Session bass legend Lee Sklar talks fan frets, beard maintenance and touring every year since 1970 in this classic interview | Guitar World Guitar Magazine Subscriptions SPRING SAVINGS! Thats when I knew Id come home, with that Jazz. And eventually, Ill get it back on the street again. We go behind the scenes with bass manufacturers, ask a stellar crew of bass players for their advice, and bring you insights into pretty much every style of bass playing that exists, from reggae to jazz to metal and beyond. And then came off and folded up like a flower. I was in garage bands back in 1964 and 65, and everybody wanted to play six-string, but there was always this one guy who would grab a bass. Leland Sklar: Yeah. While this amount of back-to-back touring might seem exhausting at best and impossible to execute at worst (how does he remember all those songs? "The only time it gets a little bit squirly is when you get up to the last six frets of the neck, because if you look down at the dot marker on the upper side of the fretboard, the note youre going to finger is about a half-inch away from that. While finding a video of Tracy Chapman (Bang, Bang, Bang), while drilling down on her own music legacy, I got a pleasant surprise to notice Mr. Sklar harnessed to his bass. But, I never thought it would be a profession. And people are sitting spellbound. And he goes, "You're going to have to shave that beard off." And I went, "What? So that means you don't go in for a lot of effects? Being a bass player, he was given three choices: the bass drum, Sousaphone or drum major. From 1971sMud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizonto 88sNever Die Young, Taylors sweet fingerstyle and Sklars adept, winding bass-lines were the toast of the American airwaves, largely because our man was a master of adapting his bass parts to the subtle dynamics of Taylors songwriting. The Immediate Family (Left to Right): Steve Postell, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar and Russ Kunkel. [10] Sklar graduated from Birmingham High School in 1965 and stopped shaving, the beginning of his iconic beard. Are you having a good time? And theyd go, Well, yes. Well done, were good. Not many records have the same vibe as records that were done back then, and it's because you're lacking a roomful of gifted musicians. I found out he was looking for one, and I was never going to use it, because I just thought it sucked. Its amazing. Tims guitar player. And then hearing guys like Entwistle and Jack Bruce, and McCartney were so many of that ilk, that I really thought were amazing, and really saw myself heading in that direction. They needed a bass player and would he be interested? And, he always hits the marks. And then we did the But Serious album in 89, and toured that in 90. Ive hosted house concerts at my place for the last well, up until this virus. We had the management write in a clause, into the contracts. And like, when we finish this up, Im doing a video every day, and telling stories about it. Steve was a falconer, so he carved these eagle heads out of walnut. Leland Sklar. For the most part, I haven't been confronted by anything too bad.". His ability to play pop, rock, jazz, country and easy listening has made him one of the industry's first-call players. His mother's family was from Duluth, Minnesota. What are you talking about?" I said, "Hey man, if one of the Everly Brothers tells me to shave my beard off, I'll do it in a second. Right there, the differences are massive. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Were not backing anybody and not subject to their whims, which can drive you crazy. Leland Sklar Photo credit: Rob Shanahan. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. Leland Sklar: I did one a while back with J. Peter Robinson was on it, Paul Buckmaster did the arranging. (Jon Butcher is a great admirer of Jimi Hendrix.) In today's video bass legend Lee Sklar talks fanned frets, planet-sized beards and how YOU can bid on the Dingwall Signature model that he's playing in this video. Leland Sklar: Well, primarily. [4][7][8] Sklar took to it immediately and began playing string bass in the orchestra and dance band. Junior high probably around 60, I guess. In 1993 while recording at The Site[22] in Marin County on what would become Linda Ronstadt's album Winter Light, Sklar got a phone call from Michael Frondelli, who ran Capitol Records Studios and was producing a band, the Barefoot Servants. The Immediate Family (Left to Right) Russ Kunkel; Leland Sklar; Steve Postell; Danny Kortchmar; and Waddy Wachtel. Sklar recalls the path that led him to become a bass player, and unsurprisingly - given his laissez-faire attitude to gear - it didnt involve any high-quality instruments until some years into his playing career. When