Author Topic: KNOWING WHEN ITS TIME TO GO (Read 814 times)

keith_h · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2006, 11:04:53 AM »

Flax,
I was recently in a project that sounds similar to yours. The guitarist and singer were into exact copies. I tried to get them to understand that doing exact copies was doomed to failure and that it was better to interpret the songs. I decided to leave the project as it wasn't worth the frustration. I still sit in with them occasionally but it is with the understanding that I am not there to learn the songs but just play them for my own satisfaction.

Keith

lbpesq · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2006, 02:27:17 PM »

Covers and which version to cover. This reminds me of a funny incident last night. I'm sitting around having finished helping my 5th grader with his science project (DON'T buy Energizer batteries. Both the Duracell and Long's brand lasted longer in flashlights and running an electric motor). I pick up an acoustic and start messing around. For some reason I start playing Jerry Jeff Walker's Mr. Bojangles, a song I probably haven't played in at least 5 or 6 years. I start singing and my wife recognizes the song and tells me how she never liked that song. I told her she probably was familiar with the hit version and never heard it done by Jerry Jeff or David Bromberg who also did a great version. I figure she's familiar with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band version - a little sappy for my taste. She says that she's not familiar with the Dirt band's version either but that she remembers some guy singing it on TV, maybe a black singer. From the cobwebs of my mind I remember another cover and speak the words Sammy Davis, Jr.? She says yea, that's it. It seems she thought old one-eye wrote the song. She did admit my version was better.

I've run into this phenomena many tomes, where people think the cover is the original. Like all those people who just love that Janis Joplin song Me & Bobby McGee, or that Rolling Stones song Love in Vain (At least here there is some slack as the Stones claimed credit for this Robert Johnson song on Let It Bleed - shame on you Mick & Keith).

Bill, tgo

(Message edited by lbpesq on March 14, 2006)

flaxattack · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2006, 03:42:15 PM »

survey says?

kiss my bloomin arse!
im outta here!
thanks guys

george_wright · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2006, 05:29:46 PM »

Bill, speaking of confusing covers with originals, you'll appreciate this.... I almost drove off the road one time, listening to the radio. The DJ had just played some Hendrix. Then he aired a call from an irate listener complaining about people ripping off Stevie Ray Vaughn.

lbpesq · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2006, 06:12:56 PM »

Last year my then 10 year old was shocked and quite impressed that his mom and I knew I'm a Believer. He thought it was by his favorite band: Smashmouth! He has since been educated about the Monkees.

Bill, tgo

zuperdog · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2006, 06:26:52 PM »

Not to step on your toes Bill; but, with all due respect, I'm a believer was written by Neil Diamond. The Monkees were just a cover band doing catchy songs that someone else had written and not too many people had heard (and lip-synching most of the time, for that matter). Smashmouth was just a bit further down the line of cover artists!

George- I heard someone say something similar about John Mayer playing Hendrix, or vise versa. I almost wet myself!

2400wattman · « **Reply #21 on:** March 14, 2006, 07:58:09 PM »

F**K John Mayonaise! My drummer went to the Crossroads concert at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas & saw Buddy Guy give ol' Mayer the get the hell out of here look as he tried to sit in with Buddy, B.B., & Clapton. He really had invited himself or maybe someone set it up w/out the knowledge of the others(or simply asking them) or hell maybe Buddy had no idea who this scrawny kid was. Oh well, no room for squares on that stage! HA Ha

lbpesq · « **Reply #22 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:55:52 PM »

Thankfully I've never heard Neil Diamond do I'm a Believer. Didn't the Monkees do the original recorded version? Lots of good people wrote for the TV near-beatles (like near beer), like John Stewart's Daydream Believer. The former other guitar player in my band taught Neil to play guitar. He lived next door to the Diamonds when he was 11 and Neil was a 21 year old dental student. I've seen a great picture of my friend as an 11 year old freckle face redhead goofy kid standing next to a VERY young Neil Diamond.

