ksdaddy Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 In my freshman year of high school (1974-75) I was listening to a lot of top 40, having bought my first stereo that fall, a small Panasonic receiver and a BSR turntable. I was also hanging around a couple of the local radio stations so I, in fact, had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Top 40, at least for a brief time. I also bought albums from the bargain bin at Newberry's. There were albums there for 99 cents to $2.99. One that stands out is this one: My only knowledge of Carl Perkins prior to that was a Columbia DJ promo copy of "Pointed Toe Shoes", which kicked my 14 year old brain hard! I played the above album to death. I still have the worn out copy. Things were different then, as far as gathering information. A lot of heresay, rumors, etc. There were books on rock n roll but I was limited to whatever was in the local library. Somehow I mixed Carl and Luther up and was convinced that he was dead. (Imagine the heart attack I had a couple years later when I saw him on tv doing "Daddy Sang Bass" with Johnny and the Carters!) The only photo I saw of Carl was the one on the album, playing an Epiphone. My father told me they stopped making Epiphones, which had a kernel of truth in it...they had stopped USA Epis in 1969 or 70. So at this point I'm idolizing a dead guy who played an unidentified Epiphone something or other. In later years I would repeatedly see footage of Carl playing an ES-5 and an early Jazzmaster, and I've found out most of his early stuff was done on at least a couple early Les Pauls. Later on I'd see him with Peaveys and a G&L. I never really thought to dig deeper and find the mystery Epi that was on the cover of the album. Until now! It;s a 1959 Emperor Regent, built by Gibson with Epi parts (and probably some Gibson parts, who knows?) I think he used it off and on in the late 60s and he may have even used it when he was filling in for Luther after his untimely passing. I don't think this was ever used on ANY of his 50s stuff but the image on the album cover is ingrained in my brain. *sigh* maybe another for the bucket list. God help me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 killer player!!!! Mt dad took me to Chino Downs many moons ago to see Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins was playing guitar..... one of the best shows I have ever seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Very cool. That Johnny Cash show had some cool guest in the day, too, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Had a little influence on Elvis too great guitar player also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Met him just once in passing... Met Luther, for all o' that. I'm old. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 Why do I think of Tele when I think of Carl Perkins? I musta seenta JC show with him using a Tele. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted December 4, 2014 Author Share Posted December 4, 2014 Why do I think of Tele when I think of Carl Perkins? I musta seenta JC show with him using a Tele. rct I read that his favorite of all time was a G&L ASAT. Maybe that's where youo're thinking Tele. Luther and Marshall defined the sound. Neither had a clue when they started. They borrowed a bass and had to call around to figure out houw to tune it. Luther on the original borrowed Esquire was umm.. 'basic' I guess would be a kind way of saying it. But I defy anyone to match it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markini Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 I noticed in the 2nd photo, the Tele shown has unusual fret markers. It seems to be a Fender though from looking at the headstock. One thing that strikes me about Carl is his big smile and attitude, he just gets out there and plays, wanting everyone to have a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 I noticed in the 2nd photo, the Tele shown has unusual fret markers. Clay. Yer welcome. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimi Mac Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Probably my earliest recollection of anyone that I became aware of as a guitar player! One of my earliest favorites! A pioneer for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 My earliest exposure to Carl was through the Beatles '65 album, which was the first album I purchased in 1965 (had bought quite a few 45s up to that point). Must have played Honey Don't a million times, and of course the album also included Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby. Matchbox was another huge favorite released earlier. Started wondering who this C. Perkins fellow was & eventually found out. It was sometimes a real chore back then to get much info on early rock, blues, or jazz players. My favorite tune from the Sun stuff is Put Your Cat Clothes On, with Carl & Jerry Lee trading solos. Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 He was George Harrison's greatest influence (along with Big Bill) and it shows. This was what we watched in our house in the 50s. The birth of rock... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5K8eI_If__M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 I wish we had shows like that now. Maybe we do and they're just buried somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 A few are around but nowadays everybody seems more involved in "production values" as opposed to a pretty bare studio live type of program shown here. Actually a lot of "live radio" audiences saw pretty similar shows from the mid '20s into the '50s. They just weren't often recorded with some sort of AV equipment. In fact <grin> I'm so doggone old I've done similar bits with other folks on a live radio "stage" too as that era came pretty much to a close even for one of the last radio stations still using tube transmitting equipment and offering an opportunity for some live performance openings. The live performance thing certainly told a lot about all sorts of musicians in those days; they did their thing without repeats and "errors" hadda be covered simply by continuing. Figure this: There actually were tap dancers performing on "radio." Couldn't see the steps except in one's mind's eye. Another thing to note is how early "rock" and "pop" were getting blurred in the early television and post WWII era. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 1417909400[/url]' post='1599048']I wish we had shows like that now. Maybe we do and they're just buried somewhere. Me too! I was a kid in the 50s when rockers like Carl Perkins started popping up on various country music shows, some radio. My brother and sister were older then me, pre-teens when Elvis had his first hit, it was a a great time, Variety shows were a staple of TV in those days, not anymore, the closes thing to them is The Voice and other competition shows, which are not real in the same league. Where else could you watch a talking mouse, someone balancing spinning plates of sticks, an act from a Broadway play and four young mop tops from Liverpool? Never again.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 How much did Carl Perkins influence The Beatles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmn6vWgXS3M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 And how 'bout Joe Maphis? One heckuva picker. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 And how 'bout Joe Maphis? One heckuva picker. m Coincidentally in the same batch of 45s I was given in '74 that included Carl's promo copy of "Pointed Toe Shoes" was another promo 45 of Joe Maphis with Moonshot on one side and Short Recess on the flip. What a tone. What speed! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My guitar life at that time was limited to trying to make 3 chords on a Harmony archtop so anything Joe did flew right over the top of my head. Speaking of Joe, here he is with Wanda, who I have a serious 1959 crush on. A serious 1959 crush. Serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 1417920268[/url]' post='1599093']Coincidentally in the same batch of 45s I was given in '74 that included Carl's promo copy of "Pointed Toe Shoes" was another promo 45 of Joe Maphis with Moonshot on one side and Short Recess on the flip. What a tone. What speed! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My guitar life at that time was limited to trying to make 3 chords on a Harmony archtop so anything Joe did flew right over the top of my head. Speaking of Joe, here he is with Wanda, who I have a serious 1959 crush on. A serious 1959 crush. Serious. She may have been the first Go-Go Girl too! Sweet post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Check out the classic Tele-Bass! Always liked Eddie Cochean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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