By Caleb (171.75.81.92) on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 04:50 pm:

Dennis,finally saw the movie.Great segment in there on you.You were really working that wah wah pedal.It was great.Where can one see a complete list of the records you played on?Is there a complete list in the book you put out?

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 04:45 am:

And Dennis, it was good to meet you twice, on our pilgrimage to the East coast last month. I hope we can meet again and talk some more. I will never forget our short conversation about the Motown back beats. Always as I suspected, but I could never make the point with conviction. Now I can and it makes me smile with glee!

By Rich (162.33.234.216) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 08:07 am:

Dennis, it was also great to see you on a recent Public Television program filmed in Pittsburgh in which you were playing on "Band of Gold". Freda Payne looked stunning for any age. Supa-fine. Don't know how you were able to concentrate on the music.

By Wonder B (81.248.163.47) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 09:18 am:

Yes Rich
this program was awesome... I have always wondered how band members can concentrate standing where they are (lol) when such women are doing their thing just in front of them... and Freda Payne sure looked voluptuous in that dress...
Speaking of the music that song is one of my all time favourites...!

Wonder B

By keith harmon (165.83.235.21) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:27 am:

Hey levi I WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY you are an institution.

Keith Harmon Baltimore, Maryland

By Millie (68.40.209.129) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:32 pm:

Hi Dennis,
Haven't heard from you in awhile...have you been traveling again? I have two tickets for you for the WVMV jazz show on Saturday night at Meadowbrook...how would you like me to get them to you? I sent you the Tempts DVD but didn't hear from you so I'd rather not put the tickets in the mail or you might not get those either. I could always leave them at the box office, or you could pick them up at the radio station.

By Kim (68.47.158.113) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 09:41 am:

Dennis,
Is the compilation CD been released as of yet and, if so, how can we get it.
Thanks,
Kim

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 08:41 pm:

Hi Caleb. There is a selected discography in my book. (The London version) I called it selective because I know I played on more records but can't remember them all. I have added some more material to my book and am now putting the finishing touches on the US version.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 08:44 pm:

Hi Carl. It was great hanging out with you at the Cass Cafe during the Soulful Detroit event and on stage at the Clawson Steakhouse. Maybe we can do it again in the future.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 08:47 pm:

Hey Rich and Wonder B. It was hard to concentrate but I managed to get through it. I always find it kind of enjoyable.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 08:52 pm:

Hi Millie. I have been busy. I did get the Temptations DVD. Thank you. I'll have to figure out how to get the tickets. I will let you know

By Eli (151.197.61.149) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 08:56 pm:

Hi Dennis,
I am so sorry that we did not make it to the events in Detroit.
I was looking forward to jamming with you on a Detroit- Philly fusion kinda thing.

Hopefully we will do it in the future.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 08:58 pm:

Hi Kim. Kevgo said he tried to get the compilation CD too but it wasn't out yet. I will have to check on it.

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 09:07 am:

Hi Eli. That does sound like fun. Hopefully we can do it in the future.

By SeanS (67.83.160.82) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 11:00 am:

Dennis is that you Playing the Fuzztone lick on Westbound#9 by the Flaming Embers? Anyway Im curious what model and make fuzztone did you use? It was cool to see you on that PBS Special and in the SISTOM DVD.

SeanS

By stephanie (64.63.221.201) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 04:21 pm:

Hey Sean
Thanks for asking that question. My mom is a bass addict and I would love to be able to tell her Dennis was on that one...that fuzztone thing is her favorite part of Westbound #9
Stephanie

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 08:57 pm:

Hey Sean and Stephanie that was me. I think used a Vox Tone Bender fuzz on that record.

By Caleb (171.75.81.39) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 10:26 pm:

Dennis,you were on that record.See,everytime I come on your thread I learn of another record you played on.I have read of so many good records you were on that's why I asked about a complete list.How about that allmusic.com site.Does that cover everything you did?

By SeanS (67.83.160.82) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

If you hear a guitar with fuzztone on a classic Motown or Invictus/Hot Wax record, its probably Dennis. Robert White and Eddie Willis and Joe Messina seemed to play with a clean sound. Like on "Friendship Train" Thats sounds like Dennis with a Fuzztone and WahWah, with the Great Eddie Willis doing the funky clean parts.

