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Each week I’m going to start recommending an album to check out.. mostly guitar-centric. I thought it could be of use if like me, you’re constantly hunting for new/old music to explore. I find it to be hugely inspiring and I believe that deep musical exploration is an absolutely essential element when trying to evolve as a creative musician. 

We’ll get the ball rolling with an old favourite of mine.. Mickey Baker’s “Wildest Guitar”. So much raunchy 50’s mojo on this record, and some very cool tones and stylistic choices. And just look at that album cover!

One of my favourite tracks on here is his version of “Lullaby of The Leaves”.. check it out at the link below;

https://youtu.be/tYiCy0PL51U?si=l2vmO9GM2jGfUFBs

Let me know what you think in the comments! Already a fan?.. new to you?.. dig it or not your cuppa tea?

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Comments

Gideon Marriott

Brilliant idea Alex, I had no idea about Mickey Baker but this is a great track, like you said, much mojo. Interesting JM on the cover too

Alex Farran Guitar

Yeah that gold anodised pick guard is super nice! Notice how rather than bass guitar, there's a baritone player.. this was a thing around that time. Some of the George Barnes stuff from that era is the same kinda arrangement. Pretty cool!

Patrick McKinney

yep, this is a lesser known classic. he really rides the line between being a refined player with a lot of rawness. It could be really cool to se what you would do with a video outlining key elements of his book. He's got so many gems in there.

Alex Farran Guitar

That's a good idea.. I remember some nice chord progressions in that book as well as some good melodic lead lines too!

MarkF

New to me. I gave the album a quick listen and it reminds me of something Quentin Tarantino might sample for a film soundtrack? I get it, but not really my thing I’d listen to at home, but would like to hear it playing in a bar for a cool atmosphere and mood setter if that makes any sense.

Tim Mulry

Love old Jazzmasters and movies, so the Third Man theme is really hitting for me. Idk much about reverb technology from this time. Any idea if is he using some sort of effect to get that stereo sound on the lead guitar or just doubling all his tracks?

Alex Farran Guitar

That's a good question.. certainly sounds like tape echo panned hard right while the dry signal is hard left. Wonder how they got the tape echo to detune so intensely though! Quite a unique sound for the time!

Alex Farran Guitar

Yeah man, that's absolutely fair enough! Haha I get what you mean with the Tarantino thing too ;)

David

Fabulous.

Gert De Groof

Love the idea of a weekly album suggestion. Did not know Mickey Baker. Really diggin the vibe and sound, love that slap back. Some tunes are maybe a bit too “jolly” for my liking most of the time, but definitely some killer tracks here. Day and night kinda reminded me of East bay Ray’s sound of the Dead Kennedys 😀. That cover sparks my desire for a jaguar (I know… it’s a JM) again… or maybe a bass VI…or is that not what I heard?

Alex Farran Guitar

Glad you're digging the record buddy! Yes, good ears.. I'm betting that is a Bass VI on baritone duties!.. I also really want one of those!

Chad Ashworth

Awesome! I have the Mickey Baker’s Complete Course in Jazz Guitar book!

Alex Farran Guitar

Ah yes, the fabled book! I have an old copy of it somewhere too! Might do a video on some of the chord progressions in there at some point. Some classy stuff!

Chad Ashworth

A video on that book would be fantastic!

DENNIS CHUGH

Great listen. Love rounding out my listening experience. This dovetails nicely with the lessons and performances.

Lindsay Martin

Mickey and Sylvia were great and he was such a great jazz guitarist who loves to “slum” in pop and blues. Thanks! I recommend some George Barnes as well. Would welcome any lesson featuring Barnes. Another genius.

Alex Farran Guitar

oh I'm absolutely with you on that.. I've done 2 George Barnes videos, one way back in 2013, the other just a few months ago.. which of these 2 would you be interested in seeing a lesson on?..

Lindsay Martin

Country Jazz is a masterpiece album. I found it on vinyl. Anything off that is essential learning.

Lindsay Martin

Hot Guitar Rag is the best Sind on the album! Hint.

Trevor Grant

I have a very early copy (like 1st edition)of his 1st book. Along with one of Bert weedons which I got him to sign.

Peter Kelly

I have a couple of Mickey Baker books which I bought when I started to learn guitar in the early 80s, they were definitely too advanced for me then. I also learnt from Bert's "Play In a Day".... happy days before he could be sued by the trading standards authorities for false advertising!

Alex Farran Guitar

😆 I also have both of those books.. will have to dig out “play in a day” for old time’s sake!

Trevor Grant

I did a summer season with Bert. If somebody sued him I suspect the judge would’ve dismissed it on the grounds of Bert being lovely. :)

banjer71

Never heard before , thanks for letting us know. I like the idea to find out new artists.

Jerome Oks

I really dig the Mickey Baker album. I knew him from his teaching books.