Jim Gordon: The Greatest Rock N Roll Tragedy
Вставка
- Опубліковано 24 сер 2024
- I let my AI narrate one of my most popular Medium articles. It's still got a way to go, but not too shabby.
This is a post from 2020 detailing the rise and fall of legendary drummer and convicted murderer, Jim Gordon.
If you're interested in the history of 20th century American music, true crime, mental illness, addiction, and the crest of the wave that was the American century, this is the 15 minute listen for you.
The original article can be found here: / jim-gordon-the-greates...
And the accompanying playlist: open.spotify.c...
At 12:30, there is a photo of the band I played bass with (in San Francisco) in 1981, in a recording session for artist, Gene Sarazen.
Jim Gordon was the drummer of this session. Someone recently told me that this recording was probably his last.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing this. Is there a release we can find and listen to?
@sethshellhouse Hey, thanks for the reply. I'll be posting it on youtube as soon as I have time. He was a wonderful guy to play bass with, and the Two of Us just got along great. Fortunately, or unfortunately.
Lucky you! You got to see/play with one of the greats. So jealous.
@@larrycomI checked your channel today. It’s mostly just Beatlestock stuff. Be great if you posted what you said you would when you got time?
Thank you, @ Seth. I’d never heard of him. None of the women he abused reported him? Sounds like that might have been his only chance at medical help, aside from seeking it himself.
I’m Canadian. Pot is legal here now. I smoked my share when I was young, but that was mostly in the 70s, and what we smoked then was very very different from what the hardcore smokers are into today. The government owns liquor stores, and that’s where it’s mostly sold. The edibles aren’t strong, but the bud looks like it’d get a person really high. On the street, the hardcores get this stuff called Shatter. It’s distilled somehow, has the consistency of brittle candy.
I know two people in their 20s and 30s who I’ve watched lose executive function over the years from smoking pot.
But I know it can cause schizophrenia in some people. Some people, young people, can become mentally ill from one evening of getting high . No warning. It just hits them the wrong way, and bang; their quality of life is gone.
I’ve expressed my concerns about legalizing pot, but probably come across as an old bitch picking on kids. That’s far from the truth, but what can you do when kids think they’re invincible? Even if they believe it can cause the funky chicken in some, they never think it can do a number on them.
I did a lot of different drugs when I was young. I was always cautious, trying a third of what’s considered a normal dose. I was lucky; had an uncomfortable acid trip in university, so was careful after that awful night. I know people who tried poker machines, won a bit of money the first time, and were hooked.
Of course addiction is a big problem which people think is hereditary. It isn’t. How a person reacts to childhood trauma is the biggest predictor of addiction.
Dr. Gabor Mate is considered one of the foremost experts in addiction. He is a Canadian doctor who worked for years in palliative care, paediatrics, and with the addicts in the worst area in Canada. He himself was addicted to , of all things, buying classical music CDs. He once left the hospital in the middle of delivering a baby to go shopping for thousands of dollars in CDs. He has studied addiction for decades, gives talks on UA-cam, and has written books on addiction, as well as teaching those working in addiction in the medical community. He is fondly known as “ the people whisperer “.
Although you criticize our social media platforms as indifferent to people in obvious trouble, I think it can be useful to creative, troubled posters. Surely their friends can reach out to them, and those with the money can get help privately. I think stigmatizing troubled people is giving way to reaching out to troubled Twitter, etc. users.
Nothing seems to stop the daily mass school shootings; that would require screening of gun purchasers, and limiting possession of assault weapons.
I guess you’re right. As a society, we have chosen to fall prey to the military industrial complex rather than getting help for the school kid who releases manifestos online.
We have chosen to provide healthcare only for the wealthy; the disappearing middle and increasingly lower classes have to pay premiums for very poor quality healthcare.
We have chosen political lobbyists over an accountable democratic system which is supposed to represent the needs of all of those who need help.
We have chosen pollution over healthy food and water.
We have chosen oil and the terrible damage fracking causes the environment.
We have chosen to shout “ communist, red, etc., should anyone dare to suggest solutions to the rapid march into fascism.
We have chosen to take back human rights of women, of “ others”, to restore a patriarchal control system, instead of equal rights for all.
We have chosen censorship over decent education.
We have chosen business/ political deals with religious leaders instead of keeping separation of church and state.
These are choices, value choices made for our society. We are coming to be more like the Taliban, like what we once called third world countries, than what was once considered the greatest nation on the planet. We have willingly been moving back to the caves we emerged from. But then what can you expect from a voting populace which chose to elect a “ grab them by the pussy” type of person.
While the USA is the worst example of a country moving backwards, it isn’t the only one. Cambridge Analytica is alive and strong, no matter what name they are presently calling themselves. Steve Bannon is still busily spreading fascism across Europe. It’s too bad the Fox watchers didn’t jump on Cambridge Analytica as a real conspiracy. They may have made themselves useful and stopped the Fascism movement. In case people don’t recall, Fascist states must be put down like an unfortunate rabid dog.
I met Jim while working as a psych tech in a psych unit in Calabasas. He and I used to walk down to the freeway and stand on the walkway overpass and watch the cars pass beneath us. It was my charge to make sure Jim did not jump. He was quiet and unassuming sort. He never displayed any outright psychotic behavior in my presence and was quite capable of carrying on a normal conversation. I restrained myself from pumping him for stories about all my musical heroes, perhaps that’s why he always asked for me. We just hung out to talk small talk and listen to the coyotes in the distance after dark.
