The Genius of Andrew Gold.

equalsql

IMHO Andrew Gold was one of the finest singer-song writers to have come out of California during the 1970s. He was a superb guitarist and all round musician and first came to fame as the guitarist with Linda Ronstast's band.

As a teenager, and budding guitarist back in the late 70's I eagerly anticipated the release of his albums on Asylum Records.. and was never dissappointed.

I loved that his guitar solos which were so musical and fitted the music perfectly, never showy, just right for the tracks they were played on.  I spent countless hours learning to play all the solos on track like 'Kiss This One Goodbye', 'Oh Urania', 'Genevieve'
and 'One Of Them Is Me'.. (that last being truly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard).

I remember in the early days of the internet I managed to somehow find his email address and told him about my guitar efforts and he actually came back to me and was genuinely pleased to hear from a fellow guitarist.

When he died in in June 2011 it really gutted me. A part of me died that day which I've never got back.

Anyway I present here a few tracks from this great  singer/guitarist/song-writer in the hope that some of you might appreciate just how damn talented Andrew was and what a loss we incurred, as musician and guitarists, when he passed away in 2011.

Stranded from his 4th album: Whirlwind

One Of Them Is Me from his second: What's Wrong With This Picture:

"That's Why I Love You"  and 'Endless Flight' from his debut album album 'Andrew Gold'

Always For You from his 3rd album: All This and Heaven Too.

tweedphan

Our band covers one of his - Lonely Boy. Great lyrics and melody

Strat_a_tat_tat

Great writer.
Talented parents too.

digitalkettle

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

Talented parents too.

Parents' to do list:

1. teach him what we learned (just what we learned)
2. dress him up warmly
3. send him to school
4. teach him how to fight
5. be nobody's fool

Strat_a_tat_tat

digitalkettle said:

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

Talented parents too.

Parents' to do list:

1. teach him what we learned (just what we learned)
2. dress him up warmly
3. send him to school
4. teach him how to fight
5. be nobody's fool

Haha.... cool response!  LoL duly awarded.

You know I meant Marni Nixon... and then there's his dad, who won an Oscar.

west

EricTheWeary

I don’t know much about him other than he was championed to some extent by Terry Wogan and Thank You For Being a Friend was played at Sir Terry’s funeral. 

west

When i was a nipper and had no understanding of worldly things like depression, i was weirdly deeply drawn to lonely boy .... i thought how could someone have written something about what i felt inside, it was like it had been written for me .... i try not to play it too often unless i drink down past the label .... 

digitalkettle

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

digitalkettle said:

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

Talented parents too.

Parents' to do list:

1. teach him what we learned (just what we learned)
2. dress him up warmly
3. send him to school
4. teach him how to fight
5. be nobody's fool

Haha.... cool response!  LoL duly awarded.

You know I meant Marni Nixon... and then there's his dad, who won an Oscar.

I didn't know actually...Google has informed me

ESBlonde

Talanted man, I didn't know at the time that he was part of Wax with Grahan Gouldman.

Lonely Boy was a big influence on me musically, the solo is the unmistakable classic sound of a LP if you ask me.

axisus

The first record I ever bought was Never let her slip away. I still love it!

I've only heard a few songs of his to be honest, but they are all superb, I have been meaning to look into his stuff for some years so thanks for the reminder. I seem to recall loving the guitar solo at the end of Lonely boy when I was a teen - haven't heard it for a very long time.

Yup, mission for the day, listen to some AG, I'll start with your videos ta

Teyeplayer

I vaguely recall my parents listening to him and based upon their record collection (very laurel canyon, west coast country rock), the very tastes I have inherited and giving this a listen now, I can’t understand why I haven’t given him more time. Thank you for the heads up. 

Reminds me a bit of Clifford T Ward and strikes me as having many similarities as a songwriter; I always loved his gentler more reflective moments.

scrumhalf

Here he is playing guitar with Lindo Ronstadt.

57Deluxe

/\ no no no - this isn't anywhere near as good as the original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bj_32QeAaU

and hear him discuss how this arrangement came about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pf52d57ZTI

Fantastic piece of work.

Philly_Q

This thread just caught my eye because I thought "didn't he die quite a few years ago?"

I only really know him for a couple of singles, especially Never Let Her Slip Away, from the days when I listened to Radio 1 all the time and religiously followed the Top 40.  Everything from that time is ingrained in my memory.  I also knew he was in Wax with Graham Gouldman, but I don't remember any of their music.

I had no idea he was a guitarist!  I enjoyed those clips above and I like his taste in Strats.