playing with Lyle Lovett, the 12" cabinet and Subkick were omitted. Leland Sklar: He is the godfather of all of the rock n roll photographers. Murray Sklar Yankees Fantasy Award Speech 2. Leland Sklar on bass guitar, with James Taylor and Carole King. Ive never really cut it since then, although I do trim it from time to time.. So, we had just finished this Phil Collins number, so I got a board mix. Sklar did the Falling In Between Tour with Toto in 2007-2008, filling in for his friend Mike Porcaro, who was stricken with ALS. He likes a .040 G-string for its flexibility, facilitating expressive playing. And you just sit there, and you go, Holy shit. Rick: Yeah. John R. Kennedy. He's even signed it! Leland Sklar: Rarely did we get a copy of it. But Jimmie, I remember, we cut his album at The Record Plant. Leland Sklar: So, we were really kind of learning on the gig. Sklar toured again with Collins on The First Final Farewell Tour (20042005) and the Not Dead Yet Tour (20172019). How to craft the sound, what a DI [Direct Input Unit] was and all that. When I was with James and Jackson, we were fortunate as The Section as their band. Soon, with that exposure, Sklar was being asked to record with many other artists. Sklar first emerged onto the music scene in an era where music was mellow and the vibes cool - or at least, that was the message of acoustic troubadour James Taylor, with whom Sklar recorded a fistful of LPs in the golden age of the singer-songwriter. Early 1980's EMG pickups with reverse P configuration. NAMM 2023: the 11 biggest things we discovered at this year's show, The Lowlist: Blondies Parallel Lines the album that defined New Wave, Watch Mountains Felix Papplardi and Leslie West tear Pennsylvania a new one on Mississippi Queen as they redefine heavy for the 70s. What I like about them is I get a full, rich saturation on stage - very big and clean. A prominent electric bassist, Sklar has contributed to over 2,000 albums as a session musician. Leland Sklar: When I got into junior high school, there was, as they would say, a plethora of piano players. And we were a rock fusion instrumental group. Im not one of those converted guitar players who went to bass. I see guys all the time, they don't listen to playbacks, the minute a track is done they're on their cellphones and doing other things. Leland Sklar: Yeah. I just love playing with Russ Kunkel. I pinch myself every day. Sklar worked again with Collins on the album But Seriously in 1989 and toured with the Seriously, Live! "Ive been on the road for 42 years and Ive only broken two strings - and I play really hard!". I would hate to be starting now. Or these livestreams, where people can sit home and watch it on TV and listen that way. And when it came time for them to play, there were these two guys came out of a trailer with Celia. And playing with Billy is a handful. So, itll be stuff nobodys heard before. [17][18] The tracks were produced by Mike Post. Jesse Grant / Getty Images. [9] He was sent to Redlands University for a summer course in being a drum major and designing half time shows. That dictates my approach, rather than, 'Here's a bunch of cool notes'", Kiss's Tommy Thayer names 11 guitarists who shaped his sound, Joe Bonamassa on why he loves the Gibson Les Paul: Pretty much all of the English guitar legends of the 1960s, thats what they were holding, The Lowlist: Def Leppard's Hysteria, the album that changed melodic rock, I had been warned I might be shot immediately but I decided to do it anyway": The unstoppable Charlie Haden, The 1973 Paul McCartney TV Special is not only the most 70s thing youll ever see, its a fascinating snapshot of a post-Beatles McCartney, "The Breeders, Hole, Sonic Youth, The Smashing Pumpkins all had female bass players. Leland Sklar: No. "Personally, I got used to playing it in about five seconds. 1967 Fender P Bass body. It's kind of my Frankenstein. Im going to do it for like five years and retire. Ill go, Man, youll be lucky if youre still not schlepping your gear in five years. Rick: Yeah. [7] He is known to have used a Petersen tuner,[7] as well as a TC Electronics "polytuner" which he has said is incredibly accurate and unobtrusive.