The book on tape, I mean, for Keith Richards' autobio, "Life." I purchased the book on tape (after inheriting my dearly departed mom's audible.com account), and it indicates Johnny Depp is the reader. (I have not actually listened to it, so I don't know whether he's doing it in his Jack Sparrow voice or straight Johnny. I probably should listen for the purposes of balanced critique, but what the heck this is a blog, I'll get to it later.)
Why couldn't Keith have been the reader? What, is he too busy making great music, off recording the next great Stones album with Mick and the boys? HELL NO! (They really haven't made the next great Stones album since "Tattoo You," in case you didn't realize I was being facetious).
Can you imagine how cool it would have been to listen to that book as read by Keith himself, preferably complete with drags off his trusty Marlboro's and those crusty chuckles he loves to throw in? They could have made it a box set with other bits of Keith-abilia. I would absolutely pay more than the going rate for a book read by him; heck, I was tempted to purchase the talking Keith doll from the previous "Pirates" movie just because it was really him talking. (Didn't do it, too expensive.)
I'm not kidding about the time issue -- it's not like the guy is back in the south of France working on "Exile on Main Street II." Or really doing anything else that is having an impact on pop culture like in the old days. (I'm not saying he should be or really is capable of it anymore. I don't think these lads have the inspiration and the provenance they once had, and neither do any of the rest of us). I'm sure he could spare a couple of weeks to sit in a studio (heck, even in his living room in Connecticut would be interesting -- or, better yet, a local pub) and read this thing.
Maybe I should start a campaign....maybe I will.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Calling all posts
These posts of the past couple months are from another blog I started to launch, but I think Led Egg is going to be my one-stop-shop for blogging from here on out. All Led, all the time.
Steve Earle/Strawberry Fields
http://greetingsfrom75.blogspot.com/2011/03/steve-earlestrawberry-fieldsbeatles.html
Lemmy Movie
http://greetingsfrom75.blogspot.com/2011/03/lemmy-movie.html
Rory Gallagher/Tommy Bolin
http://greetingsfrom75.blogspot.com/2011/03/first-entry.html
Steve Earle/Strawberry Fields
http://greetingsfrom75.blogspot.com/2011/03/steve-earlestrawberry-fieldsbeatles.html
Lemmy Movie
http://greetingsfrom75.blogspot.com/2011/03/lemmy-movie.html
Rory Gallagher/Tommy Bolin
http://greetingsfrom75.blogspot.com/2011/03/first-entry.html
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Reading "LZ-75", about Led Zep '75 Tour
The reviews about this book in amazon.com are spot-on; a literary exercise this is not, and author Stephen Davis has done better (his Stones book is authoritative and sizzling throughout, and his Aerosmith autobio with the band is definitive).
Meanwhile, I'm a third of the way in and the basis of the book, Davis' "lost" notebooks from when he covered the tour for Atlantic Monthly, have hardly been mentioned. In fact, he describes a bunch of shows he obviously didn't even witness. I'm not sure he really "covered" the tour, considering. Kind of bogus.
Yet, YET, I keep reading it, and I'm enjoying it. The guy does know from whence he writes, he was there at least for part of it. But what I think sets this guy apart is his ability to place the boys of Zep and their output in the perfect cultural context, usually with a turn of phrase or key factoid. Reading this book is like listening to an aging yet talented jazz drummer laying down a tasty if sometimes cliched solo.
Meanwhile, I'm a third of the way in and the basis of the book, Davis' "lost" notebooks from when he covered the tour for Atlantic Monthly, have hardly been mentioned. In fact, he describes a bunch of shows he obviously didn't even witness. I'm not sure he really "covered" the tour, considering. Kind of bogus.
Yet, YET, I keep reading it, and I'm enjoying it. The guy does know from whence he writes, he was there at least for part of it. But what I think sets this guy apart is his ability to place the boys of Zep and their output in the perfect cultural context, usually with a turn of phrase or key factoid. Reading this book is like listening to an aging yet talented jazz drummer laying down a tasty if sometimes cliched solo.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Chicago Rhino Live '75
It is not Carnegie Hall, it's Largo, MD. They were running out their prog string at this point, and I would make the case that the album they were supporting on this tour (can't remember which number, but it's the one with the cardinal [?] on the cover and poster and iron-on applique [?] inside) didn't have the multiple massive hits of earlier discs. (I think it's Chicago 8, actually. And maybe 7, which was another double album after a couple of single discs, was the last truly prog effort, although I can't think of anything heavy on 7. Cool fake-tooled-leather cover, tho.)
