Throughout the years of the fans buying records, a special group of fans have emerged who go the extra mile beyond simply listening to the music they love. These fans unlock the stories behind the songs by getting lost in the written materials included with the recordings. From the earliest versions of recordings to this day, recordings often include liner notes - the listing of information about the recordings including musicians, recording studios, back stories, and much more, providing an opportunity for listeners to explore music opening the door to a vast library allowing an intimate relationship with the artists and their work.
With the evolution of the music world into streaming, the idea of liner notes has been expanded with the internet creating an even larger opportunity for music listeners to learn more about the people and stories behind the songs. In this spirit, our music library team has curated the Liner Note Legends Song List to salute the musicians and the stories behind the featured musicians performing these songs. This article is going to take a closer look at a few of these songs.
Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" is an excellent example of what can be found when taking a closer look into the recording studio when the song was recorded. Guitar work on this track was provided by ace session guitarist Hugh McCracken, who appeared on recordings for artists ranging from Paul McCartney to Steely Dan. McCracken's steady strumming and tasty licks throughout this song exemplify the different techniques that can be found in a single song. Using the RS+ riff repeater feature when playing along with "Brown Eyed Girl" is a great way to learn some of the intricate details that this great guitarist brought to many recording studios in his career.
"Compromise" recorded by the Indigo Girls opens with a solid groove provided by award-winning bassist Mechelle Ndegeocello who along with being a solo featured artist in her own right has appeared on recordings with The Rolling Stones, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and many others. Known for her influence in the funk, neo soul, and hip-hop genres, Ndegeocello's bass playing on this track brings a different sound to the Indigo Girls, whose music is largely identified with the folk genre, demonstrating the influence that a single musician can bring to a recording artist. Try out some of the different bass techniques offered in the RS+ arrangement to explore and expand your own sound on the bass.
Sometimes reading into liner notes will reveal surprising collaborations. Bill Withers' classic song "Ain't No Sunshine" was produced by Booker T. Jones, leader of Booker T. and the MG's. The bassist for this recording was session musician Donald "Duck" Dunn who appeared on thousands of recordings for artists including Otis Redding and Elvis Presley. Joining Withers on acoustic guitar is Stephen Stills who adds an extra layer of flavor to the track. Check in with the RS+ lessons to learn about some of the various strumming techniques used by Stills on this song.
There are many opportunities to learn about songs from taking a deeper dive into the details of liner notes that reveal who played on them. We hope that this closer look into these songs will encourage you to explore further into songs as you learn them, as sometimes you will find musicians who - while not the featured artists - can teach you so much.
Michael A. is a member of the Rocksmith+ Music Team. He's a veteran music industry professional who has been a contributing writer for Guitar Player Magazine and Electronic Musician Magazine.
