Les Paul & Mary Ford Live Part 3 Of 3

[oldsyphilitic]

Mary Ford was a very talented lady and a sweetie too. She died much too young.

[AGONIAmusic]

I WOULD KILL FOR ANY OF THAT GUITARS

[mnsnake]

Check out them matching Gold Tops!!!

[TTexas2]

Great video, wonderful music, talented couple brings back good memories.

In 1955 my wonderful friends JACK & SYBIL played on twin 1953 Goldtone LP's,  introducing me to Les Paul & Mary Ford's music. For years I jammed with them on my 1940's Gibson L-50/ with a clip-on DeArmond Pickup. I wonder where those two 1953 Goldtone LP's are today? In 1984 I played with them for the last time, the LPs were still in almost mint condition.

[tonyrosam]

Did you hear how fricken fast he was playin?! He puts most modern guitarist to shame.

[guitarslim56]

@tonyrosam, He sped up the tape.

[candlestickrich]

This is were (Les Paul), everything started...

[smfaces]

I'd love to hear the actual audio, not a prerecorded track.

[louswire]

thanks to the magic of overdubs... that busted string, still sounds pretty good . . . XD

I just Love these early clips!

[franko11t]

I have a 1955 Gold Top which I bought in 1968 for $145

It apparently had originally been bought by a cowboy who gave up learning how to play it and it sat under his bed until I bought it.

I would rate it at least a 9 on a 10 scale as I did use it for some gigs and recordings. However it wouldnt stay in tune so I put Schaller tuning keys on it (I know I know. It is only worth $10 because of that but Im not going to sell it to you so dont ask.)

[Bound4NH]

It's funny seeing Les sync that with a broken string hanging off. ;-)

Of course, knowing how skilled Les was, he could have played the whole thing with three broken strings.

[bpabustan]

Overdubbs, multi-track recorders, delay pedals, harmonizer, pitch shifter - those guitar and recording devices would not have been conceptualized if not for the genius on this video - Les Paul! We musicians owe this guy a lot! I mean a whole lot!

Plus Lester is one of the earliest eclectic musicians. Jazz, country, pop, blues, rock - he can play them all - and then some!

[templetonrocks]

this is my favorite era of les paul's work, but i have yet to hear an actual live interpretation. i think these recordings are just impossible to get even close with all of the sped up overdubbing.

[MrMeist]

broken E string! i love it!

[Jehanleroux]

@MrMeist

It´s playback.

[GraemeSPa]

fabulous playing. Lovely woman. A shame they are both gone.

[myroseaccount]

I wonder how much those guitars would be worth now? Original GOLD TOPS!

[hurricaneofrock]

they range from 25k to 75k... those since they were played by them, theyd be more... much more prolly. however the sunbursts from '59 are anywhere from 100k to 750k depending on their flame and finish...

[19elgato46]

Y que sosita seria la musica latina sin sus negros. Can Les play or what!!

[apostataferoz]

Que sosita habría sido la música norteamericana sin negros.

[pokbacsi100]

It's obvious, Les's style was influenced by Django Reinhardt. I wonder if anyone knows whether they ever met and played together, afterall they were contem-poraries until Django died in 53. (Django was only a few years older than Les) And if so, are there any recordings of such?

[nzSkitzo]

I dont know if they ever met but Les actually owns(owned) djangos guitar you can see it in the doco chasing sound = )

[randyatlantis]

The father of widdly bits, don't you wish your Grandad was that cool?

[bpabustan]

Oh yeah! He IS a kick ass grand dad. Well Mary Ford too is a kick ass grand ma. Not to mention drop dead gorgeous too. Imelda May is a rightful heir to that Mary Ford throne.

[spamwarevirus]

The high pitched instrument is one of the guitar tracks on the recording. Les recorded some guitar lines at half speed, so that when they were played back on the recording they'd sound an octave higher and impossibly fast.

[1962ozzie]

I like the way Les played this with a broken E string on the guitar! LOL! I know that most of thier live performances were prerecorded, nonetheless, without Les's thoght, and enginering at that time,music today, would not be possible. Les was a geinuos, inovator,and fantastc guitarist,my only regret, is that I never had the oportuniy to meet the man personally!

R.I.P. Les, and Mary

[guitarista1988]

whats the high pitched instrument sound? is that his guitar or a snyth im confused

[TheOffcialACCFans]

Well, if he created the electric guitar then he would know all tricks to playing it. After all, doesn't the creator of the game know how to beat the game?

[xcaper66]

they didn't have synthesizers back then...so I'm betting it was a guitar

[joroma77]

Meow.

[TheMetallkylling]

mary ford pwns me at guitar O.o

[RDG484]

R.I.P. Les. Also Mary Ford-the ORIGINAL female electric guitarist.

[ethicomm]

That's amazing. Both of them were spot on that night and didn't look like they missed a beat. Thank God for the preservation of this video.

[8472238]

the cables are plugged into the face of the guitar rather than the lower side. i've never seen a les paul like those two.

r i p les paul. you were the reason my father learned guitar and he taught me to play guitar as well.