Thank you for sharing this! Had to be a surreal experience!
Tortured soul pity
Respect. I believe you provided the space between the notes for Mr. Gorden. Well done.
You are a good psych tech!!
I’m assuming the overpass had a barrier?
I read a comment of a psychiatric technician that knew Jim Gordon as a patient. I also knew Jim as a patient. I am a retired psychologist. I worked the final 5 years of my career at California Medical Facility in Vacaville California where Jim was housed for many years until his death. I knew Jim from the years of about 2018 until my retirement in 2021. Jim was not my patient. However there was a weekly activity group where inmates played music. There was a drum set. One of the inmates was a skilled guitarist and singer. Jim would frequently play drums when he attended the group. One of their favorite songs to play was Teddy Bear sang by Elvis. Jim was a quiet man. However at times he would speak briefly to the group about his career.
I approached Jim about creating a small group activity with other inmates where we listened to albums that Jim played on. He agreed to do so. Jim would talk about the albums, the musicians etc while we listened to them. He also signed autographs on a picture of the Derek and the Dominos album cover that I made copies of. The first album he requested to listen to was Layla and other assorted love songs. He spoke a lot about the music and the history of the band. He spoke about how the band only played in small venues. He also spoke how Bonnie and Delaney formed the band he was in. He stated that the music of Bonnie and Delaney didn't catch on with the public. He referred to the song Layla as "the hit." He spoke a little about Eric Clapton stating that he was a quiet man and was a great guitarist.
The second album he requested to listen to and discuss was Traffic's low spark of high heeled boys. I asked him about the song he co-wrote being rock & roll stew. Jim stated he wrote the lyrics of the song.
We also watched a documentary of the wrecking crew and the film Joe Cocker's Mad dogs and English men. He spoke about some of the musicians including Hal Blaine, Bobby Keys and Leon Russell. He was grateful to Hal Blaine for giving him what he referred to as a lot of work.
I frequently joked with Jim about how busy he was from the mid sixties to the mid seventies. I asked if he ever took a day off of work. He would laugh. He would refer to his career of playing music as his job and that he is now retired.
After about two months Jim grew tired of the group and decided to stop attending. I am grateful to him for his time with me and discussing his career. I consider my time with Jim to be one of the highlights of my career. I will never forget him.
Thank you for sharing! This is a great anecdote and I'm glad to hear that you were able to put this together at CMF
Michael - Thanks for taking the time to comment. Jim (as the doco states) is one of music's tragic stories. IMHO Jim was one of the greatest drummers and arrangers rock/blues has had. Delaney Bonnie & Friends was one of the underrated bands of it's era. Brilliant musicians , however some were flawed personalities. To me, it was always sad that Jim couldn't get to the stage where he could be part of society again. Thanks again for your comments - especially as they come from the point of view of a Psychologist (I come from a family of Psychologists). Enjoy your retirement.
Is it OK for you to be disclosing this?
@@lisarussell8874 yes - he isn't disclosing medical details. He is discussing his relationship with Jom and he was not his treating medico.
@@allanbriggs807 thank you. I was curious and asking in a collegiate way, not judging.
I like that this telling of the story isn't biased, but truthful. My Dad, bassist Joe Osborn, worked with Jim quite a bit..they were good friends. In my teens then, I never missed an opportunity to go with Dad to a session Jim was on, being a student of drumming. Jim came to our house several times for poolside grilling and jam in our small music room, he played my drums. Likewise I went to his place and played the kit that was always there.
Jim had hung up over the toilet his gold album of Traffic, Low Spark of High heeled Boys... I thought that was hilarious. I saw him play the piano thing from Layla at Leons home. Curious thing, Jim sets up right handed but he writes with his left hand. I never saw Jim get loud or ugly to anyone, I knew only the gentle giant part of him. He was a big guy, maybe 6' 3"...huge.
When I heard of what happened I couldn't believe that he had done those terrible things. I think of him and listen to his work often.
Thank you for sharing! This is awesome insight, and I'm glad you got to experience those good times. I think a lot of times, we see public figures and form opinions on what we've read or heard, but forget that public figures are human, and humans are multidimensional, contradictory beings and are capable of both beautiful and terrible things. Also, I'm sure you hear this every day, but please thank your dad for me! Everyone who plays or writes parts for modern bass owes him style and inspo credit.
@@sethshellhouse
Man, I hate to be the one to tell you but, my Dad passed away December 14, 2018. .. but I appreciate the sentiment. ❤️
@@davidosborn146 Oh man, hate to hear it. But we all appreciate the legacy and all the awesome parts...those records will live forever!
Man, I loved your dad’s work, starting with Ricky Nelson and on and on. R.I.P. Joe Osborn.
Your Dad was a good one.
I met Jim's lawyer who lived in The Highlands in Pacific Palisades CA where I taught music for 40 years. His son was one of my students and it was at his home that we met and discussed the Jim Gordon case. Jim's drumming speaks for itself....he was a brilliant player held in high esteem by all . A very sad and tragic end to a monumental career.
The main problem of mental illness is that it’s incurable. The medications that can limit the effects of mental illness cause side effects that can be unbearable to patients. Eventually patients stop taking their medications and the illness takes over, it’s just a viscous cycle with very little light at the end of the tunnel.
There is a book being written. I knew Jim personally. We corresponded for years. He invited me to meet him and I visited him. I will miss him forever. 💔
Jim was close to my daughter. She is now 30. He loved talking to her on the phone. He liked talking music with her. ❤
That's amazing! I'm excited to read it.
