AYNSLEY DUNBAR sessions

This is the list of the sessions I know Aynsley Dunbar appears... I've classified them into several categories:
ZAPPA RELATED SESSIONS

Frank Zappa After recovering from his accident at the Rainbow (watch Aynsley's bio page), Zappa started his new solo album, Waka/Jawaka, and Aynsley Dunbar still assisted him here.

Apostrophe is one of the most famous Zappa albums. Impressive list of musicians, many of them were long time collaborators: Sugarcane Harris and Jean-Luc Ponty (violin), Ray Collins (guitar), Jack Bruce, Tom Fowler and Alex Dmochovski aka 'Erroneous' (bass), Ian Underwood and George Duke (keyboards), Jim Gordon, John Guerin, Ralph Humphreys, Ruth Underwood and Aynsley Dunbar (drums), plus Sue Glover (vocals).

You can't do that on stage anymore volumes compile live tracks from many different Zappa lineups. That's why Aynsley appears in several of those live albums.

Frank Zappa also made a strange thing: he released official albums from real bootleg albums! He was in his own right, of course! There are some box set volumes, called "Beat the boots!". Those include albums like Freaks & motherfu*%!!@, At the Circus, Disconnected synapses and Swiss cheese/fire.

Son of Cheep Thrills is a sampler including material from several albums. Aynsley only plays in one song. Also appearing, Steve Vai.


Shuggie Otis Shuggie Otis is Johnny Otis' son, and a cool guitarist. He played in Hot rats Zappa album, and later he released this album, with his father and some Zappa alumni (George Duke and Aynsley Dunbar). With Wilton Felder (bass, from Crusaders). 
John Lennon

As I've written in the Dunbar bio page, Frank Zappa and his band played with John Lennon in his concert at Fillmore East in June 1971. Two live albums appeared from this event, one credited to Frank Zappa, and this one, credited to John Lennon: Sometime in New York city. We can find there John Lennon's band, Elephant's Memory, Zappa's band, plus some other guests, like Nicky Hopkins (piano), Keith Moon (drums), Eric Clapton (guitar), Billy Preston (keyboards), Bobby Keys (sax), etc. 

Yoko Ono I don't have it, but I think that Aynsley is credited here because of tracks belonging to the John Lennon album just mentioned, Sometime in New York City. 
Dweezil Zappa He's one of Frank Zappa's sons. A skilled guitarist, he usually invites great people in their albums, like Steve Vai.  
SESSIONS WITH OTHER FORMER/CURRENT BANDMATES

Champion Jack Dupree <SEARCH FOR INFO> 
Eddie Boyd
(scan courtesy of Mike Tolan)

The whole Bluesbreakers band (John Mayall, Peter Green, John McVie and Aynsley Dunbar) is the backing band for several tracks in this album. Another appearances: Tony McPhee (guitar, from Groundhogs). Produced by Mike Vernon, then John Mayall's producer. 

Donovan Donovan once was called the English Bob Dylan. He recorded some very beautiful songs, like "Season of the witch" (covered by many groups), "Universal soldier", "Colours", "Mellow yellow", "Sunshine Superman", etc. This album was produced by Mickie Most, who brought his friend Jeff Beck to back Donovan. With Beck, there came the Jeff Beck Group (lineup: Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Aynsley Dunbar + colleagues Nicky Hopkins and Madeline Bell) to play in some track. 
Mick Ronson

The late and missed Ronno someday will have his own page in my Olympus. Till now, I only want to tell here that Aynsley played in his two solo albums from the seventies. Those two albums are available on a 2CD called Only after dark (1991), with 5 bonus tracks (including 3 live tracks from 1974, although Aynsley isn't the drummer in these live tracks, but Ritchie Dharma).

Main man is a compilation, also featuring Ian Hunter, Trevor Bolder, Mike Garson, Jeff Daly, John Mealing, Aynsley Dunbar, Ritchie Dharma, Tony Newman.

Nils Lofgren Nils Lofgren is a fantastic guitarist, as well as pianist. He has been a long time collaborator of Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. After dissolving in 1973 his own group Grin, started a solo career.

Nils released his first solo album, Nils Lofgren, with powerful musicians: Wornell Jones (bass) and Aynsley Dunbar (drums). The album has been reissued with two bonus tracks. I love it, it's a very good album, fantastic playing along all the songs.

Cry tough is Nils' second album, where Nils plays with some guests: old mates in Crazy Horse (Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina), his brother Tom Lofgren, plus Wornell Jones (bass), Chuck Rainey (bass), Al Kooper (keyboards), Buddy Miles (vocals), P.P. Arnold (vocals), Jim Gordon (drums) and Aynsley Dunbar (drums). 