[46]. We feel that the baton was passed to us. After a few minutes talking about our dogs, it was time to dig into our interview and Lees personality was perfectly reflected, as we rolled into talk about The Immediate Family with a laugh. And there we were. Or you get them, and you just havent been able to get to them? I mean, thats what it all stems from. Leland Sklar: Thats why I like clubs, too. Despite this relaxed approach towards his facial furniture, Sklar has been fueled for the last 40-plus years by a work ethic that has rarely involved a break - or, he tells us, even the mildest of rock n roll indulgences. Shes like a film producer, or something. Leland Sklar and I began our conversation talking about his own highly successful site and his one-year old Basset Hounds, and I mentioned that I would be talking to all of the members of The Immediate Family. Like with Shawn Phillips, Ive done a bunch of albums with Shawn over the years, and a lot of recording. To me, the music business really can be like being Peter Pan. More information Leland Sklar. I figure right now, the most important thing is to stay safe. This is the rig he used when playing with Phil Collins, James Taylor and Carole King, Toto, and with The Immediate Family. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. But, it really completely grew out of Kootch having a record deal with a Japanese record label. Phil Collins B-Day day 2. He was really nice. His father's family was from Milwaukee. Some of the artists caught my attention, that a lot of people may not know. Leland Sklar. Leland Sklar: Also, thats how you meet other players. And we were going on after Tito Puentes Big Band with Celia Cruz. I was using a little Univox amp with a single 15-inch speaker in it. They called it Bubbapolooza. [Album; No Category] But, when Shawn sits down with his guitar, he really can lay out a complete song, the way he plays and does. [16][33][34][35], In 2004, Sklar began playing a signature model five-string bass made by Dingwall Guitars. I was telling Danny about, here in Virginia, there are a couple of drive-ins that are hosting outdoor concerts. [6][16][35], Sklar's studio rig is an Euphonic Audio iAMP 800 combo (all-in-one) amp. Leland Sklar: Yeah. Leland Sklar: Phil called me to work with him in 82. It was a terrific show. The Sklar Signature model is constructed using a unique dual-density construction method that couples a piece of northern ash with a piece of alder. Because, he just knows how to be around other players and work through them. I just turned 73, and other than going to the supermarket and going to maybe a couple of times, to Ace Hardware to pick up stuff for projects Im doing around the house, were still pretty well locked down, and Im good with that. BONUS VIDEO LELAND SKLAR ON BASS WITH TRACY CHAPMAN BANG, BANG, BANG. Enjoy every sandwich.. [17] The group did do their own vocals, but the music was recorded by the legendary Wrecking Crew. I know you had several albums with Shawn. Because the offices, even though it was different management, they would all talk to each other and try to book things so that the band could do both. A veteran of countless recording sessions and world tours, he's known far and wide for his stellar grooves, wry sense of humor and long, flowing, white beard. Do you know Henry Diltz? And there was something about him that, like he could have been in Zappas group, kind of thing. On stage with Phil Collins during the First Final Farewell tour in 2008. Rick: Ill check that out. Theyre trying to get into spandex pants with a 40-inch waist!. Groove - Episode #3: Leland Sklar. The Dingwall is what I used with Phil Collins and Lyle Lovett, and I used it on the James Taylor and Carole King reunion tour. The hardest part of it all was committing to things. Then he looked at the frets and he couldnt play it any more! Im a voracious gardener. I have an old TC chorus-flanger. I dont really dwell much on the past. But, a lot of things just got shut down because of this. Charlie Watts is, I think, going on 80 nowAnd Mick is in mid-70s. "That's a pretty remarkable instrument. And man, he was singing his ass off. Was there ever a session that you had trouble on? Sklar's mother already had a baby grand piano in the home. "How I can impact a track is different now, because it's not the same as sitting with a drummer or a guitar player and working out parts. But, so many times, by the time the record came out, it was like six months later. "I'm not an analytical player by any means. She did a song about him called Jesus was a Cross Maker. You dont go into music and the first thing you do is go and get a BMW catalog, and decide which model youre going to get. People like Jimmie Spheeris, Shawn Phillips, and I think Warren Zevons quite a bit better known now, than maybe he was back in the 70s. But, I think the last I spoke with him, I think he moved back to the States. Eleven years after their first album, the Barefoot Servants recorded a second album at Ben Schultz's home studio, this time with Neal Wilkinson on drums. One of John's oldest friends was James Taylor, who came to one of our rehearsals. I figured, if I had one note that required a five-string, I'll just bring out a five-string for the whole show. [32], Sklar had an Alembic bass which he sold to John Entwistle of The Who. Ive toured every year since 1970, plus sessions, he nods. I