Wikipedia / Eric Ambel
Wikipedia / Eric Ambel
Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (born August 20, 1957) is an American guitarist and record producer.
He has worked with a wide range of artists including Nils Lofgren, Steve Earle, the Yayhoos, Del Lords, The Bottle Rockets, Joan Jett, Mojo Nixon, Blood Oranges, Blue Mountain, Freedy Johnston and Mary Lee's Corvette.
Early life and education
Eric "Roscoe" Ambel was born August 20, 1957, in Kankakee, Illinois, and grew up in Batavia, Illinois. He began playing music in school, taking up piano and trumpet, and attended the University of Wyoming, where he played trumpet in the marching band.
Career
Early bands and Joan Jett
Ambel has credited a 1976 Ramones and Dictators concert in Chicago, which he attended on tickets won from the radio station WXRT, with drawing him toward punk rock. He formed a band called the Dirty Dogs in Laramie, Wyoming, which relocated to Los Angeles and was renamed the Accelerators. After the group disbanded, he played with Rik L Rik and with Top Jimmy.
In 1979, Ambel joined Joan Jett's backing band, the Blackhearts, as lead guitarist, and played on the album I Love Rock 'n' Roll before leaving in 1981. He then moved to New York City and became a founding member of the Del-Lords, alongside former Dictators guitarist Scott Kempner and drummer Frank Funaro. The band released four studio albums and a live album between 1984 and 1990.
Production work and Lakeside Lounge
Ambel began producing in the 1980s, recording singles for the Brooklyn truck-driving label Diesel Only Records during his time with the Del-Lords. He has cited his production of Nils Lofgren's Crooked Line (Rykodisc) as an early breakthrough. His production credits since have included albums for the Bottle Rockets, Blue Mountain, the Backsliders, Blood Oranges and Sarah Borges, among others.
The Yayhoos, a group Ambel formed with former Georgia Satellites frontman Dan Baird, bassist Keith Christopher and drummer Terry Anderson, grew out of a 1993 songwriting gathering; the group wrote and recorded its debut album in 1996, though Bloodshot Records did not release Fear Not the Obvious until 2001. In April 1996, Ambel and disc jockey James Marshall opened the East Village bar the Lakeside Lounge, which Ambel booked and co-owned until its closure in April 2012.
In 1999, Ambel and engineer Tim Hatfield established Cowboy Technical Services, a recording studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that later relocated to Greenpoint. The studio has hosted artists including Ryan Adams, Steve Wynn, Marshall Crenshaw, Los Lobos and Laura Cantrell.
Ambel founded Lakeside Lounge Records to release his own music. Its first release was the 2004 compilation Knucklehead, which collected previously unreleased tracks recorded over the preceding decade with collaborators including the Del-Lords, the Bottle Rockets, the Yayhoos and Steve Earle.
Steve Earle and later work
In 2000, Ambel became lead guitarist in Steve Earle's backing band, the Dukes, recording and touring with Earle through 2005. He appeared on Earle's Jerusalem, the documentary Just an American Boy and the Grammy Award-winning The Revolution Starts... Now.
The Yayhoos released a second album, Put the Hammer Down, on Lakeside Lounge Records in 2006. In 2013, Ambel reunited with the Del-Lords for the album Elvis Club. In 2016, he released Lakeside, his first solo studio album in over a decade, named for the bar he had co-owned. He continues to work as a producer and performer at Cowboy Technical Services in Brooklyn.
