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Title: Billy Lee Riley Post by: Lowbacca on May 03, 2014, 03:20:14 PM I just put on the Sun Years compilation of Billy Lee Riley's (October 5, 1933 – August 2, 2009) material to get to know more than just "Red Hot" and "Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll". Neat stuff!
Any fans of his out here in the SmileySmile lands? (http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/98680417/The+Sun+Years+4143b6dd34a2c97b17d6d44f31fc71.jpg) I heard he played on a couple of Beach Boys studio sessions as well. Does anyone know which ones? Title: Re: Billy Lee Riley Post by: Rocker on May 04, 2014, 04:41:40 AM He played harmonica on the album "Help me Ronda" afaik. But nothing else I would know about.
He was a great talent for sure. But he just never had the right material for more than just one great single in a while. His band was more or less the house band for Sun from '56 onwards (J.M. van Eaton on drums, Roland Janes on guitar etc.) plus Riley was a very good guitar and harmonica player himself. His version of Tony Joe White's "I've got a thing about you baby" is pure magic and should've been a big, big hit imo. It was this version that Elvis used as the basis for his own recording. Presley also had Riley play at his (Presley's) private new year's eve party in '69 (or around that time). IIRC it was one of his sessions that he couldn't make and which then turned into the recording for Booker T. & The MG's "Green onions". On the good material you can hear the potential he had. All in all very much like Sonny Burgess. Title: Re: Billy Lee Riley Post by: Christian on May 04, 2014, 05:50:17 AM He played harmonica on the album "Help me Ronda" afaik. But nothing else I would know about. He also played harmonica on "Please Let Me Wonder". Title: Re: Billy Lee Riley Post by: RangeRoverA1 on May 04, 2014, 06:02:23 AM He also played harmonica on "Please Let Me Wonder". Aka the all-time fave of Lowbacca.Title: Re: Billy Lee Riley Post by: Lowbacca on May 04, 2014, 06:04:59 AM He played harmonica on the album "Help me Ronda" afaik. But nothing else I would know about. Thank you for that 'exposé', Rocker! :)He was a great talent for sure. But he just never had the right material for more than just one great single in a while. His band was more or less the house band for Sun from '56 onwards (J.M. van Eaton on drums, Roland Janes on guitar etc.) plus Riley was a very good guitar and harmonica player himself. His version of Tony Joe White's "I've got a thing about you baby" is pure magic and should've been a big, big hit imo. It was this version that Elvis used as the basis for his own recording. Presley also had Riley play at his (Presley's) private new year's eve party in '69 (or around that time). IIRC it was one of his sessions that he couldn't make and which then turned into the recording for Booker T. & The MG's "Green onions". On the good material you can hear the potential he had. All in all very much like Sonny Burgess. He played harmonica on the album "Help me Ronda" afaik. But nothing else I would know about. He also played harmonica on "Please Let Me Wonder". He also played harmonica on "Please Let Me Wonder". Aka the all-time fave of Lowbacca.Title: Re: Billy Lee Riley Post by: Orange Crate Art on May 04, 2014, 04:19:21 PM I'm a fan! I love his old singles from Sun Records. Rock & Roll!!
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