“In Memory Of . . . ” : Dickey Betts 1943 – 2024

Posted on April 23, 2024 by ManRoy Music — Leave a comment

On April 18,2024, Richard “Dickey” Betts, singer, guitarist, composer and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away at the age of 80. To say that Dickey Bett’s music had a profound influence on my music would be a major understatement. The first guitar solo I learned off a record was Bett’s solo on “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” off the classic At Fillmore East. But it was his instrumental compositions that really left their mark. Songs like “Les Brers in A Minor”, “Jessica”, “High Falls” and the aforementioned “Elizabeth Reed” provided a vision of how I wanted my music to sound and was a direct inspiration on my project The New Jazz Spasms (check out my YouTube channel ManRoy Music https://www.youtube.com/@ManRoyMusic/playlists for playlists of The New Jazz Spasms).

So here are videos of the classic Dickey Betts compositions “Jessica” (from Great Woods 1991) with Warren Haynes and “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” (from The Fillmore East 1970) with the incomparable Duane Allman.

Allman Brothers Band – Jessica – Live at Great Woods 9-6-91

The Allman Brothers “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” 1970 HQ

Below is the audio of what is my favorite Dickey Betts guitar solo. It’s his solo on “One Way Out” from SUNY at Stonybrook 9/19/1970. You can tell from the intro that Dickey is on fire and his two chorus solo blows me away every time I hear it.

One Way Out – The Allman Brothers Band (SUNY-Stonybrook, 1971)

Tagged with: Allman Brotheres Band, Blues, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Jessica, Les Brers in A Minor, music, One Way Out, the-allman-brothers-band
Posted in Blues, Classic Rock, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis

Return Of The Son Of More New Music Videos

Posted on March 27, 2024 by ManRoy Music — Leave a comment

Once again, I am announcing the release of a new music video. This video is for the title tune of my new album “Things I See”.

For previous videos, see https://roymusicusa.com/2023/12/12/holiday-haiku-2023/ and https://roymusicusa.com/2024/01/15/new-year-new-music-new-videos/ and https://roymusicusa.com/2024/02/23/more-new-music-new-video/.

Once again, I want to thank the artists who influenced this music: Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Tycho, Lotus, STS9, Bonobo, Pell Mell and many, many others.

If you like what you hear/see then please feed The Mighty YouTube Algorithm by hitting the video’s Like button, subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, etc.

ManRoy Music – Things I See

Tagged with: Allman Brotheres Band, And So I Watch You from Afar and Tortise, Bonobo, Electronica, Grateful Dead, Jamband, Lotus, ManRoy Music, music, Pell Mell, Pink Floyd, Post Rock, Radiohead, rock, STS9, Talking Heads, The New Jazz Spasms, Tortoise, Tycho
Posted in Classic Rock, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis

New Year New Music New Videos

Posted on January 15, 2024 by ManRoy Music — 2 Comments

It’s a new year and I’m starting it off with more new music. As I mentioned in a previous blog post (https://roymusicusa.com/2023/09/23/everythings-in-its-right-place-new-music-project-new-youtube-channel/), I am consolidating all my various music projects under the banner of ManRoy Music. With that, I am pleased to announce the release of two new songs and videos from ManRoy Music. Like the previous music I recently put out (see also https://roymusicusa.com/2023/12/12/holiday-haiku-2023/) the songs reflect my love for jam bands like The Allman Brothers & Grateful Dead, the spaciness of Pink Floyd, the avant funk of Talking Heads as well as electronica artists like Tycho, Lotus, STS9 and Bonobo and post rock bands like Pell Mell, And So I Watch You From Afar and Tortoise.

ManRoy Music – Imaginary Life

ManRoy Music – Close Your Eyes And Breath

I also did the animation for the videos using the open source graphics software Blender. If you’re interested, check out https://www.blender.org/.

Tagged with: Allman Brotheres Band, And So I Watch You from Afar and Tortise, Bonobo, Electronica, Grateful Dead, Jamband, Lotus, ManRoy Music, music, Pell Mell, Pink Floyd, Post Rock, rock, STS9, Talking Heads, The New Jazz Spasms, Tortoise, Tycho
Posted in Classic Rock, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis

Holiday Haiku 2023

Posted on December 12, 2023 by ManRoy Music — 3 Comments

Happy Holidays
A New Music Video
I Hope You Like It

ManRoy Music – Don’t Stop Keep Going

Tagged with: Electronica, Holidays, Jamband, Post Rock
Posted in Jam Band

“Standing On A Corner” . . . The Velvet Underground’s Loaded

Posted on November 16, 2023 by ManRoy Music — Leave a comment

One of my favorite albums of all time was released 53 years ago this week. That would be Loaded by The Velvet Underground. I was first exposed to the record by my brother who bought it based on a review in The Village Voice when it first came out in 1970. We had just moved from Brooklyn to Co-Op City in the Bronx and I was definitely not feeling it. This record, among others, helped me get through a long, shitty Winter.

