Back in 1978, me, my mom and sister went camping in Maine. As a thirteen-year-old I distinctly remember hearing "Running on Empty "blaring from way off in the distance from our campsite one night, and people talking. Now when I blare the record, it brings back great memories. R.I.P. David Lindley, one of the greats at his craft. And thank you Mr. Sklar, you are one of the greats at your craft👍
My wife and I saw Rosemary sing last year in Ventura Ca. She did mostly Linda Ronstadt songs. Put on a great show...still bringing all the notes. Had tickets to her "birthday" performance but it was canceled due to the virus...
I am so grateful for this video. I've been playing this bass line wrong for years with my cover band. It's good to see the correct way demonstrated first hand. Thank you Leland!
Must comment again on a favorite story I’ve told for 42 years as I’ve followed you. Jan ‘78 i was on the stage crew in Norman, OK. There was an ice storm but a great crowd and turnout. After the show you packed your base, grabbed some gloves and helped us load out the trucks - until the last truck was gone. I asked you what was the deal - and you kindly told me you wouldn’t sleep after a show unless you totally wore yourself out. Seen you many times since and always have that great memory. Carry on.
When I graduated high school in 92 my grandma gave me a $20 gift certificate to Specs Music. After I left the party I headed straight there and bought Running on Empty with it. This album means so much to me.
Until you played this with the bass in front of the rest of the band, I never realized how much your riff is driving that song. It sounds like a juggernaut locomotive chugging down the track. Thanks for doing this one!
I remember going to the record store, buying this album all those years ago, bringing it back home and going through the ritualised first play. Handling the album cover like a precious stone of some kind. The photography was brilliant. And the magic of imagining what it must have been like on that tour. Of course there was no social world media then and there was a mystery to be had about who the people were, their characters, the adventure of it all, the dream come true. Magical times man truly.
Absolutely relate to this. LP covers were so great everything was big and it was so nice to study the Album Artwork in detail and even read all the fine print.
I SOO get this... loved getting a new LP. when my daughter now got turned onto vinyl, i wrote up a bit of a 'vinyl-geek' history talking about how i read all the liner notes playing the new records, the local record store in my old home town (Boulder) would commission an artist to do a large 4'x4' canvas of the album covers in oil and hang the new cover art up around the store. Some how things are different now .. oh snap.. yeah i was 16.. maybe that was it....
Was catching up on the previous posts and found that Mr Sklar has talked about Albums and artwork in his post titled JT on May 27. Here is the link ruclips.net/video/3cs2R6r2Kfo/видео.html
Among my many regrets selling my original vinyl pressing (with the booklet insert and everything) when I replaced it with a "superior" C.D. copy. Oh well, the follies of youth.......... "Late for the Sky" was one of the reasons I bought a C.D. player at all as I was sick to the back teeth of lousy Warner Brothers paper-thin, snap crackle and pop pressings.
artemis sidecross Joe Walsh was my inspiration for playing guitar and then years later my inspiration for getting sober. Can’t say enough about how much guys like that have changed lives by example.
Peter Green the Founer/member of Fleetwood Mac from 1967-1970 is my inspiration because he was hooked heavily on lsd back then. Long story short he got clean and sober and made a comeback to music. His mind may be mostly gone (Very bad memory) and his voice sounds bad and cannot understand much of what hes saying like very deep and raspy, but he is a great example of a blues musician who somehow survived "The Munic Incident" in 1970.
carl anderson wasn’t too familiar with the Peter green era of Mac until last year and I went to see the Rumours ATL and they did a bunch of his songs! Made me dive into his stuff on my own. Awesome!!
Hey Lee my name is Pedro Prats; Bass Player, Sound Engineer and Bassfreak from Puerto Rico. Love what your doing with your channel, truly inspiring. Since you started your vlog I wake up everyday and the first thing I do is watch your video along with my morning coffee. I want to thank you for making this kind of vlog. Musicians also need to hear the kind of perspective on music and the music industry you bring. I also want to thank you for just being the the kind of person you are; I can really feel your humbleness through your videos and being one of the most badass bass players and studio musicians that you are (without ever even hinting at bragging which you very well could!) makes it even more evident of how cool of a guy you are. Love the stories and i really think you shouldn’t listen to those comments that say that you should just play. The stories give each video that spark, an extra mental image of how it all went down on the studio or on tour and then you get the great playing of the parts which I wouldn’t get hung up about the sound of the tracks cause the vlog’s about bass not mixing or tracking and what you play sounds great!Love your tone on all the basses you play!✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼. I have one question: what bass were you playing with Phil at the Knebworth 1990 and i guess throughout that tour? Its a dark green 4 string.....i think u also had an orange one? Anyway, much love and keep up the great work! PS. Love the immediate family and really enjoyed the Cruel Twist video. Great Upright sound! ✌🏽
That is one of the best live albums ever made. It captures the energy and feeling of what it's like to be a band on the road back in the '70s. Thanks for sharing your memories!
Merriweather Post Pavilion, August 27, 1977, Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty" tour. I was only 21 years old then, went to many concerts before and after, and that, by far, was the best I've ever been to. To hear those songs on that classic LP later without knowing of the recordings was awesome. I swear I could hear myself whistling on a track - well, not really, but I know I left there without a voice. I wish I could've stayed - just a little bit longer. Thanks for the memories!
