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Tommy Cogbill - damn!

There is a book by Roben Jones called “Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios” that is a must read and a tremendous source of information about Cogbill and the heyday of American Sound Studio.
I got the book two days ago and while reading have listened again to lots of stuff Cogbill played on, King Curtis, Aretha, Dusty In Memphis, etc. It's a great read and listening to the tracks with headphones and focusing on the rhythm section is a revelation. A magnificent player.
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I’m reviving this old-ish thread to share yet another amazing album featuring the superb Mr. Cogbill. I just discovered this fairly obscure but fantastic album by soul singer Paul Kelly released in 1973… from Cogbill’s Nashville days, and also featuring many of his former American Studios rhythm section partners including Reggie Young, Chips Moman, Bobby Wood and Bobby Emmons and Mike Leech. By the time he got to Nashville it seems like he simplified his playing quite a bit but it’s great to hear him really stretch out on this track, recorded in the more modern 70s style and hot in the mix so you can hear every nuance of what he’s doing.

He and the rest of the band slays on the whole album as does Paul Kelly who’s also a great writer, but this is my current fave…It doesn’t get any better than this, folks.

 
I got the book two days ago and while reading have listened again to lots of stuff Cogbill played on, King Curtis, Aretha, Dusty In Memphis, etc. It's a great read and listening to the tracks with headphones and focusing on the rhythm section is a revelation. A magnificent player.
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I'd love to get that book but for some reason it's not available for Kindle, maybe next time I stop back in the States I'll pick up a copy. I've read a lot of books about the famous studios all around, producers, engineers etc. I live that stuff. I haven't seen the inside of a studio for a long time now. The last time was one of those 'new fangled' digital studios, I missed the two inch tape.
 
I’m reviving this old-ish thread to share yet another amazing album featuring the superb Mr. Cogbill. I just discovered this fairly obscure but fantastic album by soul singer Paul Kelly released in 1973… from Cogbill’s Nashville days, and also featuring many of his former American Studios rhythm section partners including Reggie Young, Chips Moman, Bobby Wood and Bobby Emmons and Mike Leech. By the time he got to Nashville it seems like he simplified his playing quite a bit but it’s great to hear him really stretch out on this track, recorded in the more modern 70s style and hot in the mix so you can hear every nuance of what he’s doing.

He and the rest of the band slays on the whole album as does Paul Kelly who’s also a great writer, but this is my current fave…It doesn’t get any better than this, folks.



Sometimes he is on the verge of playing too many notes, but he reels it in and keeps that groove flowing.
 
I’m reviving this old-ish thread to share yet another amazing album featuring the superb Mr. Cogbill. I just discovered this fairly obscure but fantastic album by soul singer Paul Kelly released in 1973… from Cogbill’s Nashville days, and also featuring many of his former American Studios rhythm section partners including Reggie Young, Chips Moman, Bobby Wood and Bobby Emmons and Mike Leech. By the time he got to Nashville it seems like he simplified his playing quite a bit but it’s great to hear him really stretch out on this track, recorded in the more modern 70s style and hot in the mix so you can hear every nuance of what he’s doing.

He and the rest of the band slays on the whole album as does Paul Kelly who’s also a great writer, but this is my current fave…It doesn’t get any better than this, folks.


That's absolutely first rate.

He epitomises my favorite style of bass playing - late 60's early '70's soul/R&B. Jamerson, Rainey, Cogbill, Weeks, Kaye, Dunn, Jemmott, et al.
 
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Great idea! Thanks Bob! “Memphis Boys” mentioned above goes into great detail about the quality character of the man as well as his musicianship. Great to see Sharon visiting and hopefully adding a new dimension to our knowledge of one of our idols just as Dave Osborn shares with us about his dad, Joe.
 
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I'm happy to see a thread about Cogbill, you don't hear many players discuss him, he died young, 39 years ago. He's one of those guys that I loved when I was a kid and never knew who he was kind of like Jamerson, I actually like Cogbill better, liked his sound better.


Just wanted to correct my post, he died at the age of 50, not 39, no idea where I got that.
 
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