Category: 50 Songs to Hear
SONG: Cliffs of Dooneen
ARTIST: Christy Moore
SONGWRITER: Traditional
ALBUM: Live at the Point
YEAR/LABEL: 1994; MSI
I was a folk singer in exile.
(Christy Moore)
Here in America, we tend to think of "Danny Boy" when we think of traditional Irish songs. It is understandable: with all the recordings of the song out there (CD Universe lists a whopping 677 recordings available), we would assume that it's THE Irish ballad.
Not so fast. A far more beautiful traditional Irish ballad exists; and, based on this live recording from Irish folk legend Christy Moore, perhaps we Americans have chosen the wrong song to automatically associate with Ireland.
Like most Americans I had never heard of Christy Moore (it's hard to find lots of publicity on our own folk singers, let alone one from another country!). One day, however, while channel surfing through the satellite stations, I came across his hilarious "Delirium Tremens," a hangover-to-end-all-hangovers song from his 1994 live album Live at the Point. I found that song so enjoyable that I picked up the live album and, in the process, found "Cliffs of Dooneen."
This version of "Cliffs of Dooneen" is exquisite. The lyrics paint a lovely picture of the Irish countryside in a way that conveys a universal message: there's no place more lovely than home. With just his guitar for instrumental accompaniment Moore sings the song as if it's his own home he's singing about (he is actually from Newbridge). His delivery is reverent, quiet, and emotional. The audience is silent, rapt in enjoyment after a moment when they can be heard singing along with the line "far away o'er the mountains, far away o'er the foam."
Moore, like many of our folk singers, has strong political opinions, and the references don't always translate well into another country. With "Cliffs of Dooneen," however, the glory of a beautiful land transcends politics and nationalities.
OTHER CHRISTY MOORE MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:
The entire Live at the Point (1994) album -- yes, Americans may scratch their heads and wonder what is so funny about the line "I dreamed Ian Paisley was saying the rosary" in "Delirium Tremens" or wonder what some of the other political references unique to Ireland are all about, but the great thing about music is that sometimes that just doesn't matter. This is an outstanding collection of music well delivered by one of Ireland's favorite musical sons.
PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well
(Rock)
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
All About the D-I-V-O-R-C-E
CATEGORY: 50 Songs to Hear
SONG: Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
ARTIST: John Prine
SONGWRITER: John Prine
ALBUM: Bruised Orange
YEAR/LABEL: 1978, Asylum
These songs are so depressing you're going to have to give out a razor blade with each record.
(Bruised Orange producer Steve Goodman)
Divorce has become so commonplace in American life and popular culture (especially country music) that it is easy to forget that it is frequently a traumatic experience for those going through the process. Thankfully, John Prine came along and jolted everyone back into reality regarding how painful getting a divorce can be for the parties involved. In 1977 Prine discovered this fact when his first marriage ended. In a funk, he did what a number of songwriters have done through the years: turned his pain into art. He then took his heartache into the studio with best friend Steve Goodman in the producer's chair and emerged with his masterpiece album, Bruised Orange.
The singular theme of Bruised Orange is unmistakable. Prine's grief pours out of nearly every song. He cites "an ill wind" that "blew your picture right out of the picture frame" in "Crooked Piece of Time" and says that during the divorce proceedings "the grudge wouldn't budge" in "There She Goes." Even when he attempts to put on a game face ("If You Don't Want My Love") and shrug off his divorce ("Well I thought she'd never leave" he claims early in "There She Goes") his emotions betray him. The songs that apparently have nothing to do with the theme still imply that Prine is not a happy man: Sabu is, after all, visiting the Twin Cities alone, and the hobo is "free to wander" again because there is no wife tying him down. The "father forgive us for what we must do" line in the superficially upbeat "Fish and Whistle" comes out sounding like a confessional plea about ignoring church prohibitions against divorce, and later in the song he makes "a big wish that we never have to do this again."
