Pops Staples - Preaching the Tremolo Gospel - Ask Zac 113
Вставка
- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- To Support the Channel:
/ askzac
Tip jar: paypal.me/AskZac
Venmo @AskZac
Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.com
Anyone playing Delta-Blues with deep tremolo, whether on an album or as frequently used in soundtrack work, owes much to Pops Staples's groundbreaking guitar style. His spooky and tremolo-soaked guitar set the mood for the Staple Singers brand of Gospel and Protest tunes that put them on the map in the 50s and 60s. In this episode, we take a look at his upbringing in the Jim Crow south, and how he moved to Chicago to find better opportunities for his family. In this episode, we look at both the incredible musical influence that Pops had and also how his guitar work was sadly hidden away to pave the way for their Stax R&B hits.
Spotify Playlist
open.spotify.c...
More great info on Pops from my friend Michael Ross
www.premiergui...
Amazon link to Greg Kot's book on Mavis and the Staples amzn.to/3is2HJz
1957 Fender Esquire with an added vintage neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Rewind of bridge pickup by Ron Ellis.
Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46 Amazon affiliate link amzn.to/3uD1WnZ
Pick:
D'Andrea Medium-Heavy
Amp:
2021 Fender Vibro Champ Reverb
Effects used:
amp verb and tremolo
#askzac #guitartech #telecaster #popsstaples
Marty Stuart booked Pops for a Nashville session. Pops requested, " a stretch out car and a Fender '65 with some shake on it."
Yup!
A consummate gentleman to the end.
Great episode Zac. Love Pops and the Staples .Their performance of The Weight with The Band is one of my favorites.!!
Mine too, Lonnie
Lonnie J.: A wonderful collaboration between these two musical giants !!
Lee Roy Parnell said when they asked Pop what kind of amp he wanted for a gig, he’d say, “Don’t matter. Just somethin’ with a little shake on it”.
never even heard of this guy before but, now he is my new favorite blues guitarist
I've been listening to him for 30 years now - that tone and shimmer gets in your soul!
'I See It', by the Staples Singers is one of my favourites, it almost gets psychedelic, I saw Mavis live in late 80's/ early 90's opening for Prince and she ruled the house. Much love for Mavis, Pops and the Staples.
Blind Willie Johnson is arguably the greatest slide guitarist of the first generation bluesman. God moves on water his song about the sinking of the Titantic is otherworldly!!! I think that sparkly accordion look is also known as Mother of bowling ball.
Outstanding Zac. Pops is at the top of my list of all time favorites. His playing, tone and that beautiful tremolo are sublime. Thanks so very much for continually presenting great content.
Wow , Zak !!!! You've outdone yourself with this episode .... Super interesting and well researched . Pops . How cool was that guy and what a great sound ....
When I was a kid the Staples could be heard on Top 40 radio. Respect Yourself. I'll Take You There. Etc. Timeless songs. Thanks for the overview of their history.
Thank you, Ron
Terrific content and insights. Thank you Zac. I’ve followed Rick Holmstrom for years and have the utmost respect for Pops, Mavis and the Staples singers. It’s wonderful that she continues to tour and has Rick to coordinate the musical support.
boy did that picture you posted on IG with Pops guitar laying on the ground, give me anxity lol.. thanks for this vid.. what an amazing family and amazing man
Pops Staples carries on the tradition of the guitar evangelist that really took off when electric came in. Great subject for an episode. I want to hear one of these mid 40's DeArmond tremolo units w/the Billy Gibbons Windex modification. Haha
Monto Pops Staples covered Blind Willie Johnson's My Dying Bed that he really steps to the front with the lead vocals and the gals do a reapply background style singing that really fits the song so well.
@@thomasjohnson7735 I gotta check that out. I saw video of him playing solo late in life doing Nobody's Fault but Mine. His dark tremolo guitar sounds great on Blind Willie Johnson's songs
There's various UA-cam videos on that unit.
You've introduced me to Pops Staples and I cannot thank you enough. I dont know how this went under my radar for so long. 🙏 thank you
I'm so glad!
