Bill Riley wrote to Martin Ridgley <=-

Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

...at least the pre-accident Dylan had a panache when doing his
material that the "pretty" singers could never impart. Sure, Baez
and the Byrds made him a star but they could never get the feeling. There are a lot "prettier" singers than say, Robert Johnson. But
they can't convince me that hellhounds are on their trail.

Too true! Many have tried, but I've never heard anyone else capture
that feeling the way that Johnson did. Likewise with a lot of Dylan's
early songs. I agree that nobody else delivers them quite like Bobbie
himself.

I do have to admit to a fondness for Byrd-like harmonies, though. ;-)

Martin
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MIKE ROSS wrote to Martin Ridgley <=-

Hey, let's not forget Elvis's (the fat Elvis) redition of "In
The Early Mornin' Rain".... gawd! It was almost as bad as
Billy Shatner's singing.

Ouch! It's not one of my favourite Lightfoot songs anyway, but
thankfully I've never been subjected to the Elvis version.

Martin
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Rich Lockyer wrote to Steve Kaplan <=-

...technical proficiency isn't everything... ...Yngwie and
Satriani, two of the most technically proficient players in the
world, yet people tend to find them boring and without feeling.

OTOH, look at Dylan, Jagger, Thorogood, etc... VERY popular and considered among the greats, but among the least technically
proficient players/vocalists on record.

Good point, Rich. I sometimes get in trouble for slagging people
like Jagger and Thorogood. I have little use for either one of them.
In particular, I think Mick Jagger has to be the single most over-
rated singer in musical history!

However, I've got to admit that there are other singers and players
out there who are just as lacking in technical skills, and yet I like
them because of something aspect of their sound or style. Go figure.
I guess it's a totally subjective thing.

Martin
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Bill Riley wrote to Martin Ridgley <=-

Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

However, when talking about the great songwriters of our generation,
I think it's fair to include people like Gordon Lightfoot and Neil
Young, as well as say, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell,
Andy Partridge, and Richard Thompson in the list. Where you would actually rank them is of course open to debate, but each of them
deserves their place on the list, just as much as Dylan does.

Uh-oh. I see the problem...you're a *folkie*...there is help
availible for this nowadays. See a proffesional in your area! ;)

Uh, thanks for the advice Bill, but the problem has actually been
getting progressively better as I get older. It's not as bad now as
the symptoms might make it appear. After all, I *did* include Andy
Partridge and Elvis Costello in the list. Hardly 'folkies' in any
traditional sense of the word. 'Course, none of these people are
really folkies anymore - even Dylan, Simon, and Mitchell.

FWIW though, I do suffer relapses from time to time, so please *do*
remind me about that professional help again, when I start raving
about people like Guy Clark, Martin Carthy, Norman Blake, June Tabor,
Maddy Prior, and Townes Van Zandt. (Hmmm... come to think of it, a
couple of them probably *should* have been on that list!) ;-)

Martin
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Bill Riley wrote to Martin Ridgley <=-

Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

...Lightfoot's music inextricably linked to a whole bunch of
painful memories? If so, I understand completely.

Mostly the the pain was caused having to listen to him.

ROTFL! Dammit, Bill! I just lost a mouthful of perfectly good coffee!

Truthfully I always saw him as a John Denver kind of guy.
Pleasant to listen to if you didn't have any real music
availible but very much a "Folk Lite" kind of guy.

Wow! I can understand how someone might get that impression from
listening *only* to his 'hits', but there's lots of other strong stuff
on most of his albums (at least the ones from the '70s). I always
thought he was a pretty good lyricist and storteller.

That's always the way it is. I'd offer to take them off your hands,
but I've already got most of my favourite Lightfoot albums. ;-)

Haul your behind down to Fidojam oneday. (This year is the
5th annual, FIDOJAM 2000) and they're yours.

I'd love to one day, Bill, but I'm afraid it won't be this year.
Even if finances would allow, my car simply wouldn't make it. :-(

Martin
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Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

I do have to admit to a fondness for Byrd-like harmonies,
though. ;-)

Me too, can't do them but I love them. Speaking of which, we just got a new singer for our band. I swore no more chick singers but damn, this lady can wail! She can sing real pretty or get down and moan 'em out like Janis. This is gonna be good.

Bill

--- timEd 1.10.y2k
* Origin: Bill's Point, Beaverton OR (1:218/704.6)

Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

Wow! I can understand how someone might get that impression
from listening *only* to his 'hits', but there's lots of other
strong stuff on most of his albums (at least the ones from the
'70s). I always thought he was a pretty good lyricist and
storteller.