Loaded was the final album Lou Reed recorded as a member of The Velvet Underground. Multi-instrumentalist John Cale had left before the third The Velvet Underground album and drummer Moe Tucker was on maternity leave. It is interesting to note that Lou Reed said, “Loaded didn’t have Maureen on it, and that’s a lot of people’s favorite Velvet Underground record so we can’t get too lost in the mystique of The Velvet Underground… It’s still called a Velvet Underground record. But what it really is, is something else.” Another factor in Loaded being “something else” was the the increased presence of multi-instrumentalist Doug Yule. Yule’s lead vocals were featured on four songs: “Who Loves the Sun”, “New Age,” “Lonesome Cowboy Bill,” and “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’.” Yule also handled all of the bass, piano and organ duties, and also recorded several lead guitar tracks. The guitar solos on “Rock and Roll,” “Cool it Down,” “Head Held High” and “Oh! Sweet Nuthin'” were all played by Yule. Still, Loaded featured Lou Reed’s two best known songs, “Sweet Jane” and “Rock and Roll”, songs that are certified classics.

The Velvet Underground – Sweet Jane (Original Album Version)

Rock And Roll (Full Length Version)

Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ (2015 Remastered)

A great album that is well worth your time to check out.

Tagged with: Loaded, Lou Reed, Rock and Roll, Sweet Jane, Velvet Underground
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis

The Beastie Boys – The Mix-Up

Posted on October 25, 2023 by ManRoy Music — Leave a comment

I do not consider myself in any way, shape or form to be knowledgeable about Hip-Hop in general or about the Beastie Boys in particular. But being that I consider myself to be musically open minded, I am not automatically dismissive of the genre and being a music nerd, of course I was aware of the Beastie Boys. So one day back in 2007, I was looking through the Arts section of the Sunday NY Times when I saw a photograph of the Beastie Boys dressed in suit, ties, porkpie hats and looking very retro. They were discussing their new record called The Mix-Up and it was all instrumental.
If I had to describe it, the term that comes to mind is post-punk soul jazz. I hear Jimmy Smith style organ grooves along with bands like The Meters but also reggae dub bass lines and more abrasive experiment textures you would hear in bands like Public Image Ltd.
It makes for a very cool listen that’s perfect for headphones. Everything is super tight but the atmosphere is relaxed.
Highly recommended to sooth the soul in these trying times.

B For My Name

14th St. Break

Beastie Boys – Off The Grid (Official Music Video)

Beastie Boys – The Rat Cage (Official Music Video)

Tagged with: Beatie Boys, Funk, Hip Hop, Jimmy Smith, Publoc Image Ltd, Soul Jazz, The Meters
Posted in Classic Rock, Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis

“Everything’s In It’s Right Place” : New Music Project, New YouTube Channel

Posted on September 23, 2023 by ManRoy Music — 1 Comment

I decided to consolidate all my different music projects under one roof, my new YouTube channel, ManRoy Music. I created videos for the music I have on Soundcloud and I’m putting them on the channel, starting with albums I put out under the name The New Jazz Spasms. These are the debut album, Meet The New Jazz Spasms and the albums Travelogue and New York Movie. I will be putting on the remaining New Jazz Spasms music as well as my other projects, Wire, Wood & Steel and Stick Theory, in the near future.

In addition , I am releasing the first single of my latest music project. Below is the video of Sky Song by ManRoy Music, featuring the photography of Kofi B. Kwarteng.

The music reflects my lifelong love of bands like The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Talking Heads as well as newer artists like Tycho, Lotus, STS9 and Bonobo.

For more info go to – https://roymusicusa.com/

ManRoy Music – Sky Song

Some samples from my past catalog.

From the album Meet The New Jazz Spasms:
The New Jazz Spasms – Mucher

The New Jazz Spasms – Anything That Moves

Meet The New Jazz Spasms complete album playlist –
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgWzXJtmPk8U_28nIGw9Jtt0Pz6fgTP7P

From the album Travelogue:

The New Jazz Spasms – U.B.T.