Sean

By TD (68.70.126.246) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 10:32 am:

Hi Dennis

I have been trying to find a place that I can buy the Scorpio c.d.
Any reccommendations?

TD

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 12:58 pm:

Hi Caleb. Allmusic.com does a pretty good job on some of the albums I played on but not all and not any of the singles. When my book comes out in the US, it will list most of the singles, albums and Northern Soul records too. I am sure I left many out but these are the ones I remembered.

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

Hi SeanS. Yes that was me on Friendship Train doing Fuzztone and Wah Wah. I did most of the special effects stuff at Motown. I also did fills and backbeats and anything else they wanted.

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 01:14 pm:

Hi TD. I know Rhino Records had Scorpio on a 70s CD. Right Stuff Records is supposed to put out a compilation CD on me this year but I haven't seen it yet.

By soulboy (213.105.242.238) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:03 pm:

Hi Dennis
Do you know if anyone at Motown was using a fuzztone type of effect or similar before you joined in 68'
The particular record i'm thinking about is by the isley brothers, it's called 'got to have you back'. That record has definitely got a distortion guitar type of effect at the intro.This would have been in about 1966/67. There are some other records on motown around that time,that also have this effect.

By Funkyone D J Dollar BILL (216.221.81.96) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 03:16 pm:

Hi Mr. Coffey!

Can you tell us what movie score soundtracks you appeared on where the songs/score were done just for the movie?What artists did you work with in that capacity?I am familiar with some of the solo work you did for the cinema,but know you must have been involved with many more.Are they any favorites or ones that stand out in your memory?

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 05:53 pm:

Hi Soulboy. It may have been Eddie Willis or one of the Isley Brothers. I seem to recall Eddie using one once.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.53.201) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

Hey Dennis,
always good to see you on site Sir,
just a couple of queries if you would be so kind to answer them.

Whilst doing the themes to Black belt Jones and Enter the Dragon did you get to meet the stars at all
or did you just go into a studio and put the score down.

Did you ever get to meet Bruce Lee or anyone.
Although a 60s freak that Enter the Dragon cut is magic.

Thanks for your time Dennis.
mel(kwei-chang kanes mate)

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 06:03 pm:

Hi Funkyone. I remember Hell up in Harlem as a sound track. I wrote and recorded the main theme and the love theme for the film Black Belt Jones. I did a lot of TV work in LA like the SWAT TV show, Midnight Special, and In Concert but I don't remember a lot of movie tracks unless they used the songs later. When they used songs we recorded for movies after the fact, we got paid union scale again. There is a story in my book Guitars, Bars and Motown Super Stars of how I got lost on the Warner Brothers back movie lot on my way to a session. Each time I drove around the corner, I was in another time and another place.

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.109) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 06:12 pm:

Hi Mel and Then some. The closest I came to meeting a TV star was when I parked in David Janson's parking spot at Warner Brothers. He was driving a Rolls Royce with dark windows. He was not pleased. I did work with Barbra Streisand live with a 60 piece orchestra (What a great artist) and went to a party and saw Diana Carrol and Kris Kristoffson. Most of the time we just recorded the music tracks.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.16) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 06:16 pm:

Thanks Dennis,
but YOU were the STAR
and still are Sir.
A 60 piece orchestra,
phenomenol!
mel.

By Funkyone D J Dollar BILL (216.221.81.96) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 09:12 pm:

Black Belt Jones is still a B-Boy anthem in these parts.Of course just about everything you've done is.Just wish they had used you for the sequel.That and a better script and Jim Kelly would have made it even bigger."Hell up in Harlem" is a great soundtrack and of course "Enter The Dragon".Thanks for laying down the grooves.Did you do any other stuff with Lalo?
I guess this is when the announcer comes in and says "if you want to learn this and much,much more...BUY THE BOOK!".

By Caleb (171.75.84.174) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 09:33 pm:

Dennis,read on the Ray Monette thread where you and him were on the record"Want Ads"-Honeycomb.Do you remember if Babbitt was on that one as well?Wanted to ask also did you put out a new cd recently.Heard about it here but didn't know if it came out.If it's out,where do I go to order?