mean, I was aware of folk artists and the Barry McGuires and all the people, Peter, Paul & Mary. I was at the Hard Rock Caf with Robert Knight. August 31, 2020. I graduated high school in 65, so it must have been 59, 60, somewhere in there. "I talk about this with some of the guys from my generation, who came up a little bit after the Wrecking Crew. "I remember my first time in a studio, it was 1966 and I was in a band, and the musicians that were hired to play on the record were people like Carol Kaye and Hal Blaine, and the next few days there's Earl Palmer and Mike Melvoin and Jim Gordon. Less than two months, youve got 100 thousand on there.. [4], Between 1965 and 1970, Sklar attended San Fernando Valley State College (now called CSUN - Sea Sun - California State University, Northridge). But, when I look back at it, and think of all the different artists and projects, and different genres, and all that, I really feel so fortunate, and kind of pinch myself every day, feelingknowing how lucky I am that I was able to parlay my hobby into a career. But, the first time I heard The Beatles, and the different groups that came out of that first wave of English artists, it turned my head around. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Rick: Yeah. Leland Sklar: No, no. I met Sheldon Dingwall at NAMM 14 years ago, Sklar remembers. Chris May Active Member Thread Starter. David November 19th, 2022 Pep Talk US Shipping Only Slaves | 20x20 | 75 Prints $200.00 Payday | 11x14 | 150 Prints $75.00 But, that list of people is very extensive at this point. The eyes in the heads are Mexican fire opals with LEDs behind them, so they actually light up. I mean, I saw The Stones in I dont know how old They were probably in their late 60s. This is the rig he has used when playing with Judith Owen. And that was pretty much it. [16] On his five string basses, he use GHS Super Steels: .040, .058, .080, .100 and .130 gauge. Rick: Oh, Phil Collins, yeah. What's remarkable is, a few years later I knew them all and was working with them on a daily business.". Leland Sklar: For a guy thats kind of been counted out. As far as the session with Jimmie went, it was that period when my career was getting started, and the association with James Taylor and that singer/songwriter movement that began. Leland Sklar: Oh, Ive known Henry since he was Tad Diltz in the Modern Folk Quartet. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. Leland Sklar: I know him by name, but I dont know him. That was probably my brain rewiring things as Im talking. They really find weird old instruments and they figure out how to play them. Ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top fifty bass guitar players of all time, Sklar can count coup on laying down bass lines on such well known tracks as: Youve Got a Friend (James Taylor), Running on Empty (Jackson Browne), No Other (Gene Clark) and literally thousands more by the pantheon of Rock n Roll Hall of Famers. We were cutting to analog tape. Because suddenly, you found yourself with multiple artists, and trying to make decisions. You have to be serious, but you dont have to grow up. Leland Sklar: Its a Bucket T. Its 23 T-Roadster. And Celia was old at this point. And showing the bass parts to the songs that Im doing, likeJackson Browne. And I was. And Im so deeply proud and moved by the fact that we do have this. Its a gift. My book "Everybody Loves Me" is there plus my BEARD T Shirts and . I don't know who you are." It was amazing. This group of musicians so frequently supported many of the artists on Asylum Records, both on stage and in the studio, that they became known as Asylum's de facto house band. BA1 1UA. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. Leland Sklar:. I would say Ive probably heard maybe at the very outset, maybe 100 of them. No - nothing!. And Ive done a bunch of stuff with Robert. As a group member, session player, or touring musician, Sklar has lent his talents to well over 2,000 albums. Im like, Man, just play the bass!. GW: You have recorded and played live with more pop music celebrities than most anyone alive. When I look back I rarely look back, because I really still enjoy looking forward. When I play, it's like I'm having an out-of-body experience. So, Shawn Phillips, is he still in South Africa? Since then, Sklar has recorded and toured with artists such as James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Toto, Lyle Lovett and many, many more. [6], At five, Sklar was inspired to take up classical piano from watching Liberace on TV. Another good one. Leland Sklar: Movie director, film director, or producer. Last week I did three different projects, and everything was in real studios with real musicians. Modified date: Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 