Albert Lee - The Father of Modern Tele Players - Ask Zac 53 

I had Albert Lee at my venue last year. Lovely guy. I told him I really enjoyed his playing, he apologised for being old and a bit slower. If only I could be half the player an older and slower Albert Lee is!

My all time favourite example of Albert Lee's body of work is from the song "Sweet Little Lisa" on Dave Edmunds' 1979 album Repeat When Necessary (which also featured Huey Lewis as a guest vocalist on the ultra-cool "Bad is Bad"). I bought that album basically on the day it was released but only very recently discovered that a documentary film was made of its recording and that it's available on RU-vid. In one section of the film you see Albert Lee arrive to play on "Sweet Little Lisa". The track had been laid down already but Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and the rest had had to wait until Albert was back in London for a few days. What you see is Albert comes into the studio, extracts his guitar from its case, flops onto a divan and proceeds to lay down a blistering solo in one take! That solo is probably my favourite ever and I have adored it for over 40 years now.

His work with Carlene Carter was amazing. “ I fell in love” is a clinic in country guitar. It’s basically one long solo twinkling along in the background.

Like many of your watchers I have been fortunate to have met Albert on several occasions when he has toured the UK. I was amazed when he agreed to bring his band to a small club in Yorkshire to help a bunch of local players celebrate their coming up to the age of 70 years, as was Albert at the time! They had wanted a good band to play and although none had ever met Albert, they got in touch through his management and agreed a price. He signed my Telecaster and several others on that night, including a MM which I now own.

Thank you Zac. I wish you could interview Albert Lee

I became aware of Albert in 89/90 after reading an interview with Zakk Wylde wherein he mentioned Lee’s video tape lesson. Music provides strange and unexpected pathways to discovery sometimes.

Caught an Albert Lee show 4 years ago. He is an incredibly sincere performer and an unbelievable musician!

Met Albert very briefly a few years ago. He came into a blues jam I was at and sat casually in the back. Someone said "Hey, that's Albert Lee back there" and all the guitar players that knew wet their pants. I went back, shook his hand and stammered out something trite like "Thank you for everything". He just smiled and nodded. Slipped away before anyone had the guts to ask him to play.

In the studio with Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, and Albert Lee. That had to be the best day ever. Thanks for sharing all the detailed Albert info. Great stuff!

On the LP by his early UK band, HEADS HANDS & FEET, there's a racecar-speed version of 'Country Boy' that kills it. :)

I saw Albert in Tampa Fl in '96 at a Thoroughbred Guitar Store workshop. He's the "Telecaster king"! He's one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Thank you Zac!!! Saw AL at a workshop at Skips Music, Sacramento CA in the mid 2000’s. What a generous and humble soul. He stayed and bantered with us for way over his allotted time. Obviously showed us a lot of his amazing guitar technique, but it was just being in a small room and sharing his humanity (and great stories-Everly’s, Emmy Lou Harris, Clapton...) with us that was the biggest gift of all. Made everybody feel like he was really happy to just hang with us and answer questions. Wore out his Star-licks video. Even my little kids thought he was great. I would hear them singing “Because, just Because” while doing their household chores. We’re fans for life!

His old Starlicks instructional VHS did IT for me back over 30 years ago...what a killer musician and what a gentleman!

Once in the early '90's at a NAMM show, There was this big line for the guitarist for the Dregs, and when he took a break, the line dissolved, and then I saw Albert all alone, with no line! So I jumped at my chance, and swooped to him, and his then about 8 year old daughter! A lot of our conversation was sprinkled with "Daddy, can we leave now?", stuff! It was a great conversation none the less!

T-Bird to Vegas changed my life. I love that you create a Spotify playlist of the artist you cover.

" Just one Night" changed my life forever!

@Ask Zac. Have a look at a video on RU-vid called "Born Fighters Rockpile". It's a documentary on UK band Rockpile (Dave Edmunds - guitar, vocals; Nick Lowe - bass, vocals; Billy Bremner - guitar, vocals; Terry Williams - drums, drums, drums) The band are in the studio recording tracks for the Rockpile album "Seconds Of Pleasure" and for Dave Edmunds (DE) album "Repeat When Necessary". Nick Lowe (aka Basher cos he bashes down the tracks) is behind the mixing desk. DE is recording Hank DeVito's "Sweet Little Lisa" for his album and has got Albert Lee in to play the guitar solo. DE says that most guitarists like himself "have a derived style, but Albert plays like he's come in from another planet, totally unique". Watch Dave's reaction to Albert's "take" on the track when they play it back in the control room. Priceless! And Albert - ever the gentleman, comes in quietly with a look of "Was that alright?" Albert Lee to me is just the best, hands down. Check out his take on Paul Kennerly's "Born To Run". The track is 5 mins plus with an extended guitar outro'. Amazing how Albert always finds somewhere to go with his playing. Keep up your good work sir, stay safe.

