Author Topic: Alembic in Jersey Boys Movie  (Read 207 times)

smuprof

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 275
Alembic in Jersey Boys Movie
« on: June 22, 2014, 08:30:23 PM »
Just got home from seeing the Jersey Boys movie about Frankie Valli.  I enjoyed the film overall, and was impressed that the progression of instruments seemed to tie in very closely to the time frames covered in the movie, i.e. a half dozen Precision basses evolving from the 50s through the 60s.  
 
When he's working on a comeback, recording Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, in the studio, the bassist is playing an Alembic Persuader through an SVT stack (not sure how often anyone records with an SVT stack, but that's Hollywood for you).  You see the Persuader a number of times, and the same bass shows up on stage in the following scene where he debuts the song in Detroit.  (another bit of weirdness - the group is joined by a big band with an upright bassist along with the Alembic bassist - not sure how often that has occurred).
 
Regardless, just fun seeing one of our instruments on the big screen in something other than a concert film.
 
Just curious - was the Persuader available in 1967 when the song was recorded?
 
JFT

cozmik_cowboy

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7338
Alembic in Jersey Boys Movie
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2014, 08:47:38 PM »
Hey!  That was going to be my post! Really; saw it this PM, and of course the zebrawood Persuader jumped right off the screen at me, so I signed on to tell you all about it.  Pretty good flick, except for the Persuader in '67 (debuted in '83, John; -01 is a '72).
Also got a kick out of seeing a Kustom organ for the second time in my life (the other time was in person).
 
Peter
"Is not Hypnocracy no other than the aspiration to discover the meaning of Hypnocracy?  Have you heard the one about the yellow dog yet?"
St. Dilbert

"If I could explain it in prose, i wouldn't have had to write the song."
Robt. Hunter

smuprof

  • club
  • Advanced Member
  • *
  • Posts: 275
Alembic in Jersey Boys Movie
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2014, 01:25:31 PM »
Ha, Peter.  I guess most of us watch this sort of film the same way.  Was impressed with the evolution not only of basses, but guitar choices, mics, amps, and keyboards.
 
The Kustom organ caught my attention.  Have never seen or even heard of one, so I wondered if it was real or just another organ with tuck and roll.  
 
JFT

David Houck

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 15597
Alembic in Jersey Boys Movie
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2014, 01:58:15 PM »
Here's some pics of Kustom organs.

tubeperson

  • club
  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 538
Alembic in Jersey Boys Movie
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2014, 02:03:29 PM »
Bass Fiddle and Electric Bass - Lou Reed, Take a Walk on the Wild Side.  Herbie Flowers did that to get paid double scale.  A brilliant combination and idea!