Roy Rogers was kind enough to answer a few questions for Listen & Be Heard about his participation on The Hot Spot soundtrack in 1990. Our e-mail discussion is presented below in its question-and-answer format.
LISTEN & BE HEARD: The music for [tag]The Hot Spot[/tag] all sounds spontaneous and live. The John Lee Hooker biography Boogie Man states ?Hooker, Rogers, Taj and the rhythm section cut for two days, and on the third day Miles came in and overdubbed his stuff.? Is that an accurate description of how things happened?
ROY ROGERS: The description you cite is correct.
L&BH: I?ve seen a tape many times of the early 1990s Sweetwater show you did with John and noticed how focused you and the band members were during each song, especially when he would change chords or rhythm. Was that how this recording was done – playing as a group – or was the individual-tracks approach to studio work used?
RR: As producer, I directed the music/band for the show at the Sweetwater that you refer to, that featured many special guests. I tell people often that to follow JLH musically, you simply have to follow his vocal to know when the chord changes will happen during the song – and that means that you really have to LISTEN! In the studio for The Hot Spot, we recorded as a group mainly (but without Miles) – there were solo overdubs also, depending on what Jack Nitzsche arranged/wanted for a certain passage. But the approach was as a BAND: JLH – vocals/guitar, Taj Mahal – National steel guitar, Roy Rogers – amplified slide/ electric guitars, Tim Drummond – bass and Earl Palmer – drums. Also, Jack N. recorded some synth parts for the soundtrack as well, as I recall. Miles Davis overdubbed later, as you stated.
L&BH: How much input did each player have regarding the music? Were each player?s parts all charted before the recording, did they come from ideas during jams, or a little of both?
RR: The music was improvised around JLH singing and playing – Taj and I came up with most of our own parts in support. We had a lot of freedom to ?play.? Jack Nitzsche defined the moods, tempos, etc., and sometimes had specific passages that he wanted … he generally guided us all in the session – that?s what a music producer does. Different moods were needed for all the different scenes, of course. There were also charts for some parts in the movie that I played on, but those did not involve JLH per se. But make no mistake, JLH defined the overall mood of the soundtrack with Miles Davis.
L&BH: There are some passages where your slide acts as a counterpoint to the trumpet solos. Was Miles reacting to what you had recorded or were your parts added later ? were you responding to him?
RR: Miles was reacting to what he heard on tape, since he overdubbed after we had recorded with JLH. He responded to what the slide played in many instances. I love listening to the interplay between slide and trumpet. It still gives me ?chills? when I hear it!
L&BH: Who had the idea to use a trumpet in the band?s format instead of an instrument more associated with blues music – like a harmonica, for example?
RR: What I heard was that Dennis Hopper (the producer) wanted a soundtrack with his favorite blues musician (JLH) and jazz musician (Miles Davis) playing together with a support band. Taj and I were just happy to be there – as we always remind each other.
L&BH: Looking back, how do you feel about this recording?
RR: It is really an incredible recording. I have had SO many people tell me that it is one of their favorites.
L&BH: Do you know what John or any of the others thought about it?
RR: John liked it a lot. He liked the depth of it… and why not? It is based on his sound. It is a great testament to his power…Miles said that he liked it a whole lot too! It is DEEP STUFF!
L&BH: Did you ever watch the movie?
RR: I watched it a couple of times…and did not like the movie near as much as the soundtrack. Maybe I will watch it again and see if I like it now.
[tags]Roy Roger’s interview, THe Hot Spot[/tags]
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1 Listen & Be Heard » Blog Archive » Revisiting Mingus Dynasty // Nov 13, 2006 at 11:32 pm
[...] My wife Dariece teaches yoga. She flew to India on October 26 to study Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda for six weeks in Chennai, accompanied by her friend and fellow teacher Kate. Kate and her spouse Jay live in Mill Valley; we drove to their apartment and met them for lunch three days before the flight. We ate at Avatar?s Punjabi Restaurant (capsule restaurant review: I have never had a bad bite of anything during approximately ten years of eating meals there), which is a block away from the renowned Sweetwater music club. (See the L&BH interview with slide guitarist Roy Rogers in Vol. 3, Issue 42 for additional information per this venue.) [...]
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