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 01:24 am:

Hi Funkyone. I met Lalo at a session in LA we were doing together. He thanked me for doing Enter the Dragon. I don't remember what the session was but that was the last time I saw him in LA.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 01:28 am:

Hi Caleb. I don't remember if Babbitt was on the session. I do remember HDH used a bass player called Peanut on a lot of the sessions I did for them. Right Stuff Records was supposed to issue a compilation CD on me but I don't know if it is out yet. I am still shopping my new CD.

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 01:31 am:

Hi Mel. Thanks for the compliments. It was a pleasure working with that orchestra and Barbra. Of course I broke a string on my acoustic during the Way We Were so I had to play on the other five strings. I guess that's why the guitar has six strings.

By jb (68.40.52.152) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 08:19 pm:

To Mr.Coffey HAPPY 70TH birthday keep on playing

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 08:57 pm:

JB,
I may be wrong but I think you're embellishing Mr. Coffey's age somewhat.

By Caleb (171.75.80.135) on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 10:51 pm:

Good night,70.Could this be true?Wouldn't matter either way.Peace

By Ju--Rassic (141.151.90.50) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 09:14 am:

Hand me down my walking cane...
I must be eighty five then, talk about social insecurity.
In the Yiddish vernacular there is an institution caled the "Mischa's Zukainem (sp)
To put it mildly, it is the Old Age Home.
I sure hope that they have up to date gear for my projects!!

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 10:06 am:

70 wow! - I hope I am still playing and rocking at 70. I plan on it. I still have some time to go before I reach 70.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 10:16 am:

Dennis,
I'm breathing a sigh of relief on this one. If you were 70 what was I in reality???

By Eli (141.151.90.50) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 11:50 am:

I must be breathing my sigh of relief with the aid of an oxygen tank!!!!

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 12:09 pm:

That's OK Bobby, just as long as we're still breathing.

By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 08:28 pm:

Hey Ralph and Bobby. It's always a good day when you get up on the right side of the grass.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 10:00 pm:

I always liked the way George Burns told it. He said that when he woke up he would read the paper in bed. If he didn't see his name in the obituary column he would get up and have breakfast.

By Ian W (194.75.129.2) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 08:02 am:

Hi again Dennis,

Having had the track on a cd for a while, I was amazed to pick up a copy of Lonette's 'Mind Intruder' this weekend. What an excellent production!

I had a chat about Lonette ('Veil Of Mystery') with you last year when you visited the UK. The strings arrangements and chord progressions - wow! I only need to find 'Blue Jeans' now (as if!). Were the three tracks recorded in the same session? Could you tell us about the sessions? Are there any unreleased tracks? When 'Mind Intruder' fades out, there is a little extra 30 seconds or so of Lonette laughing and the production team going wild with the backing track being speeded up and all those 'outer space' bleeps happening. Did you play Lonette's vocal track backwards on the b-side 'Dnim Redurtni'? It sure is a strange record. Great drumming too!

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 05:50 pm:

Hi Ian. In those days we used to play string sections backwards and use them in other songs or the same song if they sounded interesting. We used signal generators and whatever else we could find. Mike and I recorded an artist called Jonah a year ago and recorded the dripping sound from the dehumidifier in the room because Mike thought it sounded interesting. I can't recall if all of those tracks were done on the same session. I know that when we first recorded Lonette, she was only 15 and her mother had to drive her to the sessions.

By Bud (64.123.201.188) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 10:54 am:

Hi Dennis,

I recently discovered "Scorpio" after watching the SITSOM movie. The song is a *little* before my time, but I don't know why I've never heard it before. I got curious about it when the two fusion bass guys in the movie were talking about how bad Bob Babbitt was and back in the day if you were a bassist you *had* to know that tune. I did a little digging after that and found out it was your tune and I've been scouring the net ever since looking for your albums on CD. Unfortunatly I haven't been able to find any. Have they not been re-released on CD?

Thanks, Bud

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 09:32 pm:

Hey Bud. Right Stuff Records was supposed to release my Sussex material this year but I haven't seen it yet.

By Bud (24.238.153.113) on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 10:37 pm:

Thanks Dennis. I'll keep an eye open.

By Ian W (194.75.128.2) on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 08:31 am:

Cheers Dennis, wonderful stuff!