Build on a Solid Bass

OK, lots of ugly happening on the planet lately; North Korea is pissed at the world again, Margaret Thatcher passed away, the Country Music Awards were on TV, gay marriage and gun rights are dominating US politics...there has got to be something we can do to escape--and by golly there is!

If you want to have a sound foundation, you have start with a solid bass...pun intended.  For a long time I believed if I was ever going to be in a band I could always play the bass--and then I saw Chris Squire play with Yes in "The Round" in 1978...so much for trying to do that...

Squire is one of a very few elite bass players that have elevated the instrument to a level worthy of royalty.  When I think of great players I think of the aforementioned Chris Squire, Tony Levin, Jaco Pastorius, John Wetton, Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, Keith Emerson, and Roger Waters.  I am absolutely sure I left some great names off my very short list and for that I apologize...I guess.  I will admit that my guilty pleasure is watching Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads play...and before you "Beatle Freaks" scream blasphemy, I believe that while Paul McCartney is a well known bass player, he is better known as a song writer.  Even when the Beatles broke up and he formed Wings and went solo, he did not do anything that put the bass guitar front and center.

Many bands have  a bass player out of necessity; few bands make it big without one...The Doors being a noted exception.  Still other bands build around the bass.  Chris Squire played in Yes like he was lead guitar and did things I can only dream about...and if anyone elevated the bass to a level of royalty it was Tony Levin.  His work with King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment, and Dream Theater alone make him a charter member of rock royalty.  He also has this little gig known as The Stickmen that is to music what Dom Perignon is to champagne.

Certain bass lines always evoke fond memories too...of course everyone probably knows the opening bass line to Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" when they hear it, and the opening riff to "Love is the Drug" by Roxy Music always grabs me by the listeners...and you can't forget "One of These Days" by Pink Floyd.

I still have my vinyl copy of "Fish Out of Water" by Chris Squire.  I remember sitting in the third row at the Providence Civic Center back in '78 watching Yes perform and Squire was into one of his famous solos...and then this little trap door in the stage opened and Squire gently passed his bass to a roadie under the stage and retrieved another--and I thought to myself (and possibly out loud) "I  !!@*&?%$!!  want that job!!"  I actually tried to look up Yes and Chris Squire--this was before Al Gore invented the Internet--so alas, I was unsuccessful in my early quest for a future in Rock 'n' Roll.

Good bass players elevate playing to an art worthy of listening to as the focal piece of the band.  Geddy Lee is able to not only play the bass at an amazing level, he also plays keyboard and sings lead for Rush.  His style is unique and he plays like he is on fire at times...

Jaco Pastorius was absolutely amazing.  He was one of the best session musicians of his time, and played with Weather Report among others.  He was never guilty of being shy or introverted--often claiming to be the best in the world.  One of my favorite quotes of Jaco's when stating how good was, "I ain't bragging, I'm just telling the truth!"  Unfortunately fame claimed him much too young...

So dim the lights and enjoy the clip below.  Keep telling yourself it's only a bass--how hard can it be to play?    Then grab the bong and keep dreaming...

The Human Element

While checking the latest in world news recently (my daily dose of hopelessness), I discovered that two giants in the music industry have joined that "Great Gig in the Sky."  Alvin Lee and Peter Banks both passed away; leaving a void in the music world I will surely miss.

Both were unique and took different paths in their careers.  Alvin  Lee seemingly came out of nowhere and made his name at Woodstock in 1969.  Born in England, he played in bands in Germany and England.  His band "Ten Years After" came about in 1968, and Alvin's lightning fast guitar playing on "I'm Going Home" at Woodstock--which was captured on film and made its way into the documentary movie--pretty much made him a household name.

Peter Banks rose through the ranks of rock guitarist on a much different path.  The original guitarist for Yes, Banks played on the band's first two  albums, but was on the outs when the band toured to promote the second album, "Time and a Word."  In 1970 Banks was replaced by Steve Howe, and Banks went on to record with many other musicians and bands.

Two different paths, two successful careers.  Two very different, well respected, hard playing guitarists.  I understand that things change; life has cycles and the clock never stops clicking off those precious seconds/minutes/hours/years/decades...I may not like it...but I get it.  The music world has changed too; neither Alvin nor Peter died of drug overdoses and Mick Jagger will turn 70 this summer (marinate on that last one awhile).