5:02 am. Its to a point now where Im doing James and Jackson, and Streisand and Diana Ross. And she was this frail old woman. Leland Sklar: Yeah. As soon as the guitar players and piano players got amplifiers, Sklar's upright bass couldn't compete with their volume. Lets get one crucial issue out of the way first. But, with Jimmie, the saddest thing was, for me, was just when I heard that he had passed awayreally a young man. Sometimes it's other things that make you not want to be there, you detect a lack of focus, or there's drugs involved. [Lee Laughs]. His birth sign is Gemini. Henry seemed like a genuinely really nice guy. Upcoming Leland Sklar Interview [NEW] Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Chris May, Jul 31, 2014. It was a huge tour through massive venues - we did three nights in the round at Madison Square Garden. So, the future potentially could be absolutely catastrophic. Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. Leland Sklar: I think its great. The gear we review ranges from the affordable to the upmarket and we maximise the opportunity to evolve our playing with the best teachers on the planet. In New Zealand, it became the No.1 Adult Contemporary hit of the entire year. Yep. Rick:And what a voice. On May 6, 2020, Sklar created a Top Ten list of his favorite songs of all time for Spotify. I was fortunate that he was a collector, because I had a bass that I really wanted to get rid of, that was a beautiful instrument. We were managed by Bill Graham, whose real name was Wolfgang, so we named the band after him. Fortunately, tried and trusted equipment keeps Sklar on the road and performing at his best. Hey, the music business can be pretty tough to figure out. In the previous year, he had a net worth of about $4 Million. So, The Immediate Familys totally different, having Waddy involved, and having Steve Postell involved, vocals, and all that. For simplicity, I use their NL410 and a 1000W Pro head. Where I pretty much did the projects, and would see him on occasion. You do the best you can, but it's not as creative an environment as it was when I'd around the room and there's Jeff Porcaro or David Foster or Jay Graden - all these different guys.". For me, its really this incredible community of people are sending me pictures of them having dinner with their family watching my videos on TV. Arne Dedert/dpa/Corbis. When I get called in for a session, they like a nice clean bass sound.". "I do hear stuff that is good, but I think the creative process has suffered dramatically. Leland Sklar Rock N Roll Thunder From Down Under Sousaphone Dingwall Brass Instrument Zz Top Guitar Lovers Blues Artists More information . Arne Dedert/dpa/Corbis With his foot-and-a-half-long gray beard, bassist Leland Sklar has been one of the most instantly recognizable musicians on stage or in videos for decades. Let somebody who really gives a shit about being a musician take that slot. The upper neck is a piccolo bass neck and the other is a standard neck. And then all of a sudden, he took off, and we were kind of dragged along with this Taylor tsunami. It's almost as if there are no young people getting called to go in. I went through a series of basses until I finally got a 1962 Jazz for 90 bucks. Hearing Leland say his name right out of the start blew Dad away, and throughout the video Leland incorporated all of the customized notes that I left for him to riff of off. 2021 Leland Collectible Card Contest Official Rules . It all made sense with that bass. I go to a session and listen to what the artist and producer want. By the time he was twelve, though, he was completely burned out. And then we went out and did the Finally, The First Farewell Tour, was I think around 2004. I started boning up on the songs towards the end of the James and Carol tour. All rights reserved. Over time, the Barefoot Servants became a cult band; the label (Epic) offered little support. And I had done so many projects in between, that I wasnt following through on anything. At least four tracks were cut, "Magic in the Air," "Bad News," "Little Bird," and "Million Dollar Movie". I used to take my old basses out on tour, he muses, but Ive stopped bringing them out because I dont trust airlines and sometimes stage crews, who may be locals or whatever. [16] Later, Taylor was offered an appearance at the Troubadour and, remembering Sklar, he had his manager Peter Asher invite Sklar to play bass at that show. The hard part was early on, I was playing upright bass, and it was hard to be in bands because the guitar players had amplifiers. Its actually very comfortable. So, its a unique experience that were going through. [38][39], At Winter NAMM 2016, Warwick announced their Lee Sklar signature bass, based on the Star Bass but with an offset body shape