Well, let's see now... First some housekeeping matters.... In response to some good suggestions from those trying to organize their iTunes and such, I do plan on re-posting a bunch of stuff in "album" format as zip files. Also, the rock onslaught will subside shortly, as I have some acoustical things to post. But first....
Links for iPads and such, go here and click "download" at top right:
http://www.box.com/s/yhugtebje3tqsopbmgoz
http://www.box.com/s/sxmjco8o5vsizbymppqk
Speaking of albums and rock, the next few posts will be some covers done by me and John Stackpole, a great high school buddy of mine, and member of my earliest quasi-band (along with the legendary Dillo, from whom we'll also be hearing soon). Anyway, Stag and I managed to get back in touch a few years back and he's made a yearly trip up to Harpswell, at which time we try and get a few recordings in the can. God bless the internets for allowing such conections to happen with so little effort! The first time we say down to play after 20+ years off, it was like we hadn't missed a day, except we'd both improved quite a bit, which was fortunate, to say the least. In a much-needed departure from the weird, claustrophobic, stressful, metronome-driven world of solo recording, it's great fun to stretch out and go with the dynamics of a song and see where you land up.
Not surprisingly, the songs we take up are straight out of the old-school classic rock that permeated our otherwise fairly drab suburban New York lives in the early '80s. Man, we used to live for those records, and Stag had (and has, in the very same room!) an absolutely tremendous collection. We learned some great things up there spinning those records and diving deep into the details. All the tropes of us vinyl obsessives certainly apply here. And when it wasn't those walls of well-cared-for records, it was tape decks in whatever car we were tooling around in (his Corolla, my Nova, Dillo's Nova, Bill's Malibu) or whatever boombox we had handy. Anything to keep the mostly vast wasteland of FM radio at bay.
For listening to, and certainly for jamming on and trying to impress our friends (and the girls we would've liked to be our friends), Creedence Clearwater Revival was often the go-to. Yep-- The ladies love cool Creedence! OK, maybe it was not the most stylin' choice, but we had workboots and flannel. Creedence songs were bountiful, easy to play, and EVERYBODY knew about 20 of 'em. "Effigy" is a deep cut off of "Willie and the Poor Boys" from '69. It's a hell of an anthemic burner, brimming with the palatable kind of Sixties outrage.
The flipside of this "single" is "Lover of the Bayou", a sorely unknown gem from the late-era Byrds (1970's "Untitled"). After Gene Clark left, and David Crosby too, and Gram Parsons came and went, and Chris Hillman left to form the Flying Burrito Bros. with him, Roger McGuinn soldiered on. By the early '70s the Byrds weren't making any good records (total stinkers, matter of fact), but they were a terrific live act, and this song was a creepy highlight of their sets. For me anyway, that 12-string Rickenbacker is just hardwired to my brainstem. We never played any Byrds with the bands back in the day but, man, we should have! Andy O'Brien even had the Rick, though he just used it for strumming. That, however is another inexplicable story...
Effigy (CCR):
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Stackpole- Keating, part 2: Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)
MP3 link for iWhatevers or anyone who needs it:
http://www.box.com/s/b7qc7ac8fvbb1f55018o
For your funkier-than-usual listening pleasure, today's hit rekkid is a version of Jimi Hendrix' "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" off the sprawling "Electric Ladyland" from 1968. It's precisely the kind of tune that I can't create or execute on my own--- the psychedelic appointments welded on top of the classic blues structure, the progressively speeding (in this version anyway) drum-conga-bass-organ groove, the dynamics.... and especially the presence of actual guitar playing,
Lemme tell you one thing that I am not: a guitar player. Yeah, you'd never know by the number of gitboxes that I own, and the amount of time I spend trying to play them. Sure, I can coax some passable noises out of them but doing so does not make me a player, the same way that being able to exchange some basic information doesn't make me a Spanish speaker or writing and playing a bunch of songs make me much of a musician. It's what my friend and pathology mentor Rich Jakowski refers to, in a slightly different context, as the "difference between a lightning bug and lightning".
Rich and I also discuss the world in terms of the difference between chimpanzee people and orangutan people. In the music world, us shrieking, easily distracted poop-hurling chimps are just grateful to have more measured primates to steer us right every now and again. Sometimes, I suppose, that orangutan is my buddy John Stackpole, with a guitar.
