Charles - My Favourite SONGS

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let's face it, you're a cougar

and i gotta go walk the black wolf!

don't you think the italian language has something to do with it??

 

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Hey, they don't call it a romance language for nothing !

 

Violet - interesting that you have met Corey.  I really like him and have seen him a number of times.  I went to a week-long workshop where he was one of the instructors and so got to share a few meals (studens and instructors all ate at the same place) and have some good converstion.  He's a nice guy.  I've never been into opera so I'm afraid that's one area where we can't relate but I do recognize the talent and skill.

 

I'm not familiar with Yanni, either, but I liked the Ender Thomas piece Pam.  He can sing for sure and the material sounded very middle eastern.  I like a lot of middle eastern music, especially the oud and the nay (a lute-like instrument and a wooden flute).  Maybe I'll try and find some of that kind of stuff (unless They are watching to see what I'm listening to and I get carried away for associating with terrorists).

 

There's a lot of romantic stuff I like (and even some classical; baroque mostly) but I admit I mostly like music that has an edge or swings.

 

Here's a couple of players I like (although sadly Jeff (blind guy) passed away a few years back) doing some good swing jazz:

Colin did a great CD with a big horn section but I couldn't find any video of that.  Both of these guys could play the blues, too.  Here's one of Jeff back in the day:

 

Speaking of stuff that swings, here's a couple of classics from another guy I've always liked (although before he sobered up he was a jerk):

 

Here's a guy none of you may be able to relate to but I like his stuff. He's the best of the trailer trash rockers:

 

Finally, here's Keb doing one of my favorite Elmore James tunes (its the first tune I ever played for my wife):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl9NkY6_IMY

 

I hope there's something that appeals to at least one of you.

John

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Hey John

 

I liked the last two selection just fine. Not crazy about the rest though.

 

Do you or the crew here like "hi amp electric blues" not sure how to distinguish this style of "blues" from lets say the Keb piece you just posted. Please educate me as to correct terminology if such exists. And like John says, I hope someone out there may enjoy this as much as I do when a particular mood strikes me. Hot guitar work IMHO.

But I must say I don't care much for the "creative innovations" at the end of an otherwise  dynamite piece.

Stevie Ray Vaughn doing a cover of a Hendrix song:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsByzzPiOLw&feature=related

 

Here is a far too short clip of "blues rocker chick" Orianthi. I believe she plays the same genre of music as Stevie.

"Heavy electric blues"? Again what should I call it?

 

 

I must confess when I hear this style of "blues" I get a flash back longing to gobble down a handful of "reds". But i have been clean of that shit for thirty years. thank God. I don't seem to have that reaction to acoustic guitar blues, fortunately.

 

Have always loved much of Carlos Santanas' work as well:

 

 

Last one I promise. A little Janis OK?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVpDOIPx_sY

 

J

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I loved the trailer trash music! 

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Well, John, at least there was something you liked from the last post.  That's part of sharing, though, is to try out different stuff.  Everybody has their own tastes and sometimes by sharing you discover something you didn't know about before and that makes it all worth it.

 

Yeah, I like what I'd just call electric blues (or as some acoustic blues purists say, rock blues).  I saw Stevie and his brother a number of times; even saw Stevie in Austin when he was the house band at Antones.  And in the day I was a big Hendrix fan.  Stevie's other big influence was Albert King.  If you haven't heard any of his stuff (goes back a ways) you should check him out.  If you like Stevie, you'd like Albert.  I always liked Santana, too, but never got to see him.

 

The style Keb is playing is usually referred to as country blues.  That's because the blues was originally country music for black folk and was played on acoustic instruments.  It wasn't until WWII opened up jobs in places like Chicago and blacks started moving to the city and leaving the cotton fields that it became electrified.  That's also because the electric pickup wasn't invented until the thirties and not commonly available until a bit later.  Our generation really invented the electric blues sound that you like as a result of the blues revival of the sixties (Clapton et. al.).  A lot of what those guys did when they first came out were electric covers of old blues tunes that were originally done on acoustic guitars (Cream, Stones, Led Zep are classic examples).