Thank you! This was the first song I learned on bass (much easier arrangement) in 1980 when I decided playing bass would be much cooler than playing cello. I have followed and admired your playing ever since.
Thank you. I have always loved that bass part, long before I knew it was you. So simple, yet it is everything that the song requires. Locked in with Russ’ kick, pedaling on “A”, running along like an ambient freight train. What an awesome foundation for Lindley to sizzle those neck hair raising lap steel licks!!
1978 Running on Empty! Your bass sound “defined” 70’s bass sound on that record! And.... you recorded so much in makeshift conditions! I was at the beginning of my music biz trip, then. I was the gofer at Thunder Sounds and Morgan Earle, too, mainly just hanging out cause they let me. I was sitting on all the lectures a friend was taking at Morgan Earle during his attendance at a paid Music Engineering course they offered. We were actually working. We were recording Ian Thomas’s record “Still Here” as part of the course, that Ian was a willing participant of. It reduced his rate, and he loved working with us young guys - very patient, funny man - God bless him! Anyway, we used that record of yours “Running on Empty” as the standard we hoped to achieve at that time. So many AWSOME memories! Peace
Agreed. Lee’ bass style defined the 70s as did James Jammerson and Carole Kay did for the 60s. Growing up I never imagined the all of this greatness was coming from such a small click who wound up being imitated the world over.
Loved this tune and the album when it released and still love it today! It was also the inspiration for the personalized license plate for my '69 Camaro SS ... RUN N ON ... great memories and this song always takes me there and puts a big smile on my face so ... hearing and watching your video has been a real treat and being a bass player myself, I know what you're saying ... amazing bonds can grow from playing and performing with other human beings ... and cherished memories from wonderful times spent together out there doing what you all love! Thanks for sharing this story ... felt real good taking the trip down memory lane with you! Please take good care, keep safe and stay healthy ... Cheers!
Only Leland can make an octave one of the most tasteful and memorable lines of all time. The secret is the beard. It picks up signals from the cosmos and transmits them directly to his brain.
Such an awesome player and person... You were one of the many fantastic players on the soundtrack of my youth growing up in the 70's. Hands down the BEST decade in music history to me!
Lee, each and every one of these sit-down segments that you do is like bringing a critical piece of the music of our generation back to life, only from a very unique perspective that ONLY you can offer. It is greatly appreciated from someone who was very much a part of that era, and as to your having to re-learn some of the “oldies”, aY !!! It keeps your chops up !!! You da man Lee !!!
Such a remarkable bass player. After all these years I'm realizing I have been listening to your playing styles for decades. Thanks for sharing your stories with us. Your bass playing has been an influence on many!
Mr. Sklar,. Thank you for all the wonderful music, the stories. I remember hearing those songs in the 70's. Such an amazing time, with all the artist's that wrote so many amazing songs... Most of all Amen to the shout out to All our Front line workers, and especially to All the Nurses & Doctor's that have been getting us all through these difficult times...God Bless their hard work...🙏😎👍🇺🇸
I played bass on that song in a cover band in the late 70s into the early 80s. Loved playing that song. It has great energy. I didn't know about the octave lick until I saw this video. I don't have great ears for copying records, did not have the album. I lived in a one-room cabin with no electricity or running water anyway so I learned it off the guitar player after hearing it once or twice a this place. I pedaled on the One for the most part and it worked.
Absolutely awesome to be able to sit, and listen to you. It’s like you’re here in my living room. I can’t thank you enough for educating me on some of your musical history.
👍Many thanks Leland for laying it down. Gotta recent bass gig. Studied the heck out of this video. This saved my a*s. The band said they never had a bassist that “played it right.”
Running on Empty is one of my all-time favorite albums. I was very inspired by everything I heard. I appreciate the sharing of your memories Leland. You are an American treasure!
YESSAH! One of my All-Time-Favourit-Albums. It has just so much atmosphere in every single song!!! In the background you can hear the bus shifting its gears, while the musicians are playing and recording live really "on the ROAD". Amazing Record, i will love it my whole life. Great work!!! .... no, that really is BIG ART!
I just discovered Lee played the Hill Street Blues theme. As a kid I used to flick my fingers on a seam on our tv couch to the bass line every time the intro was played. Great tune & series.
Thanks for that. "looking into their eyes I see they're running too" such truth in those lyrics. I hope we get to hear the story about "Load Out /Stay" soon. Such a great tribute to the crew and the audience. Love that song.
Thank you for helping us all keep our sanity during this time!! I feel like I'm getting a free 2 credit course from my alma mater, Berklee College of Music watching your series. THANK YOU!!!
Lee, I catch myself always coming back to watch you play on this clip for inspiration. From one bassist to another, your touch and pocket can bring tears to my eyes. Thank you.
