Comments for Elliott Randall

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Elliott

Elliott — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:56:41 +0000

Methinks your Dad (once again) demonstrated his infinite wisdom :-)

Great story with a great moral from a great musician.

Don’t ever stop ‘showing him’

E
x

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Elliott

Elliott — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:53:49 +0000

HI John,

Your story rings so true, and parallels a lot of us who had early ‘experiences’ with Stella & Kay – maybe if I’d had daughters I would have named them after… :-)

…and the compliment from you truly humbles me. Of course, sitting next to you, I had to ‘up my game’ – it was always a privilege to make music with you – and I look forward to more great times ahead.

Love right back atcha, dear friend.
E

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Elliott

Elliott — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:12:50 +0000

Hey Tommy,

Wonderfully personal response. Thank you. I’m loving your last phrase: “The hunger in the soul never dies.”

My next instalment will be mounted here in about a week. I look forward to sharing it with you all, and can only hope that I see a thread of responses to rival this one. What fun!

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Scott

Scott — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:34:46 +0000

Great look into how it all began, Elliott :)

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by John Tropea

John Tropea — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:38:09 +0000

Hi Elliott,
Great history. My first guitar was a Stella round hole. $50. Had It from 9 years old and didn’t get the hang of it until a neighbor taught me two chords (C & G7) and the song Billy Boy. I was 11 at that time. At 12 I started taking lessons 3 times a week in NYC until college at Berklee in Boston. My 1st electric guitar was a Les Paul Special. Always wanted a Gibson L5 and finally got in it 1968. Still have it and still love it.

I will always cherish the times we had together. You’re a dear ol friend and a hell of a player!
love,
Tropes
(John Tropea)

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Tommy Emmerton

Tommy Emmerton — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:22:19 +0000

Hey Elliott,

This piece really does justice to the monumental nature that these moments have in a serious guitar player’s life. It’s amazing how the memories of our first instruments can conjure up such powerful emotions that never seem to lose their vivacity. It’s also very telling that we remember these events in the distant past with such clarity.
I myself am convinced that I can remember my dad taking me to our local music shop and one of the sales assistants handing me down a little nylon string guitar (some of the strings were black i think?!). I can’t have been more than 3 years old. I also remember playing my drums along with old VHS tapes of Queen and Billy Joel – (and stealing a glass of beer and a cigarette from a builder working on our house) – again age 3/4. Of course my memories might be distorted or even suggested/implanted but I think they simply speak of a profound love for our instrument. The hunger in the soul never dies.

Thanks. Where’s part 2?

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Andy Bassford

Andy Bassford — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:25:13 +0000

I really enjoyed this post. You write as well and as economically as you play! I must say that for once I am ahead of you on something. If you go to my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/andybassford), and search through its blog feature, you will find an ongoing series of posts entitled “Why Do You Have So Many Guitars?” which treats the same topic, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. One of the best ways to get an otherwise reticent musician to talk is to ask him about either his first instrument, or the musician who first inspired him. (Or, or course, ask her.) That could be another blog thread! All the best from the BX.

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by ken lasaine

ken lasaine — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:35:39 +0000

I too had a Sears Silvertone (’70 or ’71?). And it was definitely the worst axe I ever had. But, I of course remember it fondly and sometimes think that the struggle to get a chord out of the blasted thing was what made me want to do it so badly.

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Will Lee

Will Lee — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:41:19 +0000

Hey Els,
Great story. Wonderful players aren’t built in a day. The fact that you started playing on a goofy axe was probably the best thing that could have happened to a young Elliott Randall. You basically had to learn to make music on a rock, as a caveman might’ve done. Once you got your hands on a more refined instrument you could really make it sing! My Dad knew I wanted a Fender Precision that was in the window of Gables Music down in Miami, which I had lusted after for months. When Xmas came, he had purchased a cheap instrument that had no brand name. I think his intent was for me to work my way up and buy my own, because my first thought was “I’ll show him!!!”. Don’t you know after 3 months of gigging, I bought my dream instrument. I’m still gigging and still showing him……..! Love ya!

Comment on Guitars Pt. 1 by Bill Morgan

Bill Morgan — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:43:05 +0000

What a great story. Thanks for posting. My first was a $16 Silvertone acoustic purchased from the Sears catalog in 1964. I followed that with the Silvertone single pickup electric with the amp in the case, and proceeded to learn every song the Ventures ever recorded. Oddly enough, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I got my first Harmony, a 1954 H62, no trussrod and the biggest neck I’ve ever seen. Great guitar.
Thanks again. Looking forward to reading more.