Sundown Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Hey all, If there is one thing this forum knows, it's good keyboard music. If I wanted to learn about the Dixie Dregs and hear some of their best stuff, what would you recommend? I was listening to Jam On on XM/Sirius the other day and they were playing, but I could get a pen and paper fast enough to write down the track. The last time I asked a question like this the reward was "Quadrant 4" (Billy Cobham / Jan Hammer). I'm hoping to be similarly surprised. Thanks again, Todd Sundown Working on: The Jupiter Bluff; Driven Away Main axes: Kawai MP11 and Kurz PC361 DAW Platform: Cubase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenElevenShadows Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Wow. I don't remember the last time I listened to them!! I should dig those back out! I vaguely remember liking "Free Fall" and "Dregs of the Earth". They have different keyboardists, if memory serves. I bumped into Andy West at a NAMM show once, and he seemed super super super nice. This has nothing to do with your question. I just thought I'd share. Ken Lee Photography - photos and books Eleven Shadows ambient music The Mercury Seven-cool spacey music Linktree to various sites Instagram Nightaxians Video Podcast Eleven Shadows website Ken Lee Photography Pinterest Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Force Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 I like their cover of this.. [video:youtube] Steve Force, Durham, North Carolina -------- My Professional Websites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottom End Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 IMO, the first Dregs album you should check out is "What If" because it has the widest style of music across 10 or so jams with keys, guitar, bass, drums, and violin all taking solos. You'd get to hear a wide variety of keyboard parts, so it's sort of a primer on how to fit into, and solo in, several styles of music. T Lavitz does some great work on this album. I also owned "Unsung Heroes " and "Industry Standard", but "What If" is the album I recommend the most. Here's a 1978 video from Montreaux [video:youtube] "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Tonewheel Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 "Cruise Control" was a very cool song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenElevenShadows Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 IMO, the first Dregs album you should check out is "What If" because it has the widest style of music across 10 or so jams with keys, guitar, bass, drums, and violin all taking solos. You'd get to hear a wide variety of keyboard parts, so it's sort of a primer on how to fit into, and solo in, several styles of music. T Lavitz does some great work on this album. I'm listening to "Free Fall" now, and there's not a LOT of keyboard on it, if that's what one is after. I vaguely remember liking "What If" as well. I love posts like this because they get you to revisit stuff that you haven't heard in a while. Ken Lee Photography - photos and books Eleven Shadows ambient music The Mercury Seven-cool spacey music Linktree to various sites Instagram Nightaxians Video Podcast Eleven Shadows website Ken Lee Photography Pinterest Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 "Dregs of the earth" and "Unsung heroes" were my first two Dregs CDs, both are excellent. Lots of keyboards courtesy of T Lavitz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electro Fan Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 +1,000 for "Dregs of the Earth". I wore this out when I first discovered it back in the 80's. I love T Lavitz work on this recording. Piano, organ, ep, clav and synth are all used to great effect. Tasty solos by T. as well. Bill Nord Stage 3 Compact, Korg Kronos 61, Casio PX-5S, Yamaha DXR 10 (2)), Neo Vent, Yamaha MG82cx mixer and too many stands to name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillplaying Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 "Cruise Control" was a very cool song. +1 My personal fav though more for Morse's playing than Lavitz. I had his (Lavitz) audio cassette years ago - it was good. Taught me to "noddle" over changes. Initially felt a bit like a jazz rock guitar player obsessed with scales - but it did what he said it would, gave me great confidence "running" single line solos over chord changes. I don't do it now but it was certainly one of those "wow I've jumped up another step" points at the time. I'm the piano player "off of" Borrowed Books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 +1 for "Dregs of the Earth". Draw-dropping stuff, especially the bass playing. Got to see them at a NAMM show in Chicago. Andy West played half the set then (I forget his name) played the 2nd half. Andy's own band played later in the evening. Yeah, wore out that cassette. Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electro Fan Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 +1 for "Dregs of the Earth". Draw-dropping stuff, especially the bass playing. Got to see them at a NAMM show in Chicago. Andy West played half the set then (I forget his name) played the 2nd half. Andy's own band played later in the evening. Yeah, wore out that cassette. Dave La Rue on bass for second set. I agree that Andy West is wonderful on "Dregs of the Earth" as well. Nord Stage 3 Compact, Korg Kronos 61, Casio PX-5S, Yamaha DXR 10 (2)), Neo Vent, Yamaha MG82cx mixer and too many stands to name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Yes, Dave La Rue-thanks. It appeared that they went from aging hippie/genius to insurance salesman on bass, but awesome playing continued. IIRC, Andy played with computer-driven drums, kinda rare for 1980ish. Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 IMO, the first Dregs album you should check out is "What If" because it has the widest style of music across 10 or so jams with keys, guitar, bass, drums, and violin all taking solos. You'd get to hear a wide variety of keyboard parts, so it's sort of a primer on how to fit into, and solo in, several styles of music. T Lavitz does some great work on this album. I also owned "Unsung Heroes " and "Industry Standard", but "What If" is the album I recommend the most. Here's a 1978 video from Montreaux [video:youtube] I agree, nice album with a great selection of tunes. But it's not T Lavitz playing, it's still Mark Parrish. T's first record was "Dregs Of The Earth". I love the band, and went to school, with many of them... Steve started the band as a required ensemble (for credit), and called it the University of Miami Rock Ensemble. They had two drummers (Rod and a fellow named Bart), and Hiram Bullock was the original bass player! I really think the keyboards didn't come into their own in the band until T joined them. The other guys were OK players, but never stood out. With T, they found their man. Besides exploring his work with the Dregs, check out some of his solo records, his work with "The Players", and his last project, "The School Of The Arts". Huge talent, and really funny/warm/sweet guy. RIP. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yes, Dave La Rue-thanks. It appeared that they went from aging hippie/genius to insurance salesman on bass, but awesome playing continued. Say what?!?!?! :idk Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon Zero Two Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I like the live album most. I think it's called bring them back alive? They do a nice cover of Kashmir, but the medley on take it off the top has to be heard. And amazing mash up of classic rock themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Bring me back Alive is the one I first bought. It's brilliant. By the way at last year's Namm I asked Rod what exactly happened to T. No drugs or anything it was a blood clot. Glad I was able to catch one of their last shows in Tempe in 2005. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartRun Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 ...saw 'em live in a high school gym in Fort Pierce, Florida in '81 Lavitz, Morse, West, Morgenstern; O'Connor had just joined as fiddle player. Unsung Heroes was spotlighted (I'd just picked it up). Phenomenal. '94 in Nashville: Ruddess on keyboards/Steve Kindler on fiddle but-they'd became the "Steve Morse Combo", and played way too loud. Regardless-get their music, it's timeless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Force Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yes, Dave La Rue-thanks. It appeared that they went from aging hippie/genius to insurance salesman on bass, but awesome playing continued. Say what?!?!?! :idk Jerry No idea what ChiefDanG means.... Steve Force, Durham, North Carolina -------- My Professional Websites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanV Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 What If is solid. The keyboard solo from Gina Lola Breakdown gets me every time. Nord Stage 2 SW73, Kurzweil PC3LE7, Moog Sub 37, Alesis Ion, Rhodes Stage 73, Moog Werkstatt-01, Yamaha CP-300 ------------- Knock knock Who's there? Interrupting synthesizer Interrup-MOOOOOOOOOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 I bumped into Andy West at a NAMM show once, and he seemed super super super nice. This has nothing to do with your question. I just thought I'd share. I had the pleasure of playing a number of gigs with Andy, and yes, very nice guy. I can't say I got to know him well, but he was not only personable, he was also a very easy guy to work with. Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yes, Dave La Rue-thanks. It appeared that they went from aging hippie/genius to insurance salesman on bass, but awesome playing continued. Say what?!?!?! :idk Jerry No idea what ChiefDanG means.... Just talking about physical appearance - started set with Mr.West, looking sorta like a mad/genius type, then switched to Mr.LaRue, clean-cut w/shirt&tie. Of course, both monster players. Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yes, Dave La Rue-thanks. It appeared that they went from aging hippie/genius to insurance salesman on bass, but awesome playing continued. Say what?!?!?! :idk Jerry No idea what ChiefDanG means.... Just talking about physical appearance - started set with Mr.West, looking sorta like a mad/genius type, then switched to Mr.LaRue, clean-cut w/shirt&tie. Of course, both monster players. Strange... I've known (and played with) Dave for over 30 years... he's always had long hair etc. Might have had a stage tie, but I would never in a thousand years think he came off that clean cut/straight laced. Interesting. Anyway, carry on! :-) Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Hey, jerrythek- After a little research, the NAMM show was June, 1981. I don't think Mr. LaRue joined the Dregs till the later 80's? The guest-star-bassist I saw must have been somebody else. You're a lucky guy to get to play with that kinda bassist, tho. Jealous. Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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