Always looking for a new challenge in the six-pack series, we’re heading to the background on this one. The singer may get the limelight, but for this piece, the session musicians will shine. I present for your listening and beverage consumption, session musicians and session IPAs as a six-pack. The hours can be long and grueling when you’re a session musician. Now you certainly don’t want a double or triple IPA! You’d be asleep for the second take! Good thing these session beers, lower ABV IPAs, can keep you jamming all day and all night long!
The Wrecking Crew and the Alchemist’s Just Say Gay
LA’s Wrecking Crew were the most popular session musicians of their time. Including such players as Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine, and Carol Kaye, they played on an array of hits in the ’60s and the ’70s. Working with the Beach Boys, as the house band for Phil Spector, and with the Byrds are a few of the successful acts they backed. We’re pairing them with the Alchemist, one of the most successful and simply fantastic breweries in Vermont. Their take on the session IPA, and in response to governmental legislation in Florida and other states, is the Just Say Gay, and I say just say it’s delicious.
Willie Nelson and Tuckerman’s First Tracks
Before achieving fame on his own, Willie played bass for Ray Price. Additionally, many of his songs were made hits by other musicians, including “Crazy,” “Funny How Time Slips Away,” and “Pretty Paper.” Just as Willie’s first tracks were sung by others and his bass playing accompanied other singers, First Tracks is New Hampshire’s Tuckerman’s Brewing’s take on the session IPA.
Elton John and Barnstable Brewing’s Before Noon
The next track on the session musicians and session IPA’s six-pack is a very well-known name, Elton John. His early 60s band, Bluesology, backed great soul bands and singers such as the Isley Brothers (which also included at one point a young Jimi Hendrix) and Major Lance. He also backed such bands as the Hollies. As a session musician, your hours vary, maybe even playing Before Noon. Just like what the session IPA from Barnstable Brewing is named!
Glen Campbell and Founders All Day IPA
Ah the classic for a classic. Glen Campbell became known for classic country tracks such as “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Wichita Lineman.” As a session musician, he was part of the famous Wrecking Crew and worked in the background for a slew of big names including Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and the Beach Boys. Sometimes his session work lasted many hours, sometimes all day! Good thing we’ve got the classic Founders All Day IPA to celebrate his work.
Ry Cooder and Big Day’s TNT
Ry Cooder has played with some very big names, including the Rolling Stones, Gordon Lightfoot, and Van Morrison. It must have been a Big Day when Cooder backed up these artists. A perfect beer for that? It has to be a session IPA from New Hampshire’s Big Day Brewing. Some say Cooder’s work is dynamite, explosive even, like TNT.
Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes and Austin Street’s Rally
Jimmy Page fades into the background for this entry in session musicians and session IPAs. “Downtown” by Petula Clark? “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey? “With a Little Help From My Friends” by Joe Cocker? Yup, Jimmy’s on all of them, some yard(bird)s away from what he’ll be known for with Led Zep. Page’s resume is one you can Rally around, whether on Austin Street or Oxford Street.
The next time you’re playing a classic track, think about the session musicians behind it. Time to raise a toast, or six, to the unsung heroes of rock ‘n roll! Check out Backyard Road Trips for more of the six-pack series.