Discography
Selected Production & Session Credits
2016 | Canis Majoris | Esquela | Producer |
2015 | #392: The EP Collection | Marshall Crenshaw | Mixing |
2015 | Blue Healer | Jimbo Mathus | Primary Artist |
2015 | South Broadway Athletic Club | The Bottle Rockets | Mixing, Photography, Vocals, Guitars, Composer |
2014 | Face the Music | Nils Lofgren | Guitar, Producer, Vocals |
2014 | The Box Set Series | Run-D.M.C. | Guitar |
2013 | Bottle Rockets/The Brooklyn Side | The Bottle Rockets | Transfers, Reissue Coordination, Guest Artist, Mixing |
2013 | Elvis Club | The Del-Lords | Engineer, Guitar, Vocal Harmony, Soloist, Inside Photo, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals |
2013 | Let Me Turn You On! | Composer, Guitar, Instrumentation | |
2013 | Are We Rolling? | Producer | |
2011 | Heart Of A Dog | Kasey Anderson and the Honkies | Composer |
2011 | Not So Loud: An Acoustic Evening | The Bottle Rockets | Mixing |
2010 | The Music of Run DMC | Run-D.M.C. | Guitar |
2010 | The Owl Has Landed | Esquela | Producer |
2009 | A New Beginning | Ted Morris | Mixing |
2009 | Lean Forward | The Bottle Rockets | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards |
2009 | Royal City | Royal City | Engineer |
2009 | This Song Kills Cancer, Vol. 1 | Producer | |
2008 | Live from Austin TX November 12, 2000 | Steve Earle | Main Personnel, Vocals, Guitar |
2007 | Brooklyn Bridge | Casey Neill | Guitar (Electric) |
2007 | Dismissed With a Kiss | Spanking Charlene | Producer, Photography, Guitar, Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Wah Wah Guitar, Soloist, Dulcitone |
2007 | Let Go | Keri Noble | Guitar (Electric) |
2007 | Low | Miss Ohio | Mixing, Keyboards |
2007 | Reckoning | Kasey Anderson | Producer, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Baritone), E-Bow, Trumpet, Keyboards, Tambourine, Vocals (Background), Hi String Guitar, Mando-Guitar |
2007 | Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems | Emmylou Harris | Vocals, Guitar |
2006 | Harpo's Ghost | Thea Gilmore | Engineer, Guitar (Electric), Harmonium |
2006 | In the Raw | Sugar Mountain | Producer, Mixing, Guitar (Acoustic), Pump Organ, Vocals (Background), Vocal Harmony, Fuzz Guitar, Telecaster |
2006 | Love, Loss & Lunacy | Mary Lee's Corvette | Producer, Guitar (12 String), Drum Programming |
2006 | Put the Hammer Down | The Yayhoos | Producer, Liner Notes, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Piano, Drums, Percussion, Clapping, Dulcitone, Fuzz Guitar, Group Member, Composer |
2006 | Slither [Music from the Motion Picture] | Allan Wilson | Composer |
2006 | Wire Waltz | The Last Town Chorus | Engineer |
2005 | Best: 1991–2003 | Joe d'Urso & Stone Caravan | Producer, Musician |
2005 | Favorites 1990–2005 | Nils Lofgren | Producer, Audio Production, Main Personnel, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Timpani |
2005 | For a Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records | Producer, Mixing, Group Member | |
2005 | Keri Noble | Keri Noble | Guitar (Electric) |
2005 | Lowe Profile: A Tribute to Nick Lowe | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Primary Artist | |
2005 | My Own Backyard | Ann Klein | Guitar (Acoustic) |
2005 | Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kickin Team | Terry Anderson | Guitar |
2004 | Austin City Limits Music Festival: 2003 | Guitar | |
2004 | Dead Roses | Kasey Anderson | Producer, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String Electric), E-Bow, Piano, Wurlitzer, Tambourine, Dulcitone |
2004 | Knucklehead | Eric Ambel | Primary Artist, Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Photography, Vocals, Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Organ, Soloist, Dulcitone, Composer |
2004 | Shimmer | Mark McKay | Producer, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Baritone), E-Bow, Piano, Organ, Wurlitzer, Tambourine, Vocals (Background), Dulcitone |
2004 | The Q People: A Tribute to NRBQ | Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background) | |