@@sethshellhouseJoel Selvin is the writer. Check it out. I will send the link to you.
@@susanedrington4878 Awesome! He's written some legendary stuff
Please post when you have details about the book.... I'm interested. Thanks.
No one brings justice to Jim's huge music contributions like you do sir. The greatness and the tragedy.
Sad story of a tormented musical genius who influenced so many of us young drummers in our youth. Amazing career despite all the self medication. When his life ended not long ago down Hwy. 80 from me in the Vacaville facility, it brought his story to light again and I could tell he never got the proper treatment he needed from our seemingly still clueless medical and correctional system. RIP Jim
What an informative and sad look at the life of a hero. Drumming has been my life and career since age 5. I’m 64 now and never cultivated another way to earn money. like many other players surviving on retirement and assistance, I hope to play again. I used to see many concerts. I remember going to a show that the drummer was introduced as Jim Gordon. I don’t even remember the bands name. All I could focus on was Jim’s drumming. Today I found out what happened to him. The story has me in tears.
You did a great job on this documentary. Your voice lends to it as well. You should do more.
This was amazing. I knew he did a lot but your comprehensive listing of his work shows how astonishingly prolific he was. It's an emotional thing for me and I'm sure a lot of people that he was such an important part of so much music that is near and dear to my heart, both as a musician and that kid that sat around marveling at Low Spark and so many others. As I write this I realize that none of his parts were especially showy, they just served and supported whatever song he was playing on. He made them "feel" great. His is a tragic story, and though many geniuses suffered from some kind of mental issues, you told his story thoroughly, tastefully and affectionately. Thank you.
thank you! and I think that's an excellent way of putting it...he had incredible feel and could serve so many diverse types of songs
Well done and very balanced and informative. When David Gilmour was asked about Syd Barret's unraveling, he said that essentially, nobody in the band or the rock world knew much about mental illness in those days. What a difference the intervening decades have made! R.l.P. Jim Gordon.
Yet many of them used psychedelic substances, maybe some had good and some had bad effects. If this can be cleared out, the defenitive history of the sixties/seventies rock era can be written.
@@dragonmartijn l'm 67 and l still use psychedelic substances. l have a mood disorder, but l'm not prone to psychosis. Folks with schizophrenic/psychotic tendencies should steer clear of, say, LSD. Folks who get anxious on weed should steer clear of it. l think in Syd Barrett's case he had psychotic tendencies and LSD was the last thing he should have been messing with. lt sounds like Jim Gordon, if he was hearing voices all along, was a functioning schizophrenic, until he wasn't. Apparently John Lennon tripped [LSD] every day for a year. Doesn't sound fun to me, but l'm not John Lennon. Skip Spence [Moby Grape], another "acid casualty".
I have always been a “fan” of the Domino lineup in its various incarnations, and have been aware of the importance of Jim Gordon for many years. However, I had never fully embraced his work nor realised the importance and full extent of his talent.
How has the world of contemporary music never recognised his prodigious contribution? An extremely important story, very well told. And I for one thank you for your posting.
The things Jim did were unforgivable, but the most frustrating thing was how long this diagnosis took and how no one knew what to do. Mental health was and still isn’t taken seriously in the music industry, and they just gave him random pills instead of actually trying to figure out what was wrong.
To add to the tragedy, even with a diagnosis there is little anyone can do if the 'patient' doesn't want to. JG was only diagnosed and treated because he was already incarcerated for a horrific murder.
Tho it can be argued that if his previous violent abuse of women - which likely included his own mother - had been taken seriously and dealt with right away things may have turned out differently. There could very well at least be fewer victim's lives ruined.
It doesn't matter so much whether the music industry takes mental health seriously, there's little to nothing they could do about that. That's private info regarding an autonomous adult. What they could do, however, was deal with violence and crime more seriously, particularly against women. Instead, the victims are dismissed while the criminal behavior is coddled and accepted.
@@barbarakauppi9915My mother developed dementia in her old age. She was in a locked ward, and on 8 different medications, including an antipsychotic. Long story long: She seizured while switching to an atypical antipsychotic. The episode killed her, slowly.
I looked into atypical antipsychotics. At the time it’s what they were treating vets with. One side effect: aggression.
Imo, the industry makes more profit from slightly changing the chemistry of an existing drug than spending money on diseases. So we are falling behind on how disease troubles the patient in favour of maximizing profits by making slight chemical changes to existing formulas.
That was the zeitgeist.
I'm 61 years old and would consider myself as very knowledgeable about the history and the players of most types of popular music but I had never heard of Jim Gordon before this video. It's so ironic that I have heard some of his most enduring performances without knowing.
Ya - same here
I've been studying Jim Gordon off and on for years. There's a lot of good stuff out there.
Then your knowledge has much to be desired if you didn’t know Jim .
@@marioarias9942haha yeah anybody that knows rock and roll knows Jim Gordon come on
Thank you for this! I've been a fan and student of the history of studio musicians since my favorite guitarist Duane Allman died, and I learned how many records he played on. I was very aware of Jim Gordon, but learned much more from this. It's truly mind boggling how a relatively tiny group of musicians gave so many of us the soundtracks of our lives. Mental illness robs all of us. I hope Jim found some peace.