Anyhoo, the playing on the samples Rhino has up sounds pretty loose, and the recording sounds a bit cavernous. But they were four years removed from Carnegie Hall, probably better chops by that time and still the original line-up with the percussionist added. Plus they got a few more decent hits in first half of 70s since Carnegie. So maybe it is worth a listen. Maybe it's worth a listen only for "Got To Get You Into My Life," which is perhaps the song the band was formed around? The boys said they were heavily influenced by the Beatles.
http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/chicago-live-in-75
Anyhoo, the playing on the samples Rhino has up sounds pretty loose, and the recording sounds a bit cavernous. But they were four years removed from Carnegie Hall, probably better chops by that time and still the original line-up with the percussionist added. Plus they got a few more decent hits in first half of 70s since Carnegie. So maybe it is worth a listen. Maybe it's worth a listen only for "Got To Get You Into My Life," which is perhaps the song the band was formed around? The boys said they were heavily influenced by the Beatles.
http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/chicago-live-in-75
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
"Rocket Man" -- A better song out there in '72?
I purchased "Rocket Man" and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" off iTunes after hearing the latter on tv show my wife was watching. I have liked the latter song for a long time, I can't think of a more evocative song from that time frame (summer '72). Man, did Elton produce some major tuneage or what? He had a great band, the bass playing is killer, so is the drumming. But I'm thinking the production (Gus Dudgeon) is what really did it. (I just went and checked Gus' wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Dudgeon and learned that he called the Elton's "Caribou" album "a piece of crap," and I find some comfort in that opinion because I think by then Sir Reg was starting to lose the plot after his absolute masterwork "Good Bye Yellow Brick Road.") This song is so damn dense with atmosphere. It's not really even a piano song or keyboard son, it's really acoustic guitar and some freaky geetar noising from Davey Johnstone, another monster player. The piano playing on it is really perfect, just the right amount.
I will grant you, this song does rip off Bowie's astronaut song, both in subject matter and in manner. But for some reason it's just as good, if a bit less artistic (maybe, maybe not) and original. At that point we were still trudging around on that sandy orb up there, and if you do not think the best music of this an many generations was a result of the boundaries being pushed up there in the Heavens, then THINK AGAIN! '68 to '73? When was the last moonwalk? December '72, that's when. WhadayathinkofTHAT?
Was there a more exquisite song out that summer of '72? you tell me. "Take it Easy" was a pretty good one, that song does me in too. Both of them things sound just as good coming over a 2-inch speaker (or single earphone) as on my hi-fi stereo!
I will grant you, this song does rip off Bowie's astronaut song, both in subject matter and in manner. But for some reason it's just as good, if a bit less artistic (maybe, maybe not) and original. At that point we were still trudging around on that sandy orb up there, and if you do not think the best music of this an many generations was a result of the boundaries being pushed up there in the Heavens, then THINK AGAIN! '68 to '73? When was the last moonwalk? December '72, that's when. WhadayathinkofTHAT?
Was there a more exquisite song out that summer of '72? you tell me. "Take it Easy" was a pretty good one, that song does me in too. Both of them things sound just as good coming over a 2-inch speaker (or single earphone) as on my hi-fi stereo!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Comparing Katie Couric with Kurt Cobain
Rolling Stone concluded a story about Katie Couric's situation with that of Kurt Cobain's, and it is pretty funny. Occasionally RS still hits on something, but like a broken watch it's not really reliable. For every decent issue (and this is one, as it turns out -- interesting story about an internet teen star, Nirvana retrospective at Experience Music in Seattle, Foo Fighters, other stuff), there are dozens every year that deaden my nerves with their cultural irrelevance (or maybe that's now the problem, what's culturally relevant is now consistently nerve-deadening). It doesn't help being not 15 anymore, much more difficult to suspend disbelief.
Perfect example: Just got an e-mail from RS about its coverage of the Royal Wedding. What could possibly be interesting about that? Rock music has been anything but subversive for at least 25 years now, and looking at everything through that prism no longer serves any purpose other than to distort our sad reality. Especially when most of what passes as rawk these days is so camped up.
That's why the English music magazines (Mojo and Q) are so much more adept at keeping it all interesting and in perspective. Excellent mix of current and historical, very little self-seriousness. Just too expensive to purchase all the time.
Perfect example: Just got an e-mail from RS about its coverage of the Royal Wedding. What could possibly be interesting about that? Rock music has been anything but subversive for at least 25 years now, and looking at everything through that prism no longer serves any purpose other than to distort our sad reality. Especially when most of what passes as rawk these days is so camped up.
That's why the English music magazines (Mojo and Q) are so much more adept at keeping it all interesting and in perspective. Excellent mix of current and historical, very little self-seriousness. Just too expensive to purchase all the time.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wot was Mick thinking?
