Smithereens 11: Guitarist Jim Babjak Breaks Down 11 Essential Smithereens Tracks
Smithereens lead guitarist Jim Babjak breaks down 11 essential Smithereens tracks.
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"Behind the Wall of Sleep"
From Especially for You (1986, Enigma/Capitol Records)
"Behind the Wall of Sleep" was the second radio single off our first album in 1986. I still get emails from people telling me they purchased a Rickenbacker because I played one in the video.
I used my '72 Rickenbacker on most of the early recording sessions, but on this track I had borrowed a black Les Paul that was lying around in the studio. I can't remember who it belonged to, but it was just right for the rhythm track. I did play the Rickenbacker for the guitar solo, because the combination of both guitars worked well together.
I never meant to deceive anyone by using the Rickenbacker in the video. We were still on the road when we filmed it, and I had to use the guitar because I only owned two at the time. The other one was a black Rickenbacker 12-string. As we started to film more videos for MTV, I kept using Rickenbackers because by that time, we had built a relationship with the company and were endorsing them.
Part of it was also perception. I always loved the way a Rickenbacker looked. Of course, anyone who saw us in concert back then witnessed all the songs played on my Burgundy Rickenbacker through a I00-watt Marshall. It was just as powerful live.
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brofan
June 20, 2012 at 3:40pm
P.S. Saw you guys at Cabaret Metro in Chicago right after Green Thoughts came out in '88 I think? One of the best shows I've ever seen and I'll never forget you slinging sliders out into the audience and laughing your butt off during the White Castle Blues encore.
Yesterday I listened to a tape of the 5-6-88 show from the Bottom Line that was broadcast on WNEW....man, those were the days. Those first 2 records had more great tunes than most bands write over a career. You guys ruled - and still do. Thanks for all the great music over the years.
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brofan
June 20, 2012 at 3:33pm
Hey Jim, Carr Amps are built by Steve Carr by hand right here in Pittsboro, NC. From Wiki: "Founder Steve Carr said of the company: "We try to figure out the great things about forties, fifties, and sixties amps and throw in some new twists. But our amps don’t have a whole lot of knobs or switches. They’re super-useful but very simple."
Steve's Rambler amps have gotten rave reviews and Guitar Player said the Rambler's "layout and wiring are absolutely flawless." Jazz Times called the Carr Rambler's "top-notch craftsmanship, hand-wired electronics and thoughtful, well-researched design."
Also from Wiki: "The Carr amplifiers with 6L6 tubes are compared to classic Fender amps; the Slant 6V, which also has 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes, was praised as "an amazingly useful and versatile amp" and was a "Guitar Player Editors' Pick" in 2009. The "exceptional" Vincent was praised for "its rich tone, variable power, and compact size."
I'm not a player but as a resident of Pittsboro I think it's awesome that a true craftsman like Steve Carr still takes the time and considerable effort to make the best possible product right here in the USA. Kudos to him.
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toothmonkey
June 20, 2012 at 1:08pm
Great story, Jim! I saw you guys at Abbey Road on the River in Kentucky (I think) in 2006 (I think). Anyway, it was great!













