Jack Nitzche

Jack Nitzche

Bernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche (22 April 1937 – 25 August 2000) was an American musician, arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others. He also worked extensively in film scores, winning a song of the year Oscar in 1983 for co-writing "Up Where We Belong" (from An Officer and a Gentleman.)

Some of Nitzsche's most enduring rock productions were conducted in collaboration with Neil Young, beginning with his production and arrangement of Buffalo Springfield's "Expecting to Fly", considered by many critics to be a touchstone of the psychedelic era. In 1968, he produced Young's eponymously titled solo debut with David Briggs. Even as the singer's style veered from the baroque to rootsy hard rock, Young continued to work with Nitzsche on some of his most commercially successful solo recordings, most notably Harvest. Nitzsche played electric piano with Crazy Horse throughout 1970 (a representative performance can be heard on the Live at the Fillmore East album). Nitzsche also played keyboards on the first Crazy Horse album, Crazy Horse (recorded 1970 and released 1971), which he produced, as well as featuring as composer and lead singer of the honky-tonk number Crow Jane Lady.

While prolific and hard working throughout the 1970s, he began to suffer from depression and problems connected with substance abuse. After he castigated Young in a drunken 1974 interview, the two men became estranged for several years and would only collaborate sporadically thereafter. Later that year, he was dropped from Reprise Records' roster after recording a scathing song criticizing executive Mo Ostin. This desultory period culminated in his arrest for allegedly breaking into the home of and then raping ex-girlfriend Carrie Snodgress, formerly Young's companion, with a gun barrel on June 29, 1979. Snodgress was treated at the hospital for a bone fracture, cuts and bruises and had 18 stitches. The charge of rape by instrumentation (which carries a five-year sentence) was eventually dismissed.

Ralph Molina

Ralph Molina

Ralph Molina (born June 22, 1943) is an American musician, best known as the drummer for Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse.

Born in Puerto Rico, Molina has been a member of Crazy Horse since they were formed in 1962 as Danny & the Memories. He has remained throughout the band's many personnel changes, and has performed on all 20 releases by the band, with and without Young. Molina's style of drumming is characterized by simple, but steady beats and fills.

Crazy Horse- Scratchy

Crazy Horse- Scratchy

I'm guessing that the majority of you are familiar with Crazy Horse's story, so I'm not going to go into great detail describing their origins. Of course, they are best known for their work with Neil Young and as the backing band who, in my opinion, brought out the best in that particular musician. Although they will forever be linked to ol' Shakey, their own material holds up rather well in its own right as "Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings" convincingly demonstrates. This first-rate collection compiles their phenomenal eponymous debut LP, the underrated followup, Loose, previously unreleased material, and an early 1960s 45 from pre-Crazy Horse vocal group, Danny & the Memories. While the rest of the band's ouevre has its merits, these performances from 1971-1973 are the most definitive and essential.

Prior to joining forces with Young for the masterpiece "Everybody Knows this Is Nowhere," guitarist Danny Whitten, bassist Billy Talbot, and drummer Ralph Molina had provided the core to aggregations such as the aforementioned white doo-wop group and scuzzy Los Angeles rock band the Rockets. Unlike other musical outfits, these guys learned to sing before becoming proficient with their respective instruments. Thus, in contrast to many other groups, they could rock hard and belt out killer harmony vocals at the same time. "Crazy Horse" came about in the wake of "This Is Nowhere" and "After the Gold Rush" and should have been huge. However, in spite of the superb contributions from guitarist Nils Lofgren (who was playing hooky from his band Grin during the recording sessions), pianist-producer Jack Nitzsche, guitarist Ry Cooder, and fiddler Gib Gilbeau, it failed to make a significant commercial impact. Crazy Horse's sound was unique: roots-based country rock filtered through a drug-addled, post-1960s perspective of lost innocence. Prewar blues even shows its influence in songs such as the awesome opening track "Gone Dead Train" (although it sounds like the band only borrowed the title of King Solomon Hill's best 78) and the lovely "Carolay" (which contains verses lifted from Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom"). "Dance, Dance, Dance" is a fine bit of ersatz Cajuniana from the pen of mentor Neil Young, while the anthemic "Downtown" inexplicably never became the massive hit that it could have been in a more just world. The phase shifter featured on the melancholy "Look at All the Things" and the rocking "Beggars Day" give both songs an early 1970s psychedelic sheen. Cooder's exquisite slide guitar is the icing on the cake for the heartfelt and beautiful "I Don't Want to Talk About It," which stands in stark contrast to the menacing and tough "Dirty Dirty." "Nobody" sounds more upbeat in tone as does "I'll Get By," which also features some enchanting group vocals. And finally, Nitzsche takes a rare turn handling lead singing duties on the Rolling Stones-like "Crow Jane Lady."

