" I first got involved with the AC615 project before there was an AC615. We all recorded together as part of my first solo album on
Polydor Records, "Ken Lauber Contemplation View". We called ourselves, The Gray Speckeled Bird Band.
Bob Dylan had worked with some of the guys on his Nashville Skyline album six months before and
suggested that I work with them on my album.
We cut my album in three days and then formed 615 and cut those tracks in about a week."
"We recorded at a studio that was in Wayne Moss's aunt Lucy's backyard. Wayne Aunt Lucy baked these
great apple pies which we downed after each final take. It was an 8 track studio which we thought
at the time sounded real good. Mac Gayden took some real nice 'Steve Cropper' type solos on
my album which made me think of Otis Reding. Weldon Myric's steel playing was like a classical
orchestra on moonshine. Charlie McCoys harp playing never sounded better, Dylan said. All of
the guys, Pete Wade on dobro and rhy. git, and of course Kenny Buttrey, added something to my
album that really hasn't been heard since. A kind of arranged jam type back up which later
became the 615 format. Buttrey really did most of the arranging right from the drums.
He always did that on sessions. Probably the only real band leader/ arranger, as a drummer,
that Nashville ever knew. Those were the real good times in Nashville. Kristofferson, Baez,
Neil Young, Micky Newberry, Jerry Jeff Walker all cutting week after week with this great bunch
of musicians who could catch bass (the fish -ed)as well as they could play music...There's never
been a studio band out of Nashville that has had as many hits, with such a diverse list of
artists to their credit. I wish them a long life as they will always have a part of my heart.
AC615 was really a musician produced album."
A fairly comprehensive list of those involved goes as follows;
So what else have these guys gone on to do?; (This list is not yet so comprehensive, give me time)
Elliot Mazer - Co-produced the following songs on Neil Youngs classic album 'Harvest';
Ken Lauber - Many TV, Film soundtracks and plays, One of the latest begin the soundtrack score to
the documentary film "In search of Kundun with Martin Scorsese'
Kenny Buttrey - Drums on Neil Youngs 'Harvest' and 'Tonights the Night' as part of the
'Stray Gators' rhythm section. Co Founder 'Barefoot Jerry'.
Mac Gaydon - A ridiculously long session recording career with many highlights such as
sessions with JJ Cale, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Kris Kristoffen, Willie Nelson, Tim Hardin.
Co Founder of 'Barefoot Jerry'.
Solo albums - 'McGavok Gayden' (EMI), 'Skyboat', Hymm to the Seeker (Both MCA)
Latest solo album 'Nirvana Blues'. Lots of stuff available from www.macgayden.com
Weldon Myric - Weldon's soaring pedal steel playing is a real highlight of AC615. I must seek out some
more about his track record, or should that be record track?
Charlie McCoy - Co founder 'Barefoot Jerry'.
Pete Wade -
Wayne Moss - Co Founder Barefoot Jerry. Played on Buffy Sainte-Marie's 'I'm Gonna be a Country
Girl Again' album on Vanguard. The title track is one I've played several times at Rons Pub 'The Lake Lothing'
in Lowestoft. Because we just had it on MIDI I never knew before researching this peice who did
this song originally. Between these guys there's a helluva lot of music.
Bobby Thompson - Details are sketchy on what he's done since, however he was in on the genesis of
the AC615 personnel, - playing on Monkee Mike Nesmith's sessions at RCA's Nashville studio which
included the song 'Good Clean Fun'. The other people present who would go on to be involved with
AC615 included Buddy Spicher and Charlie McCoy see www.banjonews.com/BNIhtml/BTom.html
McCoy and Buttrey wrote the theme to the BBC rock programme 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', an instrumental
called 'Stone Fox Chase'.
Mcoy,Moss,Spicher,Thompson played on the track 'Number 5' on Steve Millers' album 'Number 5'
Moss,Buttrey,Puttnam,Briggs,McCoy all appeared on Buffy Saint-Maries 'Moonshot'
Oh and here's a quick list of what some of them did BEFORE Ac615;
Bob Dylans 'Blonde on Blonde' - Charlie McCoy - guitar/bass/harmonica/trumpet. Wayne Moss - guitar
Kenny Buttrey - Drums,
Elliot Mazer - Producer
Ken Lauber - Keyboards
Kenny Buttrey - Drums/Arranging
McGavok(Mac) Gaydon - Guitar
Weldon Myric - Pedal Steel
Charlie McCoy - Harmonica
Pete Wade - Dobro
Wayne Moss - Bass/Guitar
Norbert Putnam - Bass
Bobby Thompson - Banjo
Buddy Spicher - Fiddle
David Briggs - Keyboards
Harvest, Heart Of Gold, Are You Ready For The Country?,Old Man, Alabama,Words.
(This is impressive as Alabama and Words are two of my absolute favourite sounding tracks ever)