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return):
http://www.box.com/s/b7qc7ac8fvbb1f55018o
For your funkier-than-usual listening pleasure, today's hit rekkid is a version of Jimi Hendrix' "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" off the sprawling "Electric Ladyland" from 1968. It's precisely the kind of tune that I can't create or execute on my own--- the psychedelic appointments welded on top of the classic blues structure, the progressively speeding (in this version anyway) drum-conga-bass-organ groove, the dynamics.... and especially the presence of actual guitar playing,
Lemme tell you one thing that I am not: a guitar player. Yeah, you'd never know by the number of gitboxes that I own, and the amount of time I spend trying to play them. Sure, I can coax some passable noises out of them but doing so does not make me a player, the same way that being able to exchange some basic information doesn't make me a Spanish speaker or writing and playing a bunch of songs make me much of a musician. It's what my friend and pathology mentor Rich Jakowski refers to, in a slightly different context, as the "difference between a lightning bug and lightning".
Rich and I also discuss the world in terms of the difference between chimpanzee people and orangutan people. In the music world, us shrieking, easily distracted poop-hurling chimps are just grateful to have more measured primates to steer us right every now and again. Sometimes, I suppose, that orangutan is my buddy John Stackpole, with a guitar.
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return):
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Kink-y New Year! (Supplemental)
Hello again Apple users-- To link directly to the song via BoxNet, cut and paste this here into your Safari or whatever fancy browser you're running:
http://www.box.com/s/fadm8yx23egaumpmg1n6
And a good day to the rest of youse also! Things have been hectic lately, including a typically "hectic" swing down to Baltimore, if you know what I mean... Anyway, I apologize for the slackness in posting, and hopefully can make it up to you with one last Kinks cover I had in the hopper. "Strangers" is one of little brother Dave Davies' many minor hits, and it's a predictable fave of the Kinks cognoscenti, in all its yelpy, 5/4 glory and garbled syntax. Being a member of one of the leading lights of the British Invasion certainly propelled Dave to stardom and, taking advantage of that, he did stepp out under his own name a tad in the late 60's. I like to think there's little doubt he'd have been a successful solo artist irregahdless, or at least a niche fancy for the usual music obsessives. (Matter of fact, his output has just been slapped onto a 27-cut import compilation of wheezy, wailing Dave-ness, so there is some justice in the world...)
So I'd been meaning to cover this one for a long while and before I was finished, I saw some YouTube/ Onion Undercover videos of the Baltimore band Wye Oak doing their stellar take on it. I almost hung up the enterprise right there but figured "Ah, the heck with it--- Let's just steal the idea of a fuzz-laden guitar spasm in the solo part, and be done with it." Enjoy!
jk
Strangers:
http://www.box.com/s/fadm8yx23egaumpmg1n6
And a good day to the rest of youse also! Things have been hectic lately, including a typically "hectic" swing down to Baltimore, if you know what I mean... Anyway, I apologize for the slackness in posting, and hopefully can make it up to you with one last Kinks cover I had in the hopper. "Strangers" is one of little brother Dave Davies' many minor hits, and it's a predictable fave of the Kinks cognoscenti, in all its yelpy, 5/4 glory and garbled syntax. Being a member of one of the leading lights of the British Invasion certainly propelled Dave to stardom and, taking advantage of that, he did stepp out under his own name a tad in the late 60's. I like to think there's little doubt he'd have been a successful solo artist irregahdless, or at least a niche fancy for the usual music obsessives. (Matter of fact, his output has just been slapped onto a 27-cut import compilation of wheezy, wailing Dave-ness, so there is some justice in the world...)
So I'd been meaning to cover this one for a long while and before I was finished, I saw some YouTube/ Onion Undercover videos of the Baltimore band Wye Oak doing their stellar take on it. I almost hung up the enterprise right there but figured "Ah, the heck with it--- Let's just steal the idea of a fuzz-laden guitar spasm in the solo part, and be done with it." Enjoy!
jk
Strangers:
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Kink-y New Year! (part 3)
The links, if you need 'em:
OK, USA: http://www.box.com/s/6uc33grm8q338h3d66om
Muswell: http://www.box.com/s/b845k6fbcih01rl2qs0y
Wrapping up the Kinky kick-off to '12, a couple deeper cuts for you. Both are from the wonderful "Muswell Hillbillies" LP from 1971, an album that was regarded as a bit of a flop at the time, even for a band that was gliding into the '70s having already slid into the periphery of bands that "mattered". And after "Muswell", the Kinks certainly proceeded to veer off into more dubious, theatrical territory (five albums' worth!). And, sure, "Muswell" is a bit muddy sounding but, lordy, is it ever a catchy, rambling statement that dwells on some or all the usual Kinksy concerns--- England, America, the 19th century (nostalgia) and 20th (paranoia), Mum/ Dad/ family, the tedium of touring, assorted food and drink, spinsters, dancehalls, holiday, etc.
