Floyd Pepper vs. Emmet Otter

[LoTone]

Floyd Pepper is a Beast!

 

[JimK]

Not to kill what could be a great joke, but since I see it so much...

I actually was born as a left-handed person. I have memories as a very young kid, before going to school, as having a dominant left hand! But as soon as I was enrolled into Kindergarten, I was actually FORCED to learn printing, writing and all that neat stuff that a pencil requires right-handed! So I "became" right-handed in that context. However, I still can't hold a bat, golf club or hockey stick as a righty- I feel most comfortable as a lefty!

Many artistic types are left-handed (just watch any TV show and pay attention to just how many actors use a pen or pencil in their left hand!)

Bit of trivia for you-
Brooks Robinson (HOF Orioles 3rd Baseman)...I got his autograph back around 1970. He writes lefty; I asked.
He told me he does everything left-handed except play baseball.
Just spitballing: I wonder if there were no LH mitts available for him? He bats righty, though...?
LH friends of mine would just cram the mitt on the opposite hand & then deal with it.

Another-
Ken Singleton (OF Mets/Expos/Orioles). Got his autograph in 1969; he played on the Mets AAA team here in Norfolk. At the time, the biggest human being I had ever seen up close. Another that writes lefty & plays baseball righty (he is a switch hitter). Exquisite hand writing.

As for your case-
There were no Left-handed pencils back then, right?
If you're playing bass as a 'righty'...you do have more options to pick from.

 

[Oddly]

Ok.
Back after research (which somehow included watching 10 minutes of Emmet and his mother watching a drum roll out of a store!)
This was the first I'd ever heard of Emmet and his pals...it never made it to Ireland, unlike the Muppet Show.
There's really not enough evidence to vote on for me, but I will forever be in @DoctorZee 's debt for leading me to this ... possibly the greatest song on YouTube.

 

[Wisebass]

Back after research

Daaaaang! Cool!

On the other hand, I am not surprised, they didn't make it to Ireland.

Stuff like that you can hear in every pub

Floyd Pepper is a Beast!

No! Floyd is a civilized bass player, that won' t eat with "the animal"

Wise(b)ass

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Emmet. I’ve watched Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas several times a year every year since I was a little kid. It’s been a dream of mine to cover “River Bottom Nightmare Band” live one day. A dream that has as of yet gone unfulfilled…

 

[DoctorZee]

Emmet. I’ve watched Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas several times a year every year since I was a little kid. It’s been a dream of mine to cover “River Bottom Nightmare Band” live one day. A dream that has as of yet gone unfulfilled…

I know a little jugband in NYC that plays the whole soundtrack live about once a year. They're called the Salt Cracker Crazies, if you ever come across them.

 

[Daveypoo]

In my latest project I wrote my tribute to Floyd Pepper, called Taking Care of Uncle Floyd. Here's a video of me breaking down the groove (forward to the end of the video to hear the groove itself):



Floyd Pepper - still one of the all time greatest bassists. Emmet was solid, but more of a vocalist than bassist, frankly. Don't get me started about The Nightmare from Riverbottom!

 

[DoctorZee]

Emmet was solid, but more of a vocalist than bassist, frankly.

I'd like to see YOU build a bass from parts, learn how to play it, and arrange two songs, all in one morning.

 

[dpaul]

Emmet. I’ve watched Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas several times a year every year since I was a little kid. It’s been a dream of mine to cover “River Bottom Nightmare Band” live one day. A dream that has as of yet gone unfulfilled…

Growing up, my family watched ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ every year it was on HBO. It became a family tradition for us.

 

[Daveypoo]

I'd like to see YOU build a bass from parts, learn how to play it, and arrange two songs, all in one morning.

I don't deny that Emmet is clearly motivated and a potentially a bit of a savant, however Floyd had better command of the instrument. I offer this as evidence:



In all seriousness - the bassline to Tenderly above is BADASS. I've always wanted to learn who the bassist for the Jack Parr orchestra was. You can find lots of detail on the drummer who played Animal (Ronnie Verrell) but not the bassist.

 

[tpaul]

I'm giving Floyd extra points for his old lady - Janice:

 

[neptoon]

i preferred the riverbottom nightmare band

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

Emmett like a boss, son. Building your own instrument out of old junk is punk rock AF.

 

[Mvilmany]

Why is everyone Left-handed?

Left handed people are smarter and more creative.

 

[design]

You can find lots of detail on the drummer who played Animal (Ronnie Verrell) but not the bassist.

Maybe different session players were The Electric Mayhem over the years? For “The Muppet Movie” soundtrack recorded in 1978 the drummers were Gary Mallaber & Jim Gordon. The bass players were Colin Cameron & Reinhold Press.
The Muppet Movie (soundtrack) - Wikipedia

I can’t find any credits for the players on many other Muppets records online.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I caught Emmett on "Austin City Limits" the other night...he was better when he was still drinking. Time has taken its toll: multiple DUI's, a handful of muskrats out-of-wedlock, the short stint in jail, and don't forget the IRS thingy.

He'll probably end his career doing a Nine Inch Nails cover.

Riis

 

[stringthrough]

Emmet. I'd rather listen to Americana than Psychedelic Rock.

 

[two fingers]

Bit of trivia for you-
Brooks Robinson (HOF Orioles 3rd Baseman)...I got his autograph back around 1970. He writes lefty; I asked.
He told me he does everything left-handed except play baseball.
Just spitballing: I wonder if there were no LH mitts available for him? He bats righty, though...?
LH friends of mine would just cram the mitt on the opposite hand & then deal with it.

Another-
Ken Singleton (OF Mets/Expos/Orioles). Got his autograph in 1969; he played on the Mets AAA team here in Norfolk. At the time, the biggest human being I had ever seen up close. Another that writes lefty & plays baseball righty (he is a switch hitter). Exquisite hand writing.

As for your case-
There were no Left-handed pencils back then, right?
If you're playing bass as a 'righty'...you do have more options to pick from.

I write left handed. I throw left handed.

I play bass right handed. I bat right handed. I use scissors right handed.

Back on track.


This is a tough call for me.

Clearly the Muppets band is made up of some cats with chops. They have the edge on talent.

But Emmet and the gang bring some raw emotion to their music..... that intangible "Earthy" thing you can't teach.

I'll have to sleep on it. This is like asking me to choose my favorite child!!!!

 

[2tonic]

Gotta give it to Floyd.
After all, he had to keep it tight while working with a maniacal drummer whose pre-show routine consisted of Hoovering all the coke dust from between the keys of Dr. Teeth's setup.
Puts him right up there with Entwistle and Bruce.







And he scored Janice, who probably embroidered his jeans, to boot.

Pretty sure I saw him with Foghat or Uriah Heep back in '74. Dude had chops!

 

[design]

While Emmet rules, I think Snake from Riverbottom Nightmare Band at least deserves an acknowledgement

OP - please add Howard Snake to the poll! He rocks!
And then there’s Frank from The Country Trio.