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Post by John Parry on Nov 3, 2006 13:06:08 GMT -5
We were talking about US music a few weeks ago. I'm sat listenining to a Jim Croce LP at the moment. That guy's death was a tragic loss - some of the best jazz guitar I've ever heard on the backing of these tracks.
'Course, you could say the same thing about 'The Music'. Ricky Valence or Eddie Cochrane.
Regards - John
ps I know it was Richie
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Post by Randy on Nov 3, 2006 19:05:34 GMT -5
Jim Croce and Harry Chapin.
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Nov 3, 2006 20:40:34 GMT -5
I know its got nothing to do with jazz guitar, which I love to listen to, but following a couple of recent postings about Country music I sat and listened to an hour-long radio programme about Country music of the past 5 years, as a sort of taster for the coming Country Music Association awards. Sorry, Country music lovers, I'm going to infuriate you! I had to force myself to listen to the end of the programme. And Bob Harris was saying how wonderful each song was, and what great artists! OK, it's his job as presenter to do so.
Well, people who like that sort of thing, that's just the sort of thing they like, but for me it was 'come back Lonnie and 'three-chord trick' skiffle, all is forgiven. It was even more repetitive than the old and not lamented 'moon and June' dance band songs sung in a mid-Atlantic accent.
Each one was sung in the same drawn-out un-natural Nashville accent with electronic echo phasing no matter what part of the US the singer came from; the main theme was partners who had parted - shades of the noo wearing off of the crystal chandeliers; and if I'd been Lucille I'd have left the self-pitying guy years before.
Out of curiosity I went to a website that gives the chord structures for these boring songs. Guess what? Four chords fit most of them ... oh, sorry, a couple got adventurous and threw in a few minor sevenths. Daring!
The accompanying fiddle and guitar work was professionally competent, I suspect studio session musicians . Some of the guitar work sounded like Tommy Tedesco (when the man says 'play like that' I play like that). But all in all, not for me, thanks.
OK. Rant over. I feel a lot better now. I think I'll go and listen to some jazz guitar. Maybe a nightcap and some Joe Pass or Tal Farlow or Barney Kessel will smooth the ruffled fur, or I might even switch instruments and Take Five listening to some Dave Brubeck. G'night all.
PeterW
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Post by GeneW on Nov 3, 2006 23:01:25 GMT -5
Peter, I'm not a big country music fan so I don't take umbrage. Most of it is pretty schlocky, imo. BUT... There's a thin line between early country and early folk music, and always some spillover with bluegrass. I like some of the old, classic country. The best modern country music I've heard is Alison Krauss and Union Station (her band). Their DVD, Alison Krauss + Union Station Live, is terrific. Her band all play acoustic instruments and they're superb pickers. Good voices too. And although I don't admit it to many people, I like Johnny Cash Gene
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Post by Randy on Nov 3, 2006 23:27:03 GMT -5
I listen to the polka show on the radio every sunday. Nothin like hearin "who stole the kiska" to put a spring in yer step and get you movin with your morning constitutional. As I was comin back downstairs last sunday, "I tried to shake my fanny but my fanny wouldn't shake" so I put my "moon over Parma" and got back to what I was doin. ;D
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Post by vintageslrs on Nov 3, 2006 23:34:24 GMT -5
Randy
I like Croce also.....but Harry Chapin was my all-time favorite......saw him every year when he was alive....had all his albums.......great story teller.....a fun guy with a heart.
Bob
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Post by John Parry on Nov 4, 2006 6:50:59 GMT -5
Well Peter,
In general, I'd agree "Boing boing boing... Stand by your man...". But Linda Ronstadt does some great stuff. And I do like Kristofferson - the songs, not the singing. Probably best if we leave them to it!
Is that Barney Kessel or Kessler? I had a tape of him playing with Grappelli. Absolutely superb - but you are into a totally different type of music there.
I've got a track that was downloaded from Kazaa a few years ago. Supposedly by Kristofferson, but it sounds like Willy Nelson to me:-
"Anybody that don't like Hank Williams - They can kiss our @ss"!
Anyway, I can play those three chords!
Regards - John
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Nov 4, 2006 8:25:57 GMT -5
John, You wrote:
It’s definitely Barney Kessel. He was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, October 17, 1923 (we share birthdays, but not birth years) and died in 2004. His career spanned more than 50 years, and as well as his own quartet he played with people like Willie Smith, Charlie Ventura, Artie Shaw and, believe it or not, Chico Marx, and on countless radio programmes and backing tracks of films. He’s been called the most recorded guitarist yet.
