I was sitting with Bon Scott backstage at an AC/DC concert. It was incredible. I was having the best time just talking to Bon when all of a sudden, my dog’s cold nose touched my back and woke me up. I shouted, “Oh no!” and then instantly grabbed my guitar and started writing. The song came pouring out of me. It went from a pure rock ‘n’ roll dream to a whole song before breakfast. — Waddy Wachtel about “Whole Lotta Rock and Roll”
Last Friday, I listened to a spotify feature called, “Release Radar,” which is a playlist of 30 songs released on Fridays. My understanding is they choose tunes based on a person’s liked songlist. It really shouldn’t have been a surprise that I liked 8 of them enough to write them down.
The first one written down is “Whole Lotta Rock and Roll” by The Immediate Family. I loved what I was hearing but had never heard of the band before.
The Immediate Family is made up of Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, and Steve Postell. These guys have been playing here and there since the 1970’s according to their very well-developed website. Learn more about them here. They have several videos there also. I also came across a Rolling Stone article on them from 2020 here.
Looking a little further I was geeked to learn that they have a brand new documentary that has just been released in theaters, and the list of famous musicians makes me even more curious. Names like James Taylor, Carole King, David Crosby, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Warren Zevon, Phil Collins, Lyle Lovett, and Steve Jordan with some in archival footage, obviously.
That’s about as much as I plan on sharing here other than the video for this song. I’m liking what I’m hearing! If you have heard of this band before or any of the guys in it, please say more in the comments. Happy Friday!
Tao Talk 
They sound like a cross between AC/DC and ZZ Top
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Good call!
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I’m not gonna say there’s anything profound or ground-breaking about this song, but I do think it’s interesting when session players go out on their own after years in the background while making other people famous. Before that they are only famous to those who actually read the credits on the back of an album.
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Well-said. It’s good old fashioned rock and roll. And pumped for them. They are all in their 70s. Mick & Crew have set a new standard.
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Grace Slick is reported to have said, “ All rock ’n’ rollers over the age of 50 look stupid and should retire.” She added, “You can do jazz, classical, blues, opera, country until you’re a hundred and fifty, but rap and rock and roll are really a way for young people to get that anger out.”
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Grace Slick can bite me ;)
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“Whole Lotta Rock & Roll” sounds mighty fine, Lisa. While I wasn’t aware of The Immediate Family, I’ve head numerous times of The Section who largely include the same musicians, i.e., Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Leland Sklar (bass) and Russ Kunkel (drums). There was also keyboarder Craig Doerge.
All of them are top-notch session musicians who together or individually have backed a dizzying amount of top notch artists in ’70s and beyond, including Carole King, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Crosby & Nash. The list goes on and on.
The Section and I suppose The Immediate Family would make fascinating topics for blog posts! :-)
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:) Very cool. Happy Friday!
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I hadnt ever heard of this band! But they sound amazing!
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Carol Anne, I think they were formed during Covid and decided to keep on rock and rolling. Glad you like them. I love their sound.
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Another introduction. Make me think of ZZ Top, too.
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Yes they do have the ZZ Top vibe!
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😊
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Cool song! It’s good to hear regular new rock and roll. The two I know of are Leland Sklar and Waddy… I see Sklar on youtube a lot…he is a fantastic bass player.
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Glad you like it :) As someone else said, no new ground broken, but there doesn’t need to be. I love the bass in this also.
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I agree…in rock and roll…you don’t need to…all you need is a different melody with a good backbeat. I love this…I believe Sklar has a youtube channel…that is how I found him.
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Thanks for the heads up!
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