After a decade adrift, the Muffs have gotten their melodic pop groove back. Frontwoman Kim Shattuck has reunited with longtime backing members Ronnie Barnett (bass) and Roy McDonald (drums) for Whoop Dee Doo (Cherry Red/Burger). The Los Angeles-based trio will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand-new feature on the band.
Barnett: Sidemen are an inevitable part of the music business. The “brains” who write and sing the songs get the attention, but they can’t do it alone.
There are many unsung sidekicks throughout the history of music. Today I will concentrate on two who worked super closely with their “bosses.” In fact, both were part of what could only be unquestioningly called duos.
Does the name Alun Davies ring a bell? Probably not but you’ve no doubt heard his supporting guitar and backing vocals with Cat Stevens on all of his work from 1970 til 1977 when Stevens “retired” from music. Davies was perhaps even more of a perfectionist than Stevens, taking care of fine details and adding the magical finishing touches that made those records so great. While initially going through a “mourning period” when Stevens unexpectedly “went Islam,” these days he’s back smiling once again alongside Stevens, who now performs once again as Yusuf Islam.
Maury Muehlesen is the one who had the record deal when he met fellow folkie Jim Croce. In fact, Maury’s Gingerbread album was released by Capitol in 1970 to a disinterested world, but his music, songwriting and friendship had by then greatly influenced his buddy. Croce’s album You Don’t Mess Around With Jim was an instant hit upon release in 1972, and the pair, with Maury now in the role of Jim’s right-hand man and sole accompanist, were on tour from basically then until they both perished in a small airplane crash on Sept. 20, 1973. On their way to, yes, another gig. Maury Muehlesen was 24.