The centerpiece of the album is "Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)," a magnificent mixture of music and lyrics that serves as a somber reminder that divorce is, as Tammy Wynette once famously spelled, "Pure H-E-double-L." The song starts with Prine's simple strum of an electric guitar as he recounts an event from his youth: an altar boy, taking a shortcut on railroad tracks when walking to church one Sunday morning, was run down by a train.
As Prine moves to the chorus, where he tries to warn people (and remind himself -- he says, "So help me, I know" after doling out his advice) to not "get mad and get madder" because "a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter," an organ plays in the background as if performing at a funeral. It is quickly obvious that the funeral is not for the altar boy but Prine's marriage.
Prine tries to recall the love's happier moments during the second verse when he fell in love and "my head shouted down to my heart 'you'd better look out below.'" By the end of the verse, however, the short drop "from the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter" has happened. The love is gone, leaving only "those bruises to remind you wherever you go."
After the chorus and an increasing musical interlude (complete with a mournful steel guitar), Prine repeats the first verse, and this time it is apparent that Prine, not the altar boy, is the victim. Prine connects his heart, stuck "in the ice house," to the accident he witnessed as a teenager, indicating that he, too, was hit by a train he did not see coming: the divorce express.
The punch of the song does not end when Prine finishes singing. The song concludes with Jim Rothermel playing a saxophone solo as powerful as the lyrics because it reinforces everything Prine has said. Rothermel's performance is exquisite, perfect for the tone of the song. Rarely has an instrumental performance spoken so loudly. The saxophone sounds like a person wailing, painting a visual (especially with the background vocals as the song ends) that family and friends are filing past the casket as they pay their last respects to a love that once was.
John Prine's long career has been filled with exceptional music and very personal music. The two never melded so well together as in this song.
OTHER JOHN PRINE MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:
The entire Bruised Orange album -- no razor blades included, just some of the best music John Prine ever made. From start to finish, this album is a gem.
"Diamonds in the Rough" (from Diamonds in the Rough) -- proof that the human voice is the greatest instrument on earth is here in the Carter Family song performed a cappella so amazingly that producer Arif Mardin can be heard at the end over the studio speaking commenting, "Fantastic." Mardin's remark is an understatement.
"Souvenirs" (from Diamonds in the Rough; different versions on John Prine Live and Great Days) -- Prine said he wrote this quickly in his car on the way to a club to play in 1970. The pain of graveyards, old pawn shops, and old love letters he hastily composed that night endures to this day.
"Onomatopoeia" (from Sweet Revenge) -- the title and great rhyme ("Onomatopoeia, I don't wanna see ya") is enough to sell this song, but the true joy is the scathing commentary on the music business that Prine, once hailed as "the new Bob Dylan" by those industry pundits, lays out.
"Sam Stone" (from John Prine) -- one of the most powerful songs ever written about veterans. This ranks right up there with Johnny Cash's "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" for emotional impact. This is an incredibly difficult song to listen to, but it should not be missed.
"Paradise" (from John Prine) -- the story of a town literally strip mined off the face of the earth. The main street in Drakesboro, Kentucky is named after Prine because of this song.
"Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" (from German Afternoons) -- the thing that separates Prine from Dylan and all those other "next Dylans" is the fact that he has a sense of humor and is not afraid to show it, and this hilarious tune proves it.
"Unwed Fathers" (from Aimless Love) -- dang, what a song. Prine teamed up with one of country music's greatest songwriters, Bobby Braddock (who wrote "He Stopped Loving Her Today"), for this exceptional song about the one-sided nature of pointing fingers when it comes to teenage pregnancy.
SONG: Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
ARTIST: John Prine
SONGWRITER: John Prine
ALBUM: Bruised Orange
YEAR/LABEL: 1978, Asylum
These songs are so depressing you're going to have to give out a razor blade with each record.
(Bruised Orange producer Steve Goodman)
Divorce has become so commonplace in American life and popular culture (especially country music) that it is easy to forget that it is frequently a traumatic experience for those going through the process. Thankfully, John Prine came along and jolted everyone back into reality regarding how painful getting a divorce can be for the parties involved. In 1977 Prine discovered this fact when his first marriage ended. In a funk, he did what a number of songwriters have done through the years: turned his pain into art. He then took his heartache into the studio with best friend Steve Goodman in the producer's chair and emerged with his masterpiece album, Bruised Orange.
