The Rats (Mick Ronson) - Telephone Blues (1969)

[susanelaineconolly]

I was a friend of Mick Ronson's ..... he just wanted to play...he didn't care about being famous or in the front he just loved to play.....He could really play some great Blues guitar...it wasn't commercial....he didn't care what he just wanted to play......Geoff Appleby in the rats is awesome....listen to his bass lines...xo

[francescocusato]

grandi

[thebigsuperbeatle]

I'm currently working on a Mick Ronson / Rats VOX Supreme amplifier.Could be the same amp heard here !

[shinybald36]

would love to hear this without the vocals

[BCRSIX]

Once read that Randy Rhodes was inspired by Mick Ronson to get a white Les Paul.

[harvey1954]

I met Mick Ronson when he was touring with Ian Hunter, down at the Stone Balloon in Newark, DE. CDs had just come out so I asked him if he'd seen any royalties yet from them. He replied, "Why would I? I never saw any from the vinyl". Shame considering Bowie's best efforts, even to this day, have all had the same thing in common, Mick Ronson.

[TheGuitarMusicFan]

You can hear Mick's unique style shining through even on this early track. He was the most overlooked guitar hero ever.

[TheRed100s]

Wow, this sounds GUTSY

[SalemStorm]

I've got a feelin Mick is not into the Blues

Technically good

No Bluuuues

Generic.

Classically trained

Born To ROCK

Rockin In Paradise

[minutegongcoughs]

@SalemStorm According to Tony Visconti when Mick plugged in his guitar for the first time he was in the studio with David Bowie the sound they heard caused Tony to look at David and they both breathed "Wow".

[SalemStorm]

@minutegongcoughs

They rescued him from the Blues

Thanks Mate

[hdrake1000]

Whoever posted this has my thanks! I never heard this and can recognize Ronsons Playing.

[edwina9]

Do you think Mick might have listened to Jeff Beck?

[PAULLONDEN]

@edwina9 Has a bit of the 'Tally Man" flipside..the original raw recording of"Rock my Plimsoul" by Jeff Beck.

[marrrkeeee]

Horrible. Mick couldn't play blues-probably didn't wanna- but turned into a great rocker/writer/arranger.

[kurtizzyflush]

@marrrkeeee Horrible?Sounds pretty visceral but far from horrible to me. I can find horrible on youtube with little effort but it wouldn't be this performance.

[HoraceLime]

Good raw, primal Brit-road blues!

[cliffphoto]

Great post...so obviously Mick Ronson and a Les Paul!

[minutegongcoughs]

@cliffphoto Absolutely. Also some terrific input in the comments from the faithfull and Mick's band mates and friends from the sixties.

[BlackMonk66]

I've seen this called both "I Can't Hold Out" and"Talk To Me, Baby" on Elmore James recordings. The Blues Band did a great version of this on their first album.

[ironbuttermilk]

Not quite up to Zep, but quite good, and great guitar tone. Ronson is sorta sloppy and frenetic, but he has such soul and tone. . . . it just ooozes.

[MultiMikeguitar]

Well hows this for a first gig, I played with Mik(1959) when we were both at school , him on piano me on guitar, I was nearly 15 at the time, I saw him several times after that, last was when he was in a band I used to be in called the crestas

[minutegongcoughs]

@MultiMikeguitar Thanks for the info Mike. Re. Crestas. You're up on the mickronson website.

[MultiMikeguitar]

@minutegongcoughs ,

Thanks for that minutegongcoughs, After posting the comment ,I remembered I saw Mick a few months after our "gig", I was playing in a band and he was sitting back stage , he said the band sounded great(I think he was being kind!) he couldn't have been anymore than 16, seems strange now looking back over 50 years

[minutegongcoughs]

@MultiMikeguitar That's incredible. I remember when Phil Rambow was playing the Marquee in late '77 or early '78 with Mick on guitar. I was coming out the DJ booth and Mick was applying his make-up in the mirror between the dressing room and the integral one toilet!!! He was alone and spoke to me. I'm pretty sure I've never spoken to a more sincere decent chap before or since. I saw him later in '91 or '92 near South Kensington and he spoke to me. Total original guy.

[DanBlabbers]

@MultiMikeguitar What was mick like?