[epicmeade]

regarding the output jack,I dont think Les liked the side mounted aspect of Ted McCartys original design for the Les Paul Guitar because he's had the jack modified to be front mounted on most of the Les Pauls I've ever seen him using in the photos or film clips I've seen.

[alwaysopen]

I would prefer a Strat jack on every guitar/bass I own, LP and PRS included. I have broken straight jacks off over the years but I will need to check out a Planet Waves 90 degree cord.

I would love to play one of those guitars and feel the difference in an early model neck. I've played a 1958 and it was nice. Mine is a 1975 Deluxe and has a 50s carve neck. The newer models don't have the heft mine does.

[WD40W]

The musical number they did before this one WAS live...this was lip-synched...Mary was a excellent guitarist...Vaya Con Dios Lester...The Wizard of Waukesha...

[econoroller]

Listen to how he made use of the sped-up tape of the main riff.

Friggen genius, man....

RIP Les Paul.

His impact will reverberate forever :)

[ethicomm]

Les Paul has just left the building but will be jamming with Mary Ford tonight. RIP.

[alienhuman]

Well put eth... together again. Imagine the audience!

[Krl246]

the first Les Paul guitar looked like a couple of 2x4's glued together with pickups

[dbbubba]

the song is called "Tiger Rag"

Those are both REALLY early Les Paul prototypes.

They both have trapeze tailpieces which mean '52 or '53 at the latest.

They are both unique because the jack is on top of the guitar and not on the side like most Les Pauls.

Note that LP broke his high E string and it is dangling there.

Could play that stuff without that string.

[Lagomort]

He wasn't actually playing...

[samuelkim1]

he was playing over the recording i think

im nt sure though

[gigaves]

Well, I can tell you, you are right!

[gigaves]

You're right because you can hear all the Mary Ford's voices.

[llarlamon7758]

I think this was done in 1953. Les multi tracked and then played along. He invented this and also invented stereo. Mary was herself an excellent guitarist and vocalist.

[ChumpJoe]

What year is this, and what type of fucking Les Paul is Les holding??!

[pochankitty]

The super valuable expensive kind.

[iagobroxado]

An early, modified one, probably from 1952-53.

[ChumpJoe]

Chick looks so funny with one of Rock N' Roll's greatest guitars.

[Elwood2911]

The song is an old Dixieland standard that Les Paul has forever made his own. Tiger Rag just doesn't sound the same domne by anybody but Les Paul.

[andrewjordanmiller]

anyone know the name of this tune?

[alienhuman]

hmmm... just a guess... "Hold that Tiger"?

[tunetonesouth]

Count me as one of those amazed by Mary's talent......I never knew.Her surviving family should be very proud.....Props.

[lalbruiz]

WOW, Mary Ford was HOT!!! Imagine that, your partner is a kickass guitarist and plays with you, amazing talents, sad that Mary Ford is not present, and the day Les Paul has to go it will be a very sad day indeed.

[lespaulvideo]

The very best of the best !!!

LES PAUL

[guitarmaniac000]

lol wow,all these stories are funny

[MultiForrester]

Wonderful!

[dybbuk4640]

if there's a category of best female guitarist anywhere ...she's it.

[GonzGunner]

These Les Pauls that Les and Mary were playing must have been prototypes for sure, notice how the input jack is on the face of the guitar, like an ES-335. Those two guitars are worth their weight in gold, but Les and his contributions are priceless!

[Merbeck0327]

I was totally thinkin' the same thing. Wonder where those two axes are at today?!?! Great Vid!!

[GonzGunner]

Les will never let them go if he has them...LOL! I would bet that those two guitars are worth more than any 59' Cherry Sunburst! I'd quit my job and name my price!:)

[need4zpeed]

According to the new book "The early years of the Les Paul Legacy: 1915-1963" Les not only broke his string on the previous song but he broke his finger goofing around with Mary. (pp 39).

[junior775]

so he is playing with a broken finger?? OMG amazing, but not the greatest idea.

[need4zpeed]

I guess ol' Les subscribes to the thought "The show must go on". I love how Mary kept up with him!

[C1o88er3d]

Holy crap!

Does it say which one he broke?

[need4zpeed]

It doesn't say. I tried to see if he was favoring one of his fingers but this song was prerecorded and they were lipsyncing to it. The preious song was live because there was a lot of interplay between Les and Mary.

[jim543212]

It's broken string.  It must have been pre-recorded. No way he could have playd htose hig notes live like that. At any rate Les Paul is a founding father of guitar music.

[need4zpeed]

He broke a string, but according to the book he broke his finger when he grabbed Mary's guitar when she was doing a solo on the song before this one.

[andrewjordanmiller]

yes i agree, i feel this track was most likely prerecorded. the harmonies emitting from Mary's mouth would be impossible to produce alone--unless of course additional singers are tucked away off stage.

regardless, truly amazing!

[C1o88er3d]

I'm not sure what you are replying to.