What a quality example of filmmaking! I know that it was only uploaded 2 weeks ago, but 619 views? I was first made aware of Jim Gordon from the Mad Dogs and Englishmen soundtrack album and knew of him to be a sought after session drummer but I had no idea as to many of his other collaborations that were highlighted here. What a massive talent and a tortured soul. RIP Jim. I'll sing the praises of this video to all my musically informed friends because it's a gem.
thank you very much! sharing is greatly appreciated...it's such an incredible and also terrible life story that more people should hear
Agreed. This is an outstanding piece of journalism. I thought I knew this story and almost passed over it.
Wow. That discography is so impressive. An album featuring his many contributions would do very well I’m thinking.
Once again, we see how Mental health and substance abuse are a tragic combo, He was a fine musician with an incredible body of work, thanks for sharing this tale.
I'm 64 LSD was one of my favorite highs. I truly believe that it can trigger dormant schizophrenia.
@@seerstone8982 I'm reminded of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder William Griffith Wilson, AKA "Bill W." stating that; "An ordinary man, not protected by an action of God above and isolated in society can not resist the power of evil that which we call very aptly, the Devil! If there was a Devil, He seemed Boss Universal and He certainly had me Try to remember what you are dealing with. Something cunning, baffling and powerful. Without help, it is too much for us.But there is One who has all Power - that One is God. May you find Him now!" We found that God dose not make too hard terms with those who seek Him." - Bill W.
This is an exceptionally well assembled biopic Seth. Thank you so much for this.
The story of this late musician has always blown my mind, both as a player and avid listener, as I've discovered over the years - tune after tune - that Jim played on no less than 50% of my all-time favorite records, maybe more . . . I'm constantly finding him credited on another one of my all-time favorite tunes.
I'll be as brief as possible here.
I value:
* Your focus on Jim's overall MUSICIANSHIP (not just as a "drummer"), his "stylistic chameleon" quality and dependability / professionalism on sessions
* His sheer OUTPUT during the most powerful musical period in modern recording history
* The pointing out that the tragedy, though culminating in a horrible crime, could possibly have been averted if recognized and treated adequately.
Given the time period, the stigma associated with mental illness (certainly even Re the 60s-80s), it's always seemed to me that more could have been done to appropriately treat him, especially given that even he recognized and sought treatment for himself.
You also make a very good point however (and I've read this in many sources) that he had this remarkable ability to always (at least until the end) show up, do brilliant work, and in turn keep the money flowing to the record industry coffers.
The signs of trouble were obviously there for years, in what I've heard about his relationships with women, but he didn't bring these problems into his obviously brilliant sessions. And - as you also mention - drugs were certainly always prevalent . . . possibly allowing him some mental respite from the progressing mental illness.
I have to wonder what contributions Jim could have given the last 30 years of his life if the increasing schizoid behavior leading to that one tragic event hadn't occurred; if he could have connected with a decent mental health professional, achieved rehab and administered appropriate drugs?
There are so many success stories of musicians who have come through the darkness and continued to create for 10-20-30 years. An additional tragedy, I think, in Jim's case is - though he was a "musician's musician," his name wasn't up there on the marquee. Almost every "survivor" I'm aware of was a front person.
Too many fantastic studio musicians never receive their due attention, and are therefore less likely to get needed help than "stars."
Thanks again for this Seth - for giving Jim his long overdue praise and for focusing the majority of the video on the positive aspects of this great man's career . . . and I truly hope he did respond to your letter before his passing.
thank you so much! and I tiotally agree...all of those parts were written by a complete musician and played with so much touch and instinct. there could have been so much more in the ensuing years, but all of those records are treasures and I guess we're lucky to live in a time where they are well archived
@@sethshellhouse Thank you! Now I know that it's Jim that kicks in after I play Carol Kaye's intro line in "Lineman!"
Though I'm a bassist, what reminds me in your video was that chameleon-like quality that Jim and a handful of the finest studio musicians seem to have possessed.
For example, I used to play along with records and never look at the credits. I almost instantly knew that Lee Sklar was on bass on "Sarah Smile," but it took actually looking on wiki, years later, to find that Jim was on drums. Jim! It's as if there was some kind of magic dots suddenly connecting across time.
And after discovering that Jim was on that record, I started looking up more and more records I'd played along with so many times, surprising myself over and over that it was Jim. It's his incredible diversity / ability to fit into any situation that threw me off. He was a master.
As you say, we now have this incredible archive to access, and - more and more - I find myself looking for the support player VS the headliner. I hope this is a universal trend.
Now I just love the Wrecking Crew, the Mussel Shoals guys, the Funk Brothers . . . these are my new heroes. And Jim spanned all those genres.
Holy Moly this is good. Thank you for the dedication and work you put into this.
Jim was perhaps the greatest rock drummer of all time . In the video , you forgot his work with Traffic . A live album and a studio album , both great . He played drums with nearly everyone , Clapton , Jack Bruce , Zappa , Steve Winwood .
The list goes on . Fantastic musician .
Greatest drummer of all times, please, lol…
His drumming on Low Spark was so tasteful. That song is a dark horse contender for greatest rock song ever.
excellent way of putting it! so much groove and so much diversity while still staying in pocket and serving the song for ten minutes. everything down to the tom tuning is brilliant on that recording
One of my favs
Its about dope.
Sad fact we lost Jim so many years ago before he actually passed, those that knew of him will never forget what a fine musician he was & the tragedy's that plagued him . What i find even worse was no one cared enough to seek him out in prison they just forgot him & what he did to his mother was terrible & something only he could shed any sort of light on in later years. One of Rocks best drummers ever. Despite his problems we that knew of him won't forget his many contributions & we feel for him & his family & many friends . His work on Layla & his time with Delaney & Bonnie was just simply outstanding & it was the people that didn't get it that gave that LP so long to be realized for it's true greatness.