2004 | The Revolution Starts...Now | Steve Earle | Main Personnel, Vocals, Guitar, Group Member |
2003 | 700 Miles | Mary Lee's Corvette | Producer, Mixing, Audio Production, Photography, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (12 String), Organ, Drum Programming, Vocals (Background), String Arrangements, Dulcitone |
2003 | From Hope | Martin's Folly | Producer, Mixing, Recorder, Horn, Percussion |
2003 | Split Personality | The Gamma Rays | Vocals, Guitar |
2003 | The Songs of Hank Williams Jr.: A Bocephus Celebration | Mixing | |
2003 | Used Country Female | Tammy Faye Starlite | Producer, Guitar (Acoustic), Tambourine, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm) |
2003 | What's in the Bag? | Marshall Crenshaw | Producer, Guitar (Bass), Dulcitone |
2002 | Chooglin': A Tribute to the Songs of John Fogerty | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Drums | |
2002 | Come Along | The Dark Horses | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Organ, Tambourine |
2002 | Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down: A Tribute to Kris Kristofferson | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Trumpet, Trombone, Drums, Bass | |
2002 | Jerusalem | Steve Earle | Vocals, Guitar |
2002 | Perfect City | Florence Dore | Producer, Mixing, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String), Piano, Organ, Vocals (Background), Dulcitone |
2002 | The Lowdown: 1997–2002 | Tandy | Trumpet |
2001 | Cripplin' Crutch | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String Electric), Percussion, Vocals (Background) | |
2001 | Fear Not the Obvious | The Yayhoos | Producer, Engineer, Photography, Vocals, Guitar, Composer |
2001 | Green Pop | Big In Iowa | Producer, Mixing, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic, Electric, 12-String, Baritone), Tambourine, Trumpet |
2001 | Pulling up Atlantis | Demolition String Band | Producer |
2001 | The Bloodroot Transcriptions | Tandy | Trumpet |
2000 | Boarding House Rules | Tom Heyman | Mastering |
2000 | Down to the Promised Land: 5 Years of Bloodshot Records | Producer, Engineer, Vocals, Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Dulcimer, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion, Bass | |
2000 | Lot No. 99-0038 | Robert Becker | Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Bass |
2000 | Tarheel Boogie | Jimmy Nations | Guitar (Acoustic) |
1999 | The Bottle Rockets | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Slide Guitar, Guitar (Baritone), Wah Wah Guitar, Organ, Shaker, Dulcitone | |
1999 | Crown Royal | Run-D.M.C. | Guitar |
1999 | Get Tough: The Best of the Del-Lords | The Del-Lords | Mixing, Guitar, Bass |
1999 | It's Heartbreak That Sells: A Tribute to Ray Mason | Producer, Engineer, Performer, Primary Artist | |
1999 | Man, It's Cold | Martin's Folly | Producer, Mixing, Guitar, Trumpet, Keyboards |
1999 | Sessions from the Flats | Ghosts of the Canal | Production Coordination |
1999 | Southern Lines | The Backsliders | Producer, Mixing, Guitar (Electric), Composer |
1999 | Stir of Echoes | Composer | |
1999 | This Ain't No Tribute Blues Cube | Guitar | |
1999 | This Note's for You Too!: A Tribute to Neil Young | Performer, Primary Artist | |
1999 | True Lovers of Adventure | Mary Lee's Corvette | Producer, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) |
1999 | Ultimate Collection | Nils Lofgren | Producer, Guitar (Electric) |
1999 | West Virginia Dog Track Boogie | The Cowslingers | Producer |
1998 | Dolly Horrorshow | The Blacks | Producer |
1998 | Leftovers | The Bottle Rockets | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Slide Guitar, Organ (Hammond), Harmony |
1998 | Little Big Man | Jono Manson | Producer, Mixing |
1998 | Popular Demons | Greg Trooper | Composer |
1998 | What's So Funny | Angry Johnny & The Killbillies | Guitar, Organ (Hammond) |