Bill, tgo

flaxattack · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:30:32 AM »

i can go one better bill
neil diamond grew up in brighton beach NY. his parents owned a clothing store 1 block form where we lived and my parents shopped there often and yes we saw that little kid runnin around the store,. who knew>?

adriaan · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:02:16 AM »

I was watching a documentary on J.J. Cale and it had some Crossroads footage of Eric Clapton joining in on a song that wasn't announced - apparently that's the way Cale's band works. It took old Slowhand about two minutes before he realized he was playing the wrong licks to After Midnight - which he gracefully acknowledged in the interview.

zuperdog · « **Reply #25 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:24:37 AM »

Hah! I do believe you're correct, Bill. Just adding my .02 on the subject. I don't consider a lot of those Beatles' songs theirs, either. Just a different perspective- and it's so difficult to keep up. Especially in the Blues and Rock territory, everyone's covering everybody else.

Admittedly, it was a while after I heard it before I found out BB King didn't write When Love Comes to Town. It seemed so purely his. Go figure.

Cheers!
Rob

olieoliver · « **Reply #26 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:46:59 AM »

In reference to John Mayer, while I am not a fan of his I do think he deserves some credit as a good guitarist. Just because he happens to be a pretty boy that appeals to young ladies such as my oldest (25) daughter, a die hard Mayer fan, and some of his music seems a little too ?main stream? for my taste, doesn?t mean he can?t play. I?ve seen him in concert at the Harley-Davidson 100th anniversary tour, and was impressed at his skills. I think it?s good that he is exposing young ladies the world over to a different set of tunes than they would normally listen too.
Just my opinion though.

811952 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:32:10 AM »

My wife and daughter *love* John Mayer. It's better than AC/DC in my opinion. No complaints from me..

John

olieoliver · « **Reply #28 on:** March 15, 2006, 09:05:33 AM »

Hey Adam, I let my daughter read your post about John and laughed my tail at her response. She has her daddy's quick humor. Here is what she said, (remember now, you went after her Idol)..
You know what though ? that wattman guy made the reference ? ?no ROOM FOR SQUARES on that stage.? That?s the title of John Mayer?s first album. Only someone that listens to John Mayer is gonna know that. That guy is just trying to act tough because John can WAIL.

2400wattman · « **Reply #29 on:** March 15, 2006, 12:46:20 PM »

Uh, If John can wail(on the guitar that is, when you get down to it his singing voice is just not that stellar & if any of you out there have heard this guy you KNOW what I'm talking about) I have not heard it. I thought Blues Traveler only wrote the cute little ditties that I heard on the radio,until I heard a few of their obscure songs on the juke box & those guys can burn down the house!I have SEEN his album Room For Squares & only heard a few songs on the radio,in clubs,etc. & no, not just somebody that listens to John Mayer is going to know this info. I am after all in the music business, I know about a lot of music/crap(the c is silent in the pronunciation) that I wish I did not, & not enough about music I would love to know. My disdain for John Mayer is that, to me he is another product of boy band marketing or his deal was struck out of pure gold nepotism. John did not find his place in the biz.,a place was made for him. He did not cut his teeth playing long sets, humping gear, getting ripped off etc.,etc.He does not have the foundation. I just think that it is a shame that the buying public actually believes that since a band/ artist has a record deal that they have musical validity. I have not made that judgement against John, yet I have'nt heard enough of his music. Then again I can't get past his voice. Olie, your daughter then might believe that I am jealous of John's success. No I am not, I took another route in the business & can only blame myself(but then again I'm not a song writer)for so much.So if you are wondering if I'm jaded by the biz. you bet your ass I am, but I still love playing music & doing it for a living while I can. I was setting up for a show one night, also the same night Mayer was playing in town, when I heard this frat boy scream John Mayer rocks!. Look,I know good rock & roll & this guy can't rock,he is a Square, he is what is called by my band Safe Guy Rock. Rock for the girls, not the world. Thanks to whomever read this.