My dearest Mr. Sklar you make my day just to hear you talk about life and music. Running on empty is one of my favorite albums I love every song. I wish you could a Q&A with your fans. I have been a bass player for over 40 years and the last few months watching your videos has taught me so much . Next time I am in a session I will be thinking of all the gifts you have shared I now truly love the whole note. My chops are not as good as when I was a kid; but your direction made me a better musician . I have also decided to let my beard grow it is the key to playing bass(LOL). I hope you know what an inspiration you are.
40 some odd years later, you still get much enjoyment from playing that song, and the pocket is still there! :-) Big ups for those old Yamaha basses from the 70s. A family member and some friends played them. They always sounded great and had some of that P-bass grit and bark! ;:-)
As a supermarket worker,I want to say thank you for your appreciation of us on the front lines.Also,coming home after each shift I look foward to your interesting blogs.I saw you perform at the Saratoga Performance Arts center with the Running On Empty Tour.Keep up the great work,please.
I love Jackson Brown. My husband turned me on to you when the pandemic started. Thank you because you are a wealth of information of the artist that I loved as a child. Stay safe and take care.
I find that "senior moments" are a nice break in the day. Anyway, I've been a huge Jackson Browne fan since his first album. I still find myself just replaying his 70s music over and over again when I get into a Jackson Browne mood. His "Pretender" album was the first album I played on my first, really good, stereo system when "The Fuse" was lit.
Thanks so much for sharing all this stuff. As a kid I used to stare at the album covers and imagine all the times that took place behind it all, and Running On Empty was great for that. So these stories are a real treasure. BTW I love that modded bass - VERY much a '70s thing.
Thank you for this continuing oral history of the music that for many of us is our immediate family. :) Add to that a bass playing lesson done by among the best. Life can be good.
Just thinking about Running On Empty puts a smile on my face. One of my favorite live albums of all time. Right up there with Waiting For Columbus. I still have my vinyl copy.
To be on the Running On Empty tour bus must have been magic. Dave Lindley's playing is insane but his wardrobe could be another episode you could discuss 😂
For those who don't know it, Lindley has been called "The Prince of Polyester"! I have often wondered if Lindley went clothes-shopping in thrift stores and Salvation Army's while on the road, in the same way that he and other musicians often went out scrounging for guitars.
@@goodun2974 The poly came a bit later. And yes, he's said he thrift shops is primarily where he buys his 'vestments.' He's described Salt Lake City as the Mecca of Poly. What a great, great musician.
Lee - that bassline is SUCH a key part of that track. It's a great driving/road song - one of the best - and the thing that propels it is that bassline. The song just thumps down the road thanks to you. Greetings from England.
You could have retired after Doctor My Eyes and Running on Empty and asked for your star on the sidewalk. Those weren't songs they were anthems. And tomorrow you'll blow us away with another. Thanks, keep em coming.
It's really fantastic to hear you revisit this record. This one really means a lot to me. A lot of people probably have their story with this record but here goes mine: About 6 years ago now, I was in a long-term relationship with a wonderful girl, who had worked her ass off and saved up to go to college in Fort Collins, Colorado, which is about a 6 hour drive from here give or take.. The day she got accepted was bittersweet because my own circumstances guaranteed that I couldn't go with her. Leaving that campus after helping her move in was the hardest thing in the world, but I made a promise to go up and see her as often as I could. A few weeks later, I was packing up to go and visit for the first time; I stopped at her parents house to grab some things to take to her. As I was there, I was perusing their CD collection and noticed Jackson Browne: Running on Empty. I'd had a big Eagles phase and was generally familiar with the 70s SoCo scene, so I was aware of Jackson and the esteem he held but I hadn't really made my way to his work yet, so with a long drive ahead of me, it seemed like a great opportunity to check it out. They were happy to let me borrow it, so I popped it in and started driving. The CD didn't leave the player for a loong time. I played it on repeat the whole drive up, totally enamored with what I was hearing. Being a multi-instrumentalist and music nerd myself, there was more than enough to dissect, but also the lyrics were so incredibly in line with where I was in life. Jackson was only a little bit older than I was when you guys made that. Over a dozen or so trips, that CD blared in the car up there and back. It was my meditation, and it helped me deal with a lot of painful goodbyes, each one a little more empty, until I unknowingly made the last. Things didn't work out between us, but that record is still dear to me and I still put it on every now and then and think about her, but more importantly the things I learned about myself during that time. "I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on". ✌️
As a jazz bassist....I was completely floored when I heard the Section open for Jackson... I knew they were good players, But man, these guys were smoking
Since 1978 when I first heard this amazing album, I have always been jealous of the lucky people in the audience when this was recorded. Now I’m one of them & jealous no more. Thank you Leland. Rock on.
Thanks for posting. I got to play bass and sing lead on this song at a recent tribute event where we put together a bigger band. This has always been a bucket list song that I never got to do b/c it requires so much instrumentation with the slide guitar, second guitar, piano and different voices. Our slide guitar player was so happy to be finally playing it too. It was just three minutes of bliss for all of us. I’ve always admired the bass playing on that live recording. So great to see it being played. Thanks again.
