He is an undersung hero, OS. I never think of him when guitarists are mentioned, and yet some of his playing is so well known that we hum it without realizing it.
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He is an undersung hero, OS. I never think of him when guitarists are mentioned, and yet some of his playing is so well known that we hum it without realizing it.
I’m relistening, for the 1,376th time, to London Calling by The Clash. That was my album pick as Patreon “producer” of a rock podcast I listen to (and hosted by friends). The format is a short interview about why I chose this album as a classic, followed by the hosts dissecting the album track by track from musical, production, historical and contextual perspectives. Then I come back and to let them know what my mix tape selections would be and we chat about that.
I always knew it was an eclectic mix of styles and cultural references but really listening closely with a critical ear, man, all the guitar playing on that album can only be described as chaotic! Bass and drums are tight and on more than occasion, the bass is the melody instrument!
London Calling is a masterpiece. Def my fave album of theirs, London Calling also my fave song of theirs. Joe and the boys understood that a good song is dynamic and builds and builds. It is masterfully written, masterfully played.Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtdog
An Internet disruption becomes a thing of delight, as I turn to my album/CD collection for sound to fill my home during a "wintery mix" outside. Regular readers may know that I have some very eclectic tastes in music. One of the artists I have a fondness for, and many albums to prove it, is the relatively unknown British act, Jade Warrior. With seemingly as many membership changes as recorded albums (16, according to AllMusic), Jade Warrior's music is as distinctive as it is difficult to classify.
I am listening to their 1994 release, Distant Echoes. Here is the AllMusic review:
https://img.discogs.com/dtn8KA2Ehqsq...-4725.jpeg.jpgQuote:
First released in 1995 on the Red Hot label, Distant Echoes was the second and last album of a brief Jade Warrior comeback. The CD was soon deleted, but Blueprint reissued it with new artwork in 2001. The previous album, Breathing the Storm, was a serene but slightly flavorless collection of ambient instrumental tracks. Distant Echoes remains in the instrumental new-age-meets-prog-rock realm, but it leans more toward progressive rock overall. The trio of Jon Field (flutes, EWI), Colin Henson (guitars), and Dave Sturt (fretless bass) is augmented by a host of guests, including a choir, a drummer, percussionists, saxophonists, and ex-King Crimson violinist David Cross. The sound palette is richer and has more punch. Henson's electric guitar was almost unheard on the previous album, while it gets more attention here. Exotic influences (mostly Arabic) appear here and there, spicing up the sound. "Night of the Shamen" constitutes a highlight, as does "Into the Sunlight," the two most progressive pieces of the set. Old fans of Jade Warrior will find themselves in more familiar territory with this less ethereal, more visceral album. Recommended.
I enjoyed playing "Light My Fire" back in the day. I've liked a couple of the covers as much as the original and for the first time today, I love José Feliciano's and Ritchie Haven's versions, especially José's This is another one to add to the list.
https://youtu.be/jDWyTMKM2Fc
The combination of weather, my desire to get out and get exercise (accompanied by music) and using a long idled iPod has me listening to stuff I haven't heard in ages. There's a reason I put this stuff on the iPod, after all...
Some early Savoy Brown stuff has been hitting my eardrums. Songs from A Step Further and Raw Sienna. I wonder if, in today's hyper-charged climate, they would be "canceled" for lyrics like these:
I'm tired of being a fool
And my mind going from hot to cool
And trying to conform to others ideas
And someone else's rules
The life I'm living ain't mine
I'm supposed to feel that's fine
I didn't make the world I'm living in
And I ain't gonna toe the line
I'm tired of trying to be something I know ain't me
I'm tired of living up to what people expect me to be
You know some people are different
Now ain't that a crying shame
Now wouldn't be a real drag if we were all the same
And I'm not going to try to please
Eyes that just don't see
If I get myself together
You'll have the blues not me
I'm tired of trying to be something I know ain't me
I'm tired of living up to what people expect me to be
You know some people are different
Now ain't that a crying shame
Now wouldn't be a real drag if we were all the same
And I'm not going to try to please
Eyes that just don't see
If I get myself together
You'll have the blues not me
You'll have the blues not me
https://img.discogs.com/66L6wMi2NChv...-8533.jpeg.jpg
...for a bit of a change of pace. Which of these is your favorite?
https://youtu.be/09cWmvSDznw
Not playing this game. Each is unique and wonderful, and I can’t choose. I’m partial to Joe Pass, George Benson, Wes Montgomery usually but all of this is good.