Paul Kantner Leader in Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, Paul Kantner recorded his second solo album in 1983. With some of the usual guys from there: Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman (vocals, from Flo & Eddie), Ronnie Montrose (guitar), his daughter China Kantner (vocals), his ex-wife Grace Slick, Ron Nagle (piano), and members from past and present incarnations of Jefferson bands: Pete Sears, Mickey Thomas, Craig Chaquico, Aynsley Dunbar, Jack Casady and David Freiberg. 
Ava Cherry & The Astronettes Ava Cherry was a singer produced by David Bowie (she led Bowie backing vocalist team, under the nickname The Astronettes. She also appears in Bowie's album Young Americans). This album, although released in 1995, was recorded in Bowie heydays, thus appearing several Bowie musicians: David Bowie (vocals), Mark Pritchard (guitar), Herbie Flowers (bass), the great Mike Garson (keyboards), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Geoff McCormack (backing vocals). Tony Visconti made the arrangements. The album includes several Bowie penned songs, plus renditions of Beach Boys superb song 'God only knows' (many years later, also covered by Bowie), or Frank Zappa's 'How could I be such a fool?', and an early Bruce Springsteen song, 'Spirits in the night'. 
Michael Schenker Just received! Info available in a few days!  
OTHER SESSIONS

Michael Chapman Rainmaker album cover (image courtesy of Les Kneeling)

English singer and guitarist, Rainmaker was his first album. His band was Rick Kemp (bass), Mick Ronson (guitar), Ritchie Dharma or Barry Morgan (drums). Also featuring on this album, Clem Clempson on guitar, Danny Thompson on bass, and Aynsley Dunbar on drums. Michael Chapman lived here from 1968-72 is a compilation from his first 4 albums, and it includes 3 songs from Rainmaker. 

Alexander Harvey Sorry, I don't know who he is. I've read that he is a country composer. In this album, he was accompanied by Neal Schon (later in Journey with Aynsley), Bruce Gary (drums, from Jack Bruce bands), Pete Sears (bass, keyboards, later in Jefferson Starship with Aynsley). 
Herbie Mann Herbie Mann is a great jazz flute instrumentist. But some of his 70s albums contain rock musicians in them. This is what it happens in London underground, where he's backed by the great Mick Taylor (guitar), Albert Lee (guitar), Calvin 'Fuzzy' Samuels (bass)... Other guest appearances: Aynsley Dunbar (on three tracks), Ian McDonald (sax, from King Crimson), and Robbie McIntosh (drums). 
Lou Reed

Berlin is considered Lou Reed's masterpiece. A very dense albums, it contains fantastic songs, as well as fantastic backing musicians: the main core was : Steve Hunter (guitar), Dick Wagner (guitar), Jack Bruce (bass), Steve Winwood (keyboards), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), The Brecker Brothers (Randy & Michael, horns), producer Bob Ezrin (who also played keyboards), Tony Levin (bass in 1 track, later in King Crimson), Allan Macmillan (piano in 1 track), the much-missed B.J. Wilson (drums, from Procol Harum, 2 songs), Blue Weaver (piano, 1 song).

If someone has to feel ashamed, I want to say that this album was censored in Spain. Some 'intelligent' mind thought that the song 'The Kids' was too much for us, Spaniards. And it was deleted from the LP, and deleted from the credits! Unbelievable! I'd like to be able to scan the LP cover to show to all of you this 'crime'. Ah, my LP reissue is from 1985, and it still has deleted that track. Sorry, I had to say it! Now I've just got the remastered, 25th Anniversary CD Edition, with the whole songlist. 

Kathi McDonald First time I heard of her was in the reunion album by Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1974. But she had many other credits (vocals in albums by Nigel Olsson, Dave Mason, Nils Lofgren and Rolling Stones, etc). She sang in Big Brother & The Holding Company after Janis Joplin had left that band. This is her first solo album. With lots of guest musicians: Ronnie Montrose (guitar), Neal Schon (guitar), the late John Cipollina (from Quicksilver Messenger Service), The Pointer Sisters, Papa John Creach (violin, from Jefferson Airplane), Pete Sears (bass), and Aynsley Dunbar (drums). 
Sammy Hagar

This singer and guitarist now is famous for having been the singer in Van Halen, but he had a very interesting career prior to that fact. After being lead singer in Montrose band, he started his own solo career with this album. With several musicians who later formed Sammy Hagar Band: Gary Pihl (guitar), Bill Church (bass) and Alan 'Fitz' Fitzgerald (keyboards). With several different drummers: Aynsley Dunbar, Jerry Shirley (from Humble Pie), Dallas Taylor (from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), and Jim Hodder (from Steely Dan), plus Scott Quick (guitar). 

Ian Hunter
(scan courtesy of Mike Tolan)

Great guy, Ian Hunter was the leader in Mott the Hoople. This was his second solo album, with help from many great musicians: bass maestro Jaco Pastorius, Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Cornell Dupree (guitar), David Sanborn (sax), David Bargeron (trombone), Lew Soloff (trumpet), Don Alias (percussion), and some members from Queen (Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor). 

Bill Spooner Bill Spooner was (is?) the founder and guitarist in rock band The Tubes. He is accompanied here by all the other members of the band, excluding the vocalist: Roger Steen (guitar), Vince Welnick (keyboards), Mike Cotten (keyboards), Rick Anderson (bass), Prairie Prince (drums). With some other guests: Aynsley Dunbar and percussionist Mingo Lewis.

