John Leventhal | Truetone Lounge (Part 1 of 3)

[@Willmcfarlane1]

John is about the finest accompanist I've ever seen…up there with Reggie Young :-)>

[@TruetoneFX]

He is. And you are quite the fine player yourself Will. One of Muscle Shoal's finest!

[@queenberniqua]

Will’s Guitar Page M

[@cosmonaut9942]

Zac, love the way you let John talk and answer questions without interruption. It's hard for a lot of interviewers to do because they feel they're not doing anything. Less is best.

[@ernestbuckley8671]

JL is one of my favorite producers. I listen to all of his work and always learning from it and he is a phenomenal player. Thanks for the interview John!

[@AileenTimmers-kz8rb]

Met John when we were in our early 20s. He was very good then. Now on the top of the charts of guitarists

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

I heard "Sunny came home" on the radio and drove right to a store to buy the album. After listening to the whole album of "A Few Small Repairs", I knew John loved both the Beatles and Buffalo Springfield and that glued that album to my "player" . Right after that I bought a copy of Marc Cohn's album and after reading the credits, I realized I was a John Leventhal fan/admirer/appreciator. Still am! Great interview. I really enjoyed part 1 and look forward to 2 and 3!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you. He was great fun to interview, and has a great story.

[@cosmonaut9942]

I've been a fan of John's for about 16 or 17 years and have learned a lot by listening to him in a band context. When to play and not play. Honor the vocals. Space. Simplicity, and speed not required or even necessary. Melody is king. All sorts of good lessons. His wife ain't bad either.

[@TruetoneFX]

Agreed on all fronts

[@rosewalsh5444]

Excellent interview with John, a very talented guitarist indeed.. A fantastic team John and Roseanne make, seen them both performing in London.. Wow.

[@TruetoneFX]

Agreed. John and Rosanne are favorites here.

[@pharmerdavid1432]

This type of musician/guitarist is a goldmine of information, and nostalgic reminiscing, I love these old guys the best (me being old too) - thanks Z.....................!

[@TruetoneFX]

Cool!

[@allpdmusic]

Awesome! Big fan of John's work!

[@TruetoneFX]

We are fans too. Feel free to share the video with others. It helps us keep the show going.

[@jameschristianguitar2934]

I like how around 2:20 John says "I've had to consciously jettison a lot of my Beatles influences because I was using them too much..." and then immediately after "I still think I'm trying to Get Back...." (:-)) I just finished the three part John L series and previously watched the Pat Buchanan video. Both were great interviews with amazing artists. Thx, and keep up the great work!

[@TruetoneFX]

It was a funny comment as we all struggle with our influences. I want to sound like Leventhal. Thank you so much for your kind remarks, and please feel free to share them anywhere you think musicians would enjoy them.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

I had hop-scotched through three years of piano lessons in 3 places across the U.S. (my dad was in the Air Force). I had asked for a guitar even before the piano lessons were offered to me and my 3 sisters. My parents never bought me a guitar. Shortly after I bought my first guitar my Mom began surprising me with the occasional guitar instruction book. I didn't tell her I was committed to learning by ear so that I could listen without the distraction of music notation and simply investigate the instrument by interacting with it. The logic behind the sound threatened to be far too limiting. I used my fingers and hands to pluck, brush, rub and bounce the strings until I liked what I heard. The following three years brought me to the need for an electric. I spent about 40 years with a growing variety of guitars and each brought out something different. I didn't need an audience or for anyone really to even know I played. Today, when I play in various groupings in public I withdraw into that intimate relationship with the instrument and the music I'm hearing without any thought of audience reaction. I am not a showman but sill show up to interact once again with the music - when invited.

[@guitarjonathan]

Another great interview with an amazing musician!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you

[@hugoagogo4324]

This guy can really play fantastic guitarist

[@musterionsurly]

i love the mystery too!

[@stevewhittaker1903]

Who did the dirty slide guitar on the intro. Great sound. What tuning , guitar and dirt used. Love it

[@TruetoneFX]

Al Perkins. 50s Fender 6-string lap steel with a son of hyde pedal into a Risson amp.

[@thomasprice1760]

👍👍👍

[@dancher7640]

Today I discovered your channel (subscribed!) through the Kirk Fletcher (👍🏽) interview then found this!!! Don’t know if this will get a response 3 years after this interview posted but...I’m a HUGE Leventhol fan since hearing Steady On album in ‘89. (I interviewed JL for radio in about 1998). BUT...at 29:30 you talk about a Stuart Smith riff but I can’t find the song reference! Help please! Thank you for your channel!!!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thank you so much!!!! This is one of my all-time-fave interviews. The song we are referencing is "The Wheel" by Rosanne Cash. Zac

[@dancher7640]

Thanks Zak! I could go on about JL. I’ve forwarded your channel/ this interview to a professional guitarist friend of mine who’s also a huge fan. Fun fact..saw Colvin in ‘92 in a small club in Edmonton on her Fat City album tour. Band included Stuart Smith and T Bone Wolk. So wonderful.

[@TruetoneFX]

Do you have a recording of the interview you did with John back in 1998? Would have loved to have seen Colvin with that band. Zac

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

What was the name of the bridge pickup John has in that Tele? Was it Buddha?

[@TruetoneFX]

Peter Florance bridge pickup.

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

Thanks I didn't catch "Voodoo"