February 2013 \ Features \ Forgotten Heroes \ Forgotten Heroes: Big Jim Sullivan

Forgotten Heroes: Big Jim Sullivan

Corbin Reiff

We pay tribute to a fretboard legend who came of age alongside a young Jimmy Page, and wound up supporting Tom Jones for many years in Vegas.
Premier Guitar February 2013
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Must-Watch Moments
Session legend Big Jim Sullivan said that for him, music is like yoga— a platform for self-exploration. If those words from a bona fide player aren’t enough to pique your interest, check out the following videos that showcase the skills of a man who played on more hit songs than he could remember.


In this footage, Big Jim Sullivan demonstrates his classical chops on a solo jazz instrumental.


Here Sullivan talks about different approaches to playing guitar, from scales to arpeggios and chords, and even encourages players to explore the “forbidden zones” of a guitar’s fretboard.


On this gem of a jam session from the Tom Jones show, Jerry Reed and Big Jim trade rapidfire licks on “Guitar Man,” while Jones delivers rockabilly lyrics. Check out Sullivan’s Tele solo at 3:00.


In this verbal account of growing up in U.K.’s early rock scene, Sullivan talks about dying his hair blonde for his first gig with The Wildcats and making more money than his milkman uncle.


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Comments

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Alan
on 02/03/2013 		PAMRA and the performer's right explained :-

The right to receive equitable remuneration for recorded performances came into law on 1 December 1996. The law works like this: if you are a qualifying performer and have made a commercial recording since 1946 then you may be due some money if your recording was broadcast or played in public since 1 December 1996 in the UK or overseas. PAMRA was set up in 1995 ahead of this right specifically to administer the resulting remuneration to performers.
Alan
on 02/03/2013 		You probably gathered by now I don't know whether Jim received and royalties for his work.
I do know that efforts were made a few years ago to ensure session musicians did get some royalties but the musicians had to prove they were on the records.

This was the reason produced his PAMRA List.
Alan
on 02/01/2013 		Jim owned the record company, arranged the song and played on the record (along with Chas&Dave).
So you would think that when Eminem sampled the rhythm of "I Got The..", written and performed by Labi Siffre, Jim would get royalties.
As indeed many other Rap Acts did.

Nah !
Alan
on 01/31/2013 		Gilbert O'Sullivan acknowledged Jim's original guitar break on "Alone Again (Naturally)".
But if the guitar break was ever used in an advert or film Jim would probably receive nothing.
Also everytime it was played on the radio Jim received nothing to little.
Alan
on 01/30/2013 		When Session Musicians played on records there were a lot of people who didn't want it to be known.
They were :-
1) The Managers
2) The Acts
3) The Fixers
4) The Session Musicians (for tax reasons)
5) The Record Labels
6) and Lastly The Entertainment Business

and so records weren't kept.
Alan
on 01/30/2013 		After a bit of investigation I bet I could find out who scored Notts County's second goal against Barrow in the FA Cup Tie in 1907............
...........but could you please tell me who played guitar on Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" ?
Alan
on 01/28/2013 		Some time ago Jim created a list of the records he had played on (the so called PAMRA List).
He did this to get royalties.
It contained a small number of errors and omissions.
In subsequent interviews Jim cleared up a few points.
More later !
David S
on 01/26/2013 		Also... it says here, and elsewhere that Jim played on David Bowie's "Space Oddity." But that was Mick Wayne on lead guitar, and Bowie on acoustic. There are no other guitar tracks. On Tom Jones' "It’s Not Unusual", musical arranger was Les Reed said the only guitarist on the track was Joe Moretti. This was because people thought it was Jimmy Page. On Petula Clark's "Downtown" included guitarists Vic Flick, Jimmy Page and Big Jim Sullivan. Great guitarist, but he didn't play on all of those tracks. You Really Got Me? No way.
Dave Rowland
on 01/23/2013 		I saw Big Jim over 30 times since 1987, and had the great privelege of playing guitar with him live three times. He also played with Duncan McKenzie after Willie Austen, also The Tony Stone Band, Rattlesnake, the Big Jim Sullivan Band, and a tremendous jazz band called Us, with Herbie Flowers, Malcolm Mortimer, and Derek Austin. He had TWO BJS Legend guitars, one of which I got to play on. A true gentleman, with amazing skills.
Carole and Jim
on 01/23/2013 		I always thought Jim was special ,but Jim never bragged about what he did in his past, when he played with Willie Austin he often did a solo and we always stood amazed at how easy he made a complicated piece sound . What ashame he has gone so soon .



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