When he decided in the late 80s to tour as a solo artist? Of course, some of us in the rock consumer public were up for it, but what everyone really wanted was a Rolling Stones tour, and what we eventually got instead was the end of the Stones' fairly incredible run as a functioning rock unit. Really, when they came back for their first tour in 8 years in '89, it was all over, no history, no cultural heat, just the best brand in the business adding untold millions to the fortune it had spawned. Quick, name one tune from that album (Ok, i can, but that's because I was buying the purported return of these blokes, even though it wasn't really them, it wasn't really even 1981 anymore, and I wasn't a teenager.)
What made Mick think that his fronting a Stones tribute band could be better than the real thing (I must admit, however, that the second-best Van Halen show I ever saw was David Lee Roth the week before 9/11 at the Minn. State Fair. Bunch of ringers playing all Van Halen songs with him, smokin' hot, Dave in excellent form, better than almost all the actual, original VH shows I ever did see, especially the last one in '84.) The only thing I can think of that would have killed the Stones as effectively was Keef passing on to that great riff in the sky, which clearly he is never going to do. Keith's resulting solo album was probably the last authentic Stones album, though... Nice mullet Mick's got back in '87, tho.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-25-boldest-career-moves-in-rock-history-20110318
What made Mick think that his fronting a Stones tribute band could be better than the real thing (I must admit, however, that the second-best Van Halen show I ever saw was David Lee Roth the week before 9/11 at the Minn. State Fair. Bunch of ringers playing all Van Halen songs with him, smokin' hot, Dave in excellent form, better than almost all the actual, original VH shows I ever did see, especially the last one in '84.) The only thing I can think of that would have killed the Stones as effectively was Keef passing on to that great riff in the sky, which clearly he is never going to do. Keith's resulting solo album was probably the last authentic Stones album, though... Nice mullet Mick's got back in '87, tho.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-25-boldest-career-moves-in-rock-history-20110318
Tim McGraw/Grateful Dead
Tim McGraw going back to his swarthy/lonely-look phase of 10 years ago seems pretty cynical tribute to his old product self after his house-husband persona of the past couple of years. That really looks like a woman's demin shirt he's wearing on the website, I don't care if the chest hair looks like it's been specially groomed for the photo shoot.
Speaking of tribute bands, I ask you this, kind reader: Was the Grateful Dead's 1987 return the first classic rock tribute effort? When I think of the "hit singles" from that album, they certainly sound like the kind of tribute product the Rollin' Stones also became conversant in two years later and proceeded to "produce" up through '05 every couple of years when they toured. That year, '89, seemed to open the floodgates for going to see yer fave band from yore and pretending that it's yore. And spending a bunch of money on t-shirts and such, it has been honed to a science in the intervening years. And the Stones are the masters at making rock money, so there you go.
And now here's Tim McGraw suddenly looking a little lonesome and surly after playing the dutiful husband, the aging former hunky jock type in two Hollywood feature films. What are you selling, bub, and why should I buy it? Why should I buy anything? I'm tired.
Next up, Grateful Dead movie from last week.
Speaking of tribute bands, I ask you this, kind reader: Was the Grateful Dead's 1987 return the first classic rock tribute effort? When I think of the "hit singles" from that album, they certainly sound like the kind of tribute product the Rollin' Stones also became conversant in two years later and proceeded to "produce" up through '05 every couple of years when they toured. That year, '89, seemed to open the floodgates for going to see yer fave band from yore and pretending that it's yore. And spending a bunch of money on t-shirts and such, it has been honed to a science in the intervening years. And the Stones are the masters at making rock money, so there you go.
And now here's Tim McGraw suddenly looking a little lonesome and surly after playing the dutiful husband, the aging former hunky jock type in two Hollywood feature films. What are you selling, bub, and why should I buy it? Why should I buy anything? I'm tired.
Next up, Grateful Dead movie from last week.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
All-Time Support Band Winner goes to. . .
Van Halen, Fox Theatre, spring of 1978. The lads opened for Journey/Montrose double bill when Journey could still be called progressive. I do not know if Sammy Hagar was in Montrose then, but i'll find out. More to come. . .
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Support bands, opening acts, backup bands
Something that intrigues, the opening acts I saw over the years, some went onto greatness, others were n'er seen again. Some I can't exactly remember -- but I remember most of 'em.
Let's start with the ones who went huge after I saw them in support, I'll flush all of this out later so that all circumstances are reported because that is germane to me and this is me blog. In no particular order, number in patens is how many times I saw this band headlining in subsequent gigs.
