Gregg Sutton on touring with Bob Dylan, Andy Kaufman, & Lone Justice, interactions with Clapton and Bono, and opening for Elvis
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"Real Live" LP, 1984. Inner Sleeve and Sticker. Credit: SONY/Searching For A Gem
Hello and welcome to the Boston Harold Video Podcast. My very special guest today is singer, songwriter, musician, and author, Gregg Sutton.
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The Gregg Sutton interview. Boston Harold Podcast.
The main impetus for inviting Mr. Sutton to appear on my podcast was because he was the bassist on Bob Dylan's 1984 European tour, the one that spawned the underappreciated album, Real Live. He now also appears on one other track, the otherwise never-before released song "Enough is Enough," which begins disc five of last year's Bootleg Series box set, Springtime in New York 1980-1985.
Dylan's impressive touring band that year also included guitarist Mick Taylor (Bluesbreakers, Rolling Stones, Carla Olson), keyboardist Ian McLagan (Small Faces, Faces, Rolling Stones), and drummer Colin Allen (Stone the Crows.) Not only did he get to play with one-and-a-half members of the Rolling Stones, but Sutton recalls what it was like seeing the band in 1964, 1969, and 1972.
In addition to discussing the 1984 Dylan trek, Gregg also describes his interactions with Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Chrissie Hynde, and U2's Bono, all guest artists on the tour. Elsewhere he recalls his collaborations and/or interactions with Arthur Baker, Carla Thomas and her father, Rufus, Tom Jones, Al Green, and others. He also revealed that friends of his were recording with Dylan recently, possibly around the time of last year's Shadow Kingdom sessions (Don Was, Ira Ingber, Doug Lacey.)
"Enough is Enough," Wembley London 07.07.1984
(A different version than the one that appears on "Springtime in New York.")
However, his life and career is much more interesting that just the few months he played with Dylan in 1984.
Sutton was a childhood friend of the legendary performance artist Andy Kaufman, and was, among other things, the musical director when Kaufman played Carnegie Hall in 1979. Additionally, Sutton also appeared as himself in the Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon, directed by Milos Forman. Gregg also talked about what it was like opening for the real Elvis Presley, on New Year's Eve, 1976.
Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall, with musical director, Gregg Sutton.
Mr. Sutton was also a member of Lone Justice and KGB, and joined Tommy Tutone's band just as his signature song, "867-5309/Jenny" was taking off.
More recently he's had success as a composer, writing songs covered by such legendary artists as Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Al Green, Eric Burdon, Dolly Parton, Jeff Healey, and Percy Sledge. Many of his songs became big hits, especially in Europe. His work can also be heard in various movies and TV shows.
Gregg has also written a memoir titled Here's Your Hat … What's Your Hurry?, available at his Facebook page, and he performs regularly each weekend on his Salvation Sunday concert series.
Credit: SONY
Gregg Sutton with Bob Dylan, 1984 tour.
This is how every Bob Dylan song from my iPhone appears on my SiriusXM car radio.
Gregg (here misspelled as "Greg") Sutton.
Detail from "Springtime In New York 1980-1985" booklet, "Real Live" inner sleeve.
Credit: SONY
"I've Got To Use My Imagination," lead vocals/bass by Gregg Sutton, 1984 tour, with Mick Taylor (guitar), Ian McLagan (keyboards), and Colin Allen (drums).
Gregg was a very open, entertaining, and honest interviewee, and it was a pleasure speaking with him.
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