Christopher John Spedding (born Peter Robinson, 17 June 1944) is an English guitarist and record producer. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Spedding is best known for his studio session work. By the early 1970s, he had become one of the most sought-after session guitarists in England. Spedding has played on and produced many albums and singles. He has also been a member of eleven rock bands: the Battered Ornaments, Frank Ricotti Quartet, King Mob, Mike Batt and Friends, Necessaries, Nucleus, Ricky Norton, Sharks, Trigger, and the Wombles. In May 1976, Spedding also produced the very first Sex Pistols recordings.
AllMusic has described Spedding as "one of the UK's most versatile session guitarists, [he] has had a long career on two continents that saw him tackle nearly every style of rock and roll ...".
Spedding, a long-time friend of Chrissie Hynde, was a regular concert feature artist with the Pretenders on their US tour in March/April 1980. He appeared regularly during the band's encores, playing the guitar solos on their version of the Kinks' song "Stop Your Sobbing".
As well as his celebrated work as a session musician, Spedding pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Songs Without Words in 1970. Since then, he has released fourteen studio albums, and two live albums. His only solo hit was 1975's "Motor Bikin'.
Links to Peel[]
Peel played many of Chris Spedding's works, including his contributions with other artists such as the Battered Ornaments, Nucleus, John Cale, Roy Harper and many others. Spedding did two sessions under his own name for Peel's shows as well, including having the Vibrators as the backing band for his second session, as well as contributing guitar work in sessions with the other artists mentioned below.
Sessions[]
- Battered Ornaments
1. Recorded: 1969-01-01. First Broadcast: 08 January 1969
- Then I Must Go / Security Blues / The Week Looked Good On Paper / Water Carrier / Station Song
- Nucleus
1. Recorded: 1970-03-02. First Broadcast: 07 March 1970. Repeated: 27 June 1970
- Elastic Rock / 1916 / Orpheus / Persephone's Jive / Twisted Track
2. Recorded: 1971-03-15. First Broadcast: 27 March 1971. Repeated: 05 June 1971
- Snakeskin Dream / Bearded Lady / Morning Call
3. Recorded: 1971-11-02. First Broadcast: 17 November 1971. Repeated: 04 January 1972
- Feel It First / Belladonna / Tall Grass / Pieces Of Me
- John Cale
1. Recorded: 1975-05-01. First Broadcast: 08 May 1975. Repeated: 17 July 1975, 13 June 1977, 14 May 1986. "Fear Is A Man's Best Friend" available on Various Artists: Kats Karavan: The History Of John Peel On The Radio 4xCD, 2009 (Universal 271 415-1)
- Taking It All Away / Darling I Need You / Fear Is A Man's Best Friend / You Know More Than I Know.
- Roy Harper
8. Recorded 1975-06-10. First Broadcast: 23 June 1975
- Referendum / Hallucinating Light / The Spirit Lives
1. Recorded: 1972-03-21. First Broadcast: 04 April 1972. Repeated: 13 June 1972
- The Only Lick I Know / Sunshades / At The Dark End Of The Street
2. Recorded with the Vibrators: 1976-12-16. First Broadcast: 04 January 1977. Repeated: 17 February 1977
- Hurt By Love / Pogo Dancing / Get Out Of My Pagoda / Misunderstood / Motor Bikin'
Other Shows Played[]
- 1970
- 28 February 1970: Rock & Roll Band (single) Harvest
- 03 March 1972: The Only Lick I Know (LP - The Only Lick I Know) Harvest
- 07 March 1972: Listen While I Sing My Song (LP - The Only Lick I Know) Harvest
- 1976
- 13 April 1976: Guitar Jamboree (LP - Chris Spedding) RAK
- 21 April 1976: 'Guitar Jamboree (LP-Chris Spedding)' (RAK)
- 17 November 1976 (& Vibrators) Pogo Dancing (7”) RAK
- 1977
- 0x September 1977 (Kid Jensen sitting in): Get Outa My Pagoda (7") RAK 261