of falsetto vocals that bug me, I guess I'd cite the modern R&B breathy sounding thing. I sorta lost count after Blue Moves, but the vocal arrangements, timbres, and mixes up to this point were/are (to me) - at the risk of being redundant - borderline perfect. I seriously doubt that most grown men could sing a third or fifth above Elton John in his prime without going to falsetto. Man, I only wish I could suck that hard as a backing vocalist. Or to suck with conviction like Don Rich with Buck Owens, I'd be ecstatic with that ability at my avail. It's sorta like ragging on Steve Howe as a backing vocalist with Yes; Gad, think of the range he was/is singing above, and think of the parts that he was/is simultaneously playing. You don't have to dig it, but it's tough for me not to respect it.

Anyway, we're all entitled to our opinions, and I certainly respect yours.

[Paul in Colorado]

Originally Posted by jack.plugg

... (DJ fans and JJ fans - you might already know this anyway), but these two brought out an acoustic instrumental CD about six or seven years ago, called "Crop Circles", which was part of a guitar series by different players, called "Groovemasters", on Solid Air Records.

I'd forgotten about that. Here's an interview:
http://www.solidairrecords.com/Inter...viewGMast2.htm

[E.D. Patton]

I love the old Elton stuff, but I can sure understands JJ's point.

The only musical straightjacket comparable is is the one Johnny Ramone had to wear.

[psychetelec]

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

For that matter, I've always been a fan of the late great Dee Murray. That weird hybrid of Brit blues rock groove-meets-American twang that you hear on Tumbleweed Connection - well, nobody else played bass exactly like that.

Of course on that album(TC) Dee only played on "Amoreena".

[getbent]

awesome guitar player, terrible haircut. If you ever see the show on vh1 about the making of goodbye yellow brick road.... you can really see how amazing that whole band was.

[Joe-Bob]

Rhythm playing is way underappreciated around here...I'm not sure why, but Davey Johnstone is one of the best around.

[timmer]

Originally Posted by getbent

awesome guitar player, terrible haircut. If you ever see the show on vh1 about the making of goodbye yellow brick road.... you can really see how amazing that whole band was.

I have the DVD of that and have almost posted about it several times but always got side-tracked.

Glad someone else did.

I didn't know that Bennie wasn't taped live until I saw that. Truthfully, I never really thought about it until then. I remember something about how they put the clapping off-beat to show the dreadful sense of time the English audiences were known for (paraphrase).

On a side note, when I was in the service there was a band named Cathedral (?) that used to play in the NCO club at Whidbey. They would play Funeral for a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding but the FfaF part was a tape they would play and then come in live for LLB. My squadron got deployed for overseas for 6 or 7 months and when we got back the band could play the whole thing live. That was so cool!

[Colo Springs E]

Always thought he was waaay underated--good call indeed Paul!

He always played to the song.... never an "over-player."

-Eric

[trag-o-caster]

I've always thought that Davey Johnstone was a great player over the years, and the perfect player for Elton's rockier stuff. He has a unique sound and style that's all his own. I've not heard John Jorgensen with him, but I'm sure it's great as well. Davey's playing would be missed though. His playing became part of the tunes themselves.

[DrewB]

The recurring fill in "Madman Across The Water" is perfection in terms of placement, notes, phrasing and tone. Davey Johnstone is an unsung master of taste.

[psychetelec]

Originally Posted by DrewB

The recurring fill in "Madman Across The Water" is perfection in terms of placement, notes, phrasing and tone. Davey Johnstone is an unsung master of taste.

In reference to that song, don't you mean Chris Spedding? Before "Honky Chateau" EJ's "touring band"(Murray and Olsson, and later Johnstone) only got to play on one track per album.

Track 4.
Madman Across the Water 5:22
Recorded 14th August 1971
Drums TERRY COX
Electric Bass HERBIE FLOWERS
Acoustic Guitar DAVEY JOHNSTONE
Percussion RAY COOPER
Electric Guitar CHRIS SPEDDING
A.R.P. Synthesizer DIANA LEWIS
Organ RICK WAKEMAN
Piano ELTON JOHN

[DrewB]

Oh, crap, that's right! I had forgotten.

[psychetelec]

Notice who played organ?