Pops Staples covered Blind Willy Johnson's " My Dying Bed" where he steps to the front on lead vocals. It sounds like the daughters do a background vocals reply style sing that really fits the song excellently.
Hadn't caught on to the earlier Staple Singers' stuff built around Pops' guitar, what a discovery!
i’m gonna have to watch this epi a few times. thx you zac
Loved the Staple Singers. I still think "I'll Take You There" is one of the greatest songs of all time. Mavis absolutely kills it.
I still remember the 1st time I listened to Blind Willie Johnson. I actually borrowed the CD from the local library. It was dark, my late wife had me stop at the local grocery store. I stayed in the car, to listen to the 1st Disc. It was really quiet, I hit play, & Willie moaned. Man I got goose pimples all over!!! Powerful powerful stuff. I'm certain he'd be upset, knowing he was being lumped into the category of Blues. Sad how he died, from what I've read, a big rainstorm in Texas. When he & his wife got home, a leak in the roof, had their bed completely soaked. They put newspapers over the wet mattress, went to sleep. He ended up catching pneumonia & died later. I also read when he was a young boy, his step mom, threw lye into his eyes, thus blinding him. Still such a powerful artist.
Thanks, Zac. I have 'I'll take you there' on my bass practice list. Itkeeps my fingers moving and grooving.
Hah... I taught myself bass by playing that riff for hours on end.
Another great episode, Zac! Thanks a bunch!
Absolutely wonderful!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Great episode!
I love the early stuff with just the guitar and voices -- the last time etc. Lo Fi mono greatness.
That documentary is called Summer of Soul.
The ability to work amp tremolo is an art, and pop staples is the Michelangelo of that art.
Such a great topic!
Stay Well Zac, Love what You bring...!
I had the pleasure of seeing Mavis at Merlefest last year, she by far had the best set of the festival.
Givin pops some love yall
Thank you for this Zac. I first experienced Mavis Staples and her band perform at the +/- 700 seat Sheldon Concert Hall in Saint Louis ~ November of 2016. They brought the place down. One can literally hear a pin drop from any seat in that room. Mid-concert, the band took a short break - except for Rick Holmstrom who took the stage solo. He switched off his AC-30 and played his Telecaster using the room’s acoustics alone. The entire experience is one I will never forget.
Wow! I grew up in the "I'll Take You There" times, but sadly never thought to investigate that musical history. Thank you for sharing your great depth of knowledge, and making their family history come alive!
Hey Zac! What an awesome story and maybe my favorite episode of Ask Zac! I’m one lucky SOB as I got to see (and of course 👂 hear) Pops and the Staples when I was 10 years old in1967 at a church in Chicago! I was on a field trip with our church a Unitarian church in Evanston (first suburb north of Chicago) which did these (visit other faiths) trips frequently. It completely blew my mind as a ten year old kid their sound haunted me! I’ve been a fan ever since! I still will see Mavis every chance I get to this day! It just isn’t enough as I live in the SanFrancisco Bay Area and she doesn’t get out here often enough for my satisfaction. On another note I’ve heard several interviews with Marty Stuart who evidently was a long term and dedicated friend of Pops. He tells one great story about having him do a show with him and he asked Marty to get him one of those new “Fender shaker amps” for him to play for the show, Marty didn’t have a clue as to what he was referring to and had to call Mavis to ask what he meant! She told him it was the one with tremolo. He also talked about how Pops asked that Mavis make sure he ended up with one of his Telecaster’s! I guess ultimately it will end up in the museum Marty Stuart is pulling together as his life long project. It would be great if you could interview Marty Stuart as part of your interview series! I’d bet he would have a lot to say about Pop Staple!
Zac, I think the story is that for a concert Pops requested a Caddy and an amp with a shakey box.
You are right. A 65 with a shake and a stretch.
Thank you for this episode! Pops was incredible.
Uncle Doug restored a de armond tremelo, a few years ago, check his channel. cheers Zac
Thank You very much for this episode. Pops is my first guitar hero.
Terrific episode.
GRACIAS!!!
A wonderful video-thank you Zac.