On a more somber note, neither guitarist got much press when they passed...probably their own misfortune for not dying of alcohol poisoning or drug overdoses.  Cirrhosis and high speed car crashes are much more newsworthy than a heart attack or cancer I guess.  I mention these two guitar players here because they played during a time when rock 'n' roll was still growing and learning.  Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones had all either made their mark and were well on their way to building their wings in the R&R Hall of fame.

Bands like Yes and Ten Years After were in their infancy and about to leave an indelible mark  no one could have imagined.  I appreciate and respect guitarists like Alvin Lee because they are artists in the same manner as a Picasso--they stand out and make you notice them.  Banks, on the other hand, was more of a Salvador Dali; the finished product made you think about music in a way you had not before you heard him play.

I remember the first time I saw the Woodstock documentary.  Two performances stood out for me; Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" with a kid named Michael Shrieve and his amazing drum solo, and Alvin Lee tearing it up on "I'm Going Home."

For Banks it would be "Astral Traveler."  Time and a Word is an album that true prog fans appreciate not only for what it was, but also for who was playing.  Listening to Banks play with Squire, Kaye, and Bruford  makes me wonder what could have been if egos did not get in the way and the man who named the band was not asked to leave.

So we fans are left here to enjoy the life work of two great guitar players.  Two different styles, two different methods, two different careers--and many a very appreciative fan.

 "R.I.P."  sounds too passe, even insincere..."Rock On" sounds juvenile...so I will simply say this; I was fortunate enough to have listened to two of the early greats in the world of rock 'n' roll.  I never had the opportunity to see either one perform live but I feel no less fortunate than if I had.  Music lives on, legacies stand on their own, and vinyl does not lie.  So please enjoy one more listen...

Dim the lights and please...and no standing in the aisles....

Screamin' Guitars

"Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll."  When I was a kid that was the mantra of most teenage boys...and unless you were there you can't prove otherwise...

OK, so I wax nostalgic for a time when the music was loud, the guitars were screamin', life was nothing but a series of sunrises and sunsets, and time was on endless supply...youth truly is wasted on the young.  But while most of the girls were swooning over the velvet sounds of Chicago and the boys were banging their heads to Black Sabbath, I was somewhere in between.  I like loud, shredding guitar--don't get me wrong.  I just get bored with bands that set the amps on 12 and play loud for the sake of playing loud...at least that was how I justified my position then and I stand by that today.

A lot of guitarists--good guitarists--can play loud and fast with the best of them.  Just find me a player who can not only make the guitar scream but can also make it sing, and that is the amp I will set my beer on.  I will admit there were many times I simply played the stereo loud to piss off my parents; heck that was easy...the challenge in my head was to find something to get under their skin with that was really loud and worth listening to.  As I have grown I have gained a larger appreciation for metal...but metal done more in the progressive style...from King Crimson to Porcupine Tree.  As a youth I listened to a lot of "heavy metal" but was never really a huge fan...what can I say?

While I have always been a fan of the guitar, I have not always walked in lock-step with the masses.  I respect many players who I don't necessarily want to sit and listen to.  A quick flip through the vinyl (and plastic) in my collection may surprise the average listener as much for what is there as for what is not.  Lots of Stones, Clash, The Band, King Crimson, Dream Theater, Yes, Talking Heads, ELP, and Steely Dan among others...but no Led Zeppelin or Who.  I accept that these bands helped define a generation; it's just that the novelty of  listening to "Stairway to Heaven" 17 times a day wore off fast for me...

So today I turn it up a bit and take a listen to some "intelligent" guitar.  I have been busy digging through my boxes of vinyl looking for something that will take me back to a favorite past time; sitting up on the back of the sofa with the lights off as I traveled to the show.  Of course, I shall refrain from holding up a lit lighter in my own house.  This will not be my only trip to "Planet Guitar;" there are too many great players to try and squeeze into one post and besides, it's my blog...

