I heard Blow by Blow in 1975, when it was released. I was playing and doing a day gig in a music store, managing the drum department. The store had a nice sound room with audio gear, this is where I heard that record.
My first impression was how tight and dry the sound was. No effects, reverb wash. That 70s sound had several different genre with that kind of production. Al Green, etc. The 70s duck tape drum sound.
George Martin produced Blow by Blow.
Phil Chen plays bass with Richard Bailey on drums. Max Middleton is on keyboards.
In 1989, I played a gig with Phil Chen and legendary Jamaican jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin. At that time I was ‘again’ juggling my drum addiction, traveling Florida as a music manufacturers sales representative.
My gig with Phil and Ernest was a private party hosted by my friend Ed Olick in Miami. Ed was a retired bass player and owner of Ed’s Guitars in Miami. It was a fun gig to play with Phil and Ernest. I didn’t know much about them at the time.
A few years later I ran into Phil at the California NAMM show. He invited Ed and myself to his house for dinner. I remember Phil telling many bass player stories. He was also writing about the great James Jameson for a book of articles.
Phil was a great musician. Hanging out with him during NAMM show after hours gatherings was interesting. He was a Rock Star from his gig with Rod Stewart and always drew a crowd.
My impression of Phil was, that he still had a deep love for authentic Reggae and Soca music, although Rock n Roll paid the bills.
What he brought to the Blow by Blow record was inventive and unique.