Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - Plays The Hits - 2008 - Purple Pyramid

It's amazing to think that the great Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, one of the world's greatest session guitarists, has never recorded an official studio album. He originally played with the Boston based psychedelic/hard rock/blues band, Ultimate Spinach, before his legendary contributions to albums by Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers,Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Little Feat, Judy Collins, Al Kooper, Spirit, Carl Wilson, Linda Ronstadt ...The list goes on forever! Jeff works with a large number of musicians spanning a large number of musical styles. He is still involved with playing guitar, but also produces several albums. Jeff's guitar solo on Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" from the Dan's "Pretzel Logic" is a musical milestone in guitar solos, and is just one example of Jeff Baxter's incredible guitar skills. "Plays The Hits" includes eleven tracks which include Jeff's work. Again, it's a shame there are no solo albums available from this brilliant guitarist. "Plays The Hits" is not Jeff's best work. That would probably be with Steely Dan, and The Doobie Brothers, where his work was of paramount importance and an integral part of these bands' sounds. The album here includes Jeff's work with artists like Strat Cats, Todd Rundgren, Pearl Aday, Eric Singer, Doane Perry, Edgar Winter, Bonnie Bramlett and others, and from tribute albums to bands/artists like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Shania Twain. Jeff's work is not always to the forefront on many of these tracks, sung by various artists, but the album still gives some idea of Jeff's guitar talents and invaluable contributions. Listen to Steely Dan's "Can't Buy a Thrill" and "Pretzel Logic" albums, and the Doobie Brother's " What Once Were Vices Are Now Habits" album for a more centred view of Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's versatility

TRACKS / COMPOSERS / SOURCE

1 Breathe (In The Air) - Gilmore, Waters, Wright - [from "An All Star Line-up Performing The Songs Of Pink Floyd"]
2 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Bennett, Bredon, Darling - [from "The ultimate tribute to Led Zeppelin"]
3 Honey, I'm Home - Lange/Twain - [from"An All Star Tribute to Shania Twain"]
4 Same Old Song And Dance - Joe Perry/Steven Tyler - [from "Aerosmith Tribute: Not The Same Old Song & Dance"]
5 Don't Be Stupid - Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Shania Twain - [from "An All Star Tribute To Shania Twain]
6 Something To Fall Back On - Todd Rundgren [from "With a Little Help from My Friends" by Todd Rundgren]
7 Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? - Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Shania Twain - [from "An All Star Tribute To Shania Twain]
8 St. James Infirmary - Joe Primrose - [from "Stray Cats Ball: No Dogs Allowed"
9 That Don't Impress Me Much - Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Shania Twain - [from "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Jeff Baxter & Pearl Aday]
10 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Anne Bredon - [from "The Greatest Led Zeppelin Tribute Of All-Time"]
11 I Won't Leave You Lonely - Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Shania Twain - [from "An All Star Tribute To Shania Twain]

BIO

Best-known for his work with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's versatility and highly developed technique as a soloist made him a hugely in-demand session guitarist from the '70s on. Perhaps because he's never recorded a solo album, Baxter isn't quite a household name, but his talent and taste have never been in question. Born December 13, 1948, in Washington, D.C., Baxter (who refuses to discuss the origins of his nickname) landed his first recording gig in 1969 with the psychedelic pop group Ultimate Spinach. In 1972, he began his association with Steely Dan, playing on their debut album, Can't Buy a Thrill; his ability to blend rock's visceral power with smooth, sophisticated jazz-pop made him an important element of the group, until Walter Becker became accomplished enough to handle the guitar leads himself. Following 1974's Pretzel Logic, Baxter moved on to the Doobie Brothers, debuting later that year on What Once Were Vices Are Now Habits and continuing on for several more albums through 1978; he also frequently doubled on steel guitar. During the mid-'70s, Baxter also began to expand his session work, eventually playing everything from rock to folk to pop to country to fusion to R&B; he also went on to work with the likes of Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Donna Summer, Joni Mitchell, Rick Nelson, Hoyt Axton, and Freddie Hubbard, among many others. Baxter's general interest in technology led him into production, most notably helming several albums for hard rockers Nazareth. In keeping up with technological advances, though, Baxter also developed an interest in military hardware and weapons systems, which he developed an amazing grasp of; thanks to his self-education and staunch Republican politics, he was hired in 2001 by the Bush administration as a defense analyst, also serving as a consultant to several U.S. congressmen (and continuing his music career). © Steve Huey © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dcftxqr5ld6e~T1