<![CDATA[JIM CAMPILONGO

<![CDATA[JIM CAMPILONGO - Blog]]>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:58:04 -0700Weebly<![CDATA["The Birth of Loud” by Ian S. Port]]>Sun, 28 Apr 2019 11:12:54 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/the-birth-of-loud-by-ian-s-port

"The Birth of Loud” by Ian S. Port is a great read, and at times draws you in like a potboiler, chronicling the race to invent a solid body electric guitar.

Paul Bigsby, Les Paul and Leo Fender were all on the forefront of that history as allies, friends, and sometimes bitter competitors. Unexpected details abound—Paul Bigsby is shown as a dedicated inventor, Les Paul’s car crash is charged with drama, and the career and personal dynamics between him and Mary Ford were fascinating. I didn’t know Leo Fender had a glass eye and was deaf in one ear. The book was laced with fascinating tidbits throughout. Mr Port really brings the story to life.

After that, the book segues into the next wave,“Loud,” when artists used their solid body guitars for things no one could have envisioned.

Dick Dale’s importance is chronicled—I didn’t know the Dual Showman amp was invented for him. Eric Clapton’s Les Paul and Marshall, Hendrix and his Stratocaster, and other historically crucial rigs are all covered with a fresh perspective, to name just a few.

I highly recommend “The Birth of Loud” to anyone interested in electric guitars and rock & roll history—including anyone who thinks they’ve read it all before. I thought I knew the whole story, but I was pleasantly surprised up to the last page.

Amazon Link ...
https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Loud-Fender-Guitar-Pioneering-Rivalry/dp/1501141651/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=%22The+Birth+of+Loud%E2%80%9D+by+Ian+S.+Port&qid=1556450132&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0

]]><![CDATA[online etiquette]]>Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:07:01 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/online-etiquette

Though I’m occasionally paid to be an “expert” and I’m supposed to give an overview with some kind of authority, I try not give my personal and political opinions online. Why? Because nobody is asking… and sometimes I wonder why everyone thinks their opinion is so important.
I see distasteful, and at the very least, disagreeable opinion on Facebook and Twitter etc and in some cases it’s polarized my friendships and interfered with the growth of acquaintances into anything beneficial. Even worse - some YouTube comment sections seem to be edited by Satan! It’s heartbreaking to read what some people write anonymously.
My goal, whenever I write online, is to double down on being polite. I try to address folks by name, thank them for writing, and sign off with something positive. I try to never use irony or sarcasm - it might be taken the wrong way
I really love the Campy forum http://forums.jimcampilongo.com/ for many reasons, but the thing I’m most proud about, is the respectful etiquette that everyone has for each other.
Thank you! To everyone!

]]><![CDATA[“Never Mind the Bollocks - Here’s the Sex Pistols “ Guitar Player Magazine Feb 2019]]>Mon, 07 Jan 2019 19:04:06 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/never-mind-the-bollocks-heres-the-sex-pistols-guitar-player-magazine-feb-2019Direct link to article https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/vinyl-treasures-dec

]]><![CDATA[Peter Jacksons "They Shall Not Grow Old"]]>Wed, 02 Jan 2019 10:21:16 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/peter-jacksons-they-shall-not-grow-old

Peter Jacksons WWI documentary "They Shall Not Grow Old" pays homage to the resilience of soldiers in WWI, while showing the horror of war. The restored footage is intimate and breathtaking- and is brought even more to life, with commentary from WWI soldiers/veterans that was compiled from hours of BBC interviews.
My understanding is the theatrical run was limited. In any event, if you can manage see it, stick around for the fascinating "special features" at the end.

NY TIMES - How Peter Jackson Made WWI Footage Seem Astonishingly New With ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/16/movies/peter-jackson-war-movie.html

]]><![CDATA[Vinyl Treasures - Santana Abraxas]]>Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:28:29 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/vinyl-treasures-santana-abraxasHi friends- In this months Vinyl Treasures column in Guitar Player Magazine I write about Santana Abraxas. Thank you! Full article here... Thank you!
https://www.guitarplayer.com/…/vinyl-treasures-santana-abra…

]]><![CDATA[Vinyl Treasures "Country Guitar"]]>Wed, 14 Nov 2018 10:00:12 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/vinyl-treasures-country-guitarHi friends - In the Guitar Player Magazine Holiday issue my Vinyl Treasures column features the LP "Country Guitar" (Various Artists) that includes the great Thumbs Carlisle, Jimmy Capps, Billy Byrd, Hardrock Gunter...

Read it here...
https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/vinyl-treasures-various-artists-country-guitar

]]><![CDATA[Thank you Ringo Starr...]]>Sat, 10 Nov 2018 12:09:48 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/thank-you-ringo-starr

I’ve heard it’s fashionable to be critical of Ringo Starr's drumming. I find this astonishing- it’s like someone telling me “cockroaches are cuter then kittens”. Say what?
Ringo is one the greatest rock drummers in music history. He played compositionally and cleverly while he prioritized the song… and he was always swinging hard.
His contributions on “Tomorrow Never Knows”, “Maxwell's Silver Hammer”, “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”, “Polythene Pam” , “Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey”, “Fixing A Hole”, “Come Together”, “Hey Bulldog”, “Paperback Writer”, “Good Morning, Good Morning” are obvious examples of his humble genius … and I’m leaving dozens of other examples off my list. Feel free to add your own … I love the Beatles!

George Harrison talks about Ringo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfsdwkOIpI

]]><![CDATA[The Tommy Tedesco estate is auctioning off some of Tommy’s stuff…]]>Thu, 25 Oct 2018 09:29:11 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/the-tommy-tedesco-estate-is-auctioning-off-some-of-tommys-stuffhttps://entertainment.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=53+793+794+792+4294946245+4294967048&type=friend-consignorpreview-notice

]]><![CDATA[PREMIERE GUITAR LESSONS]]>Sat, 06 Oct 2018 09:25:06 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/little-steel-guitar-voicingsI wrote a few guitar lessons for Premiere Guitar magazine in 2012… Let's begin with -
LITTLE STEEL GUITAR VOICINGS
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Orange_Guitar_Little_Steel_Guitar_Voicings

FREDDIE GREEN RHYTHM ...
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Orange_Guitar_Freddie_Green_Rhythm

RELOCATION LICKS ...
https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Orange_Guitar_Relocation_Licks

]]><![CDATA[October 04th, 2018]]>Thu, 04 Oct 2018 10:52:54 GMThttps://www.jimcampilongo.com/blog/october-04th-2018Guitar Player Magazine Jim Campilongo "Why Live Albums Rule" (Live at Rockwood) Sept 2018
All Campilongo titles available on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B000APVFT0/works/ref=ntt_mus_teaser?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true

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