Very true. That struck me as well, that (at least publicly) so many friends and collaborators seemed to forget about him.
Excellent work. JG was an immense talent. He was flawless with Derek and the Dominos All those drugs and alcohol and the guy didnt skip a beat. Mental illness is mostly hidden in the closet until it rears its ugly head and hurts someone. Thanks again for the well put together video.
This is a really special video of an extremely sad story. You are so right about the stigma of mental health and the denial of it's existence by many. Thank you for sharing.
One of the best videos I've seen about any of the great 60's and 70's musicians. His body of work pretty much covers any and everyone. You have to be something special that makes everyone want you around. Again, awesome video.
Thanks for piece on him..!!
It was much needed and important.. so he is not forgotten for his great playing.
Thank You.!!!
Being a 57 yr old drummer who has been inspired by so many drummers of the 60s,70s,80,90ect... This man and his life and story along with his drumming and other musical contributions touches me in many ways. I've also suffered from addiction, depression and of course self medication but even without the success he's had trying to cope with those demons (I've never been violent or szycophranti ) between the euphoria of playing and the accolades on stage after the high wears off it's a dark place especially if you're alone.. again I'm just saying I can relate and understand it up until he kills his mom... It's gotta be hell inside his head... Peace love and God bless you all 🙏 music heals too remember.🥁🎼🎼🎼✌️🥁😎
well said! everything else aside, we should never overlook the healing properties of music
As Robbie Robertson so eloquently said about the Rock and Roll lifestyle and life on 'the road 'for a Professional musician ... Its a goddamned impossible way of life ! ' Hauntingly true !
Robbie ripped those guys OFF, caused Richard to take himself out & that's all why Levon wasn't even in the building! I have a lot of R-espect for Levon for that but I can see how the other guys weren't going to be denied. Poor Rick- taking a Session w/Robertson for 'Crazy River', 'Hold Back The Dawn',... RRCs a thief
@@davedillon1372 Could you please tell me what that's got to do with Jim Gordon ? My information was that Robbie begged the other guys in The Band to write songs .... Nobody took up the offer ! With respect .
Never heard of him until now...my God what a talent..RIPJim
Great video! I've been wondering when someone would finally put together a video on the tragic story of this very prolific drummer. I would like to add that I do find it admirable that even though he was sentenced to 16 years he never attended any of his release hearings. I'd like to think that he realized he was exactly where he should be.
R.I.P. Jim
True fact. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to live with something like that, even if you were only somewhat aware of the reality and severity of it all
He belonged in a psychiatric facility, not a prison!!
Thanks for sharing this. Such a true talent. And such a tragic end. He was a big part of the music I grew up to and still listen to today.
He has always been one of my favourite drummers and i have regularly reflected on the tragedy of what happened and subsequent loss of his talent. I did not know that his mun was his greatest supporter, which makes what happened even more eerie and sad.
The Layla album is one of my favourites.
One wonders about the potentially disturbing relationship between the beauty of art and the terror of sicknesses such as this.
Thanks for this video! From my teenage days, (when I was in love with Layla & especially its piano coda) I always knew about the Jim Gordon story. And never forgot it. Five years ago, I looked him up online & discovered the penitentiary he was in --- and wrote him a letter & mailed it, telling him that I hope he knows that he wrote some of the greatest music of all time in that coda & will be remembered for it until the end of time. I never heard back & don't even know if he read or even received the letter. But its something I felt he had to know.. recognition and gratitude.
Awesome! Another mystery that we'll never know the answer to...I'm glad you got to send it in time
Maybe because he stole the coda from his then-girlfriend Rita Coolidge. He plagiarized it. She was so beaten-up that she was afraid to assert her artistic rights.
What a tragedy. Sad. I wasn't aware of Jim Gordon. Thank You
"Why does Love got to be so Sad" 's intro on Derek and the Dominos live double album is sooo good. That is when I learned his name and began to focus on that guy playing drums on Layla, and a lot of other records. He was a great drummer and musician. Thank you Jim Gordon for all the music you gave us. We will always have a debt to pay !
Funkiest drummer, ever
Thank you for a compassionate account of Jim Gordon's story. I was a huge fan. He was one of my top three influences in my own drumming. I had a few of his most signature rhythms and fills down pat. What always blew me away about his drumming was the precision. Perfection. So tight, even at the fastest tempos. I aspired to it for a while. Until I encountered other models. I recommend every drummer check out his playing on the live recording of "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad," live at the Fillmore. Not the first release, which was also great in it's own way, but the re-mixed second release (1994) on CD. Of course, you'll hear some awesome Carl Radle bass playing and jaw-dropping EC guitar. Yes, it was a tragic story. He was plagued be "demons" (I don't believe in literal demons), and I always felt compassion both for his mother and for Jim. Such a sad story. But it never stopped me from appreciating his drumming. May he rest in peace.
PS - If you can, listen to the WDLGTBSS track on Tidal, or get hold of the "Live at the Fillmore" CD instead of listening on Spotify. Spotify added excessive limiting, pushing the drums into the background. They're more up-front on the CD.
Thanks! I'm gonna hunt for a copy of that!