Joe Satriani is one of those rare guitar players who can play anything, anytime, anywhere.  He mixes smooth riffs with "in-your-face" shredding while allowing the listener to just stop thinking and enjoy the ride.  I consider Satriani to be in a class with John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, and Adrian Belew.  Perhaps a few others--but very few.  Technically proficient and not afraid to venture into new territory, Satriani has set a standard for rock 'n' roll guitar playing that few will reach. He has been student, player, and teacher; inspired to pick up the axe when he was 14 by the death Jimi Hendrix.

Satriani has played with the well known and the well respected.  He was Mick Jagger's guitar player on Jagger's first solo tour in 1988 and has also worked with Robert Fripp.  Satriani appears in the credits of  many a band's album playing guitar, adding background vocals, and as producer.

I believe Joe is a fan of science fiction based on the names of his albums and songs..."Surfing with the Alien", "Not of this Earth", "Borg Sex", and "Back to Shalla-Bal" all seem like references to something a bit "extra-terrestrial..."  I am just glad he chose Mother Earth as the launching pad for his career.  Joe has also recently been involved with the band Chickenfoot, whose first release came out in 2009.

I chose "Surfing with the Alien" for this post because I like the way Satriani uses the guitar to its fullest.  Joe squeezes everything musically there is out of his instrument and then goes back for just a bit more--he has truly learned from his inspiration.  This particular version is a live cut, which is usually preferred when the sound quality is as superior as this one. Watching Satriani play gives me the definite impression he plays guitar because that is what he was born to do--much like why Rembrandt painted and DeNiro acts.

So sit back, dim the lights, climb the sofa, and take a ride to that concert hall in space...you can even hold up a lighter if you are so inclined...

One Hit Wonders

Ever notice how some bands come out of nowhere, smack you in the face with something new you just can't get enough of, and then it's like they fell off the planet?  So many bands fizzle before they flame and are unable to build a fire with all that smoke.

I remember listening to albums thinking this was the band that was going to be the next big thing--not the next Beatles, Hendrix, or Rolling Stones--that never has and never will happen.  But so many bands take the music world by storm and before you know it their CD boxed set is one disc...

Some of those "one hit wonders" did leave their mark though, and despite that small taste of the big time many spent years toiling in the clubs, bars, and auditoriums of nameless cities and towns the world over. Some artists actually had strong loyal followings and successful careers.  Unfortunately cracking the "Top 40" in the United States is not as easy as it seems, does not always follow a logical pattern, and is no guarantee of a second taste.  It's like the old saying, "Never underestimate the intelligence of the American public."

Every decade has a laundry list of bands that made a quick splash and faded into the background.  For sanity and credibility reasons I will skip past the "hits" that landed on K-Tel records (that is a blog for another day) and talk about bands that seemed to have an edge when they came out but failed to catch on and stay...bands that are now the answer to trivia questions in living rooms and bars across America...

A quick short list would include Ides of March, Shocking Blue, Mountain, Sugarloaf, Missing Persons (despite having Terry Bozzio on drums), Argent (post Zombies), Quicksilver Messenger Service, and It's a Beautiful Day...remember them? Another band, one that strikes an ironic chord thanks to its name, is Flash in the Pan.  In 1979 the Knack were billed as the next big thing from Liverpool...huh?

Reminiscing over songs and bands that came and went, I always seem to come back to one group in particular...Golden Earring.  A band from Amsterdam, Golden Earring first started playing together in 1961 and are still touring and recording today.  As if that wasn't crazy enough...the original line-up is still together.  I do not believe I can find five people in the United States who can name the members of Golden Earring...and I do not believe I can find five people who have not heard the song "Radar Love."

If there is a band the defines the term "garage band" it is Golden Earring.  Half a century on a tour bus is not exactly the best way to go through life--and it sure as hell ain't the worst.  I remember getting mad when radio stations played the dreaded "edited" version  of the song and cut out most of the instrumental section.  In 1973 this was the song to rock-out to...my eyes burn just thinking about it.

The beauty of the song was it appealed to both sides of a teen romance.  Guys could rock it loud while the girls could rest assured that no matter how long it took, no matter how far away, Romeo was coming back to rescue her...he just had a really cool car instead of a horse.