Thank you for doing this Brother what a treat, first time I saw you was at Pine Knob (70's) with James Taylor and you were all there, Waddy, Russ, You and Kuchmar James came out barefoot everyone was amazing but Waddy holy cow and you all looked so cool I thought it was gonna be a peter paul and mary gig but you rocked that place just brilliant Terrence(70's)
4th in.. - Now I can watch.. - ...And another classic from the legend himself! - This track is a staple of my practice repertoire my whole life! Russ really laid down a classic drum track to always learn from. Have a great day Lee.
Somewhere in a box of photos amidst my belongings, are several pictures of the stage before the show began...and the words, "The Section" are there! We saw you guys in Los Angeles (can't recall the venue) back in the day! When Jackson and the band did this song, I was blown away by Rosemary Butler's voice!! I still get chills whenever I hear her! They play this song in the overhead music at work, and it always brings a smile to my face (not to mention, wanting to sing along!)! Thank you for sharing this one with us, Leland...and for the backstory about the tour! Loved it! 🧡
I love love love this album! I'm not really a fan of live albums, with some notable exceptions, but this one is perhaps the greatest example of how a live album should be!
Lee, can't wait for the up coming documentary about the" Immediate Family". I just started watching you on U-Tube about a month ago. Every morning I can't wait to see what you have in store for us. Thus far I haven't been disappointed at all. I enjoy even your rants about fb and ignorant people who are careless with all this crazy "shit" going on in the world. So, please keep it up. I'll watch as long as you keep posting. Take care.
Thanks so much, Lee. I saw this tour at Santa Barbara Bowl! Yes, it was another highlight of the times. As an aside, the audience went crazy when David Lindley did "Stay", the old Maurice Williams hit. Let me add that I thought your playing on "Doctor My Eyes" was unsurpassed, along with Jesse Ed Davis' guitar playing. There was just such incredible DRIVE on that cut!
One of my all time favorite albums. I remember reading the liner notes thinking how cool it was that it was recorded on the bus and in hotel rooms. Fantastic band. I don't think i could pick one favorite on that album.
what a joy it was to see you guys in 77 or 78 in B"ham Alabama. Saw Jackson for about the 10th time last year and was blown away by how perfect the sound was . His crew and audio guys do great work.
Can’t get enough of your channel...met you briefly about thirty years ago and you were just the nicest guy...decades later it’s great to see that you’re still a kind hearted passionate dude, thanks for everything you post.
I loved so many different bass players from the 70s only to find out they were all Leland Sklar😂😂
Back in 1978, me, my mom and sister went camping in Maine. As a thirteen-year-old I distinctly remember hearing "Running on Empty "blaring from way off in the distance from our campsite one night, and people talking. Now when I blare the record, it brings back great memories. R.I.P. David Lindley, one of the greats at his craft. And thank you Mr. Sklar, you are one of the greats at your craft👍
I cannot move on without acknowledging Rosemary Butler’s iconic backup vocals, without which would make it a different song altogether, in my opinion.
Yeah, man. Her vocals make the song for me. So amazing.
Totally agreed. GREAT singer!
LIZZY VALENTINE Absolutely! Still singing great....
My wife and I saw Rosemary sing last year in Ventura Ca. She did mostly Linda Ronstadt songs. Put on a great show...still bringing all the notes. Had tickets to her "birthday" performance but it was canceled due to the virus...
I went to the concerts 50% for Jackson Brown and band and 50% Rosemary Butler!
I am so grateful for this video. I've been playing this bass line wrong for years with my cover band. It's good to see the correct way demonstrated first hand. Thank you Leland!
Must comment again on a favorite story I’ve told for 42 years as I’ve followed you.
Jan ‘78 i was on the stage crew in Norman, OK. There was an ice storm but a great crowd and turnout.
After the show you packed your base, grabbed some gloves and helped us load out the trucks - until the last truck was gone.
I asked you what was the deal - and you kindly told me you wouldn’t sleep after a show unless you totally wore yourself out. Seen you many times since and always have that great memory.
Carry on.
Real man right there
Andy Hall Loved being with the crew!
A Class Act ✌
Hope you had it all set up to go before you came for Jackson's piano!! ;0)
Russell Morris Now, that was funny! Well played...!
When I graduated high school in 92 my grandma gave me a $20 gift certificate to Specs Music. After I left the party I headed straight there and bought Running on Empty with it. This album means so much to me.
Until you played this with the bass in front of the rest of the band, I never realized how much your riff is driving that song. It sounds like a juggernaut locomotive chugging down the track. Thanks for doing this one!
☝️❤️🙏 yes
Remembering David Lindley and with tasteful slide work on this classic. RIP. Aloha O’e.
I remember going to the record store, buying this album all those years ago, bringing it back home and going through the ritualised first play. Handling the album cover like a precious stone of some kind. The photography was brilliant. And the magic of imagining what it must have been like on that tour. Of course there was no social world media then and there was a mystery to be had about who the people were, their characters, the adventure of it all, the dream come true. Magical times man truly.
Absolutely relate to this. LP covers were so great everything was big and it was so nice to study the Album Artwork in detail and even read all the fine print.
Very well said. Today's generation is really missing that whole experience.
