Apr 242010
O-XkB3rgINo]
It’s your turn to shine.
Apr 052007
OK. So I was all set to make some comment about how “this has nothing to do with rock but its Turist Ömer Uzay Yolunda? C’mon give it up!” or something like that when I got about 2:15 into the clip (6:23 remaining) and I hear an old Pink Floyd song. Is it Echoes off of Meddle?
13 Responses to “All-Star Jam”
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I think so!
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All righty.
Laura Nyro: yay or nay? GO!
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I like the hit songs Laura Nyro wrote. Once I picked up one of her critically acclaimed albums from the late-60s or early-70s, with my favorite song of her’s, “Wedding Bell Blues”, and I wasn’t turned on by her own interpretations. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t Carole King’s Tapestry. What do you think, Sally?
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I would say a qualified yea. Great composer, limited singer, maddeningly cryptic lyricist. I had only been familiar with her through cover versions, and a few years ago I decided to explore her records, because of a friend who has been a big fan since the 60s.
What’s most fascinating to me about her is her mixture of a very sophisticated, almost Broadwayish, compositional style with a strong gospel influence. It’s very unique, and it’s really amazing that such an original stylist should have had such a run of success as a songwriter. For a brief period her songs were everywhere, despite the fact that almost always you really have no idea what she’s on about. Possibly for this reason my favorite song is Wedding Bell Blues, where the subject matter is very straightforward. The Fifth Dimension version is very fine, benefitting from a slick but strong vocal performance and arrangement.
Nyro was not a great singer, but I actually usually prefer her versions of her songs. The lyrics are mysterious, but they seem so deeply personal that it just seems to make more sense for her to sing them.
If anyone wanted to explore I would recommend the compilation called Time and Love: The Essential Masters. After dipping into the albums I found that this was all the Nyro I really needed. The later albums are for diehards only.
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I think BigSteve nails it pretty well here. I’d add her live disc (name escapes me)as a recommendation as well.
Her version of “And When I Die” is an instance where she’s better than the hit (BS&T) version.
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MORE WOLFGANG’S VAULT FOR MR. MOD:
http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/ConcertDetail.aspx?id=20050759|6125&aid=32929
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What’s up with the Mexican Buster Keaton pulling faces?
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Al: Do you mean the Fillmore East set with all the old soul covers as the live album? Because I’m halfway through my first listen of that and I’ve already packed up the disc to ship out on Lala. Dead boring, and I can’t imagine why she thought devoting half the set to limp piano-and-voice covers of old Motown songs was a good idea.
Mr. Mod: if it’s any consolation, Nyro herself basically disowned that album of hers you heard the second it came out, claiming producer interference. She left the label shortly thereafter.
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in other news…
the photon band’s playing at the khyber tonight.
starting around 9 / 9.30 pm, it goes:
surefire broadcast
tennis and the mennonites
walker lundee
photon bandcome out and go pince-nez on us in public, please!
slade, you’ve gotta put up a “bulletin board” or “kiosk” type page where we can post flyers for stuff like this!!!
xo, art
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Okay. Discuss this chorus, strictly as a set of lyrics:
“My M.O. is to change on the deck
Change on the deck, change on the deck
I use a beach towel
To cover my weiner, balls and crack
During the crucial moments
I have never received a complaint” -
Interesting comments on Nyro. I’ll have to revisit her own stuff some day.
Great One, I was slightly more interested in those lyrics when I imagined the towel covering other regions. I’m always fascinated by this technique whenever we’re on European beaches. I think it’s great, although I think it’s weird that Europeans are cool with walking around in Speedo bathing suits, leaving little to the imagination, yet will not walk onto a beach in their swim gear, maybe with a t-shirt and gym shorts over it, like we do. They walk onto the beach in little outfits, do the whole towel routine, end up in a bikini bottom and nothing else (man or woman), and then do the whole towel routine again while they change into their little outfits. Come on, Europeans, drive home with sand in your crack like we do!
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It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t Carole King’s Tapestry. What do you think, Sally?
