Bass Player: Andy West

Who the hell are the Dixie Dregs? Well, anyone who grew up in the 1980s in the UK and who was a Rock music fan would know this tune even if they did not know who the Dregs were. ‘Take It Off The Top’ was the theme music used by Radio One DJ ‘Tommy Vance’ for the legendary ‘Fridy Rock Show’ where a generation of UK rockers heard many of their favourite bands for the first time. Bilbo recalls hearing Rush for the first time when Vance broadcast a live gig by Canada’s favourite sons. As has been noted elsewhere on here, an 18 year old Bilbo recorded a session for the Friday Rock Show with the New Wave of British Heave Metal (NWOBHM) badn No Quarter (see Bilbo’s Bits and Bobs page). ‘Take It Off The Top’ opened every FRS and few of us can hear the tune without expecting Tommy Vance to talk over it.

The tune has another feature that makes it stand out; a bass solo. Andy West, who plays this tune with a pick on a four-string Alembic bass guitar, gets to trades two bar licks with guitarist Steve Morse and plays some pretty mean fills. The dots show the notes that West uses but you will have to listen to the recording to get the inflections and the guitaristic bends he uses to great effect. This is one of those tunes that Bilbo meant to get to decades ago so is pleased to be able to present this transcription at long last.

It is emminently playable but may take a few run throughs to nail the details as there are a lot of interesting stabs in here (and one bar of 5:4 in the middle somewhere).