Guitar Triple-Header : Randy Bachman, Ed Bickert , Merle Travis

This video clip comes out of my “favorite things” collection.
I’m guesstimating that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) aired this, in prime time, one summer night, … about thirty years ago, give or take.
I recall it was promoted as “the evolution of the electric guitar … hosted by (Canadian) Randy Bachman … who, at the time was well known as the leader of Bachman/Turner Overdrive.
The complete show ran for an hour. This clip, in my opinion was the best part of a show that was a disappointment that didn't begin to live up to its hype.
Generally, the show was poorly written and produced … typical CBC, most of the time, … although, I will admit there are times (though few and far between) when the Corp has surpassed itself. But this one was a stinker … lacking the sensibilities of Austin City Limits, for example ... and sticks in my mind for that reason.
This segment features Bachman, jazz guitarist Ed Bickert and the late (irreplaceable) Merle Travis,who, … I’m sure inspired thousands of budding guitar players.
A few years later, Randy Bachman was being interviewed on CBC radio about his career, … and he mentioned this meeting with Merle Travis … volunteering that the “’flu” Travis claimed to have was, in his estimation, the result of excessive alcohol intake. Merle Travis was known as ”a good ol’ boy” by his friends, who liked to bend his elbow with the best of them. Regardless, Merle Travis acquits himself well with his guitar ... although his initial interaction with Bachman is obviously stilted, ... in what appears to be their first meeting (other than to tune together, presumably) ... cold and unrehearsed. By the third and final number with Bachman and Bickert, Merle appears to be settling in and enjoying himself as these guitar players begin to cook. AND THEN IT ENDED!

[berrypicker]

Holy Mandela effect. I remember watching this show when I was younger. I remember it as Chet Atkins instead of Ed. I thought the show was called "we are Guitar" at least that's what a vocal ensemble was singing at the beginning of the show. It also had Classical Guitarist Liona Boyd which I haven't heard much of lately. I was wishing to find this clip someday, wish I could watch the whole thing. thanks for the memories.

[brothermac]

Two Pop music Guitarist' & One Monster
RIP EB

[howlindonster]

Love Merle's custom whammy bar shaped for easy access with the finger loop is just brilliant .. I listened to Merle growing up in the fifties as he was my father's favorite guitarist .. My father never played much lead as he sang in the groups he played with and his rhythm was always spot on . Love these vids, thanks Elwood2911 for your posts.. They bring back great memories...

[jerryholowaty]

appreciated even more when you've tried to do it !! love this skill of their craft

[patrickbuckley]

Great music- I love all 3 guitar Greats☺

[paulmoore]

I was sitting here watching this for the zillionth time and just noticed how, at 1:38, when Ed goes into his break, the nice, rhythmic chords that Merle puts behind Ed ... evidence of just great Travis' talent was. No one else has, especially you guitar players, has ever mentioned that.

[ChicagoBeaver]

Beautiful!!! Masters at work.
I can't stand jamming with someone that only knows 1 style. I jammed with this punk rocker last month, the dude couldn't play anything but punk style. OMG. I was playing rhythm and setting him up for leads on Latin style, boogie woogie, blues, Chuck Berry chords then metal chords... all in the key of A and E and he was just lost. He just wanted to play punk music.

[icecreamforcrowhurst]

Jammin’ on live tv! Nice. These Canadians know a thing or two.

[philplaysit]

12th Fret Pro Shop estimates the humbucker put in Ed's guitar at about 1979, so this would be about 45 years ago!

[Sludgepump]

Not nearly enough Ed in there, although there never is enough Ed anywhere!

[ttexastom]

Obviously, three great guitarists.
Only one though has a style named for him.🎸

[jfethier]

The telecaster that Ed Bickert is playing is not the one I am familiar with: always seen him play a model with an humbucker at the neck. Great players and great guitars.

[jonathanbanks]

If you don't think Randy can play jazz, listen to 'Blue Collar'.

[ghairraigh]

Ed Bickert: "Hey, how do you know that? You're too young to know that!"
Randy Bachman: "Well, in my early early days, the first two albums I got were a Merle Travis album and a Chet Atkins album!"
...NOTE: Randy's proof is in two parts: 1) he's using a thumbpick; and 2) his delightful chorus of compound harmonics on "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". ...and who knew Ed Bickert had some country roots?

[guywerry]

I've been a Bachman fan since I heard the Guess Who, massive BTO fan. I've never seen him with that model of Fender before - Coronado?

[imannonymous]

I hate to think hes out of tune so maybe its the tape.. but somethings a little disonant in merles ax
. The mans a legend so no disrepect sir, maybe its me

[blackiewheeler]

Randy was tapping years before Van Halen. Eddie was crawling around the floor loading his diaper while Randy was tapping and writing hit songs.

[mohamedisapedophile]

The most moronic and puerile of all statements is "so and so is the GREATEST GUITAR PLAYER".  Truth is, no one will ever know. There are THOUSANDS who will never know "fame" as they are content to play at home on the porch swing with mutant banjo pickers.

[clintondavis]

Strange grouping of guitar players for a jam. Ed Bickert was known for not liking rock. He was a master of chording, melody and harmony - a much more knowledgeable musician than the other two. Travis was a self-taught early icon amongst early hillbilly guitarist, evolving a style that created a steady rhythm on the bass strings while picking out melodies and some harmony with his forefinger. It inspired Chet Atkins who became much more polished as a musician, delving into classical pieces. Bachman was an accomplished rock guitarist who was opened up his mind to many influences, but he isn't on the level of Ed Bickert. In this situation, Travis, the elder statesman is allowed to run the show, ... and he was a real showman. So Travis played the stuff he knew and had done countless times in front of people. Bachman, with his experience learning from a varied sources, steps in to "play lead, " and he finds it somewhat easier to to work with Travis because he's already studied some of those renditions. Bickert, for me, ... is the best musician, but he stays out of the way. When the others are playing, you can see him playing chords softly in the back ground, and his guitar tone is round and not as present as the bright sounds to his right. These guitar songs are not in Bickert's repetoire and he looks to play some chords and lines that will not distract from the main attraction, Travis, ... or Bachman, the show host. Bickert has always seemed very shy to me, but if you have ever heard him play his own gigs, he is masterful, ... his instrument almost sound like it has the range of a piano. But, ... this jam session was just a situation where he would stay out of the way of the other egos and support their success. I just think it is a dumb idea to just have these guys sit down and make up what they are going to play - they come from different musical worlds.

[beverlyducharme]

Who came up with this strange mishmash? Bachman doesn't belong in the same room as Ed and Merle and Ed was in a universe occupied only by a handful of the most exceptional jazz guitarists in history.