Golden Earring did manage to release another hit in the US, "Twilight Zone," which was released in 1982.  Nothing however, will ever come close to the success they had with "Radar Love."  I chose the version here because it is the original studio version and the photo is from the original "Moontan" album cover...which of course was not allowed in the United States at the time.  Good thing nobody told Blind Faith the USA was "prudish" when it came to album covers...

Love Is In The Air

Ahhhh Valentine's Day...that heartwarming  day of romance planted right in the middle of the deadest part of winter...I have come to believe that Valentine's Day is in February because people need to be reminded of the good things in life--especially when it's cold and crappy outside.  Coming off the recent blizzard that hammered this section of the country, Valentine's Day and romance is a welcome respite from all that is cold and dreary....

Many an artist made a career of being a "romeo;" singing love songs and romantic ditties that melted a girl's hearty but did little to establish any music credibility.  Rick Springfield, Rick Astley, Nick Gilder, Eric Carmen...the list goes on.  However, few artists have been able to re-invent themselves as many times as Van Morrison.  Blues, jazz, R&B, pop, soul, even dabbling in the Christian genre, "Van the Man" has challenged the music industry to slap a label on him.

Walking away from and returning to an industry he felt betrayed him, Van has defied logic, the "experts," and even Father Time.  For my money Van has recorded some of the best love songs ever etched in vinyl.  "Brown Eyed Girl," "Crazy Love," "Moondance," "Gloria,"  and "Ball and Chain" are but a small sample of an amazing career spanning almost six decades.

Van has recorded with some of the greatest in the industry; John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, The Band, Roger Waters, Bob Dylan, Jeff Beck, Bobby Womack, Georgie Fame...again the list goes on...Van has even been blessed to be able to record with his daughter Shana.

Few songs, in this blogger's humble opinion, come as close to touching the actual pulse of the human heart as "Tupelo Honey."  Van was a recluse by nature, never known for being the life of the party, and often times was hard if not down right impossible to figure out.  To see him as a romantic almost seems impossible--until you hear him sing.  His wife at the time, Janet Planet, provided backing vocals on the song.

The beauty in the song lies in its simplicity...yet Van can drag vocals through rough sand and make 'em sound like angels singing better than any mere mortal could hope to.  His ability to bring a realness and vulnerability to every song he sings puts Van in a class alone...there is no peer that comes to mind.  He can meld horns, strings, and vocals into one sound so harmonious you are left wondering what the hell just happened to your ears....

I chose this version of "Tupelo Honey" for no other reason than I liked the video...the sound is awesome no matter what you pair it with.  Powerful vocals and a simple statement; "you are my world, and nothing matters without you."  I couldn't have said it better myself...

My Bucket List

It seems like everybody today has a bucket list; in the words of my 14-year old daughter it is "so mainstream."  I haven't written an actual list per se, but there are several things I want to do and accomplish before I "kick the bucket."  Starting this blog was one item I have been able to cross off my list...of course seeing it bloom into a full-time paid writing gig is still written in imaginary ink...

One item that has been on my bucket list for a while is to attend a Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm's Farm in Woodstock NY. I mention this today for two reasons.  First, I missed going while Levon was alive and playing...something that I truly regret.  Levon made it through alcohol and drug addiction and beat cancer once before succumbing in April 2012.  Second, tonight the Grammy Awards are on television and a planned tribute to Levon Helm is on the schedule.  I am extremely torn because as a rule I do not like award shows...watching the rich and famous pat each other on the back and talk about how talented everyone is can be boring and at times insulting to my intelligence.  But the Grammys were different; musicians being recognized for their work isn't quite the same as actors going through the same paces.  Not many bands or artists were looking to build brands or release a summer blockbuster aimed to cash in at just the right moment. 

When I was a kid most bands and musicians released an album a year and went on tour to promote it.  I remember spending $7.50 on my first concert ticket in 1977 and another $5 outside the Boston Garden for a T-shirt.  Today the tickets are closer to $75 each (and up) and the shirts, which come in several "designer styles," range from $25-$50 more...oh how times have changed. 

Suffice to say the Grammy Awards show, at least for me, has become a caricature of  itself.  The show started to believe its own hype and became disconnected from its roots.  Many "musicians" today don't know how to play instruments--they don't even sing without the help of Auto-Tune...and lip-synching a live performance is considered OK because it is "entertainment."  Yeah right; tell that to John Lee Hooker...

