The return of Alabama

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 6 Sep 2013 12:46 pm

As far as I can see/hear, they wrote very few of their tunes, (mostly songs written by Nashville's elite writers). Their producers also liberally used the very best session players to do the tracks, plus additional harmony vocalists. For instance, I believe, Lonnie Wilson played drums on their debut album. One might come to the conclusion that a few "ringers" were on most of their sessions.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 6 Sep 2013 2:21 pm

I guess as bad as they are they won't amount to much.

Ron Funk · Post by **Ron Funk** » 6 Sep 2013 3:57 pm

This probably needs to be verified by someone that knows how.......I heard Fred Newell played lead guitar on Alabama's first album.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 6 Sep 2013 4:40 pm

Ron Funk wrote:This probably needs to be verified by someone that knows how.......I heard Fred Newell played lead guitar on Alabama's first album.

True!Fred played guitar,David Smith played bass,Willie Rainsford on piano...they did several Alabama records.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 6 Sep 2013 4:41 pm

Ron Funk wrote:This probably needs to be verified by someone that knows how.......I heard Fred Newell played lead guitar on Alabama's first album.

True!Fred played guitar,David Smith played bass,Willie Rainsford on piano...they did several Alabama records.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 6 Sep 2013 7:09 pm

Possibly then, they are the Monkees of country music?

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 6 Sep 2013 8:34 pm

I've been a huge Alabama fan since I first heard them as a kid in the eighties and I'm still a fan of theirs today. I sing along with their songs. One of their songs, "Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard" talks about one of my all-time favorite places-Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Michael Haselman · Post by **Michael Haselman** » 6 Sep 2013 11:05 pm

I guess they were the country version of the Monkees without the goofy TV show. The Monkees had some good songs also. When I saw them in 89 I could tell immediately that Jeff Cook didn't play the studio fiddle parts.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 7 Sep 2013 6:46 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:Possibly then, they are the Monkees of country music?

Barry,I think you nailed it!

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 7 Sep 2013 7:36 am

http://www.brentmason.com/ This guy too.

From his bio: Artists Recorded With - Alan Jackson, Alabama, Josh Turner, The Chipmunks, David Gates, Brooks & Dunn,
George Strait, Neil Diamond, Rascall Flatts, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, Lorrie Morgan,
Brad Paisley, Clint Black, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Shelby Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Keith Whitley, Natalie Cole,
Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, The Judds, LeeAnn Womack,
Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and many many more...

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 7 Sep 2013 9:17 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:Possibly then, they are the Monkees of country music?

I only agree to the point that when a group's name is on the cover, listeners expect to hear the band members playing their instruments. Back in the days of the Monkees it wasn't the rule that there were credits given to session musicians. I remember very well what a scandal it caused, with the emerging of Cream and others, how the press jumped on them and put them down. Credits were the rule on the back of the records, but it first started in the seventies (except in Jazz).
I never looked at the backside of a cover of an Alabama record, but if there was no mention of outsiders, there's something wrong.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 7 Sep 2013 9:52 am

i believe randy owen could be credited with the dubious distinction of injecting the classic crowd catalyst,.. 'C'MON'.. into the repertoire of every annoying 'country' artist since!!

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 8 Sep 2013 8:31 am

Rumor has it Garth Brooks will open up for them.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 8 Sep 2013 10:37 am

I never looked at the backside of a cover of an Alabama record, but if there was no mention of outsiders, there's something wrong.

Joachim, if you navigate this page, you will probably see all the "outsiders" they will allow us to see…
Just click on each individual album, then click 'credits.'
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/alabama- ... 06/credits

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 8 Sep 2013 11:16 am

Barry, thanks. I've only looked up a few of their releases. I've only found session musicians listed on their second release called "Mountain Music" so far. As written above Fred Newell was mentioned amongst others.
This song seems to have been played "live" by them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ou8iHmZTI
Chord changes as usual

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 8 Sep 2013 1:36 pm

Michael Haselman wrote:I guess they were the country version of the Monkees without the goofy TV show. The Monkees had some good songs also.

I remember reading somewhere that the Monkees might have been an actual band if Mike Nesmith played bass, Peter Tork played lead guitar, Davey Jones played drums, and Mickey Dolenz took the role of rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 8 Sep 2013 8:24 pm

The bottom of this Wiki page has links to each Alabama album and the individual pages all list every musician on the album...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_(band)

...you'll have to type this in...this link is not pasting in right...sorry.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 8 Sep 2013 8:47 pm

Joe Casey wrote:Rumor has it Garth Brooks will open up for them.

He'll be premiering his new duet album (with Holly Dunn) of Kix and Ronnie covers.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 10 Sep 2013 7:00 am

Gee I thought Holly was Done.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 10 Sep 2013 7:57 am

Holly is an artist of a different kind now..
http://www.hollydunn.com/index.html

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 10 Sep 2013 2:29 pm

Id like to throw a few cents into this thread...I know we all have good days and bad days...But Ive played onstage several times with Jeff...he was always "one of the guys"...(and always played bass while I played guitar)...Randy ive met 3 times, and it must have been three of his "bad days". He was never friendly IMO...The people you play for pay your bills and make your careers...period...I think they deserve the respect that they give you..I hope they do well with their return to the "New Country" Landscape. They did have some great songs...(emphasis on some)...But i doubt id buy a concert ticket...

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 11 Sep 2013 11:13 am

Alabama was a Music Man endorser(even a broken clock,et cetera)but since Music Man doesn't make amps anymore,

do you suppose they'll take some new Fender Silverface RI's out on the road?

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 11 Sep 2013 3:40 pm

Dave Hopping wrote:Alabama was a Music Man endorser(even a broken clock,et cetera)but since Music Man doesn't make amps anymore, do you suppose they'll take some new Fender Silverface RI's out on the road?

I haven't seen the Silverface reissues yet?? Supposed to be like the '68 drip-rail.
Fender has been making the Blackface reissues since 1993, and it's kind of funny to think that the original run of those amps was only from 1964 till 1967.