Big Jim Sullivan - Session Guitarist - UK Hit Singles and Albums
(An incomplete listing of his hits - if you know of any others please email me at bjs@overzeal.co.uk)
Jim was on Small Faces, Them and Dave Clark records and these are not on the list.
Jim was not the only UK session guitarist.
The best were Alan Parker, Jimmy Page and Vic Flick.
Other session guitarists were Joe Moretti, Ernie Sheer, Eric Ford, Ike Isaacs, Judd Proctor and Colin Green.
But the most prolific of the session guitarists was Big Jim Sullivan.
The above played lead guitar on :-
Donovan and "Sunshine Superman"
Cliff Richard and "Move It"
Alvin Stardust and "Jealous Mind"
David Bowie and "Jean Genie"
Joe Cocker and "With A Little Help From My Friends"
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and "Shakin All Over"
Dave Berry and "Crying Game"
The "James Bond" Theme
Gilbert O'Sullivan and "Alone Again (Naturally)"
The Great Unknowns - Who played the guitar ?
1967 Shirley Bassey and "If You Go Away"
1968 Sandie Shaw and "Scarborough Fair"
1969 Louis Armstrong and "We Have All The Time In The World"
1974 Chas'n'Dave and "Jody And The Kid"
Jim was present at the Top Ten Greatest UK Rock Music Moments
1) 1959 (Rock'n'Roll) Jim was in the studios of "Oh Boy" in the UK.
He was Marty Wilde's guitarist - Marty was the premier UK Rock'n'Roller at the time.
2) 1961 (Rock'n'Roll) Jim was on the fateful Gene Vincent/Eddie Cochran UK tour.
3) 1961-1964 (Joe Meek) Joe Meek used Jim.
4) 1963-1964 (R'n'B) Jim played on the seminal albums "R&B At The Marquee" and Georgie Fame's "Rhythm And Blues At The Flamingo".
He also played on Rolling Stones demos.
5) 1964-1966 (British Beat) Jim was prominant on most of the British Beat singles.
He also was the resident guitarist on "Ready Steady Go", "Thank Your Lucky Stars", "Top Of The Pops" and "Saturday Club".
6) 1964-1969 (Beatles) Jim was on lots of Beatles' covers and played sitar with George Harrison who curiously referred to Jim as his favourite session guitarist.
7) 1967-1969 (Underground) Jim was often asked to play on the Underground records. He turned down the opportunity to join Led Zeppelin.
8) 1969-1974 (Tom Jones) Jim was Tom Jones's guitarist - Tom was the top singer at the time.
Jim could have easily become Elvis's guitarist.
9) 1969-1974 (Glam Rock) Jim arranged and played on Dave Dee and Alvin Stardust records.
He also played on early Sweet and Marc Bolan records.
10) (Innovation) Jim, together Ritchie Blackmore and Pete Townshend, persuaded Jim Marshall to make amplifiers.
Wah Wah Pedal - Fuzzbox - Bending Strings - Sampling - Talk Box - Twelve String - Country Rock -> Jim would have been an innovator.
