In Memoriam Alan Murphy, died 19 October 1989

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bigjonbigjon Frets: 680
edited October 2017 in Tributes
Best ever short guitar solo on a pop record - 13 seconds of magic starting at 3:04

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  • bigjonbigjon Frets: 680
    Awesome control / compositional quality yet improvisational abandon, over a whole album but for example

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  • Utterly mind boggling player. Keep trying to steal stuff but it doesn't quite work in Sweet Home Alabama!
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  • BucketBucket Frets: 7751
    edited October 2013
    My dad introduced me to the joys of Alan's playing, truly awesome stuff. See 3:50 for details.


    The distorted part that comes in at 4:30 is magnificent.
    - "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
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  • What a great Guitarist he was.

    Might as well serve up a treat for the occasion.

     

    @bigjon

    Thanks for introducing me to SFX, I was not aware of that project. Will need to listen to more of that.

    I better give @Kebabkid a heads up on this thread too.

     

    ;)
    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    edited October 2018
    Alan Murphy was superb and a gent. I first encountered him in the 80's playing at the Wembley Music Fair where he was part of the Fender All-Star Band - they were actually the SFX band - and I was lucky enough to chat to him about his gear once they finished their set. The key to his sound was a Fender Super Champ (18w). This was fed to a poweramp to ramp up the volume and he also used a racked Roland delay, Roland Dimension D (racked) and an MXR Dynacomp. I'd never heard a Strat sound so full on lead sounds and his clean sound was wonderful too, very chimey and all this from the 2, switchable channels from the Super Champ - those Rivera-designed amps are wonderful!
    Once I'd found out that SFX played regularly at The Cricketers pub behind The Oval Cricket ground, I'd get myself down there as often as I could. I then followed his career when he was in Go West (he recorded all his parts on their first album in 2 days)! Sadly, I didn't get to see him with Level 42, but by that time he was in poor health

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Murphy
    Happy birthday Alan and cheers @bigjon and @Bellycaster for reminding us all of this great talent.

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  • Ah, now we are talking...Mr Alan Murphy...absolute legend.

    So glad I had the privilege of seeing Alan play with Go West & Level 42
    before his sad passing.

    What a player, what a tone...I have much footage from all those Tube/
    OGWT/Meltdown etc performances and am enjoying re-living all the music
    that I still hold dear now I'm in my 40's !

    Thanks for starting this thread...
    \m/
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  • bigjonbigjon Frets: 680
    edited October 2013

    Might as well serve up a treat for the occasion.

    There's another classic of the 15-second-pop-genius-guitar-solo genre at 9:38. The guy's soulful Floyd-control is just extraordinary.
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  • bigjon said:

    Might as well serve up a treat for the occasion.

    There's another classic of the 15-second-pop-genius-guitar-solo genre at 9:38. The guy's soulful Floyd-control is just extraordinary.


    Yep, very skilled touch, he is very subtle with the Trem at times too.

    I was wondering what the issue with the Press was that he mentioned at 10:00 as he introduces the next track. It's a long time ago, do you have any recollection?

    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    edited October 2013
    No idea @Bellycaster what the press issue was although I think they confused the industry as that sat in the middle of being a pop band and having teen followers as well as attracting musos and possibly being a guilty pleasure for an older crowd - I have to admit I was like that with BBMak. :-SS

    Here's a good link to AM - http://home.btconnect.com/auw/alanmurphy/sounds.htm
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  • BucketBucket Frets: 7751
    edited October 2013
    IIRC he was homosexual, the press issue may have had something to do with that? (I don't know, just a guess)...
    - "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
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  • Some great work on Kate Bush albums. Some of my earliest Guitarist magazine memories are of learning two solos from (don't laugh) 'Five Star'...figured out what 'scoop' meant...might try and dig it out later.
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  • mudslide73mudslide73 Frets: 3049
    I gave "Staring at the Sun" a spin this morning... I'd forgotten how good he was.
    "A city star won’t shine too far"


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  • 'In The Style Of Alan Murphy'...could be a good Fretboard Task*.

    * hardtailers need not apply ;)
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  • Some great work on Kate Bush albums. Some of my earliest Guitarist magazine memories are of learning two solos from (don't laugh) 'Five Star'...figured out what 'scoop' meant...might try and dig it out later.
    Oops...the Five Star tracks were some other session dudes...got confused with the two Go West tracks that are in Phil Hilborne's 'Solo' book (http://www.philhilborne.com/)...that's still in print so no scans!
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  • Kebabkid;63125" said:
    No idea @Bellycaster what the press issue was although I think they confused the industry as that sat in the middle of being a pop band and having teen followers as well as attracting musos and possibly being a guilty pleasure for an older crowd - I have to admit I was like that with BBMak. :-SS



    Here's a good link to AM - http://home.btconnect.com/auw/alanmurphy/sounds.htm
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    You old Teeny Bopper @Kebabkid
     
    Thanks for the A.M link too
     
     
    :)
    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    @Bellycaster - BBMak had tremendous voices and harmonies live!
    ;)
    Re:the name of the guitarist on the Five Star stuff, I have the name Keith in my head - very similar style to AM., but the name escapes me and I can't find anything on the web.

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  • digitalkettledigitalkettle Frets: 3124
    edited October 2013
    Kebabkid said:
    Re:the name of the guitarist on the Five Star stuff, I have the name Keith in my head - very similar style to AM., but the name escapes me and I can't find anything on the web.

    @Kebabkid: Keith More ;)
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    Kebabkid said:
    Re:the name of the guitarist on the Five Star stuff, I have the name Keith in my head - very similar style to AM., but the name escapes me and I can't find anything on the web.

    @Kebabkid: Keith More ;)
    Good man @digitalkettle. I was going to say Keith Airey but he was Nick Kershaw's guitarist.
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  • @Kebabkid

    Haha, just teasing.

    As for the guy who played for five star, I honestly have no idea. It will take some finding out I presume.

    Be handy to know which songs @digitalkettle was referring to if he can dig his old Five Star albums out ;-)

    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • digitalkettledigitalkettle Frets: 3124
    edited October 2013
    @Bellycaster @Kebabkid

    I'm just ahead of you...re-dug out Guitarist July 1987*:
    Five Star 'Stay Out Of My Life' - solo by Keith More
    Five Star 'The Slightest Touch' - solo by Pierre Gauthier

    The album was 'Silk & Steel' if you're going to go looking ;)

    (I bet it's on Spotify!)

    * Pino was on the front cover before John Mayer even thought about attending 'middle school'
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