I SOO get this... loved getting a new LP. when my daughter now got turned onto vinyl, i wrote up a bit of a 'vinyl-geek' history talking about how i read all the liner notes playing the new records, the local record store in my old home town (Boulder) would commission an artist to do a large 4'x4' canvas of the album covers in oil and hang the new cover art up around the store. Some how things are different now .. oh snap.. yeah i was 16.. maybe that was it....
Was catching up on the previous posts and found that Mr Sklar has talked about Albums and artwork in his post titled JT on May 27.
Here is the link
ruclips.net/video/3cs2R6r2Kfo/видео.html
Among my many regrets selling my original vinyl pressing (with the booklet insert and everything) when I replaced it with a "superior" C.D. copy. Oh well, the follies of youth.......... "Late for the Sky" was one of the reasons I bought a C.D. player at all as I was sick to the back teeth of lousy Warner Brothers paper-thin, snap crackle and pop pressings.
" If I can get you to smile before I leave " Mission accomplished ! Thank you Leland !
RIP David Lindley. You will be missed.
So glad that you never got into the drug scene of the 60' 70' so that can all enjoy the great stories of your life.
The real compliment to drug addiction is for anyone who has escaped its rampage and destruction; those people too need our praise. :)
artemis sidecross Joe Walsh was my inspiration for playing guitar and then years later my inspiration for getting sober. Can’t say enough about how much guys like that have changed lives by example.
@@jwprimetime9795 It is easy to fall, the strength to get up and walk on is the mark of a hero or heroine. Good work!
Peter Green the Founer/member of Fleetwood Mac from 1967-1970 is my inspiration because he was hooked heavily on lsd back then. Long story short he got clean and sober and made a comeback to music. His mind may be mostly gone (Very bad memory) and his voice sounds bad and cannot understand much of what hes saying like very deep and raspy, but he is a great example of a blues musician who somehow survived "The Munic Incident" in 1970.
carl anderson wasn’t too familiar with the Peter green era of Mac until last year and I went to see the Rumours ATL and they did a bunch of his songs! Made me dive into his stuff on my own. Awesome!!
It is a privilege to watch you play. Thank you Leland. Thank you You Tube.
Hey Lee my name is Pedro Prats; Bass Player, Sound Engineer and Bassfreak from Puerto Rico. Love what your doing with your channel, truly inspiring. Since you started your vlog I wake up everyday and the first thing I do is watch your video along with my morning coffee. I want to thank you for making this kind of vlog. Musicians also need to hear the kind of perspective on music and the music industry you bring. I also want to thank you for just being the the kind of person you are; I can really feel your humbleness through your videos and being one of the most badass bass players and studio musicians that you are (without ever even hinting at bragging which you very well could!) makes it even more evident of how cool of a guy you are. Love the stories and i really think you shouldn’t listen to those comments that say that you should just play. The stories give each video that spark, an extra mental image of how it all went down on the studio or on tour and then you get the great playing of the parts which I wouldn’t get hung up about the sound of the tracks cause the vlog’s about bass not mixing or tracking and what you play sounds great!Love your tone on all the basses you play!✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼. I have one question: what bass were you playing with Phil at the Knebworth 1990 and i guess throughout that tour? Its a dark green 4 string.....i think u also had an orange one? Anyway, much love and keep up the great work! PS. Love the immediate family and really enjoyed the Cruel Twist video. Great Upright sound! ✌🏽
That is one of the best live albums ever made. It captures the energy and feeling of what it's like to be a band on the road back in the '70s. Thanks for sharing your memories!
Merriweather Post Pavilion, August 27, 1977, Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty" tour. I was only 21 years old then, went to many concerts before and after, and that, by far, was the best I've ever been to. To hear those songs on that classic LP later without knowing of the recordings was awesome. I swear I could hear myself whistling on a track - well, not really, but I know I left there without a voice. I wish I could've stayed - just a little bit longer. Thanks for the memories!
I was there with 3 HS girlfriends that night! When the album came out we were floored!!! We tried to figure out if we could hear ourselves...
Thank you! This was the first song I learned on bass (much easier arrangement) in 1980 when I decided playing bass would be much cooler than playing cello. I have followed and admired your playing ever since.
Doesn't get much better than that song. When Denny gets there, remember that you are not the guinea pig, you are the trailblazer.
The bass is low in the mix on the record, so it's great to see how the line is played in detail. Thank you for doing these!
Two of the best guitar solos ever. They take the song to a higher place
Thank you. I have always loved that bass part, long before I knew it was you. So simple, yet it is everything that the song requires. Locked in with Russ’ kick, pedaling on “A”, running along like an ambient freight train. What an awesome foundation for Lindley to sizzle those neck hair raising lap steel licks!!
1978 Running on Empty! Your bass sound “defined” 70’s bass sound on that record! And.... you recorded so much in makeshift conditions! I was at the beginning of my music biz trip, then. I was the gofer at Thunder Sounds and Morgan Earle, too, mainly just hanging out cause they let me. I was sitting on all the lectures a friend was taking at Morgan Earle during his attendance at a paid Music Engineering course they offered. We were actually working. We were recording Ian Thomas’s record “Still Here” as part of the course, that Ian was a willing participant of. It reduced his rate, and he loved working with us young guys - very patient, funny man - God bless him! Anyway, we used that record of yours “Running on Empty” as the standard we hoped to achieve at that time.