 

I'll have to say that as I've aged my tastes have moved more to the acoustic side, but I like to rock out too and can appreciate a well-played electric guitar.

 

Damn, I sound like some pendantic college prof reciting a lecture.  Sorry, I was just trying to answer your question.  I hate it when I lecture.  As Zappa said, I shuld just "shut up and play your guitar."

 

John

 

 

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Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I loved Janis.  Good choice, John.  I hadn't seen that one.  Wasn't she something ?  Man, it hurt me when she OD'd (like Jimmy).  I actually know a woman who knew Janis before she became a star.  She knew her in Austin, TX (where Janis and my friend are from) when she used to play at the folk music jams in the area.  They weren't close, but often played together and knew each other by name.  Janis left town for San Francisco and my friend stayed to finish school and they never saw each other again.  She does, however, have a picture that clearly shows she and Janis together at one of those jams.  My friend remained (to this day) an old folkie and never followed Janis' later career or listened to any of the guitar heroes of (I'm guessing your age) our era.

 

Yeah, Janis.  I miss you babe.

 

Johh

 

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And speaking of Janis and folks that could be mentioned on the "who makes your heart" thread, here's a gal I admire who can do Janis when she wants.  Here she is doing one of my favorite Ray Charles tunes:

 

 

and doing a Graham Parsons tune:

 

 

John

 

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I was typing this post when you posted the one above. Nice voice, very pretty girl, er woman. I particularly like her cover of the Graham Parsons tune, "SHE" saved it to my favorites. Thanx!

 

 

Hey John,

 

I didn't feel you were lecturing at all, only sharing the things you seem to know much about, And I appreciate it. And "Rock Blues" it shall be.  

 

You mentioned Zappa> now I am really headed down memory lane. No I never met him, but I spent the night once in his house in Laurel Canyon. It was a huge log cabin style house which was once owned by Roy Rogers or Gene Autrey, can't recall which right now, don't suppose it matters anyway.  I had a girl friend, not a "true love" but we were "close" sometimes. She belonged to a dance troupe and many of the members lived there. The troupe went by the name Vito and The Fraternity Of Man. They would generally accompany The Mothers, when they did gigs in the Hollywood area. Occasionally I would accompany them. The group consisted primarily of Vito,  his gorgeous wife Sue, and 6-10 ultra feminine young "lip stick lesbians" I mean these girls were absolutely stunning in their femininity. Sort of like this girl in the picture here, except even more so.

 

http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt345/JohnE_photo/xin_0020805250901828342016.jpg

 

 

The club owners always let them in for free no matter who was playing. If I tagged along with them I'd get in free as well. Not that I would have minded paying

They were in their late teens and early twenties. Mostly they were bisexual. My "friend" went by the name of Miss Jana, and there was Miss Lucy, Miss Riki etc. They always referred to each other as Miss so and so. Like young, southern belle princesses. And of course there was Carl Franzoni "The Crown Prince Of Perversion." He enjoyed shocking people, and did a good job of it.

 

Man John, I could tell you some stories about the Hollywood sub culture "back in the day". One really had to have been there to understand. In my early twenties I often thought I had died and gone to heaven. Don't regret a single minute of it.

 

Here is a selection of a Frank Zappa clip. He was actually a very good musician when he took it seriously.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFIMWRXWY90&feature=related

 

I had a friend who helped Janis home one night after she had passed out on Haight st. in SF. She often drank that cheap Red Mountain wine back then and was doing a lot of "downers."

 

I saw her in concert in L.A. a couple of times when she was still with Big Brother.And true to legend, sometimes she actually would swig out of a half pint of Southern Comfort between songs. In my opinion once she left BB it was all down hill. There was something about the unpolished funkiness of Big Brother that complimented her incredible singing power. IMHO anyway.

