recorded by other artists . It was recorded in Europe . There was an irritating techno-dance version of it . There were multiple parodies , like one called “ Buttermilk Biscuits !” I wish Weird Al had gotten a hold of it . You know you ’ ve arrived when there are multiple parodies out on your song !
[ WM ] Let ’ s talk gear starting with guitars . What is your go-to guitar ? What did you play with Sweet Comfort and Allies ?
[ Randy ] When I was a kid , I had a Telecaster and some no-name amplifier . Then I got a Strat and I couldn ’ t seem to get all those sounds that Hendrix could because I didn ’ t have those Marshall stacks . For a lot of years , I played through an Ampeg VT40 . Bob and I and a bunch of guys all had these Ampeg amps . They were quite remarkable in that they were squatty little amps , at least by that day ’ s standards , and when you try to pick it up it feels like it ’ s full of bricks . That amp carried me through Psalm 150 and way into Sweet Comfort Band I was still playing that amp .
A big switch when we went into the studio , they started loaning me a Gibson 335 . There were players like Larry Carlton who were getting all these great sounds with the 335 . So , the switch was a big deal for a lot of my Sweet Comfort Band stuff because I love to go in between rock and roll and jazzy stuff and the 335 really gets you there .
Then for the next major move , I jumped to a handmade guitar from Mike McGuire at Valley Arts Guitars . We called it the “ Stratovarius ” and then I played through Jim Kelley amps . That was a big shift where it was a completely different sound for me . It went from being the clean Strat into the clean Ampeg to being a hot-rodded guitar into these custom amps . Everything was custom made . That was in the 1980 ’ s .
I hung onto one of those Jim Kelley amps and I got a call from a friend in Nashville who asked if I wanted to sell my Jim Kelley . And I named what I thought was an exorbitant sum of money for that time . I really forget what it was , but I said something like , “ If someone were to waive $ 3000 in front of me , I ’ d sell the amp .”
And this guy from Nashville said , “ OK , Sold !” So , I shipped it off and afterwards I asked who was buying the amp and he said , “ Well I couldn ’ t tell you before but it was Joe Bonomassa .” So , if you look up Joe Bonomassa ’ s collection , he has a couple of Jim Kelley amps .
You know how we all kind of go full-circle and come back “ home ?” Well , I am once again enamored with the Gibson ES335 . A lot of times I travel with a 1968 335 and the other one is a 1971 , which looks exactly like the one I played with Sweet Comfort Band . And one of my favorite amps now is the 1963 Fender Deluxe . This is the Deluxe that came out before the Deluxe Reverb . It ’ s smaller , lighter weight , and a single 12 ”.
[ WM ] How about effects … Are you a pedal guy ?
[ Randy ] I am now a pedal guy … back in those days , I don ’ t think I had any pedals that are worth mentioning . I had several pedals that I would have on tour , but there was not a
58 March 2024 Subscribe for Free ...