Like I said, I've heard them all including an album he made before getting a major label deal. Oh there were a couple that were okay, but it just isn't my cup of tea, (threw in the tea just for you Brits.) I think "Circle of Steel" was one I actually like. And another who's name I don't remember but had a lyric something about "is the ice still on the river..." But they were just kind of semi-pleasant background types of things. Give the the Allman Bros. churning out Statesboro Blues or Whipping Post, anyday.

I'd love to one day, Bill, but I'm afraid it won't be this year.
Even if finances would allow, my car simply wouldn't make it. :-(

Man, you are getting old, it's only about a days hitchhike down here. :)

Bill

--- timEd 1.10.y2k
* Origin: Bill's Point, Beaverton OR (1:218/704.6)

Bill Riley wrote in a message to Martin Ridgley:

Me too, can't do them but I love them. Speaking of which, we just
got a new singer for our band. I swore no more chick singers but
damn, this lady can wail! She can sing real pretty or get down and
moan 'em out like Janis. This is gonna be good.

Man, oh man that's going to be a vast improvement! 8=}} But can she do keyboard? TFB if she can't...


Stephen

--- timEd 1.10.y2k
* Origin: La Casa de Honez, Portland OR (1:218/704.7)

Stephen Jones wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

Man, oh man that's going to be a vast improvement! 8=}} But can she
do keyboard? TFB if she can't...

Nope, she doesn't all she plays is autoharp, which we don't have a big call for. We still need to find a keyboard player.

Bill

--- timEd 1.10.y2k
* Origin: Bill's Point, Beaverton OR (1:218/704.6)

Bill Riley wrote to Martin Ridgley <=-

Like I said, I've heard them all including an album he made before
getting a major label deal. Oh there were a couple that were okay,
but it just isn't my cup of tea, (threw in the tea just for
you Brits.)

Much appreciated. Thanks... ;-)

I think "Circle of Steel" was one I actually like. And another
who's name I don't remember but had a lyric something about "is
the ice still on the river..."

"Did She Mention My Name". Nice song. I think he actually got
better in the mid-to-late '70s, but then he went downhill.

Give the the Allman Bros. churning out Statesboro Blues or
Whipping Post, anyday.

One of my former bands used to do "Ain't Wasting Time No More" and
"One Way Out", and I also used to do "Little Martha" as an acoustic
duet with a friend. I was a pretty big fan of early Allman Brothers,
but I never liked "Whipping Post" for some reason. I guess my faves
were always the more melodic songs like, "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed",
"Midnight Rider", "Hot 'Lanta", "Melissa", "Little Martha", "Jessica",
Hmmmm... come to think of it, with the Allman Brothers at least, if
it's got a girl's name in the title, it's probably one I like. <grin>

...I'm afraid it won't be this year. Even if finances would
allow, my car simply wouldn't make it. :-(

Man, you are getting old, it's only about a days hitchhike down
here. :)

Well, ...I'll keep that in mind, Bill. ;-)
I didn't get my driver's license until I was 26 and I used to
hitchhike a lot. I haven't done it in years, though. I gave it up
after a couple of bad experiences. Hmmm... maybe it is time to get
the old thumb out of retirement.

Martin
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Martin Ridgley wrote in a message to Bill Riley:

"Did She Mention My Name". Nice song. I think he actually got

That's the one. Thanks.

Allman Brothers, but I never liked "Whipping Post" for some
reason. I guess my faves were always the more melodic songs like,
"In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", "Midnight Rider", "Hot 'Lanta",

I love all those songs, that whole album. I'm a bit burnt on "Reed" though, I've heard so many bad versions by bar bands over the years that I shudder even
at the Bros. version when i hear it anymore. It's amazing how that sonfs been abused.

Well, ...I'll keep that in mind, Bill. ;-)
I didn't get my driver's license until I was 26 and I used to hitchhike a lot. I haven't done it in years, though. I gave it up
after a couple of bad experiences. Hmmm... maybe it is time to get
the old thumb out of retirement.

Head down to the border, stand on the U.S. side and look for a car with California plates. Have a sign in your hand saying you're Canadian, Any Californian will pick you up so that they can have somebody in the car that the
people of Washington and Oregon will talk to while getting gas or food with getting spit on. Of course you may have trouble with them letting you out of the car until the hit the California border. ;)

Bill

--- timEd 1.10.y2k
* Origin: Bill's Point, Beaverton OR (1:218/704.6)