General
24 Nov 05
25 Nov 05
It's pointless slagging off other bands and other types of music, nobody here was saying one's better than the other...just different. It would be a sad world if the ONLY music to listen to was Led Zep etc. [of whom I am a big fan btw before you start on međ]
Widen your musical horizons.đ
25 Nov 05
2 edits
Originally posted by znshoHi, I did mention Richard Thomson in my post, I think he is far and
Dear Sonhouse (the real one?),
You say: Pentangle was a supergroup in the 70's.
You misunderstand the term 'supergroup'. The ORIGINAL idea of the 'supergroup' was to get top musicians from several top bands to play together. The first proper supergroup was Blind Faith - Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker from Cream, Steve Winwood from Traffic and Rick Gr ...[text shortened]... led Trees - superb stuff. The best Pentabgle LP is probably their live double (Basket of Light?)
away better now as a single act than he ever was in fairport.
There was a two hour tribute to Joni Mitchell on tv which included
Thompson doing onE of her songs and his guitar was incredible.
You only have to listen to his Black Lightning 1952 song to hear that.
It sounds to me like maybe you have not heard the early
Davy Graham works, he is a far better guitarist than Thompson.
Bert and John used to follow him around like puppies. Davy's
BIG problem was drugs. He would either be too stoned to play or
not show at all, not a good thing if you want to be world class.
He has resurfaced recently, I think he is about 70 or so but has
dried out and is doing real gigs now.
You may not have heard the Bert Jansch record that put him on the
map, at least over hear in the states, Lucky Thirteen. That was a
landmark album, a real virtuoso performance totally unlike anything
Thompson was capable of at that time. If you have'nt heard it, get
a copy somewhere, it came out around 1963. John Renbourne is
also a virtuoso and is every bit as good as Thompson but with more
of a classical bent and is decent on blues. My namesake, the real
Son House could teach all of them a few lessons of course.
When you talk about Eric Clapton, you forget to mention Duane
Almond, who was the other slide guy on that classic Layla. Duane
was a lot better than Clapton at that time and the licks they traded
on that song showed it. It was a real sad day when Duane got killed.
Of course Clapton go a lot better since then. Non of the rockers can
hold a candle to guys like Martin Simpson who is in a class by himself.
He makes Richard Thompson seem like a club player. Don't know if
you ever heard of Dougie McClain but the intro to his song
"Caladonia" is one of the best acoustic intro's ever and its a great
song on its own. I better stop, I am told I write short stories instead of
posts!
25 Nov 05
Dear Sonhouse (or should it be Sunhouse - big debates about that one),
Well, we all have our opinions. I saw Richard Thompson at the Fairport Convention re-union gig (Cropredy, every Summer) and when he joined them on stage, the band was just transformed. Yes, folk-based music but Richard knows how to rock.
Of course I know about Davy Graham! Didn't he write Angie (not the Rolling Stones one, the acoustic guitar one)?
John Renbourne and Bert Jansch are, of course, good guitarists but they can't sing!
Listen to the Trees LP (On the Shore) - their guitarists was pretty good as well.
Jorma Kaukonen of JA is pretty good as well - embryonic Journey is a masterpiece.
25 Nov 05
Originally posted by Dr StrangeloveInterestingly, I put my own recording of Anji on the mix CD krew one I posted out last time round. It has long been one of my favourite pieces of acoutsic guitar. I always thought it was by Jansch, but I could be wrong. The Paul Simon version from one of his 70s concerts is absoutely great, certainly worth finding if you can.
Think you're right. It was ANJI though wasn't it?
26 Nov 05
Originally posted by znshoYou know, the tune Anji was supposedly written by Davy Graham but
Dear Sonhouse (or should it be Sunhouse - big debates about that one),
Well, we all have our opinions. I saw Richard Thompson at the Fairport Convention re-union gig (Cropredy, every Summer) and when he joined them on stage, the band was just transformed. Yes, folk-based music but Richard knows how to rock.
Of course I know about Davy Graham! Didn't he ...[text shortened]... od as well.
Jorma Kaukonen of JA is pretty good as well - embryonic Journey is a masterpiece.
I have a friend in Tel Aviv, Shay Tochner, who was around the london
scene early on and knew them all and is a bit of a virtuoso himself.
He has a cousin who was Davy's roomy for a while, don't remember
his name but who claims HE wrote anji and Davy stole it from him.
The interesting thing is, on Davy's album, Anji is just the barest
outline of the tune. On "Lucky Thirteen", Bert Jansch made it a
virtuoso piece and I defy anyone to come close to that version.
That is where Simon got his version to record and Simon is not
one tenth the guitarist that Bert Jansch is. If you can hear both
versions side by side, you can see Simon only does a watered down
truncated version, Berts version is THE version for anyone interested
in that tune to learn. Starrman, my kudo's to you for playing it at all.