In any sense, Mary could be singing along with herself.

They demonstrate this while showing off Les' multitracking skills.

It should be over in the related bar.

[tbowne22]

I wish I had those guitars now!

[still2weirdfoU]

No its called

TIGER RAG

[junior775]

that is really good, he is playing with a broken string. and i loved that duel before that.

[awesomeguyman]

whats the name of this song?

[rockymntain]

"Hold that tiger"

[TL250Rider]

Great listing thank you again

[TL250Rider]

Wonderful

Thank you Les Paul & Leo Fender

Good Rock N Roll

NO DISCO

[mastermindVMS]

and gibson company too, after years they accept les' creation :D

sorry for bad english

hugs m8

[mad4you66]

How illustrative is Les Paul's playing, he literally expresses the lyrics throug his playing, on top of the shredding and sweep picking. He is my hero because he is the real deal!

[LukeFrickinSkywalker]

also my hero :)

do you play anything?

[mspratz]

King of the 'multi track'!!!

[cavebear44]

I havent seen these in years,LES PAUL is the man,an hes still playin an hes in his 90s i go way back an a lot of people thought he was useing tricks,the man can play an still does glad to see he get the respect hes long overdue thanks for the memories.

[zellerauer1]

great!

[YoungCuzzi]

i want to learn johnny is the boy for me but i dont no how i dont find tabs or something help me please

[refici222]

love it its awesome

[HellBent1337]

awesome!

[MRSAMMYMARKS]

he is really not playing at all he's playing air guitar. ONLY BECAUSE HE HADA POP STRING HE IS STILL THE BEST HANDS DOWN.

[teleboy500]

Did he invent that trem?, it isn't a bigsby - God what a genius pair!

[Jahnli]

He's flying over that board with just 5 strings, that's talent!

[OpieJohansen]

WORD; WORD; AND WORD!!!! They are awesome!

[Porkchop909]

Mary really looks hot in that dress. Big boobied mama!!!! Delicious!

[acountrygent]

The vibrato gadget les has on his guitar is a Kaufman 'Vib-Rola' which preceded the Bigsby by several years. Their handles were moved up and down toward the floor...

[HinataVal]

What a legendary man! *-*

What a legendary guitar! *-*

[pryorandrew]

pity they had to lip sync

[DannyE5]

Dude, les was truely innovative...this is pretty cool for something in the 50's or earlier.

[vachalia]

I wonder if anybody back then realized that those licks were impossible to play, hadn't it been for double-speed playback - even for a guitar genius like Les. Plus those notes are clear one octave above the range of any guitar.

[PAULLONDEN]

In comparison with 1/3 and 2/3

wich were live,I think that's not

the case here./

[vachalia]

Is that a broken string hanging from Les' guitar?

[TheMercenaryArtist]

sure is, watch part 2 he broke the 1st string while trying to out do Mary.

[elsapucai]

That Goldtop has a whammy bar?

[trwagner1]

This is an amazing classic late 40's and early 50's rock song. Well executed. Many people think of Les Paul when they think of early electric guitar. But, this says so much of women during this era. Fascinating. Mary Ford is stupendous in this television appearance. As far as "early rock" goes, Mary Ford led the way.

Ted

[zappatone]

While he s known inventing analog tape multitracking ,he already had experience with multitracking on disc plates before tape recording was invented,he said that it sounded better on disc than analog tape This guy is a real genius.. wow.

[DigiPal]

Well, even today, if you are only 2, like them, and do so much armonies, in vocals and guitars, you still need to record one track at a time. And they were using probably the first 8 tracks tape recording on american continent. Also using quiet the best equipement at this time.

[speedskiff2]

great music and all with analog tape tracking, not just pressing a button for mutitracking like today. They did a beautiful instumental called "mandolino". True pioneers. Thanks.

[staccat0]

As a recording engineer. I truly respect Les Paul's acheivments in the studio, but I have no clue what your going on about...

[speedskiff2]

in the good old days, echo chambers were a continuous loop of tape passing a group of pickups. Today it is all done with digital media. multi tracks? listen to "journey to the center of the mind" by the amboy dukes and see how many tracks you count..have fun..ak

[DigiPal]

Very good guitarist. And singer too. But there is probably a trick behind this so fast guitar playing, like, for exemple, recording rhythm tracks, then, slowing down the tape, then, record solos tracks, then geting back at tape original speed, giving this kind of pitch transposer sound we can find today.

[elsapucai]

of course he DID that.

read something about les and the multitrack recording.

[pottsi39]

do realise he aint oplaying its all backing track it would be impossible to play that live

[akyeager]

Pretty good for having a broken string! :)

[HoughsVideos]

I think he borke the string on purpose. An old guitar teacher of mine was a fan of his, and said he used to do it as a gag.

[bobgure]

Thanks for the clip. Heavenly.

[tallulah2]

Thanks so much!  Awesome!

[byyoshi1969]

wow! he runs very well on the best track for living. thank you ever so much.