I took advantage of the pre-ballgame weather today and went to pull weeds in my back yard. As I sometimes do, I took my 1st gen iPod touch (circa 2007) that I once loaded up with a lot of my (now old) music library. It's always fun to hear stuff I haven't listened to in a while, and on random play, I never know what's next (yeah, Free Bird came up, and you know - I listened to the whole thing!).
Since this is a Fender forum, I thought I'd mention two players I heard. If you want some definitive Stratocaster "quack," the late Paul Barrere (d. 2019) of Little Feat gives a sterling example on "On Your Way Down," the Alan Tousaint number they played live on "Waiting For Columbus." But what really came to mind was an artist I've liked for nearly 30 years. He doesn't get a lot of notice, and plays mostly in my dad's adopted (retirement) home town, Sarasota, Florida. He's released nine CDs, and gives lie to the idea you can't play jazz on a Stratocaster. I guess you'd call it "smooth jazz," but Kicklighter can light up a Strat! Here he is playing his composition Without You live.
https://youtu.be/K00YPmvzxYY
Buckethead - Relaxing Mix. My favorite is the second song in this compilation, called Track 1 from the album Pike #78. It's got a blues vibe to it.
https://youtu.be/NrO0YPQcI14
Edit: below is track 1 from his album Pike #78. It seems Brian Carroll aka Buckethead has released over 300 albums since 2011. Over 300! I had no idea he did anything other than shred until a few days ago so I've been finding all sorts of good stuff from him.
https://youtu.be/4f4GOkEb7es
Another sleepless night... :( :mad: You'd think after 6 years, 9 months and 24 days, I'd be use to it but I'm not...
https://youtu.be/4f4GOkEb7es
Lately I've had Ronnie Montrose's debut album Montrose in my CD player. I find it hard to wrap my head around that it's from 1973. It would not have sounded out of place 10 plus years later. They were quite influential upon many up and coming bands who began 80s hard metal and hair bands.
Some albums seem to float in and out of my consciousness from time to time. Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers is one such. Sometimes it's the title track, sometimes it's Jorma Kaukonen's rendition of the traditional Good Shepherd, or David Crosby's Wooden Ships. Released in November, 1969, this album seemed to be anthemic for the closeout of the decade.
(I have the original vinyl of this. I found it humorous even then that the insert with the song lyrics replaced the "F" word with "Fred").
https://youtu.be/cxA3Q96a8XE
Buckethead - Pike 78 - Track 1
I get emotional every time I hear it, knowing why it was written. I can't help but think of my own daughter, who I buried in 2014, when I hear it.
https://youtu.be/4f4GOkEb7es
This week, it's been:
Klaatu's Magentalane. It's not their best, but it's still fun to listen to.
King Crimson, various. I love the Greg Lake albums, but the Wetton albums as well. And Fripp is a hero. I absolutely love the videos he's doing with Toyah. His guitar sounds like shit, but it's so much fun.
I've listened to a lot of the old masters this week--Beethoven, Grieg, Debussy, Satie, and a playlist of female composers.
Haven't been able to keep The Black Keys' newest album off since they released it on Apple Music.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...elta_Kream.png
This is a hell of a no-bullshit rock album.
I'm getting used to listening to music again without headphones. Yesterday I had Spotify on. I played Aerosmith's "Get Your Wings" album and then let it go into radio mode based on the album. That was fun
Karl Goldmark today. Great composer from the late 1800s, one of my fave times in orchestral music. "In Italien" is a good intro to his work.
Fripp's weekend vids with Toyah have become faves.
So I've been listening to a lot of King Crimson and Fripp's solo stuff.
I've always loved the music, but now, I'm becoming fairly obsessed with Fripp's playing. Why did I never dig him before so much? The guy is one of the most brilliant rock guitarists ever.
Today, I've listened to Court of the Crimson King and Red--both fantastic albums.