A cover of the Grateful Dead’s Bird Song.
The New Jazz Spasms – Bird Song (Grateful Dead Cover)

Travelogue complete album playlist –
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgWzXJtmPk8VCDxBhnL7Y99nhF8vWA7fY

From the album New York Story:
The New Jazz Spasms – Follow Annie

The New Jazz Spasms – Always Mercy

New York Movie complete album playlist –
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgWzXJtmPk8UJzqfYKyK1-j1dRI1woSQ8

Please check it out, Share/Like/Subscribe and all the other YouTube stuff.

Tagged with: Allman Brotheres Band, Bonobo, Grateful Dead, Lotus, ManRoy Music, Pink Floyd, STS9, Talking Heads, The New Jazz Spasms, Tycho
Posted in Jam Band, Music Appreciation and Analysis

“And You Put The Load Right On Me” . . . : R.I.P. Robbie Robertson 1943 – 2023

Posted on August 13, 2023 by ManRoy Music — Leave a comment

It started when my brother bought The Band’s eponymous second album (also known as the brown album). I immediately loved the uptempo catchy tunes like “Up On Cripple Creek” and “Rag Mama Rag” but eventually it was songs like “King Harvest” and “Unfaithful Servant” that really affected me.

And the guitar . .
It sneaks out in little breaks and fills and the guitar solo at the end of King Harvest still kills me.

The first good guitar I bought was a Fender Telecaster with a maple neck because that was what Robbie Robertson was playing.

I went on to become involved with many different types of music since those days but the impact of The Band’s music and the guitar playing of Robbie Robertson will always be a part of me.

R.I.P Robbie Robertson

The Band – The Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA, November 1st, 1970

Songs:
Time to Kill
The Weight
This Wheel’s on Fire
Up on Cripple Creek

Don’t Do It │ The Band │ Live At The Academy Of Music, NYC, 1971

King Harvest │ The Band │ Live At The Academy Of Music, NYC, 1971

The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show │ The Band │ Live At The Academy Of Music, NYC, 1971

Tagged with: Fender Telecaster, Robbie Robertson, The Band
Posted in Classic Rock, Country/Bluegrass, Music Appreciation and Analysis

“I’m Just A Demon In Disguise” . : David Bromberg’s Final Big Band Show

Posted on July 20, 2023 by ManRoy Music — Leave a comment

A couple of weeks ago I was home on a Saturday night with no specific plans when I got a call from my old friend Errol, someone who I have been in bands with on & off for over thirty years. He had an extra ticket to see David Bromberg at the Beacon that night and was I interested? I had not seen Bromberg in concert since sometime in the early Eighties but I knew that he always put on a good show so of course I said yes. It wasn’t till I got to the Beacon that I found out that this would be his final show with his big band and that he was retiring from touring.

David Bromberg started out during the mid sixties folk boom. Being proficient on fiddle, numerous styles of acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel guitar and dobro, Bromberg gained a reputation through his session work for artists such as Jerry Jeff Walker and Bob Dylan, contributing to Dylan’s Self Portrait and New Morning. It was at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival where he was backing folk singer Rosalie Sorrels that he was asked to perform an impromptu solo set. The success of this appearance led to his being offered a recording contract with Columbia Records.

His 1971 self-titled Columbia Records release, David Bromberg included his composition “Sammy’s Song”, featuring Dylan on harmonica, and “The Holdup”, co-written with George Harrison. His second album, Demon In Disguise (1972), had him backed up by the Grateful Dead on a couple of songs, most notably “Sharon”, along with his solo rendition of “Mr. Bojangles” which interspersed his virtuoso acoustic guitar with stories about traveling with the song’s author, Jerry Jeff Walker. He went on to record several more albums for Columbia and then Fantasy Records.

The incessant demands of touring took their toll and Bromberg finally brought the band’s recordings and shows to an end in the early 1980’s. Bromberg moved to Wilmington, Delaware with his wife where they owned an extensive violin sales and repair shop, David Bromberg Fine Violins.

The bug to get back performing must of got to him because in 2006 when he released Try Me One More Time. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Traditional Folk Album in 2008. Since that time Bromberg began touring and making records again but In 2023 Bromberg said that, while he still might play occasional live shows, he would no longer tour with his Big Band and on June 10, 2023, David Bromberg and His Big Band played their farewell concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

I’m really glad that I was there.

David Bromberg – Send Me To The ‘Lectric Chair – 4/15/1977 – Capitol Theatre

David Bromberg Band – Will Not Be Your Fool (4/17/1976) – Capital Theater

David Bromberg Sept 23 2017 – Sharon

Tagged with: bluegrass, Blues, David Bromberg, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia
Posted in Blues, Classic Rock, Country/Bluegrass, Grateful Dead, Music Appreciation and Analysis