Review : Jerry Scheff : Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors, and More
Source: Blogcritics.org
March 26, 2012
He then proceeds on a nonlinear journey that mirrors the process of true life-reflection, from his roots in San Francisco to his touring all over the world. This is a tale of a man who has truly grown a career from a genuine love of music and of his instrument, proving how following that gift can bring a person to places beyond his wildest dreams. It is an exciting inside view of the evolution and craft and work of making rock and roll - a must-have for true music craftsmen and music junkies in general.
Review by Rhetta Akamatsu
Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors, and More is the story of his life in music, beginning as a teenage white boy playing black clubs in California in the '50s, through his career as a musician in the Navy, then making a name for himself in the clubs and ending up with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas. There are many interesting stories here about playing pranks on each other during Elvis' Vegas shows and what it was like to travel on Elvis' private jet, The Lisa Marie, about being on tour with Dylan, and behind-the-scenes tales from many events where Jerry played. But if you are looking for 'dirt' or deep insights into the famous musicians he hung around with, you won't find too much here although one good story is the 'fit' Elvis had when he discovered that Jerry and Kathy Westmoreland had something going - that night as he proceeded to introduce the band he started this way: 'Ronnie Tutt on drums, Jerry Scheff on Kathy Westmoreland' ... [A bit of jealousy and Elvis' mischievous [at times] nature. About Larry Muhoberac : 'After he was gone, I really missed his smooth, inventive adaptive approach to playing the piano. He was creative and didn't just play parts and licks, he played songs. There was no ham-fisted left hand in your bass face, claming all the mid-range ...' On Glen Hardin : 'After the shows, Glen liked to shoot craps at the casino. He made a big show of not drinking before the show, or at least not obviously drinking. But afterwards he had the waitresses running back and forth with scotch and water. Before he passed out, Glen would take control of the crap table. He usually had chips flying all over the place ... I was in my dressing room one night before the first of two shows and Glen came in with his pants and coat buckets bulging. 'Jerry Scheff', he said – he likes to call people by both names – 'Look at this'. He started pulling handfuls of black $100 chips from his pockets … He said that he woke up in the afternoon on his bed with his clothes still on and he was covered from neck to belt buckle with chips. 'The security guards must have stood me on a skateboard and rolled me to my room, laid me on my bed and poured chips over me ...' The book continues with similar stories about the band members (and of course the other artists he worked with, like Bruce Springsteen (there was no love lost between them it seems), Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello … But mostly this book is all about the music - as it should be - and what it was like to be a studio musician and band member just on the edge of the spotlight. Even through all the years of traveling with Elvis, Scheff says that he knew and admired him, but did not consider him a friend. It was the same with Dylan, John Denver, and the rest. Scheff got close, but not too close. With each musician, stories about them center on the music, and only that part of the musician's personality or problems that effect the music are worth mentioning to Scheff. For this reason, you hear about sneaking out to go to a club with Dylan, or the lavish hotel rooms and backstage food on a John Denver tour. But even though Scheff - like nearly every other creative person in the '60s and '70s - did his share of drugs, there is very little debauchery and no accounts of trashing of hotel rooms, etc., in Way Down. So, no, this is not a 'tell-all' or gossip book. There are plenty of those out there anyway. This is a book about Jerry Scheff, and about life as a working musician in the studio and on the road. As such, it is an entertaining, honest, and informative book. I enjoyed Way Down, and as long as you know what you're getting, I think you will, too. Buy Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors, and More
Jerry Scheff has been a sought-after bass player for over 45 years, playing on albums and touring with many of the greats, including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, John Denver and Elvis Costello.
Interview with Jerry Scheff
Interview with Jerry Scheff #2
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