Recently discovered these guys from North Carolina. They sound really cool, remind me a lot of the early Rolling Stones stuff.4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApBJBfGtv_A
One of my favorite Buckethead songs, from Pike 13...written for his ailing father years ago, before he passed away.
Rest in Peace Thomas Manley Carroll.
Thank you for raising such an amazing, artistic, creative human being, sir.
https://youtu.be/OK_2Es9xK9U
And one of 2 albums written after he passed away.
Pike 150(For my father, Thomas Manley Carroll)
1. Heaven is Your Home
2. Always Watching
https://youtu.be/800bYnIJsG8
Since I can only post 2 vids per reply, here's the 3rd
Pike 78 Track 1. Pike 78 was written right after Buckets Dad passed away.
Pike 78 Track 1 is from 1 of the 2 special albums he released with no artwork, no name, no track listing and no song names. Both released after the death of his parents at separate times.
https://youtu.be/4f4GOkEb7es
Pike 78 Track 01 is my absolute favorite song by Bucket. It makes me think of my daughter, who I miss dearly. She'd be turning 9 this year. Instead, I get to have the anniversary of her passing each year on July 1...:bawl
Please don't text and drive. Please. Had my ex learned that, our daughter would still be here today.
And one from his earliest albums, Giant Robot
Mrs Beasley
https://youtu.be/rP9ipbjWZIA
Wednesday was Charlie Watt's 80th birthday. I listened to The Rolling Stones on Spotify.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankJohnson
Good pick! Principato is a local (to me) guy, and has been a fixture around this neck of the woods for decades! He's received over 20 Wammys (Washington Area Music Awards), has endorsement deals with Fender, Seymour Duncan and others. And is relatively unknown outside the area.
For those unfamiliar with Tom Principato, perhaps this tidbit from Wikipedia might whet your appetite: He "was initially inspired by the music of Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, and Danny Gatton.[1] However, a life changing moment occurred when he was still a teenager. Principato remembered "seeing B.B. King for three shows a night, three nights in a row, in 1969 at The Cellar Door club."
Listening to Scorpions "World Wide Live". Apart from a couple of their radio hits, I really know little of their stuff. I'm really impressed with how good this album is. Band hitting on all cylinders in their prime. They were a band that just wasn't on my radar at the time.
talk about jumping all over the place
after the german rock, I listened to Mozart Symphonies 35-41 by the Academy at St Martins In The Fields with Sir Neville Marriner. Probably my favorite classical recording of all time. Especially the third section of Symphony 39, menuetto allegretto.
Then i finished off the night by listening to Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin. I made it as far as Kashmir before I dropped off to slumber .
I mentioned earlier that I have some "legacy" iPods that I've used for running, and back when car audio was lacking, so today I pulled one out that a long time ago I had loaded with the Billboard to 100 Hits of a number of my favorite years. Today I was out getting my exercise, listening to the likes of Minnie Ripperton, Three Dog Night, Peter & Gordon and a lot of throwbacks, and then on came a song that had that unmistakable Tele twang.
You know, we don't have a lot of (admitted) country players here, but I don't care what kind of music you're playing when you play crazy (I mean that in a good way) Telecaster!
It's funny, because I recently got a good dose of Toby Keith's melancholy "Happy Birthday America" and now up pops an older Toby Keith song, "How Do You Like Me Now?" I don't know who plays the lead, but if it isn't a crazy Tele, it's a pretty good imitation!
https://youtu.be/3umaLe37-LE
Not this second, but |I got my copy of the Peter Green Tribute concert from last year yesterday.
I've already listened through twice, and it's great. Amazing all the top artists that came out for it.
I'm going to have to check that out. I got a tribute album years ago called Rattlesnake Shake that I liked a lot. A live album would be awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by jrgtr42
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1Quote:
Originally Posted by DanTheBluesMan
an Aerosmith album played on Spotify seeded a radio playlist that included "Stone Cold" by Rainbow and "Perfect Strangers". Pursuit of those lead to me listening to their respective albums, neither of which I own.
One thing I'll say for Spotify, I get to listen to stuff I don't own ... yet. I'm listening to the studio version of Astronomy by Blue Oyster Cult. I've only known the live version, on a cassette somewhere.