My Dad introduced me to Albert. Nice intro .I got the Albert Lee VHS 📼 lessons I think from Homespun.He is so nice and very humble about his explosive talents on the guitar. Happy Traum and his videos were the best thing we had at the time for guitar instruction. Maybe a good idea for an AskZac experience 🤔. Anyway Thanks for the show on one of my all time favorites.

Great episode Zac. I've seen Albert many times, he tour's regularly over here in the UK, last time in March this year, which luckily was at the start of the tour as most of it was later cancelled because of Covid. I first saw him in 1980 with E C at a local gig, and as you, I was hooked. A fantastic player, and considering all he has done , very humble . He always has time for his fans after the show, to sign autographs and say hello. I'm lucky enough to have 2 of my guitars signed by him, a Tele of cause and a great Music Man A Lee signature from 2000 .

I saw him open for REO and Procol Harum in the late 60's- It totally disrupted the schedule for the concert because there were so many encores for him.

Albert is an interesting man, I did not realise he is a 'Romany' person, he shares that with Ronnie Wood, music in the blood! Great video Zac.

Nice segment Zac. Been a lifelong fan of Albert and have met him many times. First saw him in 1965 with Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds in a tiny club in my hometown of Middlesbrough in the U.K. He has certainly influenced my playing for sure. I currently own three of his signature guitars and actually had four at one time. If I could steal one thing from him, it would not be his blistering speed, much as I admire that aspect of his playing. Rather, it would be the way he thinks melodically. To me, that is where his uniqueness really shines through. There are a ton of players who can replicate his speed, but none that I've heard who can phrase with that jazz sensibility that informs his choice of notes in a melodic solo or fill. Thanks for another great clip, and hope you are safe in these trying times.

Someone recently had a “great tele players” post on YT without an Albert Lee mention. It was like a baseball sluggers show without Stan Musial. I got hooked on the Luxury Liner album back in ‘77 too. We covered a lot of Dave Edmunds tunes from that release but never Sweet Little Lisa. “Got pulled over by a debutant. She was playing with the gearshift, I was acting kind of nonchalant”. Could not do it justice then but over forty years later, maybe.

And the Hot Band included my favorite country drummer of all, John Ware. The man is nuance personified.

I discovered Albert the same way, from the Just One Night album . I've seen him live 3 times here in Australia , one time with Tommy Emanuel . Now that was a great show, they started on acoustic guitars and then both on electric guitar with a full band wow , I will never forget that show. I have a Albert Lee MUSICMAN guitar and love it. My favourite Albert album is Speechless, try listening to that turned up to 10 driving down the highway .

I much prefer Albert's tone when used Telecasters. His sound is so anemic with the EB guitars. I met him at a clinic for EB years ago and he was such a nice guy.

I will never forget my first introduction to Albert Lee's playing, when the drummer in my early 90's band HipBone handed me a cassette dub of the Head Hands and Feet record. Good Lord! I was hearing a little Captain Beefheartishness in their arrangements, too. Amazing.

1st heard albert lee with the everly brothers , later got his instructional vid , think im still learning from it .

I really think more guitarist need to stumble across Albert , he is a truly gifted guitarist

Once again!!! Great information and great stories. We are privileged to get first hand accounts of your past experiences. I am so grateful for all you are doing :)

Great, what wonderful insights into Albert, thankyou for sharing 😎🎙🎸✅

Gosh that's a such a lovely sound Zac. Thank You for the channel. The gentleness of your delivery is a great way to educate with your experience and stories. Musical chicken soup for the soul, ears, imagination and to inspire the mind. Thank You and Be Safe.

Thanks for another great video. My introduction to Albert Lee was his Star Licks video. He is truly incredible.

GREAT playlist mate! Thanks.

Awesome thank you Zac!

I'm so glad you brought up that version of Luxury Liner that Albert, Vince and Brad played on. I have that album and have always thought that Vince had that best tone and tastiest solo on that particular version.