Glad you enjoyed it
And a truly inspiring playlist-thanks for that as well.
thank you for a great history lesson your are the best!
You're very welcome!
Nice Zac , I saw them here in Cinti before CV19 Killer show Tele Heaven all nite! Thanks for sharing.
Great as always Zac!
Thanks again!
Amazing content here! Thanks Zac! I saw Mavis last summer at Newport Jazz - truly a life changing experience and performance.
Great episode Zac. Thanks. I’ve never heard Pops play in person but I have seen Mavis. What a night!
Fantastic video!
Thank you very much!
Wonderful. Very inspiring.
Glad you enjoyed it
Pops called the tremolo a "shake". I read an interview with Marty Stuart who said Pops asked him to get a Twin with a "shake".
Thank you so much for doing this video.
Pops always asked for a "65 with a shake," meaning a blackface Fender with tremolo.
Love Pops, great vid
This is so good Zac. Thank you....stay well
Why (Am I Treated So Bad) by Cannonball Adderley is one of my favorite Pop Staples songs.
Great episode 👏 I have learned something new and discovered new music.
I got turned onto him from his cameo in True Stories by Talking Heads. Always had a certain dignity to him that was beautiful to hear and see. Well done sir !
Thanks for another excellent episode Zac. Pops is a personal favorite. I've hung onto my '72 Twin Reverb 'cause it takes me there. 😁 I think it's Joe South doing a pretty mean Pops impersonation on Aretha's "Chain of Fools." Seek out the un-edited version for some extra swampy goodness on the intro.
Duke Levine sent me the unedited version. Love it
For a second I thought you were doing something about "pop"ular music.LOL. Great show. Keep it up. :)
Another great video, Zac. Thank you!
My pleasure!
I see that Mike Bloomfield biography on the shelf, what a great read. Hint for a future Ask Zac?
yes
Thanks Zac - great episode. I think the recordings made on Curtom with Curtis Mayfield deserve an honourable mention.
Mavis calls Rick Holmstrom "Pops Jr". No higher praise!
Absolutely! Rick is amazing!
@@mattrogers1946 Yes he's one of my absolute favorites. Tasty and soulful.
@@BobIrving2 Super nice guy too!
Great video 👍
Gratitude …
YES
There’s a great documentary about the black music alternative to Woodstock in 1969. It was a series of concerts in Harlem. Pop and his girls are a real highlight. It’s an old film that’s just been nominated for an Academy Award. Don’t miss it.
Summer Of Soul is the Title.
Another excellent player analysis! Here's another suggestion to add to your list- How about Bill Harris of The Clovers, one of the earliest R&B Tele players?
And a great nylon string jazz guitarist. That would be awesome!!
@@mattrogers1946 Smooth little piece from 1954- ua-cam.com/video/6aZD5Qj36r8/v-deo.html
I have seen them in New Orleans several times years ago. I love their Austin City Limits performance.
Pops was a genius on so many levels. One of my most moving experience’s was after seeing a wonderful Staple’s show Pops came back out, pulled a folding chair up to the front of the stage and sat down and played a bunch of songs by himself. Most of the crowd had left. I walked right up to the stage not 8 feet from him and soaked it all in. It was one of my most cherished memories. Thanks for this video. Excellent
Peter Sorkin of New York was responsible for the Premier guitars. He had a close relationship with United Guitars and was also involved with other brands- P'Mico and Santacilla going back into the 1930s. He was also responsible for the Strad-O-Lin mandolin range. I have a Santacilla mandolin- and it is clearly a Stella made by Oscar Schmidt before that company's brands were sold to Harmony in 1939.
Great info
This was such a great video Zac, thank you.
My pleasure!
Nile Rogers is another underknown player. He produced the Vaughan Brothers "Family Style" LP. I always like hearing Mavis sing "Daddy Daddy" when Pops does that solo on "I'LL Take You There.'
Pops Staples, he took us "there", along with Mavis' voice.
yep
Great episode! If you dig Pops, check out Rick Holmstrom who plays with Mavis. He's taken up the mantle of Pops legacy. Thanks Zack!