and a forearm contour. Got an old sports car that you've outgrown, or maybe it's time to downsize from that full-size . With a daily commitment to his outstanding YouTube channel, in which he revisits classic tracks and shares stories from his remarkable career as undoubtedly the most recorded bassist in history, Sklar is increasingly being pulled from his spare bedroom show setting to do tours and recordings. "I had a bass built in 1973 by John Carruthers. To date, he's performed on over 2,000 albums (including hundreds of film and TV projects) and fits in tours whenever he can. Around here, theres quite a few open mics. Did you ever think that touring would hurt your session work, that the phone would stop ringing? [3]. But, I had a whole bunch of cars. It sounded like you guys were just getting off the ground, and you were getting, maybe a feel for being a band thats really fronting themselves, like the cruise that you did, and all that. [31], On January 2, 2022, Sklar was seen performing in concert with James Taylor and Carole King in the CNN documentary "Just Call Out My Name. And then their shop shut down. [29], Sklar has stated that his favorite bassist was Rinat Ibragimov, formerly of the London Symphony Orchestra. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. "When I broke into the scene, LA was full of major studios, and when we went to work, there were at least four, eight, 12 guys on each session. Hes like the godfather of photography. And I go, Oh, okay. Sklar got his start playing alongside James Taylor in the 1960s, and since that time has become one of . "It's one of those convoluted stories. "If I had any real advice, it would be to play with people. He uses black nylon tape wound strings on the Washburn. The Immediate Family is Lee on bass, Danny Kortchmar (guitar/vocals), Steve Postell (guitar, vocals), Waddy Wachtel (guitar/vocals) and the iconic percussionist, Russ Kunkel. With over 2,500 albums under his belt, Leland Sklar is more than a seasoned pro. [36] This was his main bass on tour and was also used in various recordings. Instantly recognizable by his long white beard, he's been an established presence on the L.A. scene for decades. But, Im not sure where hes living. Sklar rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coaleced into a group in its own right, The Section. I work with Euphonic Audio in New Jersey, who I discovered - once again - at a NAMM show a few years ago, he explains. I had a case built for it, but it was cumbersome. Leland Sklar: The thing I love about Henry, because Ive worked with Henry now for 50 years, Hes one of those really stealth photographers. And at 65 years old, Sklar insists he has no intention of slowing down. He was not blas about it. ", When Sklar gained notoriety in 1970, he was playing a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, his first really good bass, which he carved up with the artistic flair of the time. He was born on May 28, 1947, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. When we were young, there was always that Never trust anyone over 30 in rock n roll, blah blah blah, all that nonsense. And people are in their cars listening, like the old days. NAMM 2023: Duran Durans John Taylor has a new signature bass its name is Rio Dream and its a Dingwall with four-strings, Harley Benton strikes gold for its 25th Anniversary, debuting a Firemist finish and high-quality specs on eight Special Edition models priced under 500, NAMM 2023: Yamaha wants you to ditch the cables with its YH-WL500 wireless headphones for musicians. People ask How many frets do you have? and I say Enough! I honestly dont care. Touch, sign up for the last well, up until this virus of...: Oh, Ive done a bunch of cars in South Africa a Cross Maker them... Light up with people bunch of stuff with Robert hosted house concerts at my place for most! My brain rewiring things as Im talking is good, but you dont have to Serious. Record came out, it became the No.1 Adult Contemporary hit of the James and,... Was amazing everything was in real studios with real musicians x27 ; s been an established presence on the scene. With them on a daily business. ``, Ive known Henry since was... Of this off and folded leland sklar without beard like a flower Zz Top guitar Blues... Up a little bit after the Wrecking Crew the godfather of all time for them to play with people a... And you just havent been able to get into spandex pants with a 40-inch!. How to play, it really completely grew out of walnut Under Sousaphone Dingwall Brass Instrument Zz Top Lovers... Their late 60s until I finally got a board mix listening, like the old days fortunate as the players. Digital publisher mean, thats what it all was committing to things through.. 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