So many AWSOME memories!
Peace
Agreed. Lee’ bass style defined the 70s as did James Jammerson and Carole Kay did for the 60s. Growing up I never imagined the all of this greatness was coming from such a small click who wound up being imitated the world over.
Loved this tune and the album when it released and still love it today! It was also the inspiration for the personalized license plate for my '69 Camaro SS ... RUN N ON ... great memories and this song always takes me there and puts a big smile on my face so ... hearing and watching your video has been a real treat and being a bass player myself, I know what you're saying ... amazing bonds can grow from playing and performing with other human beings ... and cherished memories from wonderful times spent together out there doing what you all love! Thanks for sharing this story ... felt real good taking the trip down memory lane with you! Please take good care, keep safe and stay healthy ... Cheers!
Thank you Mr. Sklar for being such a decent human being and a great musician alike - and thank you for the great stories !!
isn’t he great . totally awesome.
Mr. Sklar, thank you for demystifying such a glorious song. Just to watch your technique is a treat.
Only Leland can make an octave one of the most tasteful and memorable lines of all time. The secret is the beard. It picks up signals from the cosmos and transmits them directly to his brain.
In Australia, people either LOVE or LOATH Jackson Browne. I have never understood why he gets negative feedback, he is a class act regardless.
Such an awesome player and person... You were one of the many fantastic players on the soundtrack of my youth growing up in the 70's. Hands down the BEST decade in music history to me!
So much history, stories and fun memories!
Lee, each and every one of these sit-down segments that you do is like bringing a critical piece of the music of our generation back to life, only from a very unique perspective that ONLY you can offer. It is greatly appreciated from someone who was very much a part of that era, and as to your having to re-learn some of the “oldies”, aY !!! It keeps your chops up !!! You da man Lee !!!
Such a remarkable bass player. After all these years I'm realizing I have been listening to your playing styles for decades. Thanks for sharing your stories with us. Your bass playing has been an influence on many!
Mr. Sklar,.
Thank you for all the wonderful music, the stories.
I remember hearing those songs in the 70's.
Such an amazing time, with all the artist's that wrote so many amazing songs...
Most of all Amen to the shout out to All our Front line workers, and especially to All the Nurses & Doctor's that have been getting us all through these difficult times...God Bless their hard work...🙏😎👍🇺🇸
I played bass on that song in a cover band in the late 70s into the early 80s. Loved playing that song. It has great energy. I didn't know about the octave lick until I saw this video. I don't have great ears for copying records, did not have the album. I lived in a one-room cabin with no electricity or running water anyway so I learned it off the guitar player after hearing it once or twice a this place. I pedaled on the One for the most part and it worked.
I've been playing this song in bands for years and I too was surprised to see the Octaves !
David Lindley's tone on this tune is one of the best ever IMO. Great choice Lee. Thanks!
Absolutely awesome to be able to sit, and listen to you. It’s like you’re here in my living room. I can’t thank you enough for educating me on some of your musical history.
What a great privilege to listen to these road stories.
I SO MUCH enjoy you sharing these stories. You are an awesome player but more than that you seem like a really nice and genuine person. THANK YOU!!
When the world comes tumbling down I hope they dig this video up and base our history on this vibe.
👍Many thanks Leland for laying it down. Gotta recent bass gig. Studied the heck out of this video. This saved my a*s. The band said they never had a bassist that “played it right.”
The nostalgia is making me cry. Thanks Mr. Sklar. You're the best.
Yes! Be safe! "This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around!"
"This ain't no disco. It ain't no country club, either... This is L.A."
Running on Empty is one of my all-time favorite albums. I was very inspired by everything I heard. I appreciate the sharing of your memories Leland. You are an American treasure!
Sklar-monics.
Fripp a tronics and leland harmonics would be a good combo
Now that's clever🎶
That brilliant bass line shows why you are a living legend.
The Running on Empty concert at Blossom Music Center in Ohio was the best concert experience of my life. Thank you, Leland!
YESSAH! One of my All-Time-Favourit-Albums. It has just so much atmosphere in every single song!!! In the background you can hear the bus shifting its gears, while the musicians are playing and recording live really "on the ROAD". Amazing Record, i will love it my whole life. Great work!!! .... no, that really is BIG ART!
I damn near pissed my pants laughing at that story about the 24 inch drivers! That made my day!
I just discovered Lee played the Hill Street Blues theme. As a kid I used to flick my fingers on a seam on our tv couch to the bass line every time the intro was played. Great tune & series.
Funny Leland is my father’s name Still sounds great even after 46 years thank you 🙏
Thanks for that. "looking into their eyes I see they're running too" such truth in those lyrics. I hope we get to hear the story about "Load Out /Stay" soon. Such a great tribute to the crew and the audience. Love that song.
Thank you for helping us all keep our sanity during this time!! I feel like I'm getting a free 2 credit course from my alma mater, Berklee College of Music watching your series. THANK YOU!!!
Lee, I catch myself always coming back to watch you play on this clip for inspiration. From one bassist to another, your touch and pocket can bring tears to my eyes. Thank you.