A bit related: as someday it will be shown in my future family tree about Aynsley, Prairie Prince and Aynsley have shared some coincidences along the times: Prairie Prince was substituted in Journey by Aynsley. And one of later Aynsley's replacements in Jefferson Starship was Prairie Prince. Just nice! 

Keith Emerson Of course, he's the keyboard wizard from The Nice and Emerson Lake & Palmer (or Emerson Lake & Powell, the variant with my much missed Cozy Powell). Other musicians featured in this soundtrack are Mike Sheppard (guitar, bass), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Derek Wilson (drums), as well as Brian Chatton.
Ronnie Montrose

Album with lots of instrumentals for this great guitarist. With his old companion in Gamma, Davey Pattison singing lead in 1 song. With Davey Fareghar (bass) and Aynsley Dunbar (drums).


VV.AA. Please, note this is taken from an ad. I still haven't got the album, so I can't confirm it...

This is a tribute to Aerosmith, produced by Bob Kulick. Featuring great musicians: Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Mark Slaughter (vocals), Ted Nugent (vocals, guitar), Vince Neil (vocals), Jack Blades (vocals), Mickey Thomas (vocals), Jeff Keith (vocals), Jack Russell (vocals), Jani Lane (vocals), Stephen Pearcy (vocals), Fee Waybill (vocals), Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (guitar), Earl Slick (guitar), Yngwie Malmsteen (guitar), Bruce Bouillet (guitar), Steve Lukather (guitar), Tommy Shaw (guitar, vocals), Albert Lee (guitar), Blues Saraceno (guitar), Tommy Skeoch (guitar), Chris Holmes (guitar), Tracii Guns (guitar), Tony Franklin (bass), Rudy Sarzo (bass), Stu Hamm (bass), Phil Soussan (bass), Tim Bogert (bass), Tony Levin (bass), Nathan East (bass), Ricky Phillips (bass), Jeff Pilson (bass), Mike Inez (bass), Adrian Perry (bass - he's the son of Joe Perry), Derek Sherinian (keyboards), Paul Taylor (keyboards), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Frankie Banali (drums), Gregg Bissonette (drums), Tommy Aldridge (drums), Steve Ferrone (drums), Eric Singer (drums), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Pat Torpey (drums), Randy Castillo (drums), Bobby Blotzer (drums), Steve Riley (drums), David Glen Easley (backing vocals).

Aynsley plays in one song, 'Toys in the attic', with this lineup:

SESSIONS FOR BLUES BUREAU/SHRAPNEL LABELS

Tony Spinner This guitarist is accompanied here by Aynsley Dunbar (drums), John Onder (bass, great player!) and Mike Onesko (backing vocals, from Blindside Blues Band). 
Pat Travers Pat Travers is a fantastic rock/blues guitarist. To me, he is still underrated, and I can't understand why! He has had fantastic musicians in his bands: Pat Thrall, Tommy Aldridge, Nicko McBrain, etc.

In Just a touch we can find , plus Greg Chaisson (bass), Kevin Neal (drums) and Aynsley Dunbar (drums). Dunbar and Chaisson play on 8 tracks, while Kevin Neal (drums) and Travers' long-time bandmate Pete 'Mars' Cowling (bass) play on the other 2 tracks.


(scan courtesy of Mike Tolan)

In Blues magnet, he is backed by Michael Amico (bass) and Aynsley Dunbar, plus Blues Bureau boss, Mike Varney, playing some guitar parts.

In Best of the blues plus live, Pat is backed by Michael Amico (bass), Brad Russell (bass), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Joe Nevolo (drums).

You can find an RA sound file in the Shrapnel/Blues Bureau web site (watch below for the link). 

Little John Chrisley I heard his harmonicist in the L.A. Blues Authority, vol. 5, Cream of the crop, a tribute to Cream. This is his first album, with guests like Michael Lee Firkins (guitar virtuoso), Brad Russell (bass), Stu Blank (keyboards) and Aynsley Dunbar (drums). 
L.A. Blues Authority Hats off to Stevie Ray is a tribute album to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. Under the monicker L.A. Blues Authority, there has been released several albums, mostly tributes, where blues-rock and hard-rock musicians play together, like an all-star session. I particularly love these albums. Another of their albums featuring Aynsley is Fit for a King. 
VV.AA. A sampler containing some tracks from albums where Aynsley had played. The list of bands is impressive: Pat Travers, Craig Erickson, Glenn Hughes, Rick Derringer, Leslie West, Blindside Blues Band, The Outlaws, Kevin Russell, and tracks from L.A. Blues Authority monicker. 
Blindside Blues Band This blues-rock band is commanded by guitarist Mike Onesko. I don't know about Mike's former groups. As I've said before, I have L.A. Blues Authority, vol. 5, Cream of the crop, a tribute to Cream. A superb album. And Mike Onesko plays in almost every track, performs his own rendition of 'Politician', and makes a fantastic vocal duet with Pat Travers in the eternal song 'Sunshine of your love'. Sorry, I haven't heard his Blindside Blues Band albums.  
RELATED LINKS

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Page created by Miguel Terol on: 12/December/1997. Last modified on: 16/September/2000. 1