Here is probably where it really began for her. I mean in being in the commercial sense. I believe it was after this performance she put out her album "Cheap Thrills".

Still get teary eyed with chills up and down my spine listening to this video clip of her again.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItLi2rVaIzo

 

J

 

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Wow, John, what a great Janis link. She's a good example of what I meant when I said I like my music generally with a bit of a rough edge.  She was doing Bib Mama Thornton when most white folks had never heard of her.  Yeah, I feel the same way about it going downhill after Big Brother broke up.  I saw her at the Atlanta pop festival in 1969 just after she formed her new band (don't remember what they were called) and was really disappointed because it just wasn't what I had been up for (i.e. Big Brother).  Lots of horns, just not the same.  By the way, Janis wasn't actually "from" Austin but did live there for a while.  Just wanted to clarify that (why, I don't know; being a pedant again I suppose).

 

I'm glad you liked Nora's cover of She.  Its a great tune and she's the real thing.  I've seen her live twice.  Really good.

 

Now your Zappa connection - and your experience with the bi folk - is an interesting thing indeed.  I bet you have some stories and maybe we can PM about some of that era (not appropriate for the open forum I don't think).  I knew a lot of gays, lesbians, and bi's back in the day because (in part) I was connected to the theater crowd and a lot of them were in one of those at-the-time subcultures.  I've read stories about Zappa's place and how it was often a weird mix as Frank was straight (sexually and with respect to drugs and alcohol) while everybody else was getting ripped.  I'd love to hear some of your life experiences from that time if you are willing.  Just PM me.

 

I met Hunter Thompson at a Derby party once (he and I are from Louisville, KY).  He wasn't famous then but he had just written a book about the Hell's Angels, who had beaten him up badly at the end.  I knew some real bikers back then and so we had something to talk about.  Also, he liked bourbon and I had some so we chatted for quite a while.  I didn't know him form diddly at the time and it was only years later when he achieved some renown that I realized who I had chatted up.  It was a feewheeling time.  I'm just glad I had sense enough to straighten up and have a productive life and not end up on dead end street like so many did.  

 

Rock on, bud.

 

John

 

 

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so glad you love the 'music for change' and even got the dvd john. i have it too.never lonely when those guys are playing!

norah is an angel, so gentle and beautiful in and out, and what a musician.

always have liked santana.

pamster, i think your nathan is gorgeous and the first one, what a beauty of a young man!!!! you have good taste. never realised how super handsome yanni is. i'll look into his music.

since you guys love janis, here's kris for you. nightnight, violet

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG2kq-4dM98

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one more! corey harris

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Thank you Violet for both of those !  I've always liked Bobby McGee and used to play it all the time; some really classic poetic lines in that one.  Corey's tune is one I haven't heard and I loved the clip.  I like and play a lot of that sort of stuff.  I haven't seen him in a while. He played locally several times a few years ago and we haven't seen him since.  Don't know why and I hope nothing went bad behind the scenes.  I last saw him when I attended the Port Townsend blues camp & festival but that was a few years back, too.  Damn, now I've got this itch ....

 

I'm giving a thought to who to put up next and will post again soon.  Don't go away; the buddies who sing together stay together.

 

John

 

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i think what happened to corey is he got married

my friends who he stayed with here, met him at that port townsend festival few years ago.

john, do you have any of your own music on youtube you would post?

i'll post a very dear friend of mine who has a couple of things on youtube. she is RAW.......

