Coffey is the Color

A previously unpublished interview with legendary Motown funkmaster Dennis Coffey

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So hey — there’s been a recent (and much-appreciated) uptick in paid Jagged Time Lapse subscriptions, which reminds me that it’s been a while since I’ve served up some exclusive content for my paid subscribers. This interview with legendary Detroit guitarist Dennis Coffey has never been published before; and though it leans heavily on the guitar gear side, I think even non-guitarists will dig it…

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I was a fan of Dennis Coffey’s guitar playing long before I ever knew his name. The wicked wah-wah on The Temptations’ “Cloud 9”? That freaky fuzz on Wilson Pickett’s “Don’t Knock My Love”? The spritely intro on The Spinners’ “It’s a Shame”? Those trippy Echoplex licks that drip all over The Dramatics’ “In The Rain”? Those are all him, as of course is “Scorpio,” his wicked 1971 funk instrumental, which soundtracked many of my car rides to kindergarten as well as what may well be my favorite Soul Train dance clip of all time.