Career
as a session and guest musician
As
the Fabulous Poodles reached the end of their shelf-life
Bobby’s career as a session musician began. Since that
time he has played violin, mandolin or guitar, or sung,
on many hit records, in many countries, and on a great
many more misses. And, of course, he has also played
and sung on many album tracks, TV and radio commercials,
film and TV soundtracks as well as touring work.
We asked him for some memories:
“Young at Heart” by the Bluebells.
(UK No.1 for 5 weeks)
“This ended up as a bit of a mess; a Court Case that
shouldn’t have happened etc, but in the end it was accepted
that I wrote the famous (and annoying) violin hook line
that the record hangs on – I’m in the middle of a book.”
“A great record made by a couple of great producers
– Bob Andrews and Colin Fairly. The acoustic guitar
was played by Billy Bremner - the unsung hero.”
The song was a hit for a second time in 1993 thanks
to it’s use in a TV commercial for the VW Golf. Click
here to view
Bluebells Court Case Press
There has been a number of articles relating to the
Bluebells court case. They can be seen at the following
links:
Bluebells
court case press - Evening Standard
Bluebels
court case press - BBC News
Bluebells
court case press - The Guardian
The Mark Knopfler shows
“I first met Mark in 1977 when we both lived in Deptford
in S.E. London but we never played together at that
time. So it was a great pleasure to say “Yes” when his
manager called and asked if I would help with the promotional
tour for his solo album ‘Sailing to Philadelphia’ and
learn the fiddle part to ‘What It Is’
It was very enjoyable playing with some of the best
musicians in the UK and one of the greatest guitar players,
and songwriters, the world has ever known. During the
promo tours we ate in some of the world’s better restaurants.”
“Eclectic” by Big Country
“This is an ‘unplugged’ album and was recorded live
at Dingwalls in London after I had one day rehearsal.
I also did the subsequent tour to promote the record,
the shows sounded better than the record. I must say
it was fun doing the famous “bagpipe” guitar licks on
the violin because they didn’t work on acoustic guitars.”
“Stuart Adamson, - sadly missed”.
The Men They Couldn’t Hang (TMTCH)
“The Men hate it when I call them “The Men That Aren’t
Well Hung” but I can’t resist the gag.”
“I have played on most of their albums and live many,
many times, thoroughly enjoying every minute. I reckon
they are the acceptable face of modern British folk
music – they don’t do ‘Hey Nonny Nonny No” or Diddily
Diddily music, which does seem prevalent in the current
crop of UK folk artists. And no finger in the ear.”
Bobby has Worked With:
Alabama 3; Any Trouble; Michael Ball;
B*witched; Big Country; Bluebells; The Blues Band; Max
Boyce; Billy Bragg; Bronski Beat; Sam Brown; Cactus
Rain; The Christians; B.J.Cole; Andrew Cunningham; Bob
Dylan; Electric Bluebirds; Anne Dudley; Fabulous Poodles;
The Ferns; Langer & Winstanley; Lena Fiagbe; Guy
Fletcher; Bob Geldof; The Godfathers; The Lost Gonzo
Band; The Grants; Roger McGuinn; Rolf Harris; Haysi
Fantayzee; Holly & The Italians; Hulk Hogan; Jools
Holland; John Illsey; Patricia Kaas; Brian Kennedy;
Gaspar Lawal; Los Pistoleros; Nick Lowe & His Cowboy
Outfit; Des O’Connor; Sinéad O’Connor; The Mad Professor;
Mark Knopfler; Kirsty MacColl; Rory McGrath; Andy McCoy;
The Men They Couldn’t Hang; Don Mescal; Mark Nevin;
Amanda Norman-Sell; Mike Oldfield; Tom Petty & The
Heartbreakers; Phil Pope; Private Lives; The Proclaimers;
Redland Palomino Co.; Reno Brothers; Red Box; Les Rita
Mitsouko; Andy Roberts; Style Council; Jah Shaka; Swill
and the Swagger Band; The Tempest; The Tower; Shania
Twain; Luke Vibert; Tony Visconti; Hank Wangford; Roger
Whittaker; The Woolpackers; Paul Young; Alvin Youngblood-Hart
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