Its one of the most difficult pieces in the folk guitar world. I play a
dam good version myself but after 30 years of hearing Jansch's
version, I still don't have it all down. I HIGHLY recommend anyone
interested in Anji to find a copy of Lucky Thirteen. Its a landmark
recording of the 60's. I heard it at Harry Tuft's Folklore Center
in Denver in 63 and was so blown away, it was like guitar would be
like in the 21st century as far as my young butt was concerned, it was
and is that good. There are other incredible tracks on that album also,
needle of death, and others just totally masterful, NOBODY did
anything like that level of virtuosity in the 60's, MAYBE Davy but he
was into middle eastern riffs and such though he did a masterful
version of 'Cannot keep from crying sometimes' a blind willie Johnson
song. I don't think Bert did a record that fine before or since.
26 Nov 05
Originally posted by StarrmanI've got the P Simon version, I'd like to hear yours, is it available anywhere? Preferrably free.
Interestingly, I put my own recording of Anji on the mix CD krew one I posted out last time round.... The Paul Simon version from one of his 70s concerts is absoutely great, certainly worth finding if you can.
26 Nov 05
Originally posted by sonhouseSorry, didn't mean to offend. Good point, but you failed to mention that all of the hard rock groups CAN play unplugged and sound "folksy"...by the way, I've never heard of Pentangle...I'd probably like 'em. You say they've been around 40 years? What stations play them? Where have I been to not have heard of them? Do you like Bluegrass music? The original country/folk music of America....not the Shania Twain caca....
The only problem with your theory is its backwards. Folk music is the
one which will be remembered 50 years later while the rockers will
be on the scrapheap of history. Pentangle has its fans now and
they are going on 40 years later. There is something powerful about
simple music played on acoustic instruments that will always have
appeal and reach a c ...[text shortened]... h pit ready then the power
goes out. Phht, there goes your music, unless you like drum solo's.
26 Nov 05
Originally posted by znshoWell, on his last album Bert Jansch has a homely mumbling voice that works quite well. A bit like Van Morrison. I haven't heard anything else by him so can't comment.
John Renbourne and Bert Jansch are, of course, good guitarists but they can't sing!
.
The Trees sound interesting. Can you describe their music a bit more?
So it seems The Fairport Convention is what I should check out first. Where to start with them?
(Nobody's mentioned Donovan? đ )
26 Nov 05
Originally posted by chancremechanicPersonally, I can't get enough bluegrass music. Heaven only knows why I like it so. (There's a lot of free old bluegrass recordings at www.archive.org. Anyone got any other links?) I met some people from was it Appalachia who are well into their bluegrass festivals and whatnot, played me some contemporary bluegrass that knocked my socks off. I even like Dolly Parton when she sings in that style.
Do you like Bluegrass music? The original country/folk music of America....not the Shania Twain caca....
Actually I know more American folk music than British, although some of it sucks (like I can't listen to The Horseflies). Zydeco appeals to me greatly. Country and western can be deeply...spiritual...Any other kinds I should know about?
26 Nov 05
Originally posted by RagnorakYou recommended him when I was asking about Sufijan Stevens. I know him well, he's very good. Apparently he has a new album out now.
You should check out the american Devendra Banhart. You can listen to some samples on artistdirect.com.
Anything good coming out of Ireland at the moment? The wonderful musical geniuses the Corrs aside.
26 Nov 05
1 edit
Originally posted by Bosse de NageIn my opinion, the best of the lot is Union Station led by
Personally, I can't get enough bluegrass music. Heaven only knows why I like it so. (There's a lot of free old bluegrass recordings at www.archive.org. Anyone got any other links?) I met some people from was it Appalachia who are well into their bluegrass festivals and whatnot, played me some contemporary bluegrass that knocked my socks off. I even l ...[text shortened]... me greatly. Country and western can be deeply...spiritual...Any other kinds I should know about?
Allison Kraus. Jerry Douglas is without a doubt the best dobro
player bar none. He did a solo that was amazing on Austin City Limits
a few months ago. He was making sounds a bit like Leo Kottke which
is more amazing when you know he can't touch a fret, only run the
bar up and down and a bit sideways. Dan Kaminski was the voice of
George Clooney in Brother where art thou when they did
I am a man of constant sorrow and Allison herself was the voice on
the song Down to the river to pray (the Doc Watson version has it
Down to the Valley to pray, a great acappella song by him BTW)
And of course Allisons fiddle is virtuosic in itself.
If you can find it, I saw on VH1 classic a great concert, Bonnie
Raitt with four performers she hand picked, Allison Kraus, Keb Mo,
Ben Harper and Nora Jones. Wow, what a great performance.
Ben Harper, whom I had never before heard, did a dylan song in
an acoustic duo with Bonnie, song was Well Well Well which I had
also not heard before. Ben does a great dobro also and has a really
deep passionate voice. If you can find it on vh1, take a listen,
this guy interviews Bonnie between each song. Anyway, enough of
my rambling for now. Don.