So get enjoyin'!
jk
Oklahoma, U.S.A.:
Muswell Hillbilly:
OK, USA: http://www.box.com/s/6uc33grm8q338h3d66om
Muswell: http://www.box.com/s/b845k6fbcih01rl2qs0y
Wrapping up the Kinky kick-off to '12, a couple deeper cuts for you. Both are from the wonderful "Muswell Hillbillies" LP from 1971, an album that was regarded as a bit of a flop at the time, even for a band that was gliding into the '70s having already slid into the periphery of bands that "mattered". And after "Muswell", the Kinks certainly proceeded to veer off into more dubious, theatrical territory (five albums' worth!). And, sure, "Muswell" is a bit muddy sounding but, lordy, is it ever a catchy, rambling statement that dwells on some or all the usual Kinksy concerns--- England, America, the 19th century (nostalgia) and 20th (paranoia), Mum/ Dad/ family, the tedium of touring, assorted food and drink, spinsters, dancehalls, holiday, etc.
So get enjoyin'!
jk
Oklahoma, U.S.A.:
Muswell Hillbilly:
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Kink-y New Year! (part 2)
Once again I encourage you Appletons to try out these links on your iPad, iPhones and whatever you've got, and to let me know if they fly:
Long Way from Home: http://www.box.com/s/l1oo8cxxzs72917r2tql
Victoria: http://www.box.com/s/exl8oti1z8pea4aaxemz
Continuing our warm, Kink-y January, we move along the Davies timeline just a bit. "Long Way from Home" is a short, musically sweet, lyrically biting little number off 1970's "Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part 1", the album title being almost longer than the song itself. "Victoria" hails from 1969's "Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire". It's a more uptempo rocker (crying out for a horn section) that would be a cover band staple in a just world.
From a recording perspective, both of these songs can be real lung-busters, especially trying to nail Dave Davies' inimitable harmonies. Though he's sung lead on his fair share of songs, little brother Dave was not blessed with a stellar voice but his high, reedy, raspy wail (similar to Keith Richards') sure does wonders on the harmony front. And for a much active and passive aggressiveness as there was (and is) between the brothers Davies, they've always sounded perfect together.
Long Way from Home:
Victoria:
Long Way from Home: http://www.box.com/s/l1oo8cxxzs72917r2tql
Victoria: http://www.box.com/s/exl8oti1z8pea4aaxemz
Continuing our warm, Kink-y January, we move along the Davies timeline just a bit. "Long Way from Home" is a short, musically sweet, lyrically biting little number off 1970's "Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part 1", the album title being almost longer than the song itself. "Victoria" hails from 1969's "Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire". It's a more uptempo rocker (crying out for a horn section) that would be a cover band staple in a just world.
From a recording perspective, both of these songs can be real lung-busters, especially trying to nail Dave Davies' inimitable harmonies. Though he's sung lead on his fair share of songs, little brother Dave was not blessed with a stellar voice but his high, reedy, raspy wail (similar to Keith Richards') sure does wonders on the harmony front. And for a much active and passive aggressiveness as there was (and is) between the brothers Davies, they've always sounded perfect together.
Long Way from Home:
Victoria:
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Kink-y New Year! (part 1)
Hey all-
As I mentioned last week, I'm still trying to find out a way to be Apple-friendly. Despite their inability to support the Flash Player that my storage site (Box.net) uses, those of you with the iPad and the iPhone and iFill-in-the-Blank should be able to cut and past these links and then listen or download. Do lemme know:
Waterloo: http://www.box.com/s/gsp4gm0mj557z0dk0dox
Village Green: http://www.box.com/s/9oq5o16lnv30sd5q63b3
Anyway--- Hope you all done rung '12 in with style, or at least are planning on proceeding with gusto and joie de vivre from here out. Along with all the other things to resolve for the young year-- along with travel and seeing friends and living right and such-- I recommend taking a tiny sliver of time to listen to one of my all time favorite bands: the Kinks. To that end, I thought I'd supply you with a few covers I finished in '11 after starting in summer of '10.
I really could go on and on about the Kinks but the long and short is that, even after the late '90's reissues and a bit of deserved praise over the past couple years, they're a band that's never quite gotten their due. On account of bum luck, bad timing, union problems, self-destruction and their incurable baseline Britishness, they missed their biggest shot and never really caught on here. They remain regarded as a second-tier British Invasion band, and most people's knowledge stops at "You Really Got Me" or maybe "Lola" or "Come Dancing" from their '80's revival or (heaven help us) a Van Halen cover or a TV commercial. It's a damn shame. Matter of fact, the Giants-Cowboys NFL game I'm watching just went to a TV timeout with NBC playing 1st quarter highlights to an instrumental cover of "Picture Book" and nobody knows...
