Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Category: Vibraphone instrumentals

Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys
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Gary Burton’s Tennessee Firebird

Jimmy Colvard was a teen in 1963 when he played those distinctive snapping and popping guitar sounds that helped make “Six Days on the Road” a runaway hit for Dave Dudley.  I have since learned that Colvard played guitar on a number of albums in the 1960s and 70s by

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"Fever"
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Milt B’s “Mod Popcorn R&B”

Philip Paul‘s stellar stick work really drives this “killer” instrumental version of “Fever” that features organ (Milt Buckner), bass (Bill Willis), and vibes (Gene Redd) — recorded at Cincinnati’s King Studios on March 5, 1963: “Fever” Milt Buckner (1963) Organ:  Milt Buckner Drums:  Philip Paul Bass:    Bill Willis Vibes:   Gene

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"Call D. Law"
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Hank Garland: Lost Album of ’60

Fascinating that a musician of the caliber of Hank Garland (who was signed to Columbia, for cryin’ out loud) would release a companion album of sorts – Subtle Swing – to the groundbreaking (and previously discussed) Jazz Winds From a New Direction, and yet so little information to confirm its existence,

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"Liberation"
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Liberation’s Sweet Sound

The alluring flute and vibraphone are just a ploy — liberation’s crafty end game of using music to help listeners recognize the shared humanity that binds us all: “Liberation“ The Afro-Blues Quintet Plus One (1965) “Liberation” is the debut single from The Afro-Blues Quintet Plus One, who released five albums

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"Ital Vibes"
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“Ital Vibes”: Vibraphonic Reggae

Reggae is another realm of popular music where the vibraphone so rarely makes a foray.  As a result, Jamaican vibraphonist, Lennie Hibbert, pretty much has the field all to himself, as the intersection of reggae and the vibes essentially begins and ends with this one soul. Hibbert’s theme song –

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"Space Walk"
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“Space Walk”: Psychedelic Vibes, Man

Paul ‘Ollie‘ Halsall, as previously noted, was one of the rare rock musicians to utilize the vibraphone – an instrument that is often confined to jazz and 1960s pop and northern soul, sadly.  The vibes, when placed in the right context, can add such gorgeous tonal color to a song,

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"All the Things You Are"
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“All the Things You Are”: West Coast Jazz from … Hank Garland?

Fascinating to consider that Mr. “Sugarfoot Rag” himself, Hank Garland, would go on later to record one of the smoothest, coolest West Coast modern jazz albums — in fact, the very same one that inspired George Benson.  Check out the kick-off tune: “All the Things You Are“ Hank Garland Quartet

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