The Best Of Andy Fairweather Low - Sideman To The Stars

Andy Fairweather Low rose to prominence as Amen Corner’s lead singer.  The band had a string of hits in the 60’s, but they didn’t write songs.  Without income from publishing, they only made money when they played live.  There are two Amen Corner tracks on this collection: (If Paradise is) Half As Nice & Hello Suzy, which was written by Roy Wood.

Andy downplays his time with Amen Corner saying that he basically just showed up and sang. His first solo hit was the wonderful Wide-Eyed & Legless… a song he wrote about drinking.  A hit single wasn’t selling albums, and he was deeply in debt when punk hit, and his solo career was “done & dusted.”

Andy’s old friend, producer Glyn Johns pulled some strings to get him on a benefit show, and his unassuming nature lead to his ubiquitousness.  He played with most of the participants again.  Fairweather Low credits producer Johns with most of his impressive credits.  While it’s common for a producer to prefer to work with specific musicians—Fairweather Low points out that for a time, he was staying in Johns’ house which added proximity to his preferential standing.  Humility is part of Andy’s charm.  

Andy has said being a sideman was the first time he made any money.  He was in Eric Clapton’s touring band for over 20 years, & they backed George Harrison during the former-Beatle’s triumphant return to Japan in 1991.  He also toured with Roger Waters and David Gilmour (separately) and played and recorded with Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Steve Winwood, and Ronnie Lane & Pete Townshend (on their Rough Mix collaboration).

Andy got the call from Bill Wyman to record with both of his “super groups” Willie & The Poor Boys & Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, and was a member of drummer Steve Gadd’s The Gaddabouts (along with Edie Brickell).  

While he's primarily a rhythm guitarist, he played drums on Dave Edmunds’ Egg Or The Hen, & often provides background vocals.  Fairweather Low has struck out on his own again (at 77) with his backing group The Low Riders which are some of the best tracks on this compilation!

I don't think I've ever worked as long on the order of the tracks as I have on this tribute to Andy Fairweather Low, but I think I got it right.  If you enjoy it, his IN THE MIX is in the pipe!

 

SIDEMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT VOL. 2

 

SIDEMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT VOL. 2

The goal of the SIDEMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT series is to shine a light on the guy standing to one side of the lead singer.  Some of the artists showcased on VOL. 2 rose to the occasion like Lita Ford, who along with Joan Jett had a career after The Runaways or Thomas Dolby who stepped out of the shadows of Lene Lovich’s band.  

Former Monkee Michael Nesmith paved the way for many country rockers, but found his first solo success as a songwriter—when Linda Ronstadt had a hit with his Different Drum.   Andrew Gold had been Ronstadt’s bandleader, & opening act, before he started scoring hits himself.  Johnny Ramone was the most militant bandleader since Buddy Rich, but never stepped out as a solo artist aside from this tribute album track: Viva Las Vegas.

Randy Meisner only sang lead on a few Eagles songs, & after he left the group, he recorded his own version of Take It To The Limit.  The Bangles’ only-occasional lead singer Debbie Peterson formed Kindred Spirit with Gina Schock of The Go-Go’s.  Gina left before they recorded anything--& was replaced by Siobhan Maher of River City People.  Their Ask Me No Questions is maybe the best track here.

There are TWO former Cars here (used cars?) keyboardist Greg Hawkes, & shit-hot guitarist Elliot Easton, and a former-Sex Pistol, Steve Jones. The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, & Small Faces sideman Ron Wood delivers his version of Stay With Me (Live).  He also supports his fellow Faces bandmate & perennial Stones sideman Ian McLagan as he sings the title track from his solo album Troublemaker.

Hard rock guitarists Billy Duffy, Mick Mars, & Brad Gillis drop by, & there’s also a beautiful bunch of second-or-third-bananas: Walter Lure, Al Jardine, Rick Vito, Paul Burlison, & Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar.

SIDEMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT VOL. 1

SIDEMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT shines a light on the guy standing to one side of the lead singer.  Some of the artists showcased on VOL. 1 basked in the light, and others stepped quickly back into the shadows.

Songwriter P.F. Sloan was also a performer, but it was his songs that first put him in the spotlight; having written the #1 hit Eve Of Destruction among others.  Here he’s playing that very song with a little help from his friends Frank Black and Buddy Miller (one of the all-time greatest sidemen!)

Ringo Starr was my favorite Beatle when I was a kid—which lead to my big sister pushing a thumbtack into his forehead & through the cover of our first Beatle’s album.  Luckily the record was always being played and escaped unscathed.  Ringo was allotted one track an album with his former group.  Comfortable with the fact that a drummer is almost always a sideman, he continues to share the spotlight today, in concert, and on his albums.  To fellow fans of the ringed one, here's a great interview with Ringo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=GVgUBZnm_KQ

Another drummer who enjoyed a long career centerstage is Sandy Nelson—here playing his best-known song as a solo artist.  The Stray Cats’ Lee Rocker got a turn up front for Drink That Bottle Down in the band’s first go-round, but here he belts out the Eddie Cochran classic Twenty Flight Rock.  His latest album, 2021’s Gather Round is worth a listen!

This edition also features artists who were in bands so packed with talent that each could have led the band in a pinch, had everyone else lost their voice: Randy Meisner, Jim Messina, Andrew Gold, Joey Holland, Johnny Marr, J.D. Souther, & The Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards (here with The Western Sizzlers).

Ian McLagan had an amazing career backing others—most notably The Rolling Stones, and is joined here by Ronnie Wood, who did the same.  The Faces were la veritable rock & roll AAA team.  The Jayhawks are one of my favorite bands—they've gotten short shrift on Jokonky—which I vow to change.  Until then, here’s Tim O'Reagan’s These Things from his solo album.

Bringing it home are southern rocker Les Dudek (who once dated Cher), Skunk Baxter, & Andy Taylor!

Here’s today’s question:  What is the most heinous musical offense that you know of committed by a sibling (your own, a famous musician's, or by a friend's sibling?). There’s still a hole in Ringo’s head on my album (and as we all know, he’s already got blisters on his fingers).

Another Stinky Production