Once again I took a left turn and went down Tangent Avenue...time to get back on track.  I have been listening to a lot of music today by The Band as well as some solo work from Levon Helm.  One of my favorite tunes is "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and it is the song chosen for today's blog.  This song stirs me every time I listen to it.  One thing that stands out to me is Levon is not only the drummer, he sings lead as well.  I am qualified to do neither--but I know enough to know that is no easy feat.  I have listened to the original recording on The Band's second album as well as live recordings on two releases; "Before the Flood" and "Rock of Ages."  But the rawest, most emotion-filled version has to be from "The Last Waltz."

Levon is a native of Arkansas and worked with Robbie Robertson on the lyrics.  He went to great lengths   to make sure the South was well represented in the song.  Historical accuracy was important, and extensive research  was done by both men to capture the facts and the feelings of the end of the Civil War...mission accomplished.

Ironically the last time Levon performed "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" was at the show recorded for "The Last Waltz."  He refused to perform the song at any of his Midnight Rambles...perhaps too many painful memories...at least we have the raw emotion captured on film as well as vinyl.  I chose the post below because it shows The Band pouring everything they have into the song, and you can see that night in May 1865 in Levon's face (does he ever open his eyes?).  I watch this movie whenever I feel the "realness" of music slipping away...I have been watching it a lot more lately. 

So tonight I will sit through the Grammy Awards waiting for the tribute to one of rock 'n' roll's greatest because it ain't like it used to be...now about that bucket list...

Rock 'n' Roll Heroes

February 9th, 1979: ABC airs a television special, "Heroes of Rock 'n' Roll."  Out of respect for rock 'n' roll I will not Google footage of the show, but I feel fairly certain a large segment of time was devoted to The Beatles and Elvis.  While I respect both artists and their respective accomplishments, it almost seems too easy to decide on rock 'n' roll heroes as a storyline and go with The Beatles and Elvis.  It would be like writing a piece on successful restaurant chains and (surprise!) the most ink goes to McDonald's...not a lot of research needed to discover the obvious.

So now the dilemma...who do I consider a "Hero of Rock 'n' Roll?" That list would be fairly long if I am honest, and organized into several categories to satisfy my anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive, Type-A personality.  If I limit myself to only artists/groups from 1979 and earlier (in keeping with the original timeline),  the list would still be several performers deep. 

Because I am attempting to think in the mode of my 18-year old self and I am eliminating The Beatles and Elvis, I need to remember what was going on at the time...Buddy Holly was gone 20 years along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper; an almost fatal blow to rock 'n' roll at the time.  Woodstock was ten years prior and many bands cut their teeth in upstate NY back in 1969.  The Last Waltz (still my favorite rock movie of all time) came out just one year ago, and punk/new wave was just beginning to catch on in the United States.  Yes it had been big in NYC and on underground radio, but the late '70s brought a lot of new talent to the forefront. 

For the sake of this post and in keeping with the theme I have to pick just one...so thumbing through my vinyl I stumble across a Buddy Holly record...and I have to go today with the song "Not Fade Away."  I remember a "Kodak Moment" from my youth when my dad realized I was a Buddy fan...only to be spoiled when he also discovered I liked The Sex Pistols...so much for bridging the generation gap!

Buddy Holly is a hero of rock 'n' roll and "Not Fade Away" is a classic song for a few reasons.  First you have remember Buddy only recorded for about 18 months when the plane crash in Iowa took his life.  He has been called one of the greatest influences on rock 'n' roll and Don McLean wrote his tribute "The Day the Music Died" in 1973.  It is impossible to know what Buddy would have accomplished had he survived and lived a full life and pushed the boundaries of rock even further.

I love "Not Fade Away" because it rings true.  Classics don't fade away, and this song has been covered by (among others) The Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, Florence and the Machine, and countless local bands in countless bars and nightclubs across the country.  The song is timeless, pure, simple, and dead-on.   The attached video contains rare footage of Buddy in his personal life.   So listen and enjoy...'cuz I want you know just how I feel...