Lonnie wasn't only a three-chord trick man, but he inspired countless youngsters to pick up a guitar in the 1950s. He too had a great sense of humour - My Old Man's a dustman etc - but he also had a serious musician side. Listen to his banjo chording with Chris Barber and Monty Sunshine on pieces like Wildcat Blues and Petite Fleur.
Gene, I too like quite a lot of Johnny Cash, but he's not the type of country singer I was talking about. To me he had what many country singers lack, a sense of humour ... 'My name is Sue, how do you do ... rollin around in the mud and the blood and the beer ... I got it once piece at a time'. Most country singers take themselves too seriously. Cash didn't need to. You can't type him; country, rock 'n roll, blues, he seemed at home with most styles.
PeterW
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Post by John Parry on Nov 4, 2006 8:55:13 GMT -5
Suspect 'A boy named Sue' may have been written by Shel Silverstein - 'They're buildin' a gallows' definitely was.
Sorry, I'll just hold on to fond memories of June Carter.
Regards - John
ps
"Now a man o' my experience Should be smokin' on a fat cigar Talkin' some $hit to the secretary Sayin hey now momma come on over here"
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Post by John Parry on Nov 4, 2006 9:26:39 GMT -5
What to say about Lonnie Donnigan? Let's put it this way, I grew up through my teens as Lonnie because I was overheard singing one of his songs (My Old Man...) as it happened.
By the time I left the MN I knew most of his songs by heart (and could play them all). Don't play his 'Battle of New Orleans' 'cause why should I?
Regards - John
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scott
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Post by scott on Nov 4, 2006 11:12:11 GMT -5
Reading your post, Peter, made me remember back in the early 80s, when I was a university student (in central Texas), and Celtic and other styles of folk music from England, Scotland and Ireland were popular in some circles. I recall often hearing Americans performing such music --in all seriousness-- with what they surely thought was a wonderfully-authentic Irish accent. Yes, it's hard to take someone seriously who is pretending to be somebody they're not.
If you truly appreciate country and folk, then (if you're not already familiar with them) you should listen and see what you think of Dale Watson, Iris Dement, Emmylou Harris, Kate Wolf, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen, Guy Clark. All original in their own way. Of course, the best way to to hear some real and close-to-the-bone country music is to drop into a few local honky-tonks and hear it performed live. I agree that what they put on the radio and TV seldom seems very real and believable.
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Post by doubs43 on Nov 4, 2006 13:46:25 GMT -5
I know its got nothing to do with jazz guitar, which I love to listen to, but following a couple of recent postings about Country music I sat and listened to an hour-long radio programme about Country music of the past 5 years, as a sort of taster for the coming Country Music Association awards. Sorry, Country music lovers, I'm going to infuriate you! I had to force myself to listen to the end of the programme. And Bob Harris was saying how wonderful each song was, and what great artists! OK, it's his job as presenter to do so. G'night all. PeterW Peter, I grew up listening to Country and you can take my word for it: there's precious little "Country" music being recorded today. In general it's the most poorly written material I've ever heard and I refuse to tolerate it. If you listen to Web Pierce, Faron Young, Hank Williams, Sr., Don Gibson, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, the Statler Brothers, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb and other artists who recorded in the 50's, 60's & 70's, you'll hear some excellent music. Try Marty Robins for Country with a Western flavor..... one of the very best to ever record a song with "El Paso" being his signature song. (I always liked "A White Sport Coat" and his gunfighter songs.) What they call Country today is pathetic...... IMO, of course. Walker
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Post by John Parry on Nov 4, 2006 16:00:58 GMT -5
To be honest, I think that these discussions arise because we try to categorise everything - and I don't think you can categorise Jim Croce - his music covered about 10 categories.
I'll carry on playing my old favourite "The Wild Rover". Only thing is I play it in A minor. Categorise that!!
Regards - John
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Post by kiev4a on Nov 5, 2006 23:53:30 GMT -5
Country favorites
Waylon and Willie: "Are You Sure Hank Done it this Way?" Charlie Daniels Band: "Long-haired Country Boy Marshall Tucker Band: "Heard it in a Love Song" Lynard Skynard: "Sweet Home Alabama" Jerry Jeff Walker: "Up agains the Wall You Rednecked Mothers"
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Post by Randy on Nov 6, 2006 7:17:49 GMT -5
I like to listen to Dave Dudley and his friend Tom T. Hall sometimes. Tom T. is a great story teller.
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