but first i have to walk the black wolf

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I'll be looking for your post of your friend's stuff.  No, I don't have anything on Youtube or anywhere else.  I wouldn't even know how to accomplish that if I wanted to.  I'm pretty low tech and not a mainstream kind of person.  Don't have a TV or a cell phone; you know, very last century (or the one before, maybe).  I have somewhat of a performance anxiety problem so I don't play in public (and never wanted music to be a job; its for fun).  I know a lot of musicians and go to a lot of jam sessions and get my fix that way.  I am often asked (honored, really) to come and sit in at gigs but I've only done that once (because there was a guest artist I wanted to say I'd played with) and didn't find it all that enjoyable so I decline those invites (and so don't get them as much as I used to now).  I don't write and so what I do is all covers, although I try and re-interpret as much as I can and not just be a mirror image (I could just play the record for that).  I'm not a great player but I am somewhat accomplished on several instruments and can hold my own with people who know what they are doing.  Its just a hobby for me, really (although a serious one).  I'm also somewhat of a historian and so that interest has led me to read a lot about the history of music and musicians.  I also find that getting back to the roots is key to really knowing a style and being able to mix it up a bit.  Most music isn't totally original and usually has roots in a style or blending of styles that came before.  That's one reason, I suppose, that I have and listen to so much early music (plus its just good stuff).  A lot of that is the stuff there's no Youtube for.

 

OK, I've once again run on at the keyboard and will shut up now.  I hope you and the wolf had a good stroll.  I'm also an animal lover and have volunteered at the Humane Society socializing and exercising dogs.  Do you have a pic of your kid ?

 

John

 

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come on girls, remember johnny in 'don juan de marco' :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:

here's the theme song by bryan adams

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeEFHJFUbEgms

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john thanks for telling me about your music, how it is for you.

wonderful you volunteer to help animals. this is the first time in years i haven't had a dog or cat.

the 'wolf' i talk about is RUMI, my neighbor's dog. he spends a lot of time with me.

no pic of him yet.

hawk taking dove.........ooo............must have been hard to witness.

okay, here comes cee-cee

 

 

 

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Whooo, Miss Violet, ain't that the blues !  Shades of Big Mama Thornton, Janis, and Jimi (checked out he Red House vid. which I noticed watching your link).  How could I have missed knowing of her ?  I'm gonna put her on my fav's and remember to look for her when I visit the big city.

 

I'm probabaly going to divert from the blues here becasue I want to share some other types of stuff I like (if I can find any on Youtube) but I'm going to post a few more one more time because of the Janis and white-boy, rock blues discussions and becasue ya'll seem to like that genre.

 

Here's one of one of the original white boy blues players (as Muddy Waters said, he was living proof that white boys could play the blues "cause you cain't get no whiter than that").  The video isn't very good but I thought of the ones I had the patience to look through this one caught the spirirt of his better days the best. The bass player is Tommy Shannon who went on to play in Stevie Ray's band.

 

This guy is probably the best living blues harp players.  He was part of the original Stevie Ray band.  I hope you like blues harp.

 

And going back a ways, how about a little Zydeco ?  Bad video but the best I could find of Clifton.  Taken at the N.O. Jazz Fest.  If you've never been to that you need to go.  Its the best music festival there is, guaranteed.  This is what happened when the cajuns and the black blues folks got together.  Similar to what happened in Texas when the German immigrants got together with the Mexican accordian players (like Flaco Himenez, who played with Ry).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXIAhExGpJo&feature=related

 

Mellowing a bit, here's a guy I really like playing some ragtime influenced guitar on a National resonator.  It goes back to earlier pre-war styles that I like a lot.

 

Here's one I dedicate to Pamster.  I don't care much for the video but its a perfect benzo buddy tune by one of the really great writers and R&B guys around today.  I couldn't find a better example and I really wanted to dedicate this one. So just put up with the corny video and listen.

 

And finally, as a seque into the other types of stuff I refer to, a little blues from the desert featuring the oud, a middle-eastern insturment I really like.  David Lindley plays one. Its fretless so allows the use of quarter tones (found in the middle eastern scales but not in Western music, which is based on half tones; these tones are also what slide lets one do -  what David calls the "stinky notes").

 

John

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yep, that's my girl. we got to meet because she wanted to buy my washing machine. then one thing led to another and we are tight. she'll be in north bend at the mill casino july 23 and 24. anywhere near medford? i'll listen to your posts later.

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Here's one I dedicate to Pamster.  I don't care much for the video but its a perfect benzo buddy tune by one of the really great writers and R&B guys around today.  I couldn't find a better example and I really wanted to dedicate this one. So just put up with the corny video and listen.