Aerosmith (5)
Bob Seger (2)
Jeff Beck (1)
Foreigner
Cheap Trick
.38 Special (at least 3 times in support before 1978)*
Boston (1)
REO Speedwagon (2)
Kiss (3)
Jimmy Buffett (1)
There are others, i'm forgetting them, this to be continued...
* .38 Special was in support role in Atlanta for what seemed like all of the '70s but was probably '76 to around '78, and for that I give them the top prize in this category. First time i saw them was foot of day-long bill at Atlanta Stadium that ended with Kiss (one of Alex Cooley's nightmare scenarios because there were equipment and weather issues; it was a completely miserable day, and 11th grade started the following day -- WT? Makes me tired just thinking about it. Great bill marred by crappy planning.) They opened for Frampton in fall '77 at Omni, and I know I saw them open at least one show at the Fox. Interestingly, this was before Jeff Carlisi took the mic and they developed the early-'80s sound that generated innumerable hits. The middle Van Zant brother (Donny, i think) was the lead singer, and I remember he looked rougher than his elder brother of Skynyrd lore. They were nowhere near as pop-sounding as their later version, and Jeff Carlisi looked like a biker.
Let's start with the ones who went huge after I saw them in support, I'll flush all of this out later so that all circumstances are reported because that is germane to me and this is me blog. In no particular order, number in patens is how many times I saw this band headlining in subsequent gigs.
Aerosmith (5)
Bob Seger (2)
Jeff Beck (1)
Foreigner
Cheap Trick
.38 Special (at least 3 times in support before 1978)*
Boston (1)
REO Speedwagon (2)
Kiss (3)
Jimmy Buffett (1)
There are others, i'm forgetting them, this to be continued...
* .38 Special was in support role in Atlanta for what seemed like all of the '70s but was probably '76 to around '78, and for that I give them the top prize in this category. First time i saw them was foot of day-long bill at Atlanta Stadium that ended with Kiss (one of Alex Cooley's nightmare scenarios because there were equipment and weather issues; it was a completely miserable day, and 11th grade started the following day -- WT? Makes me tired just thinking about it. Great bill marred by crappy planning.) They opened for Frampton in fall '77 at Omni, and I know I saw them open at least one show at the Fox. Interestingly, this was before Jeff Carlisi took the mic and they developed the early-'80s sound that generated innumerable hits. The middle Van Zant brother (Donny, i think) was the lead singer, and I remember he looked rougher than his elder brother of Skynyrd lore. They were nowhere near as pop-sounding as their later version, and Jeff Carlisi looked like a biker.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Stones record with Wyman
Stones recorded a song with original bassist Bill Wyman for a Ian Stewart tribute album, and I think it's none too soon considering how they've banished him from their history, including airbrushing his photo from cover of rarities CD a couple years back and pretending it's still the Stones without him -- which it ain't.
As far as I'm concerned they quit being the Stones when Wyman left; it already had turned into Tribute City, but his leaving really kind of sealed it (literally and figuratively). If not, tell me what post-'89 Stones song belongs with the best 20 songs in their catalog? OK, the best 50 songs? I didn't think so.
I'm not saying that's due to Wyman, but he is a founder, one of the people who was there at the inception, the guy with the best amp (Vox) and the elder of the group (I think he's 90 by now).
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone, which I don't usually reference, makes a big deal of the fact that Jagger and Richards cut their contributions to this in separate studios. I think they've been working independently since the late 70s. I think I read it in RS.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-cover-bob-dylan-with-original-bassist-bill-wyman-20110408
As far as I'm concerned they quit being the Stones when Wyman left; it already had turned into Tribute City, but his leaving really kind of sealed it (literally and figuratively). If not, tell me what post-'89 Stones song belongs with the best 20 songs in their catalog? OK, the best 50 songs? I didn't think so.
I'm not saying that's due to Wyman, but he is a founder, one of the people who was there at the inception, the guy with the best amp (Vox) and the elder of the group (I think he's 90 by now).
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone, which I don't usually reference, makes a big deal of the fact that Jagger and Richards cut their contributions to this in separate studios. I think they've been working independently since the late 70s. I think I read it in RS.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-cover-bob-dylan-with-original-bassist-bill-wyman-20110408
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Second look at Frampton
Like most topics in this realm, things start to wither once you start examining them a little more closely. A buddy points out that Frampton went down a bit of a poncy path and many of us followed, but he never really recovered. If you don't know what I mean, look at the cover of his followup to "Comes Alive." See link.
http://frampton.com/albums/
Pretty Bieber. OK, totally Bieber. There's no coming back from hot pink satin britches and matching open-chested top. Why Robert Plant got away with this sort of thing but Frampton didnae, I can't tell you. Well, maybe I can tell you. Peter was pandering to those screaming girls -- first time I ever heard such in-person ('77), a solid 13 years post-Beatles (and I've only heard it twice since: Madonna and Strokes). He put the plane in a dive spiral and he couldn't regain control! Plus, Plant stuck mostly with earth tones.