I look past the fact that big brother Ray seems to be a flaming A-hole and younger brother Dave an absolute moonshot. I love Ray Davies' songs, and Dave's as well. I love the harmonies and the characters and the wistful and weird details. There's something to love in all their eras, including the interminable rock operas of the mid-'70's. I love the way they overextend, and re-tool and triumph and drop the ball again.
So here are a couple of the cornerstones. My only hope is that I've not done any significant damage to "Waterloo Sunset", which to me is one of the absolute finest songs ever written.
JK
Waterloo Sunset:
The Village Green Preservation Society:
As I mentioned last week, I'm still trying to find out a way to be Apple-friendly. Despite their inability to support the Flash Player that my storage site (Box.net) uses, those of you with the iPad and the iPhone and iFill-in-the-Blank should be able to cut and past these links and then listen or download. Do lemme know:
Waterloo: http://www.box.com/s/gsp4gm0mj557z0dk0dox
Village Green: http://www.box.com/s/9oq5o16lnv30sd5q63b3
Anyway--- Hope you all done rung '12 in with style, or at least are planning on proceeding with gusto and joie de vivre from here out. Along with all the other things to resolve for the young year-- along with travel and seeing friends and living right and such-- I recommend taking a tiny sliver of time to listen to one of my all time favorite bands: the Kinks. To that end, I thought I'd supply you with a few covers I finished in '11 after starting in summer of '10.
I really could go on and on about the Kinks but the long and short is that, even after the late '90's reissues and a bit of deserved praise over the past couple years, they're a band that's never quite gotten their due. On account of bum luck, bad timing, union problems, self-destruction and their incurable baseline Britishness, they missed their biggest shot and never really caught on here. They remain regarded as a second-tier British Invasion band, and most people's knowledge stops at "You Really Got Me" or maybe "Lola" or "Come Dancing" from their '80's revival or (heaven help us) a Van Halen cover or a TV commercial. It's a damn shame. Matter of fact, the Giants-Cowboys NFL game I'm watching just went to a TV timeout with NBC playing 1st quarter highlights to an instrumental cover of "Picture Book" and nobody knows...
I look past the fact that big brother Ray seems to be a flaming A-hole and younger brother Dave an absolute moonshot. I love Ray Davies' songs, and Dave's as well. I love the harmonies and the characters and the wistful and weird details. There's something to love in all their eras, including the interminable rock operas of the mid-'70's. I love the way they overextend, and re-tool and triumph and drop the ball again.
So here are a couple of the cornerstones. My only hope is that I've not done any significant damage to "Waterloo Sunset", which to me is one of the absolute finest songs ever written.
JK
Waterloo Sunset:
The Village Green Preservation Society:
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Here We Come a-Wassailing
This just in from the Workshop:
Elf Johnny, through bursts of profanity, threats of grievous harm to computers, forays into the World of Commerce, fair amounts of beer consumption, quality time with Miss Oonagh and the creatures of the Holler, Christmas eve supper with some old friends (and a big sack of oysters), and a tad of NFL action, has somehow managed to finish this sucker and stick it under your tree, just under the wire.
It was mixed on some weird monitors and is kinda 80% finished, but I do hope you like it. That's Mike E on the drums, Thanksgiving. I guess in the long run, the holidays are all what you make 'em, so do make 'em count.
Peace and love to all-- That includes anyone whose machines (I'm looking at YOU, Apple Inc) can't do the Flash Player below. You guys can head to the link at bottom....
jk
Christmas Ain't for Family:
Link:
http://www.box.com/s/f154ec46igesu5g452nc
Elf Johnny, through bursts of profanity, threats of grievous harm to computers, forays into the World of Commerce, fair amounts of beer consumption, quality time with Miss Oonagh and the creatures of the Holler, Christmas eve supper with some old friends (and a big sack of oysters), and a tad of NFL action, has somehow managed to finish this sucker and stick it under your tree, just under the wire.
It was mixed on some weird monitors and is kinda 80% finished, but I do hope you like it. That's Mike E on the drums, Thanksgiving. I guess in the long run, the holidays are all what you make 'em, so do make 'em count.
Peace and love to all-- That includes anyone whose machines (I'm looking at YOU, Apple Inc) can't do the Flash Player below. You guys can head to the link at bottom....
jk
Christmas Ain't for Family:
Link:
http://www.box.com/s/f154ec46igesu5g452nc
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