Skunk Baxter: Hostage Negotiations in the Studio
Wong Notes30 Okt 2024

Skunk Baxter: Hostage Negotiations in the Studio

“Skunk” Baxter has had an interesting career. The Washington, D.C.-born musician was one of Steely Dan’s founding members in the early 1970s, and played on some of their most iconic numbers, like Can’t Buy a Thrill’s’ “Reelin’ in the Years” and “Do It Again,” or Pretzel Logic’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” Then, he moved on to join the Doobie Brothers, from roughly 1974 to 1979, where he fatefully invited Michael McDonald into the band. After that stint, he became a go-to session player for artists like Rod Stewart, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, and Donna Summer, and a touring performer for Elton John and Linda Ronstadt, among others.

That was just the beginning. Baxter’s interest and background in electronics, science, and recording technology gained him a position in the U.S. defense industry. Turns out, a lot of digital music gear shared similar principles with emergent defense tech. “Basically, a radar is just an electric guitar on steroids,” says Baxter, noting the same four fundamental forces at work over everything in our universe.

Wong and Baxter trades notes on how to navigate studio sessions (“Just shut the hell up,” offers Baxter), early conversions of pitch into digital signals, and how Baxter cut his solo on Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” on a $25 guitar. And can mediating between artists and producers feel like high-stakes hostage negotiations? Sometimes.

Visit Skunk Baxter: https://www.jeffskunkbaxter.com/

Get 30% off your first year of DistroKid by going here: http://distrokid.com/vip/corywong

Hit us up: wongnotes@premierguitar.com

Visit Cory: https://www.corywongmusic.com

Visit Premier Guitar: http://premierguitar.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/wongnotespod

Produced by Jason Shadrick and Cory Wong

Additional Editing by Shawn Persinger

Presented by DistroKid

Episoder(106)

Wolfgang Van Halen: Sing the Solo

Wolfgang Van Halen: Sing the Solo

Wolfgang Van Halen joins Cory for the season 7 premiere of Wong Notes! Chatting before the release of Mammoth II, the duo discuss guitar trios, 5150 studios, cloning, touring with Metallica, plus: Who...

27 Sep 20231h 4min

Eric Krasno: Funk Chameleon

Eric Krasno: Funk Chameleon

Soulive, Lettuce, Tedeschi Trucks, and most recently, Stanton Moore and Branford Marsalis—that's a short list of some of the acts Eric Krasno plays and has played with throughout his career. From one ...

10 Mai 20231h 6min

Jason Isbell's Desert Island Gear

Jason Isbell's Desert Island Gear

"If you keep your head and your ass in the same place, that'll happen on its own," says Jason Isbell on how he gets the most out of his live performances. On the heels of a new HBO documentary, he and...

3 Mai 20231h 3min

Nuno Bettencourt is Out for Blood

Nuno Bettencourt is Out for Blood

The Extreme guitarist shares his pedal philosophy—including how a visit from EVH inspired him to use a phaser on the new record—and talks about ripping with Rihanna at the Super Bowl and more.Get 30% ...

28 Apr 20231h 15min

Mike Gordon on the Magic of the Jam

Mike Gordon on the Magic of the Jam

The Phish bassist chats about everything from how to EQ a picked electric bass tone to drummers, the importance of a good shirt, his recipe for a good gig, and why he hates jam bands.Get 30% off your ...

19 Apr 20231h 19min

Theo Katzman: The Songwriter Behind the Guitarist

Theo Katzman: The Songwriter Behind the Guitarist

Cory sits down with his bandmate-brother, multi-instrumentalist Theo Katzman, to discuss the virtues of musical self-acceptance, the infectious charisma of Trey Anastasio, and how Theo has made a care...

9 Feb 20231h 59min

Mateus Asato on Thinking Beyond the Guitar

Mateus Asato on Thinking Beyond the Guitar

Mateus Asato shares on his experiences playing with pop stars, what it means to be of service to a song, and how taking a break from social media—which was where he built his fan base of 1.2 million—w...

12 Jan 20231h 7min

Paul Gilbert’s Shred School Is in Session

Paul Gilbert’s Shred School Is in Session

The professor is in. He dives deep into EVH’s moves, talks about why he prefers high action, and goes “full rant mode” into technical tips. Get 30% off your first year of DistroKid by going here: http...

29 Des 20221h 13min

Populært innen Underholdning

papaya
enkel-servering
harm-og-hegseth
tore-og-haralds-podkast
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
tusvik-tnne
big-5-med-nils-og-harald-2
konspirasjonspodden
topp-3-med-wold-og-fladseth
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
hovla
folk-flest-med-linn-og-nils
kjendiscrush-med-sofie-karlstad
nare-venner
vitnemal
gi-meg-alle-detaljene
rss-gammal-maiden
christine-dancke
feedback-med-egon-holstad
rss-backstage-historier-om-legender