Thanks for writing about Vassar. I saw him sometime in the late 80s in a small bar with a dining area. The chairs and tables were stacked up in a corner. There were maybe 15 people there. It was fabulous, like having Vassar in your garage playing for you. Shooting the breeze with the crowd and playing requests. Now that I think of it, it was insane and a once in a lifetime opportunity.
dude, that is a KILLER story. Way, way cool. I mean, he was one of the GIANTS of American music as a fiddle player even before he did so much cool stuff with rock musicians. And, like Dickey, he’s a fellow Floridian.
Duane was a people person and a good manager. He stated that Dickey had a confidence issue so he talked him up, rightfully so.
Duane and Dickey had different personalities but they were musical brothers and geniuses. We fans were blessed to have so many recordings of ABB shows with them playing.
Dickey always had incredible tone and so many signature licks that sounded simple but....try to play 'em...good luck! His stuff is iconic. One story - when Dickey toured with his son a few years back, a friend of mine brought his Goldtop for Dickey to sign after the show. Dickey was concerned that the signed guitar would immediately be sold on Ebay and that my friend was not a player, rather just a out to make a buck. So, Dickey called one his crew backstage..."bring this guy out front, plug him into my rig and lets see if he can play.." My buddy was escorted to the stage and was duly plugged into Dickey's rig..at full stage volume. My friend said he never heard his guitar sound better. He played a bunch of blues riffs and then made the mistake of playing the opening of "Jessica". The crew all stopped what they were doing and came to look at my pal with disapproving grimaces and head shakes. Apparently it's a No-No to play Dickey's material if you're invited to play on his rig. A crew guy rushed my friend, "Ok, that's enough" and tapped a floor pedal to tun the rig off. The crew guy took my friends Goldtop and said, "wait here". 10 minutes later the guitar was returned with Dickey's signature.
I was already a big ABB fan when I found Highway Call in a bargain bin at the Kmart (Yes, Kmart). I had just started adding blue grass and progressive country (Jerry Jeff, Willie, etc. ... ) to my R&R musical tastes. I could not stop playing Highway Call. I played it over and over: A side, B side, then start over again. Brilliant album, maybe the best, purest solo effort by any ABB member, with Gregg's Laid Back tied or a closed 2nd. ✌
I probably should have added Sea Leavell. All great albums. But Highway Call changed the way I listened to music. I did not stop digging ZZ Top, and Zep and the Brothers and the like, but my friend Rodney and I were now also checking out anthologies of Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie from the Mobile Public Library.
>Highway Call changed the way I listened to music.
Dude, that's an awesome take. Thanks for sharing it. Dickey Betts is a really fascinating artist--Highway Call in one reason for sure. He was one of the top guitarists in rock in 72/73 and his response was an acoustic album that was way more country/Western Swing than blues.
Dickey went by Richard after I met him. I could't bring myself to call him Dickey, just didn't sound right. So, I always called him Richard. He went by that name until after we divorced. A few songs on Highway Call album were written when we started having problems and separated a few times.
Thanks for writing about Vassar. I saw him sometime in the late 80s in a small bar with a dining area. The chairs and tables were stacked up in a corner. There were maybe 15 people there. It was fabulous, like having Vassar in your garage playing for you. Shooting the breeze with the crowd and playing requests. Now that I think of it, it was insane and a once in a lifetime opportunity.
dude, that is a KILLER story. Way, way cool. I mean, he was one of the GIANTS of American music as a fiddle player even before he did so much cool stuff with rock musicians. And, like Dickey, he’s a fellow Floridian.
Duane was a people person and a good manager. He stated that Dickey had a confidence issue so he talked him up, rightfully so.
Duane and Dickey had different personalities but they were musical brothers and geniuses. We fans were blessed to have so many recordings of ABB shows with them playing.
amen. Duane was a helluva leader if you ask me. And it showed with how he managed the partnership with Dickey.
Musically dickie is a major talent. Band suffered from his absence. As a person though he seems like an a- hole. Thoughts?
Like many artists, Dickey is mercurial to say the least.
Dickey always had incredible tone and so many signature licks that sounded simple but....try to play 'em...good luck! His stuff is iconic. One story - when Dickey toured with his son a few years back, a friend of mine brought his Goldtop for Dickey to sign after the show. Dickey was concerned that the signed guitar would immediately be sold on Ebay and that my friend was not a player, rather just a out to make a buck. So, Dickey called one his crew backstage..."bring this guy out front, plug him into my rig and lets see if he can play.." My buddy was escorted to the stage and was duly plugged into Dickey's rig..at full stage volume. My friend said he never heard his guitar sound better. He played a bunch of blues riffs and then made the mistake of playing the opening of "Jessica". The crew all stopped what they were doing and came to look at my pal with disapproving grimaces and head shakes. Apparently it's a No-No to play Dickey's material if you're invited to play on his rig. A crew guy rushed my friend, "Ok, that's enough" and tapped a floor pedal to tun the rig off. The crew guy took my friends Goldtop and said, "wait here". 10 minutes later the guitar was returned with Dickey's signature.
I was already a big ABB fan when I found Highway Call in a bargain bin at the Kmart (Yes, Kmart). I had just started adding blue grass and progressive country (Jerry Jeff, Willie, etc. ... ) to my R&R musical tastes. I could not stop playing Highway Call. I played it over and over: A side, B side, then start over again. Brilliant album, maybe the best, purest solo effort by any ABB member, with Gregg's Laid Back tied or a closed 2nd. ✌
it’s such a wonderful album and a real glimpse of Dickey as an artist. It pairs beautifully with Laid Back and, frankly, the first Sea Level album
I probably should have added Sea Leavell. All great albums. But Highway Call changed the way I listened to music. I did not stop digging ZZ Top, and Zep and the Brothers and the like, but my friend Rodney and I were now also checking out anthologies of Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie from the Mobile Public Library.
>Highway Call changed the way I listened to music.
Dude, that's an awesome take. Thanks for sharing it. Dickey Betts is a really fascinating artist--Highway Call in one reason for sure. He was one of the top guitarists in rock in 72/73 and his response was an acoustic album that was way more country/Western Swing than blues.
Dickey went by Richard after I met him. I could't bring myself to call him Dickey, just didn't sound right. So, I always called him Richard. He went by that name until after we divorced. A few songs on Highway Call album were written when we started having problems and separated a few times.
Thanks for the background Sandy. Good to have you here. 🍄