PSG version of Bob Warford's Willin' solo

Bill Liscomb · Post by **Bill Liscomb** » 9 Nov 2019 7:12 pm

Has anyone worked up a PSG version of Bob Warford's B-bender solo on Willin'?

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 11 Nov 2019 8:16 am

Bill,I dug into my old vinyl and rummaged around on Youtube too.Found that Sneeky did the steel solo on the studio version.There's a live version with Andrew Gold covering Bob's opening solo fairly closely and(I think) Dan Dugmore closing with something much simpler than the studio cut.I saw a Linda show once with Bob Warford and Dick Bowden handling guitar.Bob's "Willin' " solo was a lot more B-bender-ish and upfront than the studio cut.My take is that there isn't really a definitive "Willin' " solo,but there is a lot of good source material.
EDIT: Found another live version,this one with piano opening and Dugmore closing with what sounds like a mashup of Warford's and Pete's studio solos.REAL nice!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Nov 2019 7:43 am

Regardless of which solo we play, its great to talk about Willin'here. The way I see it is it's not just a song, its a cultural/musical icon for many players. Perhaps a reference of where we may come from musically.

Either version, Ronstadt or Lowell George with Little Feat. Clearly though, both Sneaky Pete and Bob Warford can be credited to bringing this song to the forefront musically. Its as fresh today as it was way back when.

I play this on Steel and Bender, have for decades, I probably play thru the changes multiple times each week always finding new phrasing. Its addictive.

I cover this often with ONE band now, another band I play with asks me to teach it to them, I just say "if you don't know Willin' by now, I can't teach it to you, its too late for you "!

"You don't learn Willin', you either are Willin' or you are not ".

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 13 Nov 2019 1:01 am

I went back on the NET and viewed multiple versions of Willin by various BIG stars, the singing was good but they totally missed the presentation. Willin' without a Steel or a Bender is well, NOT Willin'.

Most of the versions to me were very disappointing, boring.

This is one of those iconic songs where a keyboard solo or a driven bluesy guitar solo doesn't fit the song, sorry ! The solos are as important to the song as the lyrics and vocals. One version even had a Flute. A Flute ? really ?