Great episode! In early 2020 before the world shut down, my son and I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Albert Lee perform live and up close. He and his band put on one of the best shows I have ever seen. It was a stunning performance which blew us away, and provided some inspiration for my "prog metal" guitar playing son. Thanks Zac for providing this channel full of opinions, facts, and insight that most fans would otherwise never have access to.

Another great episode, Zac! I remember when I first saw Albert’s Hot Licks video and being just blown away by his playing (here in Germany, people are not really into country music and I’ve never heard anything like it before). He, along with Brad Paisley and Jerry Donahue really got me into country music and chicken picking and I’am so grateful for that! Over the last couple of years, I really transformed into a country guitar player and I’am loving it!

Love Townes - and Emily Lou and, of course, the WIllie/Merle version. One of Townes' best songs ever. I did not know how many Townes songs I knew until I was in college and fell in love with Cowboy Junkies. Working backwards, I began to realize how many of his songs I knew. I remember Albert Lee having one of those Star Licks (or sim) videos back in the 80's. I wasn't ready, but I knew it was special. Just such a lovely guy and a lovely player. You did a great job with this one as usual.

I saw Albert Lee playing with Heads Hands and Feet round about '72. Terrific.

Anyone who wants to know even more about Albert Lee, there is an in-depth interview with him on the Andertons Music channel, The Captain Meets ... And Derek Watts 2009 biog of him, Country Boy, is also very informative. It came out in paperback in 2019

I saw Albert Lee live years back (in Edinburgh's Usher Hall) when he was touring with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings - and the other guitarist in the band was Martin Taylor! They were both AWESOME. To top it off, the show was opened by a solo acoustic set by some guy called ... Tommy Emmanuel, who I had never heard of before. "Incredible" doesn't begin to do justice to how wonderful the music was that night.

I am so glad you uploaded this to your channel.

Great to hear you honouring Albert Lee, Zac! So glad you got to play with him. BTW, it was through Glen D Hardin that Albert was recommended to Emmylou - because Albert Lee had played in The Crickets with Glen D. Very cool!

Albert lives out by me at the California beaches seen him play several times

Great episode, thanks! And thanks for the Spotify playlist 😊

Great stories and history ! After the KSAN rock station I loved went country in the late '70s, we listened to it at work. Sometimes heard "Country Boy" and loved it. Dreg's "Industry Standard" and Rocking Guitars, a tune Albert guested on for the solo and Lead vocal. ha, his "I refuse to scream'' bit before the solo would ring in my brain at work while recovering from lock down.

Hey Zac---- great video, I've been a huge Albert Lee fan for years now. First time I saw him play live was in a band called Heads, Hands, and Feet, in England in 1971. I've followed his career ever since. He's a truly great master guitarist and hugely influential. Just thought I'd add a name that is missing from your Hot Band history----- another fantastic player of Albert's calibre whom I saw play live with Emmy Lou and who did a lot of recording with her. That's Frank Reckard, a name that a lot of people don't know these days. He retired from the scene but he was right up there with Albert and James Burton and the other great players of the day.

Awesome video... I first heard him with Steve Morse on the song General Lee, I think it was 1983, I was a Jr in HS. Thank you for your knowledge and passing this history on to everyone. He is the reason I’m a hybrid chicken picker.

Another great episode Zac. Thanks.

I love these episodes! I watched every second of your Ricky Scaggs episode. Now another master with Albert Lee. I really enjoy the history lessons along with breaking down their playing.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Your intro and outro are so relaxing to me. I enjoy listening to you play. Stay safe and be blessed

Lovin' the format Zac....history and stories with a sample of technique and licks for us to try. My tele is back at the forefront since subscribing to your channel.

Another wonderful show Zac. Keep 'em comin'! Cheers K

Great playing and tone Zac.. I sure wish I could play that cleanly but my hands just don't cooperate now a days but I'm just a big fan of your content, thanks for sharing..

Thank you very much Zac! Great Stories about Albert and all the Tele-Cats. Wonderful ; I also play an old Music Man 2x10 Combo which is a very solid amp. And I'm a big fan of Albert.

Love the stories! And I had to chuckle when you rattled off the string gauges Albert has used over the years. Clearly not working from notes. You're my hero bud!

I`ve had the immense pleasure to have seen Albert play several gigs with Hogan`s Hero`s, and got to meet him afterwards, a very nice humble & sincere man, and an extraordinary player, and like you Zak, he got me into playing the Tele. I did get side tracked for a few years, and played all manner of other guitars, but I always seem to get magnetically drawn back to a Tele. (I`m also an Emmy Lou & the Hot band fan.) 🤠🎸

This is 100% the video I was looking for as I started to run out of interesting guitar content.

