Something a little different for day 84.
The baritone solo on the original was played by my hero Ronnie Ross, who was called onto the Lou Reed recording date by David Bowie, the record producer, who had taken saxophone lessons from Ronnie back in around 1960.
David Bowie's first instrument was the saxophone. "Ronnie Ross - who was featured in Downbeat as one of the great baritone players - lived locally," he once recalled, "so I looked in the telephone book, and I rung him up. I said, 'Hi, my name is David Jones, and I'm twelve years old, and I want to play the saxophone. Can you give me lessons?' He sounded like Keith [Richards], and he said no. But I begged until he said, 'If you can get yourself over here Saturday morning, I'll have a look at you.' He was so cool. Much later on, when I was producing Lou Reed, we decided we needed a sax solo on the end of 'Walk on the Wild Side.' So I got the agent to book Ronnie Ross. He pulled out a wonderful solo in one take. Afterward I said, 'Thanks, Ron. Should I come over to your house on Saturday morning?' He said, 'I don't f---ing believe it! You're Ziggy Stardust?'"
And here is that original with the fabulous solo at the end, starting at 3:38"
Rhys