My dearest Mr. Sklar you make my day just to hear you talk about life and music. Running on empty is one of my favorite albums I love every song. I wish you could a Q&A with your fans. I have been a bass player for over 40 years and the last few months watching your videos has taught me so much . Next time I am in a session I will be thinking of all the gifts you have shared I now truly love the whole note. My chops are not as good as when I was a kid; but your direction made me a better musician . I have also decided to let my beard grow it is the key to playing bass(LOL). I hope you know what an inspiration you are.
40 some odd years later, you still get much enjoyment from playing that song, and the pocket is still there! :-)
Big ups for those old Yamaha basses from the 70s. A family member and some friends played them. They always sounded great and had some of that P-bass grit and bark! ;:-)
How original with the bass jumping up into the octave instead of crashing down on the 4th. I love that song. It means much to me.
As a supermarket worker,I want to say thank you for your appreciation of us on the front lines.Also,coming home after each shift I look foward to your interesting blogs.I saw you perform at the Saratoga Performance Arts center with the Running On Empty Tour.Keep up the great work,please.
Leland, I love hearing these stories about these legendary tracks. Cheers.
I love Jackson Brown. My husband turned me on to you when the pandemic started. Thank you because you are a wealth of information of the artist that I loved as a child. Stay safe and take care.
Alisa Jackson has a couple of mellow songs Birds of St Mark's and Shadow dream song you might not have heard. 💕
I find that "senior moments" are a nice break in the day. Anyway, I've been a huge Jackson Browne fan since his first album. I still find myself just replaying his 70s music over and over again when I get into a Jackson Browne mood. His "Pretender" album was the first album I played on my first, really good, stereo system when "The Fuse" was lit.
Ckrolak......Totally agree, sometimes you just get in a mood . Right now I've been in a Jackson Browne mood ( for about a month now )
@@wynnssecret8584 I'm moving into a Warren Zevon mood now. I think it will last a month, as well.
I *really* need to thank you from my heart for the music.. my life wouldn’t be the same without it. Thanks huge.
Thanks so much for sharing all this stuff. As a kid I used to stare at the album covers and imagine all the times that took place behind it all, and Running On Empty was great for that. So these stories are a real treasure. BTW I love that modded bass - VERY much a '70s thing.
Thank you for this continuing oral history of the music that for many of us is our immediate family. :) Add to that a bass playing lesson done by among the best. Life can be good.
Just thinking about Running On Empty puts a smile on my face. One of my favorite live albums of all time. Right up there with Waiting For Columbus. I still have my vinyl copy.
To be on the Running On Empty tour bus must have been magic. Dave Lindley's playing is insane but his wardrobe could be another episode you could discuss 😂
For those who don't know it, Lindley has been called "The Prince of Polyester"! I have often wondered if Lindley went clothes-shopping in thrift stores and Salvation Army's while on the road, in the same way that he and other musicians often went out scrounging for guitars.
@@goodun2974 The poly came a bit later. And yes, he's said he thrift shops is primarily where he buys his 'vestments.' He's described Salt Lake City as the Mecca of Poly. What a great, great musician.
Lee - that bassline is SUCH a key part of that track. It's a great driving/road song - one of the best - and the thing that propels it is that bassline. The song just thumps down the road thanks to you. Greetings from England.
Lee is playing the bass with such an ease. Great.
You could have retired after Doctor My Eyes and Running on Empty and asked for your star on the sidewalk. Those weren't songs they were anthems. And tomorrow you'll blow us away with another. Thanks, keep em coming.
Leland. You are such a tonic. I’m so glad I happened upon your daily posts.
You're the coolest Leland, everybody loves these intimate viogs from you.
It's really fantastic to hear you revisit this record. This one really means a lot to me. A lot of people probably have their story with this record but here goes mine: About 6 years ago now, I was in a long-term relationship with a wonderful girl, who had worked her ass off and saved up to go to college in Fort Collins, Colorado, which is about a 6 hour drive from here give or take.. The day she got accepted was bittersweet because my own circumstances guaranteed that I couldn't go with her. Leaving that campus after helping her move in was the hardest thing in the world, but I made a promise to go up and see her as often as I could. A few weeks later, I was packing up to go and visit for the first time; I stopped at her parents house to grab some things to take to her. As I was there, I was perusing their CD collection and noticed Jackson Browne: Running on Empty. I'd had a big Eagles phase and was generally familiar with the 70s SoCo scene, so I was aware of Jackson and the esteem he held but I hadn't really made my way to his work yet, so with a long drive ahead of me, it seemed like a great opportunity to check it out. They were happy to let me borrow it, so I popped it in and started driving. The CD didn't leave the player for a loong time. I played it on repeat the whole drive up, totally enamored with what I was hearing. Being a multi-instrumentalist and music nerd myself, there was more than enough to dissect, but also the lyrics were so incredibly in line with where I was in life. Jackson was only a little bit older than I was when you guys made that. Over a dozen or so trips, that CD blared in the car up there and back. It was my meditation, and it helped me deal with a lot of painful goodbyes, each one a little more empty, until I unknowingly made the last. Things didn't work out between us, but that record is still dear to me and I still put it on every now and then and think about her, but more importantly the things I learned about myself during that time. "I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on". ✌️
P.S. I'd love to see you do "You Love the Thunder," you had some really tasty licks in that song 😄
Those were the greatest times of rock & roll music! Wow!