 

John

 

:smitten:

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Violet - North Bend is on the coast, probably something like 150 miles from here (Medford is about thirty miles north of the California border).  Getting to the coast means driving some windy-windy roads, too, so I won't be able to make the gig.  However, I'm keeping CeCe in my list of poeple to see when I get the chance.  Like I said, we make it to Seattle and Portland farily often so I imagine eventually I'll get lucky (umm .. to see her, I mean).  Next time you see her tell her a real blues fan thinks she's among the best.

 

Pam - I'm glad you saw this.  I sent it to you by PM also just in case.  You have been such a great help to me (and so many others).  I do hope you liked it (the tune, that is).  Delbert is one of my fav's and a lot of folks have covered his stuff (e.g. Bonnie Raitt).

 

Later, kids.

 

John

 

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OK, so I lied.  I found these and thought I'd put them out there.  One is only audio, but its one of the best Johnny Winter tunes I know, from his firtst album.  I saw him and the Allman Brothers for the first time at the Atlanta pop festival in 1969 and was just turned around musically in so many ways.  Johnny played this one.  Its done on an old National steel guitar (although overdubbed here) which is an instrument dear to my heart.  I spent many an hour learning to play this but can say that I can still rip it off pretty much as Johnny played it.  Its really a re-make of an old Robert Johnson tune, but that's what we musicianans call "the folk process" (while the lawyers call it plagiarism, or in the case of  Led Zep, Pagerism).  No video, but this is really great National slide stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcOSmmTTiE&feature=related

 

And just not to be accused of beng sexist, here's a live video of some folk I met once but who usually stay in the NE where they are from.  Annie can play great piano and sing, too.  Here she's featured playing the harp.  Its a bit long but you might want to just fast forward to about the four minute mark to see her really take off.  I saw her at the Port Townsend blues festival (and took a lesson from her musical partner Paul Rischell).  She and CeCe would make a combo that would fill the airwaves with progesterone pheramones to cause the men to lactate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjQJetx593o

 

John

 

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Hey John,

 

The Delbert McClinton selection you dedicated to Pam I enjoyed. Something about his delivery reminded me of Mick Jaggers song "Far Away Eyes"

 

 

J

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Thanks for theat link, John.  I hadn't seen that one.  There's a different message in this than what I dedicated to Pam but yeah, the Stones had a lot of the same feel as Delbert does.  They really understood American popular music (blues, country, R&B) and a lot of their early stuff was covers of such (good ones, though).  I've been a fan of theirs for years (although I'll have to confess I don't think they're the same band they were in the sixties and seventies and maybe should have given it up, as some members have done).  How many Englishmen could have pulled this off ?  Steel guitar and all.

 

As you may know, Ry played mandolin on "Love In Vain"  and slide guitar on several other albums.  Also, Keith was a good friend of Graham's and was responsible for letting Graham release "Wild Horses" before the Stones did (it was reportedly written as a tribute to Graham's style and to Graham personally.)  So there's some good connections.

 

Keep on truckin' ya'll.

 

John

 

 

 

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hey

i can no way keep up with you john. glad it ain't no race!

 

i get why you posted those songs - phenomenal musicians. love your dedication for pam. i'm starting to feel the same way for her! that woman is an angel....

 

my favorite is hamza el din the UD man. i feel his music, more my speed. i'm keeping that one.

 

i agree that cee-cee and annie would make a great combo "fill the airwaves with progesterone pheramones to cause the men to lactate." well my friend, that gets passed on to cee-cee

violet

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violet,

 

A special song for you, mostly just for you. I hope you like it.

I long to drift away into into such a gentle loving fantasy world. Maybe in Heaven you suppose?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19ALlQTLM8c&playnext_from=TL&videos=TkS4ehhA_9I

 

heres one more I really like ...so sweet!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uocMJBb4eOU&feature=related

 

 

J