I love my Spotify. I’m going through an orchestral music phase. Spotify has it. I started listening to Wagner’s Ring cycle. Sibelius? Bruckner? Tchaikovsky? Prokofiev? Obscure female composers? Spotify has it. To be fair to performers and writers, I’d pay more. Of course, by now, Beethoven doesn’t give a fahk.
Hulu has a new original series airing, "McCartney 3, 2, 1" and I watched the first episode this evening. It's both fascinating and, I think, pointless at times.
Heralded by Hulu as McCartney sitting down with producer Rick Rubin and discussing in intimate detail some of the aspects of his 50+ year career, Sir Paul reveals some little-known historical tidbits, such as what inspired the name "Sgt. Pepper," allowing a guest musician (Eric Clapton) into the studio, and some of the interplay between Paul and John.
Perhaps my comment about it being pointless is overly harsh. It's part of Paul's biography, running in six parts, and I don't expect it to be anything more than additional entertainment and info about one of the legends of the music industry.
https://www.hulu.com
Huge Macca fan, and I don’t expect to learn anything new. McC has settled on a narrative of his life and tells the same tales with the same pauses and has done for some time. I’d rather see interviews with him about his life and music now as he faces the final stretch. I’m probably one of only a few who want that. And there are plenty of casual fans who know little of his story. I’ll watch it because I like him and owe him a lot for the pleasure I’ve had as a musician and listener.
Been listening non stop to "Songs for groovy children", a collection of Jimi Hendrix's 69-70 New Year's performances.
I've always preferred Jimi's studio albums, never really liked his live performances as he'd too often rush and make a big mess out of the song.
But this is a collection of GREAT live songs that are simply perfect Jimi stuff.
......And his guitar was seldom in tune.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sérgio
Yeah, that too. But I really like his studio albums and this collection is definitely worth a listenQuote:
Originally Posted by phantomman
HIs studio work was pure genius, none better. Probably because he was sober and studio time cost $$$.
I love Band of Gypsys at the Fillmore. And I’m not a huge Jimi fan but sure do respect his playing and innovation.
I usually listen to jazz while working out. This album is particularly cool:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aw...d_Jamal_album)
This guitarist’s playing was an equal to if not a greater influence on the British guitarists of the 60s and 70. We know Chuck Berry, Scotty Moore, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, and Bo Diddly inspired many, but a constant among them is Hank.
Hank Marvin is the man!
https://youtu.be/PbYXqPIqHsE
Got some ZZ Top going.
RIP Dusty.
Lately I've been really into later Deep Purple and Rainbow. It feels like I've just discovered the song (and album) Perfect Strangers. If I'm not mistaken, 1984 would have been around when I started playing regularly again after a 5 year null period. I was into much mellower music at the time, Dire Straits and such. I had been disappointed in Deep Purple's output after Burn and pretty much stopped listening.
Spotify played a Deep Purple medley for me last night. Even the production values of the older stuff still stands up after all these years. I realized something about the studio version of Lazy that I had (probably subconsciously) been emulating about Blackmore's tracking multiple guitars. Calls and responses, one guitar starting a riff and another adding to it. I had done things like this in my experimenting with GarageBand and Logic Pro X. I don't know exactly how I was doing this, but there were some things that I listened to and i was like "That's me? Holy shit, it sounds like I actually know what I'm doing". Then the moment passes like lightning in a bottle :laughing:
this could be a sign of end times, I'm listening to Guns and Roses "Use Your Illusion I" ... and I'm liking it.
I can see why this album was transformative in the era it came out in. This probably would have been my Deep Purple or Alice Cooper, whom I did not know contributed to this album.
I have a much younger brother, who grew up listening to them, I can just hear him say "told you so".
I went out and bought those albums on release day - I think they were the first I got with my own money at the time of purchase.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanTheBluesMan
I was a huge GNR fan at the time, and though my opinions on Axl have changed (personality and voice,) those songs still mostly hold up.
A friend of mine was saying tht they could have condensed the pair into one absolutley kick ass album - to me it's one and a half - there's a few songs that still feel like fillers to me. I haven't listened to them as a whole recently, but the songs do pop up on my running Ipod now and then, I've heard them all over the course of this summer.