Hi Mr Mod! Sorry I’m late in the game here for your townsperson call (busy as usual – i’m just catching up!!!), I only have Eli and The Thirteenth Confession (which I truly love) and I guess I would put the two together as far as being released close in years, although Nyro’s predated King’s album by two or three(?), and with the lead female thing – but I definitely prefer Eli to Tapestry 100%. Not that I’m a huge Tapestry fan anyway – it reminds me too much of work, and our keyboardist and I used to always joke around and say that our lead singer would have us singing all rocked-up versions of Tapestry songs if he could convince us to;) And also – Eli has so much going on as far as tambourines, and horns – with more of that motown/soul feel that I like on certain tracks. The production is just so clear. I love it. Does anyone else like this one?
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48: I think the Fillmore album you are talking about is the one that has Patti LaBelle on it? I’m not familiar with that one. There’s another Fillmore one (Spread Your Wings & Fly) that has a couple Motown covers (Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing and Dancing In The Street, both parts of separate medleys) that are ok. Other soul covers are more successful (Natural Woman, Walk On By, O-o-h Child.
But the better one came out a few years ago on Rounder, called The Loom’s Desire. It’s two CDs, a 1993 concert and a 1994 concert, both on Christmas eve at the Bottom Line. Really nice versions of And When I Die and Wedding Bell Blues. Nice covers of Dedicated To The One I Love and Let It Be Me.
Both shows are just piano along with a harmony group for parts. Very soulful and more restraint than the early ’70s shows I’ve heard. The voice is still pure and strong but she knows how to use it better.
So I’s gots a question for all you Lou Reed aficiandos out there: I know that I should know this, but as I’m listening to “White Light / White Heat” this fine Sat. morn, (perfect WAKE UP! musik if yous ask me) who does the crazy-ass guitar soloing on “I Heard Her Call My Name?” Is it Sterling or lou???????
Thanx in advance for your answers.
I should know this definitively, but I’m pretty sure it’s Lou.
Reed does, both solos. The second has been referred to as one of the greatest solos ever by more than one source and/or the inspiration for punk.
Did Morrison ever solo? I always thought he was the “rhythm” guitar.
I always thought that they both did solos. I know Sterling played a few on the video release from their Euro reunion tour. More garage-y, traditional-sounding than Lou’s “ostrich guitar” sounds, but pretty rocking (like on ‘Foggy Notion’- at least some of that is Sterling).
Yes, and I think Sterling played more of the normal-sounding guitar solos, as on “Pale Blue Eyes.”
Who does the all the amazing super fast strumming? Like on “What Goes On” and “Foggy Notion”? That has always been the more impressive of the guitar work I hear from V.U. Especially the live version of “What Goes On”. I picture the guitarist being like a tennis player with a disproportionally giant one arm to be able to keep that pace for such a long time.
Random morning thought:
As I made my coffee this morning, I realized that I enjoy very few McCartney-penned Beatles tunes from late ’67 on as I do the Lennon tunes from that period. “Magical Mystery Tour” I dig. There are a few here and there that are winners, but the numbers swing heavy toward Lennon. Am I alone in this feeling?
I’ve never done the math, but yes, I think McCartney’s expanded self-consciousness did not wear as well as Lennon’s.
T-Vox, although I think that they tempered each other a bit, I’m with you. I don’t think it’s even close
Taking my son and one of his friends to Vegas for his 16th. Should we see Blue Man Group or The Beatles LOVE? Anyone see either? Both?
Suggestions like “Nudes on Ice” will not be considered.
Blue Man Group performed at a company event I attended. I found it worthless. They’re only mimes in blue paint. Really tiresome. I guess taking them to my ranch is out too?
I get it.
I have not seen either, although yesterday I took my oldest son and a friend to see Kick-Ass, which delivered on its title. HIGHLY recommended for anyone with a teenage son or whoever was a teenage son. I bet members of The Slits and Delta 5 would dig it too, but not The Raincoats.
I saw “Love” and found it highly entertaining. My kids loved it too
Chickie, that strumming on the V.U.’s stuff is signature Lou. You can even hear it on some of those pre-Velvets Pickwick Records cuts that he played on, and certainly on the live record & video of his Quine-era band. It was my favorite thing, guitar-wise, about the band, too.
Ronnie James Dio, dead today at age 67!
As you’ve all probably figured out by now, I am kind of addicted to providing Mr. Mod (and you all) with links of hilarious Lou Reed news.
And now…
Lou Reed’s music… as it was meant to sound to Rover.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/enjoy-the-silence-lou-reed-readies-music-for-dogs%2C41208/