Well done talk. I clicked through and ordered the Kot book at your recommendation. Pop Staples' tremolo sound had a clean "dimensionality" to it lacking in other players. I suspect that he used a Twin Reverb with JBLs in the recording studio. Or at least that's what I hear.
Hilariously they were both married when Bob proposed to Mavis. He really swung for the fences on that one.
Thank you for focusing on POPS ROEBUCK STAPLES, I love his playing style & am queer for TREMELO!!!
DON'T USE WINDEX! That's an urban legend that has ruined many of the old tremolo devices.
delay chorus and tremolo the magic 3...
Zac, sorry if already covered, but what Tremolo and Reverb settings are you using on the VC?
Reverb on 3, speed 3, depth 7
Interesting, I always thought that he used Magnatone exclusively (not sure why...)
Mostly fender amps in videos, and on recordings sound like it also. Magnatone has something else going…
About time for an intro upgrade. Please.
What did you have in mind? I would appreciate you softening your tone.
@@AskZac I don’t know; the arpeggios are ok. Maybe something more like the rock and pop music you celebrate so enthusiastically- throw in a modal progression or a lowered seventh. TO ME , the I IV V sounds too much like European art music, not American. (Just my 2 dollars worth- inflation, you know).
You forgot the pictures!
I did. So here they are on my site. www.askzac.com/post/pops-staples-preaching-the-tremolo-gospel-ask-zac-113
@ZAC....Whatcha thing about a DANNY FLOWERS Show?????????
Sure
@@AskZac He's great no??? THanks brother. Amen. Chey, your ol bud in NW Montana
theres a lot of church musicians youll never hear about. like fly guy byrd.
ua-cam.com/video/6J0SbwLheB8/v-deo.html
Ok ok wait let me say my grandfather was a sharecropper and he was white born in 1900. Cordele Ga. So white people were sharecroppers too...
I did not mean to exclude. There were absolutely white sharecroppers also.
I had the pleasure of seeing Mavis at Merlefest last year, she by far had the best set of the festival.
Be difficult to get any cooler than Pops Staples... that's for sure. Great show Zac.
That would be cool if you did one on Eddie Hinton
YES
Wow! You’re story telling is the best and this was one of your best the best! Thanks for this! Great stuff…
Robert and Mavis? WOW!
saw the staples singers with the doors a long time ago. strange combination
Thanks for this Zac, great video. Hope you're well mate.
I am, and hope you are too.
What a treasure this man and his family are to American music. I didn't know much about the history of Pops and The Staples family but I've heard Mavis sing solo and she's still fantastic. Her father certainly taught her well. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
Thank you
Phil Upchurch also played on "Electric Mud", the album Muddy Waters referred to as "dogshit". I love it.
I really liked Electric Mud! It was a little weird but I bought the album.
@@timothydaniels504 I bought it when it was first released. I still like it.
I think Muddy Waters could sing nursery school songs and make them groove. I’m glad to hear that there’s someone else on the planet who likes it!
So happy to have a new episode to watch today. Really great playing and video Zac. Thanks a bunch for all your hard work and knowledge.!
My pleasure!
Great video. I have come to the conclusion that you will never suffer from high blood pressure. ur always so laid back.
I actually do suffer from that.
@@AskZac me too
There's a video of Marty on here somewhere saying about when pops came to record with him in the 90s. He said he asked pops if there was anything that he needed. He said "yeah man I need a fender 65 with some shake on it and a stretch out car to pick me up at the airport."
His solo on "I'll Take You There" has always been one of my favorites. Talk about getting a lot from just a few notes.
That was Pete Carr, not Pops. He did not play on that cut.
@@AskZac Consider me educated. Thanks.
Hey Zac you gonna be playing around Nashville? Gonna be there for a couple weeks, would love to see ya pic
Playing in Tulsa and Oklahoma City this month and in late April. No Nashville shows.
@@AskZac thanks zac love your channel! Any tips in Tennessee for good old fashioned picking? Besides the normal!
@@timmychriss Roberts, the Local, Dee's, there are a number of places that play old-style picking. I would see where Guthrie Trapp, or Kenny Vaughan are playing.