"Crazy Horse" was a tough act to follow, especially considering that Whitten's heroin problems led to his departure from the group after its release. Nitzsche and Lofgren also bailed out, leaving Talbot and Molina to recruit former Rockets bandmate George Whitsell to fill one of the guitar slots. Keyboardist John Blanton and guitarist Greg Leroy rounded out the lineup that recorded "Loose." Unfairly slagged by many, the band's second album does pale in comparison to their debut but only because its predecessor is so thoroughly excellent. Had "Loose" been a privately pressed LP released by a more obscure country rock band, I can guarantee you that it would be more highly regarded in certain record collecting circles. Yes, Whitten's distinct guitar and vocals are noticeably absent, but that does not mean the listener cannot derive enjoyment from rockers and blues-influenced numbers like "Move," "All the Little Things," "I Don't Believe It," and "One Sided Love." Tracks such as "Hit and Run," "Try," "Fair Weather Friend," "You Won't Miss Me," and "And She Won't Even Blow Smoke in My Direction" have a more palpable country influence and are all good performances if sometime a bit too laid back for their own good. "One Thing I Love" features a nice combination of instrumentation and vocal harmonies making it my favorite track on this album. While "All Alone Now" has a nice good-time vibe to it, the ballads "Going Home" and "Kind of Woman" are a bit too soft for my tastes.

With these two albums being squeezed onto this set's first CD, the second disc contains some interesting supplementary material from the recording sessions for "Crazy Horse" including an alternate take of "Dirty, Dirty" and a stretched-out version of "Downtown" that clocks in at nearly 11 minutes. "Dear Song Singer" is a moving solo piece from Whitten, while "Scratchy" is an unfinished instrumental whose main riff seems to have been recycled for "Move" on the second LP. "Susie's Song" simply sounds like Lofgren messing around on the piano and does not amount to much. "When You Dance You Can Really Love" is a Neil Young song recorded in 1973 by the "Loose" lineup as a possible single but was never released. I've always been a fan of radio spots, and the one included here is pretty cool. "Can't Help Loving that Girl" and "Don't Go" represent the lone single recorded by the previously mentioned Danny & the Memories in 1962, with the latter being the more interesting of these two tracks. Although neither song bears any similarities to the material Whitten, Talbot, and Molina would later record in Crazy Horse, they give the listener an opportunity to hear how far these musicians had come from their vocal group origins.

Crazy Horse- Scratchy

I'm guessing that the majority of you are familiar with Crazy Horse's story, so I'm not going to go into great detail describing their origins. Of course, they are best known for their work with Neil Young and as the backing band who, in my opinion, brought out the best in that particular musician. Although they will forever be linked to ol' Shakey, their own material holds up rather well in its own right as "Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings" convincingly demonstrates. This first-rate collection compiles their phenomenal eponymous debut LP, the underrated followup, Loose, previously unreleased material, and an early 1960s 45 from pre-Crazy Horse vocal group, Danny & the Memories. While the rest of the band's ouevre has its merits, these performances from 1971-1973 are the most definitive and essential.

Prior to joining forces with Young for the masterpiece "Everybody Knows this Is Nowhere," guitarist Danny Whitten, bassist Billy Talbot, and drummer Ralph Molina had provided the core to aggregations such as the aforementioned white doo-wop group and scuzzy Los Angeles rock band the Rockets. Unlike other musical outfits, these guys learned to sing before becoming proficient with their respective instruments. Thus, in contrast to many other groups, they could rock hard and belt out killer harmony vocals at the same time. "Crazy Horse" came about in the wake of "This Is Nowhere" and "After the Gold Rush" and should have been huge. However, in spite of the superb contributions from guitarist Nils Lofgren (who was playing hooky from his band Grin during the recording sessions), pianist-producer Jack Nitzsche, guitarist Ry Cooder, and fiddler Gib Gilbeau, it failed to make a significant commercial impact. Crazy Horse's sound was unique: roots-based country rock filtered through a drug-addled, post-1960s perspective of lost innocence. Prewar blues even shows its influence in songs such as the awesome opening track "Gone Dead Train" (although it sounds like the band only borrowed the title of King Solomon Hill's best 78) and the lovely "Carolay" (which contains verses lifted from Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom"). "Dance, Dance, Dance" is a fine bit of ersatz Cajuniana from the pen of mentor Neil Young, while the anthemic "Downtown" inexplicably never became the massive hit that it could have been in a more just world. The phase shifter featured on the melancholy "Look at All the Things" and the rocking "Beggars Day" give both songs an early 1970s psychedelic sheen. Cooder's exquisite slide guitar is the icing on the cake for the heartfelt and beautiful "I Don't Want to Talk About It," which stands in stark contrast to the menacing and tough "Dirty Dirty." "Nobody" sounds more upbeat in tone as does "I'll Get By," which also features some enchanting group vocals. And finally, Nitzsche takes a rare turn handling lead singing duties on the Rolling Stones-like "Crow Jane Lady."