[lordched]

Oh yes, the boys did a good job

[lordched]

Woody Woodmansey plays drums on this track not Jim Simpson. Despite the fact that it was credited to Mayall it is not a Mayall song at all, it was credited in error because the song title is also wrong. John Mayall's Telephone Blues is a totally different song. The real title of this song is 'I Can't Hold Out' by Elmore James. The Rat's version is a direct lift from a live bootleg recording of The Jeff Beck Group. The Rat's didn't know the title so called it Telephone Blues.

[minutegongcoughs]

@lordched After all that do you like the track?

[minutegongcoughs]

@lordched Do you know of George Smith who also recorded a track Telephone Blues on Blue Horizon, produced by Mike Vernon?

[lordched]

@minutegongcoughs No I have not heard of George Smith, there is a George 'harmonica' Smith on you tube singing Telephone Blues, is this the same guy?

[minutegongcoughs]

@lordched Yes that's the one. Thanks for the info here. I didn't know that was Woody on drums.

[lordched]

@minutegongcoughs Yes it is Woody on drums, this track was recorded in 1969 when the lineup was Benny Marshall, Mick Ronson, Woody Woodmansey, Geoff Appleby

[JohhnyStingray1]

Fantastic...Ronson's tone is already very present...the exact sound which made me look up and go 'what is that sound?...is it an electric guitar, I want one!'. Just as, if not more inventive or creative than Clapton's playing during the same era. Mick needs more PR to put him up there where he rightfully belongs. God bless You Tube.

[glittervamp1]

Go Geoff Appleby.......You are the man.

[starkdrummerboy]

My Dad played drums on this track. He doesn't look the same either Ched!

[CHUCKLOVES1969]

great great song..as i listen to it...u hear alot of jeff beck in here.

i wish i'd seen them if they ever had come to LA.

wow. nice stuff.

[JLC48]

This is a real treasure...priceless! Thanks for sharing!

[xxbabiilouisexx]

Ched's on bass guitar in some of these photos.

[lordched]

You are absolutely correct, I am playing bass in some of these photos but I don't look like that anymore

[HoraceLime]

@lordched Yeah, none of think we'll ever get so many miles showing on us! Well, that's how it is. Enjoy the ride!

[TheForkedtoungue]

@lordched Sorry, but if you still looked like you did in these photos...well, I would ask if you drank the blood of VIRGINS to stay so young. It was 40 + years ago! Rock on no matter what you look like, it how you FEEL!

[stratguy66]

Great stuff!!!!

[minutegongcoughs]

We have to thank the guys who got The Rats acetates up on release recently. Mick was more than Bowie's sideman. He arranged and scored alot of tracks.

[jackoliverw1]

I also own the les paul at

1:40

[minutegongcoughs]

Nice thing to have. Knowing how great Mick was, I bet it didn't need fine tuning.

[jackoliverw1]

My Grandad "John Wakeman" spent alot of time with Mick and played rythm guitar for him

[record1207]

WOW , This has blown me away!!! Really great sound for the time! I never heard before. Is this an old LP or did ya get this off a CD? THANKS FOR SHARING!!!

[shaker0306]

it's a old Lp i have it , if i retrieve it in my collection, i'll share it. no problem.

[xwsftassell]

Fearsome guitarist, Mick, even back then. Hah some of those licks turned up later in She Shook Me Cold.

[xwsftassell]

... Or was it Width of a Circle? One of the two.

[minutegongcoughs]

In the "Access All Areas" Mick Ronson promo clip on YouTube, Tony Visconti mentions what you have said. When Mick plugged in his lead and started playing, Tony looked at David Bowie and they both said "Wow".

[lazymornings]

Interesting sound.....good...nice guitar sound.blues.

[minutegongcoughs]

There's about six tracks in the archive Of Mick with The Rats. There must be more acetates.

[stormerne]

The Rats used to perform regularly at my youth club in Hull in the late 60s. Mick Ronson was very influenced by Jeff Beck in those days. Nice to hear him again!

[minutegongcoughs]

Mick had talent and humanity. An original who had his own feel. His guitar playing on The Rats should be heard by more people. Hope you still remember those Youth Club days? Post up your recollections. Would be terrific.

[hanman1]

Great stuff - never heard any pre Bowie Ronson before.