Sam Mitchell?

[Deleted]

Hi there,
I'm a big fan of Sam Mitchell, so I'd love to meet the guy and get some lessons. Contact details would be great. Anyone got any ideas...
Many thanks - Jon Burrows

[Michael Messer]

Hi Jon,

Sam lives in Liverpool. I am afraid I have no contact details for him. Due to poor health, Sam is hardly involved with music these days. The last time I saw him was four years ago, and since then I don't think anyone that I know has heard from him. You are not the first person to write and ask about contacting him.

I bet the weather in Thailand today is better than it is here......it hardly got light today!

Best wishes,

Shine On
Michael.

[Jon Burrows]

Thanks for the info Michael.
I really like the weather over here as it doesn't change much - a constant 30 degrees in the day (and night!). I'm originally from Crewe which is not far from Liverpool, so travel wouldn't be a problem. I'll just have to make some enquiries when I'm back home again.
Keep slidin'... Jon.

[marshcat]

There's a great discography of Sam Mitchell's output at

www.wirz.de/music/mitchfrm.htm

And his dad was one of Felix Mendelssohn's Hawaiian Serenaders!!!

[Michael Messer]

Hi Marshcat, (where did you find that name?)

I have looked at Stefan's SM page, he runs a fantastic website! Stefan, like many people, say that Sam played on the Rod Stewart albums Gasoline Alley & Every Picture Tells a Story. I have never read or heard it in any Rod Stewart or Faces interviews or books. Can anyone confirm that he did play on those records, and if so what instruments on what songs? I am very familiar with Sam's, Ronnie Wood's and Ronnie Lane's playing, and I don't think I can hear Sam's guitar playing. He was definitely playing with Rod Stewart & Julie Driscoll in the Steampacket days, but the appearances on those albums.....can anyone shed any more light on this?

Rather annoyingly, I spent a whole week with Sam in 2002 and never did get the whole story!

Shine On
Michael

[blueshome]

Sam certainly claimed to have played mandolin on Rod Stewart's Maggie. On the TOTP video the mandolin is mimed (badly) by John Peel - no sign of Sam!

[Ian McWee]

I vaguely remember (in the dim & distant past : reading the sleeve notes of a Rod Stewart album (Mandolin Wind?), which mentioned Sam Mitchell playing slide Dobro on that very track...it WAS a long time ago

Slide On!

Ian.

[Michael Messer]

I don't actually think SM played mandolin or slide guitar on those songs. According to the 'Every Picture Tells a Story' credits, the mandolin is played by a member of the band Lindisfarne, whose name Rod Stewart decided to omit. Back then it was more acceptable not to credit session players, but I don't hear Sam's slide playing on those songs. Long John Baldry is on that album, so are Danny Thompson and Maggie Bell. On 'Mandolin Wind' I can hear two slide guitars; a National and an electric, possibly a pedal steel. Neither of those sound like SM to me. There are a few layers of mandolin tracks and also an open tuned classical/nylon string guitar picking the main rhythm part. It is a wonderful recording from one of my all time favourite albums...Every Picture Tells a Story!

However....here are the musicians credits for 'I Know I'm Losing You' from that album > Sam Mitchell (slide guitar), Danny Thompson (bass), Andy Pyle (bass), Dick Powell (violin), Maggie Bell (vocals) > Sam Mitchell played slide guitar on 'Losing You' > The only problem with this information & research is that....'I'm Losing You' is one of the only songs on the album with no slide guitar! >>>The plot thickens

Perhaps we could jump to a new thread called....Every Picture Tells A Story....did anyone see the Ronnie Lane documentary on TV? It was a superb film and it was followed by a wonderful compilation called Ronnie Lane at the BBC.

Shine On
Michael.

[Michael Messer]

I always thought that SM played with Steampacket, but from what I can find out....he didn't. He played with Long John Baldry's band in 1971/72 >Here's the line-up >
Long John Baldry (vocals)
Sam Mitchell (guitar)
Pete Sears (bass)
Ian Armit (keyboards)
Micky Waller (drums)

Steampacket line-up was>
Long John Baldry (vocals)
Rod Stewart (vocals)
Julie Driscoll (vocals)
Vic Briggs (guitar)
Brian Auger (keyboards)
Rick Brown (bass)
Micky Waller (drums

[Deleted]

Hi Michael,
I know Homesick Mac played extensively with Sam in Germany and Scandanavia, maybe he has contact details?
Also Tom Doughty tracked Sam down in Liverpool a few ago. Tom's in India at the moment till next week.
Jon, contact Tom through his website next week and he might be able to help.
By the way Tom's in Northwich (and I'm in Nantwich) so not far from Crewe. Maybe we can get together for a jam?
Regards,
Chris

[Michael Messer]

Hi Chris,

I don't think Mac has Sam's address, but there's no harm in asking.

Shine On
Michael.

[Deleted]

I was talking to my guitar teacher the other night & the conversation went on to Sam. I said I had a great SM album - "Resonating" (Taxim Records) & recommended it. He said he thought he had a few SM CDs & went to look - & came back with Resonating!!!!, - which I recommended he re-discover. He then went on to play 'Ambidextrous March' for me!

I seem to remember one of the guys from Bluesweek used to keep in touch with Sam, but I can't remember his name.

[Sonya]

Hi Charlie,

It was Tim Mantle (a student at the early Bluesweeks) who was in contact with Sam. But I haven't heard from Tim for two or three years now and I have no idea whether he still sees Sam.

Sonya

[Jon Burrows]

Thanks for all the help chaps. People just keep getting closer - I'll be able to walk to lessons when I get back! Chris - it'd be great if we can chat & possibly meet up in the near future. I can be contacted at [e-mail] I'll give Homesick Mac & Tom Doughty a call & see what they say. Love the above www.wirz.de link on Sam - an awesome amount of info.
Many thanks again... Bangkok Jon.

[Mairena Red]

Hi Michael,

You are right, the mandolin player on Maggie May was Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne. He doesn't get a credit but if I remember rightly the sleeve notes mention a comment by Rod Stewart that the mandolin player was from Lindisfarne. Ray tried to sue Rod a few years ago for lost royalties as he claimed to have written the mandolin hook for the song and was only paid 15 quid for his trouble. You might like to check out news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2816253.stm for the full story. No idea what the final outcome was. Incidentally, Ray now lives in Oxfordshire and works as an artist. Check him out on rayjacksonart.co.uk .

All the best,

Joe (aka Mairena Red)

PS The weather's pretty good here too, though we could do with some rain as the reservoirs are very low!