Emmy Lou was so talented and has always had very talented musicians playing with her. Albert Lee is so awesome!!

A great player and it’s nice to find out some interesting information about him. It’s great that you got a chance to play with him.

Wow1 That was a great history of Albert Lee. The connections run deep in the country guitar world. I got turned on to the Tele and country picking via Clarence White and The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo album because I was a big Byrds fan and the band I was in at the time played several Byrd covers. I had to learn the intro to You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and I didn't know White used a B-bender! That turned me on to Emmylou Harris through the Gram Parsons connection. I was watching a television production of an Emmylou & Hotband concert (Austin City Limits?) in the late 70's and when this wild looking guy started playing a blackguard Tele it knocked me out. I had no idea who this Albert Lee was but I became a big fan. Thanks for featuring another Tele master whose influence runs deep.

Great choice for an episode Zac, enjoyed it a lot. I think you may have been right the first time regarding Dolly Parton providing back up vocals on Luxury Liner. Also worth noting Rodney Crowell was in the band during that period and on the album also 😃

From Leo: Love your work Zak. Great presentation of this artist.

Was just thinking of Albert Lee last week. I had a rehearsal for a Covid safe out gig at the drummers house. I saw the Music Man Albert Lee Signature Model that belongs to the singer/guitarist in my old band, who is working on a project with the drummer, in the corner. He is heavily into Albert Lee.

Great episode! I love Albert's playing and you've just told me lots of stuff I didn't know about him! I've seen him play a few times, including at a pub local to me in the UK where he did a masterclass with backing tracks! The main UK Musicman distributer is about 200 yards from my house so there was a local connection.

Went to a workshop with Albert at a local music store about 25 years ago. Great player & genuinely humble guy.

Great episode. I had the 65 watt 210HD Music Man amp. It was a hybrid amp, solid state pre amp and tube power section. It was a very warm sounding amp. I lent it to Dr John in the 1980s and his cat tore up the grill cloth, so I gave it to him.

Love that tune

He has been incredibly generous about explaining his techniques.

Saw him play in Skelmersdale Lancashire about six years ago as a warm up gig for about 120 people and got to have a chat afterwards in the bar. A really nice guy. Asked him what compressor he used and he told me about his Korg processor. Fantastic gig that I'll always remember.

Saw Albert for the 1st time in PHX..with Rye Cooder..late 70's or so.Had never heard of him. Mind blown..just remember the flash of the bottom of his tennis as he kept the beat..Wore out Luxury Liner..saw him again later in LA..what a player!!

Albert Lee. What can you say about this guy. Picker extraordinaire, so revered by so many pickers . Like yourself I’ve always listened and tried to imitate his fast solo approach similar to the lick you demonstrated which is a G to A lick approach in the way I think about it when playing that particular lick. And of course all his quick shotgun style double and triplet stuff. I own a lot of his video performances, lesson videos etc. When trying to play more fluent I always listen and watch Albert Lee for inspiration. But I always get frustrated in the end because my hands cramp up and my brain freezes trying to play that stuff. Lol. As you said there is only one Albert Lee A very informative episode about Albert. And speaking of Music Man amps it might be a cool episode to compare one if these old amps to a Fender such as your Deluxe for example. Looking forward to the next episode. Cheers!

My first intro to Albert was head , hands, and feet. He first played Country Boy on a gut string and it was more like the hot grass of Tony Rice , and the swing 42 era Django. I never knew he was a gypsy till today. It also answers why he has that swing to his playing ,it comes naturally. As always thanks, I encourage seeking out the vinyl there is something to the continuity of an album side of music versus spotify or Pandora that is lost either that or I'm just showing my age.

Another awesome video my friend. Man that brings back wonderful memories and gotta say his playing/tone ect... got me going on the tele as well. That studio album you spoke of at the end covering all the Emmylou tunes, just wondering what the name of it may be and if it's available. Also a Huge fan of Emmylou and the Hot Band. Thanks buddy for the awesome stories. Love your channel and all the great content.

His album, Speechless, is worth a listen. Albert also sings and is a very nice piano player!

I like your new t-shirt!!

Fantastic topic and episode Zac. Albert is so good at bends and little tricks. The way he held the pick with 3 fingers was an interesting observation. He must use extra stiff picks??

Awesome video. I can't decide who's got the best stories and info - you or Keith at five watt world. Both great channels!