As a jazz bassist....I was completely floored when I heard the Section open for Jackson...
I knew they were good players,
But man, these guys were smoking
Since 1978 when I first heard this amazing album, I have always been jealous of the lucky people in the audience when this was recorded. Now I’m one of them & jealous no more. Thank you Leland. Rock on.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing this one!!!!!! You make us all feel as if we know you personally! these videos are so good!
Fact, I think you have played on every important song in my life. Thank you so much for sharing,
Now that’s a driving bass line!!
Thanks for posting. I got to play bass and sing lead on this song at a recent tribute event where we put together a bigger band. This has always been a bucket list song that I never got to do b/c it requires so much instrumentation with the slide guitar, second guitar, piano and different voices. Our slide guitar player was so happy to be finally playing it too. It was just three minutes of bliss for all of us. I’ve always admired the bass playing on that live recording. So great to see it being played. Thanks again.
My son just now: “Is that Darwin?” Me: Yes, but much hipper!
I think so,haha
I thought it was Kilroy.
Now this was SOOOOO much fun to see. You are a Treasure. Truly. Thanks for All your posts.
Hahaha
Lee, please keep posting, your stories are priceless. Never can get enough of them. 🎼
Those videos are something to look forward to, it's the best part of the day :)
Thank you for doing this Brother what a treat, first time I saw you was at Pine Knob (70's) with James Taylor and you were all there, Waddy, Russ, You and Kuchmar James came out barefoot everyone was amazing but Waddy holy cow and you all looked so cool I thought it was gonna be a peter paul and mary gig but you rocked that place just brilliant
Terrence(70's)
Love hearing the stories .What a great era the seventies were for live albums, so many classic live albums.thanks for sharing.
Now we know why this song was a hit: it is the running and driving bass line that gets it going - fantastic.
Jackson Brownes music was a major part of the soundtrack of my youth. "Saturate Before Using" was one of the first albums I bought with my own money.
4th in.. - Now I can watch.. - ...And another classic from the legend himself! - This track is a staple of my practice repertoire my whole life! Russ really laid down a classic drum track to always learn from. Have a great day Lee.
Somewhere in a box of photos amidst my belongings, are several pictures of the stage before the show began...and the words, "The Section" are there! We saw you guys in Los Angeles (can't recall the venue) back in the day! When Jackson and the band did this song, I was blown away by Rosemary Butler's voice!! I still get chills whenever I hear her! They play this song in the overhead music at work, and it always brings a smile to my face (not to mention, wanting to sing along!)! Thank you for sharing this one with us, Leland...and for the backstory about the tour! Loved it! 🧡
I love love love this album! I'm not really a fan of live albums, with some notable exceptions, but this one is perhaps the greatest example of how a live album should be!
That was a treat Jackson Browne and also some music history. Thanks Lee enjoy your day.👍👍🎶👍👍
'Tough Shit' is RIGHT!! Keep the shout-outs coming Lee.
Lee, can't wait for the up coming documentary about the" Immediate Family". I just started watching you on U-Tube about a month ago. Every morning I can't wait to see what you have in store for us. Thus far I haven't been disappointed at all. I enjoy even your rants about fb and ignorant people who are careless with all this crazy "shit" going on in the world. So, please keep it up. I'll watch as long as you keep posting. Take care.
I came to this late and now it’s one of my all time favourite cuts. So much feel and spirit. Lee you’re a legend!
So glad I found your channel. You are living rock history Leland! The rhythmic engine room powerhouse of some of the best music in rock!
Thanks so much, Lee. I saw this tour at Santa Barbara Bowl! Yes, it was another highlight of the times. As an aside, the audience went crazy when David Lindley did "Stay", the old Maurice Williams hit.
Let me add that I thought your playing on "Doctor My Eyes" was unsurpassed, along with Jesse Ed Davis' guitar playing. There was just such incredible DRIVE on that cut!
One of my all time favorite albums. I remember reading the liner notes thinking how cool it was that it was recorded on the bus and in hotel rooms. Fantastic band. I don't think i could pick one favorite on that album.
Lindley! Thanks for sharing these Lee. Seriously. Music takes me back to a better time.
what a joy it was to see you guys in 77 or 78 in B"ham Alabama. Saw Jackson for about the 10th time last year and was blown away by how perfect the sound was . His crew and audio guys do great work.
Great stories. Love this song, love this album, you're so fortunate to have been a part of it.
What a great sounding record. It got hundreds of plays at my house. 🙂
Loctite on your bass. What a wonderful merging of bass and love of cars.
Leland , these videos you are doing are PRICELESS!!! Thank you so much!
I always thought the bus engine sounds in "Nothing but Time" is cool. Fits the song well.
Especially the combined chord / gear changes!!!
Real bus too:)
Can’t get enough of your channel...met you briefly about thirty years ago and you were just the nicest guy...decades later it’s great to see that you’re still a kind hearted passionate dude, thanks for everything you post.