The Hired Gun: 80’s Session Musicianship

When we think of 80s guitar players, we might think of virtuosos such as Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Yngwie Malmsteem and Steve Lukather.

There was a lot of great pop music that came out in the 80s, with some brilliant guitar players behind them. Some of these players were lesser well-known, and not particularly famous artists by themselves, but they found themselves supporting... Some of the world's greatest artists, much like Steve Lukather did, supporting artists like Michael Jackson.

These session players were above and beyond the average guitar player. This was an era where an artist would go into a studio... There might be a songwriter or arranger for a famous or upcoming artist in the studio with some basic ideas for a track.

These ideas might be a structure, or a simple chord progression. Maybe a hummed idea. Sometimes there will be full demos for tracks, but often with missing pieces, such as particular guitar parts, hooks and melodies.

The session guitarist would be tasked with coming up with unique and supportive parts for a song and then record them, often within a few passthroughs of the track. This means the session player would have to have a good knowledge of music theory, different genres of guitar playing. They'd also need to have the gear and techniques in order to deliver those sounds consistently, professionally and expressively.

It wasn't uncommon for popular session guitar players in the circuit to maybe do 4-5 sessions in a day, over a year racking up tons of recording time, with the likelihood that you'd end up on a popular track in the charts was high if you were one of these top hired guns.

So what are the key skills of a session guitar player? It could be summarised as being able to play simple things extremely well. This can be harder than it first seems. Playing something simple well means having control over rhythm, tone, dynamics and intonation.

Being able to come up with a simple and effective part also requires deep awareness of where guitar fits into a song in terms of tones, dynamics, rhythm and stylistic considerations. Being able to come up with parts that complement the song that the session guitarist is working on is a key skill. Being able to execute these parts is just as important.

If we were to look at these skills from an educational point of view, it would mean having good technical control on the guitar. Solid rhythmic synchronisation, being able to create different tones with your hands and your gear. It also requires a really good understanding of harmony, how chords and scales go together.

So, knowledge of the guitar neck is really important. Knowledge of other guitarists. as well the licks, the riffs, knowledge of what's popular. Being able to actually play these things, having an ear to be able to pick up on these things and know what they are theoretically and in terms of performance.

Groove is also paramount, timing practice is key, not just playing in time in terms of being perfect, but also being able to play around the beat, play with different musicians and complement what they are doing and fit in.

Beyond just fitting in musically, to be a session musician, it's important to be a good human being. That you listen to the people you’re working with and the music. That you're on time. That you're responsible for your gear and your playing. That you don't make it all about you, yet you have the confidence to perform. and come up with parts. It's a fine balance between humility and broad confidence on the instrument.

Musicianship, humility, confidence and professionalism. seem to be key connecting factors between some of the world's top session musicians. Here's a handful that I recommend checking out, some of which you may know and some of whom you might not know but you've probably definitely heard.

Steve Lukather, an L.A. born session guitar player, famous for his work in his band Toto, Toto being the backing band behind Michael Jackson on the album Thriller.

He's worked with many artists, from Lionel Richie to Aretha Franklin, Olivia Newton-John, Earth, wind and fire, Chicago, Donna Summer and many more. He's performed on over 1,500 records spanning a 36-year career so far.

He has become one of the top 10 session guitar players in the world due to his massive contribution to popular music. And he's also done lots of solo albums and collaborated with some of the world's finest guitarists such as Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen.

Lukather developed his skills in the studio and rubbed shoulders of other session greats such as Larry Carlton and Jay Graydon.If you want to hear a first-hand account of what it was like to be a session guitar player in the 80s, I highly recommend Steve Lukather's autobiography “The Gospel According to Luke”.

He also has many great interviews talking about the key skills that are needed to be a proficient session guitar player. And he's also a consistent voice on keeping the art of session guitar alive.

On the other side of the ocean in the 80s, there was a prolific session guitar player from the UK, Alan Murphy. He is well remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush, Level 42 and Go West.

And he's backed up many artists such as Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Nick Hayward, Joan Armistrading and Chris Rea.

His playing was a wonderful collective mix of jazz rock fusion inspired by Alan Holdsworth but with a fresh pop edge. He was partly know for his crystal clean, whammy bar, chorus-y soaked shimmering chords that you can hear on albums by Go West.

His expressive whammy bar melodies and his interesting pentatonic infused lines made him really stand out. He used very simple gear and he was very humble. Unfortunately, in 1989 he passed away aged only 35. He is well remembered within many guitar communities, an often unsung hero. in the session guitar world. Check him out!

Here’s some live footage of him killing it with Go West live at Hammersmith in 1987 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E_BRGvgtFY

Tim Pearce has become well known for his educational guitar YouTube channel offering great insights on being a session guitar player and talking about some of the number one hits that he's performed on and how he came up with the parts and his thinking behind them.

He's worked with artists such as Joe Cocker, Crowded House, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Jackson, Beth Hart, Roger Waters, Alice Cooper, Johnny Halliday, Phil Collins and many more.

He first had his mainstream success when recording with Rick Springfield enjoying the hit Jessie's Girl. He's also appeared on second guitar in Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over. He's played the mandolins on the Goo Goo Dolls song Iris. and he's played lots of rhythm guitar parts on Michael Jackson's Black and White. He has played almost all of the original guitar parts for Runaway by Bon Jovi.

Tim is a great example of the positive and open attitude that makes a session guitar player, really focusing on what he can bring to any artist that has hired him. He seems to have different approaches for many different situations, showing a wealth of knowledge. I highly recommend his YouTube channel!

Tim Pierce on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@timpierceguitar

Whilst people like Steve Lukather and Larry Carlton were getting a big name for themselves as session guitarists and artists in their own rights. Mike Landau has been sweeping up many different session gigs with many huge artists. From Joni Mitchell to Rod Stewart, Seal, Michael Jackson, James Taylor, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins. Stevie Nicks, and Mars Davis.

Mike Landau was part of a small group of session guitar players around Los Angeles in the 1980s. He would often be crossing paths with session players such as Dean Parks, Michael Thompson and Dan Hough and of course, Steve Lukather himself.

Mike Landau is playing, again like the greats on this list, shows very deep knowledge of harmony and tone. Creating Guitar Magic with chord voicings and single note parts and also being a hell of a lead player!

A member of the Rock bands Giant and White Heart. He also played on many albums with Michael Jackson. Whitesnake, Roger Hodgson, George Benson, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers and many more. His guitar playing was hard rock style.

Mixing in the virtuosic techniques of players like Van Halen with solid Rock rhythm playing, coming up with complimentary, hooky parts, which always kicked ass!

So there we have it. Some top session guitar players from the 80s and we're only really scratching the surface. These particular players have huge lists of their discographies and collaborations and are a result of a very creative and busy era of popular music.

Session guitar playing has evolved over the years and with the advent of home studios, more and more session players are recording from home. More and more producers are recording their own guitar parts on their tracks. Whilst the environment might have changed, and streaming services might have changed how music is consumed, session guitar is still a skill that can be cultivated and enjoyed.