Wow?! first guy I've heard of that plays with three finger grip. I I feel great moe

I think my favorite is Albert's self titled record with the Everly's band. Great segment. Thanks!

The lick you play at 14:09 sounds to me like straight-up bebop (the use of enclosure of the chord tones); that must be what I like about Albert's playing: his swing and chromaticism. Great video.

My Albert Lee Star Licks VHS tape was a game changer.

Im kinda embarrassed i didn't know his songs so well until Zac shared the musical contributions he had on country music and probably music in general......

Another great show! How about a video on all the Hot Band players who have gone on to make their mark in music?

Albert Lee, amazing guitarist, amazing person. In my opinion, his best solo is on the Carlene Carter hit "I Fell in Love", he just masters that guitar there.

I’d love to hear your take on Jimmy Olander. He’s seldom talked about, but is one amazing Tele player.

Another great Episode as usual. Could you do one on Jorgenson too?

I had a music man 65RD head and a music man 4x12 cabinet in the late 70s. I bought it used. Not sure what year it was. I traded it for an ampeg V6B head and 2x15 cabinet when I played bass for a bit. Bassist were hard to find in my town.

To Zac's excellent Spotify list, I would add Patty Loveless' album Honky Tonk Angel. Standouts are "The Blue Side of Town" and "Don't Toss Us Away."

It's really too bad that more people don't know about Albert Lee. I came to the party very late myself having "discovered" Albert when I resurrected my interest in country music as a middle-aged adult. In the past few years, I've had the pleasure of seeing Albert play twice, once solo and again on a nostalgia tour with Peter Asher at the Alberta Rose Theater here in Portland, OR. You can't hear Clapton or Page in a funky little theater that seats maybe 300 or 400 people max. The fact that you can go see Albert at such a small venue is both a treat and a travesty. At the concerts I found out that Albert is not only a fabled guitar player but a great singer as well, something that truly surprised me. But the most amazing thing about Albert was not the electricity of his performance and his staggering chops, but how positively joyful he is. He's played some of the grandest stages in the world, but he was as dialed in for that small theater in Portland as he would be for Royal Albert Hall. Thank you for doing this video. I learned a lot as always. The fact that you know what string gauges he played over the years could win you the Nobel Prize for Nerdology. Impressive, Zac. You do such a marvelous job with these Ask Zac videos and of course all the Truetone Lounge interviews, as well. I thank you for taking the time to make these noteworthy contributions to the musical education of people like me.

Are those deluxe reverb amps still around for sale ? I'd love to get one for church and just leave it on stage for that purpose only

If there's a better song (and vocal) in country music than "Me and Willie," I'm not sure it's spiritually safe to listen to it.

It wasn't a "trade war" as such that stopped American guitar imports into the UK. It was the fact, that the UK was broke AFTER ww2 and there were limited dollar reserves- and they were used for essential purchases- not consumer goods. By the end of the 1950s, the UK economy had improved to the extent that the UK was earning dollars from exports to the USA, so the embargo on consumer goods from the USA was lifted- and the American guitars were imported but they were massively expensive for British people, whose incomes were low in comparison to the USA.

I met Albert at the checkout at Gelson's supermarket in Calabasas

Off topic apologies. Are you able to help re: MacGavock Gayden 1st album . Out of print and never made it to CD. Need to find a copy or the audio for a dear friend. All help appreciated. X

That’s Exactly how I got into tele picking. Dropped the needle on Luxury Liner and “what???!”. Many years and 750 Albert gigs later I’m still amazed when he drops the flag on that one. I was a writer on a music mag “International Musician” and got to interview Al in 1978 when the Hot Band was on a short London tour and the only slot was sound check at the Royal Albert Hall. Me and the photographer turned up and Phil Kaufman said “No pictures of Emmy”. We replied “that’s OK we’re here for Albert” I spent years trying to play that LL solo. I figured if I could play 10% as good as Albert I’ll be 100% better than 50% of other players. My fingers bleed on” Country Boy” until I saw his video where he explained it’s all done with delay!

i found luxury liner and roses in the snow in the two dollar bin at my record store best four bucks i ever spent

Dave Edmunds "Repeat When Necessary" feat. Albert Lee (boom)

Albert maybe didn't invent the Telecaster or country music but he certainly influenced a whole generation of chicken-pickin' stylists. I know he loves the people at Music Man but I preferred him on a Tele. His musical ideas just flowed from his guitar....always great and always sounding like Albert. I just wish he'd vary his tone once in awhile....always uses that "out of phase" sound which gets old after awhile.