Usage
Because the tone quality and playing technique differ significantly from that of the sitar, it is typically used in rock, jazz, and fusion styles. Notable early hit singles featuring electric sitar include Eric Burdon and the Animals' "Monterey", Joe South's "Games People Play", Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made to Love Her" (played by Eddie Willis) and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered", B.J. Thomas' "Hooked on a Feeling" (played by Mike Herrin), The Spinners' "It's a Shame", The Box Tops "Cry Like a Baby" as well as some sides by The Stylistics and The Delfonics.
Other recording artists who have featured the electric sitar include Steppenwolf ("Snowblind Friend", played by producer Richard Podolor), Mandrake Memorial, Kronos Quartet, Genesis, Yes, The Clash (in "Armagideon Time"), Todd Rundgren, Redbone ("Come and Get Your Love"), Guns N' Roses (in "Pretty Tied Up"), Lenny Kravitz ("It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"), Oasis, R.E.M, Metallica (in "Wherever I May Roam"), Steely Dan (in "Do It Again"), Santana, Roy Wood, Eric Johnson, Mystical Sun, Pearl Jam (in "Who You Are"), Screaming Trees in "Halo of Ashes", Redd Kross (in "Play My Song"), Alice in Chains (in "What the Hell Have I"), Torsten de Winkel, Flower Travelin' Band, Hiroshi Takano, Miyavi, Sugizo, hide, Kaoru of Dir en grey, Pat Metheny (notably on "Last Train Home"), Sigh (band), Steve Vai, Rory Gallagher, Mint Royale, Steve Miller, Van Halen (in "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"), Tony Hicks of The Hollies, Schizo Da Maddcap, Rob Mastrianni (Beatbox Guitar, Next Tribe) Sameep Kulkarni, and Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods on "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Vinnie Bell used the instrument on several songs, including "Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers, "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne, and "She's a Heartbreaker" by Gene Pitney.
The 1971 album Somethin' Else recorded by Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass prominently featured an electric sitar, a first for the country music industry. The instrument provided accompaniment on such songs as "Snowbird", "Rose Garden", "Are You from Dixie?" and others.
In 2010, MGMT released their album Congratulations, where the electric sitar was played on many tracks by lead singer and guitarist Andrew VanWyngarden. Blues musician Buddy Guy played, among other guitars, a Coral electric sitar in shows on his 2010 tour.
Read more about this topic: Electric Sitar
Famous quotes containing the word usage:
“Pythagoras, Locke, Socrates—but pages
Might be filled up, as vainly as before,
With the sad usage of all sorts of sages,
Who in his life-time, each was deemed a bore!
The loftiest minds outrun their tardy ages.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don’t are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of you boys happen upon a girl who doesn’t put out, do not jump to the conclusion that you have found a lady. What you have probably found is a lesbian.”
—Fran Lebowitz (b. 1951)
“I am using it [the word ‘perceive’] here in such a way that to say of an object that it is perceived does not entail saying that it exists in any sense at all. And this is a perfectly correct and familiar usage of the word.”
—A.J. (Alfred Jules)