Thank you for this video.... I've been playing drums professionally since I was 11 and have always loved and admired Jim's playing... I believe Layla to be one of the best albums ever recorded and still listen to it regularly to support that claim..... Now, at age 70 it makes me very sad to hear this back story and how he suffered greatly with his demons.... RIP jim,... You were an inspiration to me and I'm sure, many other players of this era and eras to come.... You are,... And will be missed!...
Damn it man. I'm 75 and loved the music scene but knew nothing of Mr. Gordon.
Now I do and I appreciate your enlightening me. Your presentation your knowledge and the time you must have spent I salute you.
I have to be honest, I only know about Jim Gordon because Jeff Porcaro talked about him during his PIT MasterClass in ‘86. I then went down the rabbit hole… What a career. What a talent. What a tragedy.
First Thank you for taking the time to present this work on in Jim. I knew nothing of session players until I bought a Direct Disk record album that was extreme high quality, high price and high fidelity.. Bill Shnee engineered it and it was I Got The Music In Me with Thelma Huston I think(?) anyway Gordon was listed as playing drums and percussion along with my favorite Jim Keltner. It is still one of the most unbelievable recordings I’ve ever witnessed. The drums on this album never leave your soul one they are on there. I played accurate air drums to all of it..I feel bad that this ended up being his life.I wish him well in the afterlife and hope he is finally at peace… Thank you Jim for never missing a beat.
God rest your soul Jim Gordon. These are musical facts I have never know about. I started as a drummer and then guitar. I am going to look for your music catalog now. Thanks for this video!!!!!
Quite the shocking and sad story. I'm 75 years old and been in the business since the mid 60's but never heard about this guy. I play guitar so that's my excuse. It is unbelievable how many artists Jim played with over the years. Mental illness can really take its toll.
Thanks for the great video :)
I’ve thought about writing him for years. I just worry about upsetting him, mental illness is something I don’t understand.
He was such a successful drummer and I’ve found his playing inspirational.
Although I was quite aware of his vast accomplishments as a drummer, I did not know he was responsible for the sublime piano playing on “Layla”. Thank you for this splendid work.
Jim Gordon’s story has haunted me since the news story about the murder of his mother. I first noticed him on Eric Clapton and Friends album.
When I think of Jim Gordon, I remembered the first time I heard Tell the Truth (from Layla). Back then, I didn't know anything about him or his work, but when I heard his playing on this song, it compelled my body to bob and sway to the rhythm. That's when I knew he was a great drummer.
god....I never knew of the man... but his drumming is the drumming in my brain.. all that great music.. JUMP INTO THE FIRE for christ sake.. all the songs are burned into my brain listening to them all my 60 plus years. Rest in peace good sir, rest in peace with your Mum, I'm sure she understands.. Thank you Jim for the music.
Wow, what a story! Heartbreaking. You educated me to things I never knew or sewed together. Such as I never knew it was Jim on the piano for the coda of Layla. I knew the bass and drums were the thing that made Jump Into The Fire a fantastic track. It has to be the best single ever with a real drum solo in it.
Whenever i see Gordon listed on the sessions for an album i know its going to be good. I got the early Cher albums just for that reason. The guy pushes the music to a new level. Doesn't hold back and gives it an energy that other drummers wouldn't give the sessions. Genius.
Very talented man. His playing with EC was superb. And he invented the groove for hip-hop.
WOW, I never knew of Jim Gorden, but listened to and played many of the tunes mentioned in this video. It sure sounds like he lived a troubled life and that sure is a shame.
Excellent job in this video and quite an interesting and learning experience...
What a good essay. Thanks for all the work you put into it. The only thing I find strange is referring to drug addiction as "heroic." I'm 74, grew up in Socal, even lived across the street from Leon Russell's house on Skyhill Drive... and survived
many years of alcoholism and there's nothing heroic about it. But that's beside the point- you captured a piece of music and cultural history very well.
thanks! and I agree. using the medical definition of "heroic" here, as in "heroic medicine" "heroic measure" or "heroic dosing" i.e. extreme/high risk/last resort treatment implemented with the intent to shock the body into a response.
Jim Gordon is my favorite drummer of all time! The rhythm section of Jim Gordon and Carl Radle was unbeatable IMHO. Who knows what would have been if it didn't end so tragically for both.
Other than evidence that Rita Coolidge wrote the Layla piano coda, when they lived together, you covered as much as could be done without having a team research and collate everything.Thanks I'm glad I got to see/hear him twice Mad Dogs and Derek & the Dominos. I can't even count the number of albums I owned and loved that he played drums on and still love his B3 part on Jackson Browne's Under the falling sky.
I'm glad you mentioned the story of Rita writing the melody that the Layla part is based on. The story is backed up by everyone who would have been in a position to know. I'm sure quite a bit of the coda came from JG also. He was after all exremely talented. Pretzel Logic and BW Stevenson's My Maria are probably my favorite Jim Gordon drum tracks. It doesn't get any better than perfect and those two tracks are perfect.
Thanks! I agree...that organ part is fantastic...especially how it evolves from that synco solo arrangement to a mellow tone bed! The coda authorship story has developed and changed so much over the years, I thought it was best to leave it to the people in the room...or for another video!
@@jmb92555 My favorite Gordon Lightfoot track is 7 Island Suite and Jim Gordon's part is too cool! But my favorite Jim Gordon drum track? Probably ALL of them! LOL
Jim didn't steal the coda from Rita. Go read chapter 6 in her book.
In Rita's book she credits Jim with the melody. He wrote the music. She wrote the lyrics. If people would go read that chapter in her book, all this nonsense about Jim stealing the coda from her would be corrected. Chapter 6
Loved this. Fascinating. The narration is poetry.
thank you!!
