Elliott Randall - Reelin in the years + Steely Dan

guitars4you

Happen to be in the car yesterday 4pm ish - Johnny Walker show - And he had Elliott Randall with him for a chat/interview etc

Started talking about the Reelin in the years and the recording of it - Apparently no amps in the studio, so they borrowed one from next door and the only one available was an Ampeg SVT bass rig with the 8x10 cab - so that is what they used, turned up to get some gain - 300 watt amp turned up !!!!! - along with his humbucker equipped Strat

Then later talked about his favourite amps and today it is a Marshall Valve state 80 combo

Kebabkid

WOW but it's also in the hands and approach!

Great song, great playing and different, especially at the time, note choices and patterns.

I believe he also played on Kirsty MacColl's 'Electric Landlady' album and I met him through work (nice, humble guy) and I think he's lived in the UK for a good few years.

guitars4you

Kebabkid said:

WOW but it's also in the hands and approach!

Great song, great playing and different, especially at the time, note choices and patterns.

I believe he also played on Kirsty MacColl's 'Electric Landlady' album and I met him through work (nice, humble guy) and I think he's lived in the UK for a good few years.

yes lived in the UK now for many years

EricTheWeary

Always said to be Jimmy Page’s favourite solo. I’ve heard the Ampeg story before. 
I saw Elliott do a blues gig years ago. I think what I remember most was he didn’t have a drummer but had a percussionist and I’ve fancied having a band like that ever since. 

guitars4you

EricTheWeary said:

Always said to be Jimmy Page’s favourite solo. I’ve heard the Ampeg story before. 
I saw Elliott do a blues gig years ago. I think what I remember most was he didn’t have a drummer but had a percussionist and I’ve fancied having a band like that ever since. 

yes he mentioned the Jimmy Page favourite solo story - or indeed J Walker did

I did hear once another story that there was 2 takes of this solo and Elliott states the other take was better - But can't recall now if it was lost, deleted or never recorded

Whitecat

guitars4you said:

Kebabkid said:

WOW but it's also in the hands and approach!

Great song, great playing and different, especially at the time, note choices and patterns.

I believe he also played on Kirsty MacColl's 'Electric Landlady' album and I met him through work (nice, humble guy) and I think he's lived in the UK for a good few years.

yes lived in the UK now for many years

Yup, and I was there when a couple visits ago he joined Steely Dan on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo to play Reelin’ with them. Was the first encore of the evening and apparently the first time at the time they had played the “classic” arrangement in quite some time (they had been opening shows with a super-slowed-down jazz arrangement of it, with the backing singers doing the chorus...). 

axisus

Anyone know what his solo records are like?

guitars4you

The other story he mentioned was he was offered the part in the Blues Bros, but turned it down - He was already working with John Belushi

John_P

Really interesting story.   Just shows that’s it’s about the playing not the gear.     I’ve alwsys thought the sound was iffy but such a great melody and phrasing that you cant help but enjoy it.  

guitars4you

John_P said:

Really interesting story.   Just shows that’s it’s about the playing not the gear.     I’ve alwsys thought the sound was iffy but such a great melody and phrasing that you cant help but enjoy it.  

agree about the tone - unique maybe, but not a voice I would aspire to 

ChuckManual

He does a guest spot on an album by a British guitarist I like; Jules Carter.

jdgm

I actually saw his band Randall's Island, supporting someone I can't remember at the RAH. Might have been 10 Years After.

DulcetJones

"Reelin' in the Years" overall was a big influence  for me.  It marked the second time I took guitar lessons and was my introduction to hammer ons and pull offs.  

trolley

I met him at the GBGS - and mistook him for someone else. That was really embarrassing

stuagu

I have deleted my comment at the request of admins, and looking back at it it was rather crass , apologies to the fretboard and to mr randall himself. Kindest regards to all 

ADMIN EDIT: Potentially libellous comment removed, after a (justified) complaint from Mr Randall himself. Let's keep things "proper", chaps.