Rupert Holmes ~ Guitars

[@PhilWatson]

Él es un chico talentoso! Gracias K

[@artmorris]

40-years ago, I wrote Rupert Holmes about this particular song. In his reply, Holmes said they hired almost every working studio guitarist in the country to play on this session. He said there were dozens. Also, there's an intentional out-of-phase microphone during the line "I'm close behind you..." which (when wearing headphones) makes it sound like the voice is behind you. Also, if you haven't heard them, Rupert appears on two episodes of Gilbert Gottfried's (RIP) podcast. A true class act!!

[@PhilWatson]

Good spot Art! I will check out the Gilbert Gottfried podcast. Many thanks👍

[@PenitentExile]

This music is a gasp of fresh air. Suddenly I want to compose again.

[@hernanmanzanomunoz1116]

Muy buen trabajo musical, de este artista estadounidense. Yo conocía su obra de los años 1979,1980 y 1981.

[@Musishin11]

Really really nice!!!

"Maybe I'm amazed" ... this guitar imagery simply liquiwhirls me into so much feel You Are awesome Philly ;)

[@18iam94]

Cheers Philly please save me a slice of your birthday cake, would you? XxX XxxX XX xx🍓🍰🎂 🤗 Happy Happy Birthday🍾🍾

[@nintenghost84]

golden

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

An excellent song from so long ago, that I've never heard at all until now. Yay for KZbin! Nice clear audio of a well-done recording.

[@eavitale055]

As the story goes, Rupert called in 7 session guitarists to record this track - and none of them knew the others were called in until they arrived at the studio

[@PhilWatson]

Wow! I didn't know that Edmund. I assumed they were overdubbed but it does have a very 'live' feel to it.Thanks for sharing the story. :))

[@robfreeman7387]

Hey, Edmund and Phil. I love that this gem of as record has gotten some well-deserved attention. I was very fortunate to be the recording engineer for Rupert's wonderful "Guitars" session-and for that entire album. Recording "Guitars" was a truly unique experience. You're right about the players all staggering in (some literally) and looking dumbfounded at what was going on. But I'd like to clarify a couple of things for you. Firstly, this gathering of the creme de la creme of New York's guitar session musicians did not occur at S.I.R., but rather, at Plaza Sound Studios, in the Radio City Music Hall building, seven floors above the stage. Plaza Sound was a spectacular 65'X100' orchestral recording room with 30-foot high ceilings. The studio had a vast collection of classic tube microphones and a number of huge roll-around Atlas floor stands to "fly" the mics high above the musicians. And fly I did! That is why "Guitars" sounds so richly open, vibrant, and airy (if I may say so myself! :) Secondly, there were certainly more than seven guitarist there. I wish I could remember the exact number (perhaps Rupert knows?), but I feel there might have been as many as 15 or 18. I recall setting up the studio to accommodate 20+ guitarists, but I believe less than that showed up on the day. The chairs were put out in a huge open circle right in the middle of the studio with a number of mics flown high overhead to record the incredible ambiance of all those acoustic instruments. There were also some close mics strategically placed to record a few musician's lines more intimately and special consideration given to the recording of the upright bass. I don't know why there was no credit given all the musicians who played on that track…it would have been quite a roster. I'd give anything to see photos of that recording session. But alas, all I have are these memories of an unforgettable musical moment.

[@PhilWatson]

Hi Rob! Thanks so much for your informative and fascinating account of this recording! I actually have two copies of the album, (the original one wore out!) plus a downloaded version, and the inner sleeve notes verify what you've already said, only crediting Steve and Elliott on guitars. Maybe it was a cash deal for the others? ;) There's also a personal note to you from Rupert: "To Rob Freeman, who put so much of his boundless creativity into these grooves." It must have been a great help for Rupert to have a close working relationship with someone like you, who not only handles the technical stuff but can also contribute musical ideas and critique. The whole concept and production of this track is so exquisitely unique and full bodied that there's really no need for any other instrumentation. Although, correct me if I'm wrong, but are those subtle French Horns we can hear blended in at the end of certain musical phrases? Other credits include a literal who's who of session guys and singers, which must have been a real privilege for them and you to jointly collaborate on this album project! It's a pity there aren't more independents like Private Stock around today! The 70's are without doubt my favourite musical decade. There was so much diversity, creativity and artistic freedom back then, which unfortunately seems to have disappeared these days. Anyway, I could yak on about the good ol days for hours Rob, but all I'd better say for now is a massive THANK YOU for your insightful commentary, and also for your huge audio/visual contributions over the years! Cheers, Phil :))

[@robfreeman7387]

***** Thanks for the appreciation and wonderful sentiments, Phil. French horns, huh…no, no such thing there. You know what you're actually hearing at the ends of some of those phrases? It's huge splashes of multi-guitar reverb flown into the mix…backwards! The reverb was so rich with harmonic resonance that when played backwards it could be easily be mistaken for horns playing chord clusters. The seventies rocked! Yak on, Phil…I love it!

[@PhilWatson]

Rob Freeman Thanks for clarifying that Rob. Who needs horns or synths anyway! Now I know the only instrumentation is, appropriately, all guitars! ;) Can you imagine a record company allowing that kind of experimentation and freedom of expression today? Ha ha

[@artmorris]

Rob, great info. I once wrote Rupert a letter about this record, and he wrote back recounting how many great players were on this session. I also appreciated the out-of-phase "I'm close behind you" lyric. I wondered who engineered that session. Now I know!!!!!

[@MountainMamaSong]

I love Rupert Holmes! Amazing work. This guy can write anything -songs, novels, musicals, and any kind of music, from pop to Broadway...and hey, does anyone have "Rifles and Rum" in their music collection? If so, please post it. I can't find it anywhere, and it is such a great song. Amazing song from a brilliant writer and musician. If you ever feel like listening for a great laugh and story, KZbin Rupert's "Psychodrama"

[@johnsatterthwaite950]

rupert holmes and al stewart the most underated singer songwriters in the history of music john s

[@TheAtlanticPuffin]

This is an immense musical production and the video you have created is perfect.

[@PhilWatson]

Thanks very much my friend! :)

On the contrary, dear dear You Are rather humble but I know all what it costs to do such superbe videos and You haven't lost that magic touch to accompany amazing thrill of Music! This mellow guitar chords resonate to me as being played in an acoustic guitar, maybe a Spanish one? Thanks querido amigo! , )

[@wolverine3566]

*Rupert Holmes ~ Guitars.* Wonderful tune & video! ******* Thank you for the opportunity to meet Rupert Holmes - nowadays renaissance person, I'm impressed by wiki-info.

[@PhilWatson]

You're very welcome wolverine. Thanks for the appreciation! :))

[@CynthiaStrasse27mcgvC]

🙏

[@PaulDunn-uw6pq]

Chase me, Ladies, I'm in the cavalry

[@cynthiastr9]

; )) Besos to my good ol' fellas my awesome muskeeters Ciau ciao ;)

[@eavitale055]

Phil, I know 2 of the guitarists on here were MISTER Steve Khan and Elliot Randall. I can still hear Rupert tell with amusement how each of the session guys he had called in all showed up, one by one, and then looked around in the studio (at S.I.R. ?) and they all looked more and more perplexed - especially as more guys would show up! Rupert thought it all quite funny

[@PhilWatson]

Edmund Vitale Great story Edmund! Only the best for Rupe! I bet they were all itching to outdo each other! ;)

[@zzzdogutube]

thumbs ^