Digest

This podcast features a conversation with Guy Pratt, a renowned session musician, who shares anecdotes from his extensive career. He reminisces about the late Clem Burke, a drummer whose influence shaped his early musical journey. The discussion touches upon the vibrant Los Angeles music scene of the 60s and 70s, highlighting its collaborative spirit and the numerous iconic artists Pratt encountered. Pratt also details the creation of his photo book, "Everybody Loves Me," which showcases over 13,000 photos of people he's worked with throughout his career. The process of compiling and selecting photos for the book is described as overwhelming but ultimately rewarding. Finally, the podcast delves into concerns about the casting choices in the upcoming Beatles biopic, questioning the accuracy of portraying iconic musicians with older actors. The challenges and rewards of being a session musician are explored, emphasizing the diversity of artists and musical styles involved, along with the unique collaborative spirit of the profession.

Outlines

00:00:39

Remembering Clem Burke and Early Musical Influences

The podcast begins with a tribute to Clem Burke, discussing his drumming style and influence on Gary and Guy's musical careers. Gary recounts a pivotal interview that inspired him to pursue music, and they discuss Gary's early experiences in the mod scene and a later encounter with Clem Burke.

00:04:41

The Beatles Biopic and Session Musician Life

The conversation shifts to concerns about the casting in the upcoming Beatles biopic, followed by a discussion of Guy Pratt's extensive career as a session musician, highlighting the diversity of artists he's worked with and the unique challenges and rewards of the profession.

00:06:44

The LA Music Scene and "Everybody Loves Me"

Guy shares memories of the vibrant Los Angeles music scene in the 60s and 70s, describing the collaborative spirit and iconic artists he encountered. He then discusses the creation of his photo book, "Everybody Loves Me," detailing the process of gathering and selecting over 13,000 photos.

01:20:29

"Everybody Loves Me" Book Details and Conclusion

Further details on the creation of "Everybody Loves Me" are discussed, including the collaboration with Richard Tramarci and the challenges of selecting photos from a vast collection. The podcast concludes with reflections on the book and the overall career of Guy Pratt.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some of the key challenges and rewards of being a session musician?

  Challenges include adapting to diverse musical styles and artists, maintaining high performance standards under pressure, and often lacking the recognition afforded to band members. Rewards include collaborating with top artists, experiencing a wide range of musical genres, and the creative freedom to contribute to numerous projects.

• How did the Los Angeles music scene of the 60s and 70s differ from the current music industry?

  The LA scene fostered a collaborative spirit, with musicians frequently working together across genres. There was less emphasis on individual fame, and album art and the overall listening experience were more carefully curated. The current industry is more fragmented, with a greater focus on individual artists and digital streaming.

• What are some of Guy Pratt's most memorable experiences as a session musician?

  Working with Phil Collins, recording "Running on Empty" with Jackson Browne, and playing with various artists in the vibrant LA music scene of the 60s and 70s.

• What are the main concerns regarding the casting of the upcoming Beatles biopic?

  The main concern is the age and appearance of the actors chosen to portray the Beatles. The actors are significantly older than the Beatles were during the period depicted, raising questions about the film's authenticity.

• How did the idea for the "Everybody Loves Me" photo book originate?

  The speaker initially collected photos of people he worked with, including musicians and crew. Years later, after accumulating thousands of photos, he collaborated with Richard Tramarci to compile and publish the book.

• What was the most challenging aspect of creating the book?

  The sheer volume of photos made the selection process incredibly time-consuming and overwhelming.

Show Notes