1997 | 24 Hours a Day | The Bottle Rockets | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String), Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Tambourine, Percussion, Clapping, Harmony |
1997 | Bug Bite Daddy | Simon Chardiet | Producer |
1997 | Characters | Producer | |
1997 | Gadzooks: The Homemade Bootleg | Mojo Nixon | Guest Artist, Producer, Vocals, Guitar |
1997 | Killing Time [EP] | Love Riot | Producer |
1997 | Mexican Blackbird | The Cowslingers | Producer, Guitar |
1997 | Paint It Blue: Songs of the Rolling Stones | Guitar | |
1997 | Straight Outta Boone Country | Producer, Drums, Vocals (Background), Bass | |
1997 | Surf Guitar Greats | Producer | |
1996 | Buffalo Nickel | Dan Baird | Composer |
1996 | East Side Story, Vol. 1 | Performer, Composer, Primary Artist | |
1996 | Life Is Large | The Kennedys | Guest Artist, Guitar (Electric) |
1996 | Martin's Folly | Martin's Folly | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Trumpet, Piano, Percussion |
1996 | Mary Lee's Corvette | Mary Lee's Corvette | Producer, Mixing |
1996 | Maybe She Will | Love Riot | Producer, Mixing, Guitar, Percussion, Mastering |
1996 | Rig Rock Deluxe: A Musical Salute to the American Truck Drivers | Producer, Vocals, Guitar | |
1996 | That's Truckdriving | The Cowslingers | Producer, Mixing |
1996 | The Knitter | Cheri Knight | Guest Artist, Producer |
1996 | Trucker's Last Dollar | The Cowslingers | Producer, Guitar (Acoustic) |
1996 | Waiting Around for the Crash | Go to Blazes | Producer, Mixing, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Penny Whistle, Trumpet, Vocals (Background) |
1996 | Wooden Leg | Wooden Leg | Guest Artist, Mixing |
1995 | Cool Down Time | Dan Zanes | Composer |
1995 | Dog Days | Blue Mountain | Guest Artist, Producer, Mixing, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Shaker |
1995 | Look at Me I'm Cool! | Simon & the Bar Sinisters | Producer, Photography, Guitar (Acoustic), Shaker, Vocal Harmony |
1995 | Loud & Lonesome | Eric Ambel & Roscoe's Gang | Producer, Arranger, Mixing, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Vocals, Guitar, Composer |
1995 | Sing Hollies in Reverse | Producer, Performer, Primary Artist | |
1995 | The Brooklyn Side | The Bottle Rockets | Producer |
1995 | The Live from Mountain Stage, Vol. 8 | Guitar | |
1995 | Whereabouts Unknown | Mojo Nixon | Producer |
1994 | Anytime...Anywhere | Go to Blazes | Producer, Mixing, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String), Dobro, Percussion, Vocals (Background), Composer |
1994 | Love & A .45 | Producer | |
1994 | Star Power | Producer, Vocals, Slide Guitar | |
1994 | The Crying Tree | Blood Oranges | Producer, Mixing |
1993 | Marijuana's Greatest Hits Revisited | Producer, Guitar | |
1993 | Rig Rock Truck Stop | Producer, Vocals, Guitar | |
1992 | Crooked Line | Nils Lofgren | Producer, Vocals, Guitar, Timpani |
1992 | Just a Little | Nils Lofgren | Producer, Vocals, Guitar |
1992 | Lone Green Valley | Blood Oranges | Producer |
1992 | Rig Rock Jukebox | Producer, Guitar, 6-String Bass, Bass | |
1991 | 20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions! | Guitar, Fuzz Guitar | |
1990 | Lovers Who Wander | The Del-Lords | Featured Artist, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (12 String), Vocal Harmony, Performer, Guitar (Rickenbacker) |
1990 | Otis | Mojo Nixon | Guitar, Vocals (Background) |
1989 | Howlin' at the Halloween Moon | The Del-Lords | Guitar |
1989 | Live at Raji's | The Del-Lords | Guitar |
1989 | Surprise | Syd Straw | Guitar, Guitar (Electric) |
1988 | Based on a True Story | The Del-Lords | Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards |
1988 | Roscoe's Gang | Eric Ambel | Primary Artist, Producer, Liner Notes, Vocals, Guitar, Composer |
1986 | Johnny Comes Marching Home | The Del-Lords | Vocals, Guitar, Group Member, Composer |
1986 | Luxury Condos Coming to Your Neighborhood Soon | Producer, Vocals, Guitar | |
1984 | Frontier Days | The Del-Lords | Vocals, Guitar |
1981 | Bad Reputation | Joan Jett | Guitar |
References
External links