"Crazy Horse" was a tough act to follow, especially considering that Whitten's heroin problems led to his departure from the group after its release. Nitzsche and Lofgren also bailed out, leaving Talbot and Molina to recruit former Rockets bandmate George Whitsell to fill one of the guitar slots. Keyboardist John Blanton and guitarist Greg Leroy rounded out the lineup that recorded "Loose." Unfairly slagged by many, the band's second album does pale in comparison to their debut but only because its predecessor is so thoroughly excellent. Had "Loose" been a privately pressed LP released by a more obscure country rock band, I can guarantee you that it would be more highly regarded in certain record collecting circles. Yes, Whitten's distinct guitar and vocals are noticeably absent, but that does not mean the listener cannot derive enjoyment from rockers and blues-influenced numbers like "Move," "All the Little Things," "I Don't Believe It," and "One Sided Love." Tracks such as "Hit and Run," "Try," "Fair Weather Friend," "You Won't Miss Me," and "And She Won't Even Blow Smoke in My Direction" have a more palpable country influence and are all good performances if sometime a bit too laid back for their own good. "One Thing I Love" features a nice combination of instrumentation and vocal harmonies making it my favorite track on this album. While "All Alone Now" has a nice good-time vibe to it, the ballads "Going Home" and "Kind of Woman" are a bit too soft for my tastes.

With these two albums being squeezed onto this set's first CD, the second disc contains some interesting supplementary material from the recording sessions for "Crazy Horse" including an alternate take of "Dirty, Dirty" and a stretched-out version of "Downtown" that clocks in at nearly 11 minutes. "Dear Song Singer" is a moving solo piece from Whitten, while "Scratchy" is an unfinished instrumental whose main riff seems to have been recycled for "Move" on the second LP. "Susie's Song" simply sounds like Lofgren messing around on the piano and does not amount to much. "When You Dance You Can Really Love" is a Neil Young song recorded in 1973 by the "Loose" lineup as a possible single but was never released. I've always been a fan of radio spots, and the one included here is pretty cool. "Can't Help Loving that Girl" and "Don't Go" represent the lone single recorded by the previously mentioned Danny & the Memories in 1962, with the latter being the more interesting of these two tracks. Although neither song bears any similarities to the material Whitten, Talbot, and Molina would later record in Crazy Horse, they give the listener an opportunity to hear how far these musicians had come from their vocal group origins.

David Muse

David Muse

David Muse (born July 1949, Rome, Georgia) is an American singer, songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has been a member of several bands including Firefall, The Marshall Tucker Band

Firefall (1975–1981, 1994-1995, 2000–2003, 2011–present)

David joined Firefall in 1975 at the invitation of old friend Rick Roberts.The band had recently signed a deal with Atlantic Records and was preparing to record their debut, self-titled album Firefall. Since David was not an original signatory to the deal with Atlantic Records, the label would not allow his picture to be on the album and insisted that he be listed as an additional musician. The band always considered him an original member and was credited as such on their second album Luna Sea, released in 1977. From 1975–1981 the band released five albums and produced hits such as You Are The Woman, Goodbye, I Love You, Strange Way, Just Remember I Love You and Cinderella. During this time, Firefall toured the world and shared stages with Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers, The Band, The Beach Boys and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Unrest and tension among band members lead to the breakup of the original band in 1981.

David performed with the band occasionally over the years, returning as a full-time band member in 2011. Original bassist Mark Andes returned to the band at this same time.
The Marshall Tucker Band (1996–2000, 2003–2008)

When original member Jerry Eubanks decided to retire in 1996, David was invited to join The Marshall Tucker Band to cover sax, flute and keyboard duties He toured and recorded with the band until 2001, when he left for a Firefall reunion. He returned in 2003, departing again in 2008 for other projects. David appears on seven MTB albums.

As a member of Firefall^[

• Firefall (1976) – Certified GOLD (11/3/1976) & PLATINUM (April 19, 2004)
• Luna Sea (1977) – Certified GOLD (10/3/1977)
• Elan (1978) – Certified GOLD (October 17, 1978) & PLATINUM (1/10/1979)
• Undertow (1980)
• The Best of Firefall (1981)
• Clouds Across the Sun (1981)
• Break of Dawn (1982)
• Greatest Hits (1992)
• Concert Classics, Vol. 2 (1999)
• Colorado (2001)
• Firefall Reunion Live (2009)

As a member of The Marshall Tucker Band

• Face Down in the Blues (1998)
• Gospel (1999)
• Beyond the Horizon (2004)
• Carolina Christmas (2005)
• Anthology (2005)
• The Next Adventure (2007)
• Live from Spartanburg, South Carolina (2013)