Excellent piece, Seth; I was long under the impression Jim Gordon was in prison, and not by choice - thank you for clarifying.
Thanks for watching....it's greatly appreciated! He was technically in prison...he was in CMF, which is essentially a correctional hospital, but apparently, he never attended his parole hearings or petitioned for release. Can only hope he was getting real help in there.
I have struggled with mental illness (bipolar 1) for 15 years. I am a songwriter. I was in a State Hospital for three years and learned how to manage my illness
I remember him from playing drums for Alice Cooper on the “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell” album
In ‘76… so sad what he went through. I’m sure the drugs didn’t help. Throwing fuel on the fire…
Great piece of work! You painted a picture of a great artist and brought him to life.
Very well done and respectful for sure. It's amazing to think back on all of the great contributions he created to some of the best music ever recorded.
What a fabulous and exhaustive career he had! His playing on Steely Dan's Rikki, with the intro lifted from Song For My Father and those gentle shifts to the verses, the quick pauses before the choruses, and the rocking guitar solo section - it is flawless, as any Dan recording would be. I believe he toured with them in a dual drummer config with Jeff Porcaro. Love all of Traffic's Low Spark as well, not to mention his time with EC and Nilsson. Too much talent (and drugs, perhaps) that sent his brain to the wrong side of the tracks.
He never played live with Steely Dan.
@@steventierney1422 my bad. I was thinking of Jim Hodder. Sorry about that.
One day while driving in my car just recently, Sundown came on the AM “adult standards” station that I’ve been listening to for 30 years. Now, this is a song I’ve heard dozens and dozens, likely hundreds of times before. Late in the song and during the repeat choruses I heard “crack-crack-BOOM!” delivered with such precision and sincerity during the fade out that it suddenly dawned on me: “holy F, it sounds as if the drummer wrote the damn tune!” Jim’s accents leading into each chorus and knowing instinct shine brighter than ever here in this tune. (He probably played the tambourine track as well.) Everything in this tune is so cleverly laid out. As a bass player myself, I can immediately identify a deep pocket when I hear it, and when it’s lacking (god almighty there’s nothing more dreadful.) Later I looked up the personnel on that track and it came as no surprise that it is Jimmy on drums here on the Gordon Lightfoot classic. Proper drumming like this, and what Bonzo did (with the late snare hits and impeccable timing) just make my head want to explode. Excellent video, by the way. Jim’s story needs to stay alive and your efforts are doing that.
excellent way of putting it! his accents and punctuation on that recording are so key to the progressions/storytelling
Thank you for the reply my brother.
didn't know, knew his music, like all of us. Tragic.
Just found this interesting piece on Jim Gordon. He was and still is, my favourite all time drummer. I first heard of him when my favorite album, Layla and other love songs was released.
I still have that album and still love it.
I started looking at the credits on all my albums and discovered Jim Gordon played on many.
He had his demons but I hope he is at peace now.
Great video, I never heard this story. Thank you
Thanks for this. I've been obsessed with Jim Gordon as well--as musician first, tragic figure second. You didn't mention Delaney and Bonnie, by far my favorite Jim Gordon playing, so full of fire and rock fucking solid, very inspiring.
Very true! And probably the most pivotal role in his young career at that point.
Great job! And yes, a more in-depth documentary should be done. He was a phenomenal player.
The Klaus Voorman piece is great so I think a Jim Gordon piece should be right up there!
With your vocals overdubs or interviewing. Great voice.
That was very good. Jim was a template to my playing. It was a tragedy in many ways, but nonetheless he was a phenomenal drummer. He passed away on my birthday.
Amazing job on this video! I watch it quite often. I’ve been on a JG album frenzy for about a year now and love finding out new material he’s played on. The guy was a machine in the 60’s and 70’s. Such a sad end to his story.
Now, do a video on my other favourite drummer Jim Keltner! Again, great job sir. Can’t wait for his book to be released.
Sad. I knew of Jim Through the Vinyl I listened to. I noted the many many sessions he performed. I had heard he was suffering mental issues. Amazing Accomplishments! So So sad ending! God bless Us All
Fascinating video. Thank you!
I live in Australia and was a great fan of Jim's - a great musician - and yes - a flawed person. I wasn't aware he died in March 2023. (just a couple of months ago). Excellent Doco.
thank you!
@@sethshellhouse Seth - Your work is a part of music history. That's important.
In reading the comments I am astounded how many people have some connection to Jim - some close - some just casual. I live in Australia (a long long way away) and I have been fascinated to hear bthe doco and read the comments. A job well done. Thanks (from the fans downunder)
Amazing job on this video! I watch it quite often. I’ve been on a JG album frenzy for about a year now and love finding out new material he’s played on. The guy was a machine in the 60’s and 70’s. Such a sad end to his story.
Now do a videk on my other favourite drummer Jim Keltner! Again, great job sir. Can’t wait for his book to be released.
Thank you for such a lovely tribute to a great musician.
Jim should be remembered for his music, and it was sheer brilliance. R.i.p Jim.
I think it is important to separate the music from the personality of the individual. Lots of brilliant "artists" over the years and had mental health issues, often undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed. That doesn't detract from their work.