I just can't keep this out of my playlist
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...y_Children.png
I'm not sure why I overlooked this when it came out, but maybe it's because there have been so many Hendrix re-issues and re-masters, that I just ignored it. But looking into it, it sounds like it could be quite the listening experience!
Matteo Mancuso and his bandmates continue to blow my mind.
Here's a good example, but there are a lot more on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIWV...=RDMM&index=11
And while most of Matteo's stuff is fusion, he does occasionally like to mimic other players. Here's an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj0BKBWl-W4
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldStrummer
Surely the best live Hendrix stuff I’ve ever listened to
I saw Hendrix live at the Baltimore Civic Center on May16, 1969. For me, it would be hard to equal a live concert with a concert recording.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sérgio
Still, it's all we have left...
Pete Townshend's Lifehouse demos, which became the Who's Next album. The instrumental version of "Baba O'Riley" is incredible stuff for 1971:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uTt8j8MSwQ
Townshend's 1983 double-album collection of his demos, Scoop, was my gateway drug into home recording. I have a music store poster advertising it in the room outside my project studio:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...QVXt67D-X2.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Driscoll
Pretty cool. I dig the Abbey Road mug
With ticket in hand (actually, an e-ticket on my phone!), I'm primed to see Jim Messina in concert in just over a week. So, I've been working on a personal, solo version of Your Momma Don't Dance. Whenever I hear the word "Telecaster," Jim Messina comes to mind. I love the way he made that guitar sound!
https://youtu.be/VTu4yQH8KBs
A friend has been pestering me about giving The Who another try. I never really liked the band, though I don't dislike it either.
Live at Leeds was the first album I picked up to 'study'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sérgio
From what I know of your tastes, Live at Leeds IZ the best one to begin with. After that, skip ahead to Who's Next.
Tommy is a fantastic album, but I don't think Roger D had really discovered his voice for it until they recorded the soundtrack for the movie. I'd recommend watching that movie with all the glory of a nice set of headphones and keep an open mind about the way the story is told. Then, listen to the soundtrack without the visuals.
John Entwistle's playing is enough to make me listen to anything they recorded.
I don't think I've ever heard a Who tribute band. In fact, I don't recall anyone do covers of Who songs. The closest I ever came was to try my hand at Pinball Wizard (and if I really had an interest in pursuing it, might be the only reason to look at getting a Pete Townshend Strat - with the acoustic/electric gimmickry). I didn't do well with it, and I don't think anyone who heard me particularly cared.
And this, I think, helps explain the Who: They are impossible to imitate or duplicate. I agree with Willie on Entwistle: I consider him and Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, etc.) to be the vanguard bass players - who brought the bass to center stage. I recall Townshend saying Entwistle was the Who's "lead guitar."
Keith Moon was an uncontrollable fury on drums. And elsewhere, from what I gather. Duplicating his performance would require equal shots of amphetamine and testosterone, as well as a mindset that was other-worldly. And Townshend? The creative spirit of the group, who could take them into realms previously uncharted (Tommy, Quadrophenia) and still keep their roots (Live at Leeds).
Who could be up to that challenge? (recursive pun not intended) I can understand not caring for them or their sound, but that's a personal taste. But there is no way I can see someone stepping up and trying mimic them.
There may in fact be a mystique about The Who but there's really nothing very mysterious about their music. Even as far back as 1968 I played in bands that covered some of their early material such as "Can't Explain", "Substitute", and "I Can See For Miles". There's nothing really challenging about those arrangements, just straight up rock and roll. I'd stipulate that their post-Tommy era became somewhat problematic due to the heavy reliance on synths and (later) orchestral scoring but their early songs, especially those on "Live At Leeds" can be covered with relative authenticity.
Agreed there. The music isn't complicated by any stretch - There's some odd chord voicings some places. The difficulty is replicating John and Keith's parts. Each of them were so far beyond what anyone else at the time was doing (with the possible exception of John Bonham on drums) that it's hard to get that feel, that groove down. You can play the notes, but it's not the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by phantomman
To me, Entwistle was the greatest rock bass player of all time. Jack Bruce and Chris Squire are up there as well, but it's like OS said, John was the lead player.