Lookit, the screamers bought a lot of those records, how could he not? But that show in '77 was not enjoyable by the standards of the day (and I saw Styx that fall, i'll have you know, not to mention Bad Company and Steve Miller), especially in his milking of the crowd. Next time I saw him, 10 years later almost to the day, he was relatively anonymous sideman for Mr. Bowie, stadium show, pretty astounding switch.
I hate to bring this up because I think the guy has repented aplenty (Bowie sidemanship a good example -- he knows how to play the geetar, and that's what he's kept on doing. I actually purchased his '81 product because I thought it was rocking. And listen to the musical intro to his website, it's seriously badass.)
But my boss just walked into my office, saw that album cover on my computer screen and started laughing. I don't know if all the macho guitar chops in the world can overcome that.
http://frampton.com/albums/
Pretty Bieber. OK, totally Bieber. There's no coming back from hot pink satin britches and matching open-chested top. Why Robert Plant got away with this sort of thing but Frampton didnae, I can't tell you. Well, maybe I can tell you. Peter was pandering to those screaming girls -- first time I ever heard such in-person ('77), a solid 13 years post-Beatles (and I've only heard it twice since: Madonna and Strokes). He put the plane in a dive spiral and he couldn't regain control! Plus, Plant stuck mostly with earth tones.
Lookit, the screamers bought a lot of those records, how could he not? But that show in '77 was not enjoyable by the standards of the day (and I saw Styx that fall, i'll have you know, not to mention Bad Company and Steve Miller), especially in his milking of the crowd. Next time I saw him, 10 years later almost to the day, he was relatively anonymous sideman for Mr. Bowie, stadium show, pretty astounding switch.
I hate to bring this up because I think the guy has repented aplenty (Bowie sidemanship a good example -- he knows how to play the geetar, and that's what he's kept on doing. I actually purchased his '81 product because I thought it was rocking. And listen to the musical intro to his website, it's seriously badass.)
But my boss just walked into my office, saw that album cover on my computer screen and started laughing. I don't know if all the macho guitar chops in the world can overcome that.
What the hell happened to Frampton's axe?
I noticed the ad for his upcoming gig in Baltimore as part of his "Comes Alive" 35-year anniversary tour. It's got his photo from that album cover, but the head of his trusty Lester is missing. See below.
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
I decided to investigate, went right to his website, man that thing is smokin'. He got somebody smart and creative to design him something that for once does not insult our intelligence. It didn't take me long to find that missing Gibson head -- I just went to the link for his live dates. Scroll down this page.
http://frampton.com/live/
Say what you will about the phenomenon he became in the spring and summer of '76, at the ripe old age of 25. The guy has serious chops and he's never stopped honing them. Plus he lives in Cincinnati, and he offers his own pedals. Who could ask for more? I'm getting out the phase shifter when I get home.
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
I decided to investigate, went right to his website, man that thing is smokin'. He got somebody smart and creative to design him something that for once does not insult our intelligence. It didn't take me long to find that missing Gibson head -- I just went to the link for his live dates. Scroll down this page.
http://frampton.com/live/
Say what you will about the phenomenon he became in the spring and summer of '76, at the ripe old age of 25. The guy has serious chops and he's never stopped honing them. Plus he lives in Cincinnati, and he offers his own pedals. Who could ask for more? I'm getting out the phase shifter when I get home.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Van Hagar
Just saw Sammy Hagar throwing down vox on Tonight Show, the Red Rocker been taking good care of his pipes. The dude got the job done for Van Halen but I wished they'd called it Van Hagar. Never saw them and really didn't care to -- really, it wasn't Van Halen, it was something else entirely. Sammy flogging his new book, and the bits I've read about Ed Van Halen sound quite harrowing. As Leno himself just said, rich guy out of control, no one can get through. Most illustrative stories are when EVH comes to practice just after getting hit by a car and the time he pulled his own tooth--both reflective of someone who's bought into his own myth. Easy to see As pathetic from afar, but how many of us mere mortals could deal with it? Dude knows he probably doesn't deserve it but he records himself scraping a nail against a pipe and someone would buy it. Helen Hunt meanwhile is nowhere near as fun as she used to be, ok she's no fun at all.....Sammy much more fun and he's still hitting the high notes (and clearly has original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony in his camp, nice going Stan).
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