What a truly sad story… Jim is by far one of the greatest drummers…. I grew up buying records just because he was playing the drums on them… I’m a drummer and just 7 years younger than he was… he was also one of Jeff Porcaro’s favorite drummers also…
Sad.!! He never got healthy… and dying in jail…
I miss Jim’s playing along with Jeff Porcaro’s playing also.. losing him in 93…
God Bless them both…!!!
Fantastic!
Thanks for a great post!!!
What a gem of a video to discover tonight! Thank you so much. Instant subscriber here..
thank you! and thanks so much for subscribing!
Jim was a part of my life for over 20 years I received besutiful phone calls and letters. I miss him very much. We did not talk about his career much but more about life. There is a void in my life where he use to be.
The look in his eyes at the end of this... too far gone for everyone's safety... tragic. Good vid, dude.
Thank you for this documentary. As a Carpenters fan, I knew the name and he was a drummer after Hal and Karen. I heard about the murder but I never learned so much about this tragic story. Well done. He’s at peace now.
That was great. Very informative, also. Thank you.
Nice job on this documentary. R.I.P. Jim.
Excellent Bio.
I have always wondered how Hollywood missed such an opportunity. Just like the Shacklton Expedition, both real gimmes you would think. But there's always room for Spiderman 15....
I didn't know that Jim had passed. Zero news coverage.
Keep up the great work.
thank you! I always wonder the same thing. I grew up loving comic books, still love genre movies, and even I can't imagine being interested in another superhero sequel 😄
Very well done, sir!
Musically Jim Gordon was the 60's and 70's version of Josh Freese. He played drums with everyone.
One of the best drummers to ever live.I loved this guys work even after i found out about the terrible tragedy, hs lawyer and the judge said that it wa saddest trial they ever sat through in their entire careers as public servants.If hal blaine took this man under his wing, he had to be quite a talented man.Jim Gordon and Blaine played more hit songs than any musicians in history.so sad.
That was the best Music History Doc I've seen in a long LONG time Seth! Stick with this Brother -- your knowledge, your perfect writing and your legendary voice are going to make you a BIG Star! Can't wait to see more man! I knew NOTHING about Jim Gordon before you popped up!
Thanks! So stoked to hear that this video introduced you to Jim's story...it really means a lot and is motivating to know that people find it as interesting as I do. The narration voice is actually an AI that I trained to sound like a cooler narrator than me :)
I believe one of his last tours was with Burton Cummings. Former lead singer from The Guess Who.
I think that's Jim on Cummings's "Stand Tall" single from '76.
Great addition! That lounge version of You Aint Seen Nothin Yet is so smooth...especially for a big drummer who hits hard
One of my favorite songs…underrated.
I knew Jim Gordon more from being a brilliant player on Frank Zappa albums. His story is terrible, however. You have done a remarkable job and I hope it does become a biopic or at the very least an in depth documentary. Thank you
According to Bobby Whitlock, the piano coda to Layla was recorded behind Eric's back and without his knowledge. Eric was pissed!
That was really well done. Thank you
I can relate. I have Schizoaffective disorder and other conditions. A whole list. I went through hell. Mushrooms saved me. Consult your doctor first.
Jeff Porcaro was the first drummer I heard mention Gordon. I've studied his grooves ever since. One of the best.
I knew Jim was prolific but that list of artists he play with is incredible. What a loss!
Folks, he was a great drummer, no doubt, but he brutally slaughtered his own mother! That supercedes his prodigious musical accomplishments in my book. You folks can spin it all you want, but 'mental illness' is no excuse for what he did.
I know a lot about mental illness. Jim Gordon suffered "Dual Diagnosis" - mental illness combined with substance abuse. They go hand in hand. SO yes, he was self-medicating. However, he should've been placed in a psychiatric hospital... not a prison. AND yes, he committed a heinous crime... but he was clinically psychotic at the time. Regarding "LAYLA"... Clapton took most of the credit for a song largely written by other artists. BUT, hasn't that been much of Clapton's career?! Most of the songs in "CREAM" were written by "JACK BRUCE." Clapton quit CREAM. He later left, "BLIND FAITH" before after only circa 9 months, and then "DEREK and the DOMINOES." He made the song, "COCAINE" popular, though written by, "J. J. CALE." He popularized, "I SHOT THE SHERIFF, " written by "BOB MARLEY. "" Clapton even had a co-writer on "TEARS in HEAVEN"... the song about his son, Connor, who fell out of a high-rise apt. in NYC. ERIC CLAPTON spent a lot of his downtime in silence, as every day NOISE agitated him greatly. Anyway, RIP JIM GORDON!! You're not forgotten!!
I learned last year that Rita Coolidge wrote the coda.
Gordon was dating her, heard her playing it and working on it, he liked it, and so he played it a lot without ever crediting it to her. And then it ended up on the album with Gordon claiming the credit.
Gordon was beating Coolidge a lot at the time, so she was afraid to speak up and confront him on it.
I have often wondered if Rita's career died because the industry was ashamed of the way she was treated, so it sent her to a gulag in Siberia, so to speak.
I don't know where you heard that story, but that's 100% not true. Jim went to Rita's house and played her the music. She credits Jim in her book with the melody. She added a countermelody that was an answer to Jim's original melody, and she wrote lyrics. You can go read all the details about the coda in her book. Chapter 6.
@@JenniferGallegos-rs8bp
I read about it in a lengthy feature piece done by RS.
I generally don't trust RS on reviews, but I think it does excellent reporting and feature work.
I am not sure what to believe now.
I've never heard about this tragedy before it's so sad 😞 😥
Jim Gordon is by far my favorite drummer of all time.