1. (For James) Extra Guitar, Hold The Vocals

This is the first of a series of mixtapes I plan to do in the coming weeks and months aimed at individual friends, some from the mixtaping community, some not. First up, James Allard.

01 - The Allman Brothers Band - Don't Want You No More

A natural opening number for Allman Brothers shows since day one, highlighting
the talents of the three original front men, Gregg Allman on keys, and Duane
Allman and Dickie Betts on guitar. This track exemplifies their blues rock
style, but also the jazz band sensibilities with which they approached playing.

02 - Bert Jansch - Anji/Worksong

Davey Graham's "Anji" had been a staple of the "Les Cousins" London folk scene
of the Sixties, and many folkies on the circuit were still playing it when I
started attending venues like The Black Bull Folk Club, Whetstone in the early
Seventies. I love Bert's version though, more than the S&G one or even the
original.

03 - Canned Heat - Hill's Stomp

A Henry Vestine led instrumental shuffle from the early 70s. Canned Heat were
maybe past their best by the time this was released, but there has always been
something special about this track for me.

04 - Chuck Berry - Guitar Boogie

Not known for his instrumentals, but this really showcases Berry's great and
I think undervalued technique.

05 - Django Reinhardt - Naguine

I came to Reinhardt by the back door. I saw a show by his old colleague Stephane
Grappelli, and the Django part was shared by two guitarists, Martin Taylor and
Diz Disley. because of what I heard that night, I went back to the original
Django recordings, and they have been with me never since.

06 - Earl Hooker - Drivin' Wheel

An underrated guitar genius. All there is to it.

07 - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Rude Mood

You can't say that SRV is underrated. His was the talent that launched hundreds
of less talented guitar players who failed to pick up on how diverse and far
ranging his style was. I love the exuberance of this particular cut.

08 - Eric Clapton - Slunky

Not perhaps the first instrumental to come to mind when you think of EC, but
I love the frenzied sloppiness of this. It does kind of sound like the
"groovy" music that would be playing in a disco scene from a bad late Sixties
movie. You can almost see Tony Curtis or Roger Moore moving past mini skirted
"go-go" dancers carrying drinks as this plays. Well, I can anyway!

09 - Fleetwood Mac - Albatross

I remember a comment from someone on "Zero" saying that he would be ok with
it if he never heard this again. I maintain the reverse position. It is, and
always will be my favorite piece of music. It played at my Mum's funeral, my
Dad's too, and it will play at mine. Peter Green crafted something so
spiritual with this song, and it is ALWAYS with me.

10 - Frank Zappa - Variations on The Secret Carlos Santana Chord Progression

So some fun, trite but rather splendid nonsense to follow Albatross. Not as
great as he himself may have thought he was, I always find something new to
enjoy when I hear Zappa.

11 - Freddie King - Boogie Fuck

Not one of the classic King instrumentals, instead a slightly manic late model
jam that featured in his live shows. You can find some superb extended
footage of Freddie playing this on Youtube.

12 - Grant Green - Brazil

A friend back in London gave me a Grant Green CD for my birthday about ten years
back. There is a lightness and joy to his playing I hadn't quite found elsewhere
and it is safe to say I am now a fan.

13 - Jimi Hendrix Experience - Drivin' South

I love Hendrix like this. A BBC radio recording from early on in 67, Jimi
jamming and improvising as only he could.

14 - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - The Stumble

The second of three examples of Peter Green's exquisite guitar work. Anyone
would think I had been obsessed all these years!

15 - Link Wray - Jack The Ripper (Live)

Now this is so nasty and dirty you expect it to steal stuff from your fridge and
then cough up blood on your carpet. (No, I know, only I think that!) If Nick
Cave had been a pioneer rock guitar player from the late Fifties, he would have
sounded like this.

16 - Peter Greenbaum - Apostle

Greeny again. There is a rather nice version of this with strings, but I prefer
this stripped down affair.

17 - Pink Floyd - Any Color You Like

I know Gilmour does not kick in with the guitar till almost halfway, but I love
it and I suspect Mr Mirage does too!

18 - Santana - Europa

Santana's very dreadful rock covers album from 2010 tarnished what I thought
was an untarnishable copy book, but a live spot on the first ever George
Lopez show showed Carlos still had what it takes. Think of him this way.

I know that Jim shares my love of the electric guitar, so in trying to make a mix he would like, I decided to cover some classic and almost classic guitar instrumentals that meant something to me, many of which have been with me before Larry King was a boy! next up, a collection of women who sing, with my friend Nancy in mind.