Amazing Songs & Other Delights #20 The They Play a Telecaster, So Does Carlos edition by Carlos Fortes & Raquel Pinheiro @ Yé Yé Radio

Fender American Telecaster Blue with CB5 Bula neck pickup, 5-position switch (Bula installation) © Carlos Fortes 

The beautiful Telecaster that illustrates this posts belongs to Carlos Fortes (Mão Morta/Um Zero AmareloI. For those, like me, more geeky inclined, it’s a Fender American Telecaster Blue with CB Bula neck pickup, 5-position switch (Bula installation). For Amazing Songs & Other Delights #20 The They Play a Telecaster, So Does Carlos edition tomorrow (Monday 14th) on Yé Yé Radio: https://yeyeradio.com/ or on the app from about 2:20pm to 4pm, Carlos and I picked 25 songs played/written with a Telecaster or predominantly played/written with one, including two of his – Sem Perdão by Um Zero Amarelo chosen by him and Budapeste by Mão Morta chosen by me. This is the first of the twin shows – the Stratocaster edition will be aired in a couple of weeks. A while ago I had asked Carlos if he preferred a Telecaster or a Stratocaster, he said he liked both, having no preference for one over the other. Coupled with Francisco Silva (Old Jerusalem) love of Telecasters – another source of endless conversations and inspiration - the idea for the shows was born.

With its Telecaster name the guitar created by Leo Fender, in his Southern California company, was introduced in 1951. Leo had originally named the guitar 1950 Broadcaster (the Broadcaster was introduced in 1950), but complains from other makers made him change it to Telecaster. The Fender Telecaster turned 70 in 2021. The basic Telecaster guitar remains similar to its 1951 version. Not all Telecasters are Fender. Other makers produce their version of a Telecaster. Some players alter features in their Telecasters, turning them more unique and special. Our 25 songs include Prince’s iconic Hohner Madcat Telecaster, Carlos’ own Fender Telecaster with custom build Bula pickup and 5-position switch installation, also from the hands of Bula - a friend of Carlos who custom builds pickups. Telecasters with B-Benders are also represented in the hands of Clarence White and Jack White. Jeff Beck’s Telecaster from The Yardbirds’ Ever Since The World Began is the one he gave to Jimmy Page (Page named it Dragon) with which Page plays Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. We included a variety of players and eras to showcase the History and versatility of the Telecaster. From Muddy Waters to P.J. Harvey through Graham Coxon, Syd Barret, Johnny Marr, Keith Richards, Chrissie Hynde, Jimi Hendrix, Jonny Greenwood, Britt Daniel and more there is over one and an half hour of songs with a Telecaster and those who play it.

All previous shows: www.mixcloud.com/infoyeye/ | www.mixcloud.com/raquelpinheiro/