The singular theme of Bruised Orange is unmistakable. Prine's grief pours out of nearly every song. He cites "an ill wind" that "blew your picture right out of the picture frame" in "Crooked Piece of Time" and says that during the divorce proceedings "the grudge wouldn't budge" in "There She Goes." Even when he attempts to put on a game face ("If You Don't Want My Love") and shrug off his divorce ("Well I thought she'd never leave" he claims early in "There She Goes") his emotions betray him. The songs that apparently have nothing to do with the theme still imply that Prine is not a happy man: Sabu is, after all, visiting the Twin Cities alone, and the hobo is "free to wander" again because there is no wife tying him down. The "father forgive us for what we must do" line in the superficially upbeat "Fish and Whistle" comes out sounding like a confessional plea about ignoring church prohibitions against divorce, and later in the song he makes "a big wish that we never have to do this again."
The centerpiece of the album is "Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)," a magnificent mixture of music and lyrics that serves as a somber reminder that divorce is, as Tammy Wynette once famously spelled, "Pure H-E-double-L." The song starts with Prine's simple strum of an electric guitar as he recounts an event from his youth: an altar boy, taking a shortcut on railroad tracks when walking to church one Sunday morning, was run down by a train.
As Prine moves to the chorus, where he tries to warn people (and remind himself -- he says, "So help me, I know" after doling out his advice) to not "get mad and get madder" because "a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter," an organ plays in the background as if performing at a funeral. It is quickly obvious that the funeral is not for the altar boy but Prine's marriage.
Prine tries to recall the love's happier moments during the second verse when he fell in love and "my head shouted down to my heart 'you'd better look out below.'" By the end of the verse, however, the short drop "from the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter" has happened. The love is gone, leaving only "those bruises to remind you wherever you go."
After the chorus and an increasing musical interlude (complete with a mournful steel guitar), Prine repeats the first verse, and this time it is apparent that Prine, not the altar boy, is the victim. Prine connects his heart, stuck "in the ice house," to the accident he witnessed as a teenager, indicating that he, too, was hit by a train he did not see coming: the divorce express.
The punch of the song does not end when Prine finishes singing. The song concludes with Jim Rothermel playing a saxophone solo as powerful as the lyrics because it reinforces everything Prine has said. Rothermel's performance is exquisite, perfect for the tone of the song. Rarely has an instrumental performance spoken so loudly. The saxophone sounds like a person wailing, painting a visual (especially with the background vocals as the song ends) that family and friends are filing past the casket as they pay their last respects to a love that once was.
John Prine's long career has been filled with exceptional music and very personal music. The two never melded so well together as in this song.
OTHER JOHN PRINE MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:
The entire Bruised Orange album -- no razor blades included, just some of the best music John Prine ever made. From start to finish, this album is a gem.
"Diamonds in the Rough" (from Diamonds in the Rough) -- proof that the human voice is the greatest instrument on earth is here in the Carter Family song performed a cappella so amazingly that producer Arif Mardin can be heard at the end over the studio speaking commenting, "Fantastic." Mardin's remark is an understatement.
"Souvenirs" (from Diamonds in the Rough; different versions on John Prine Live and Great Days) -- Prine said he wrote this quickly in his car on the way to a club to play in 1970. The pain of graveyards, old pawn shops, and old love letters he hastily composed that night endures to this day.
"Onomatopoeia" (from Sweet Revenge) -- the title and great rhyme ("Onomatopoeia, I don't wanna see ya") is enough to sell this song, but the true joy is the scathing commentary on the music business that Prine, once hailed as "the new Bob Dylan" by those industry pundits, lays out.
"Sam Stone" (from John Prine) -- one of the most powerful songs ever written about veterans. This ranks right up there with Johnny Cash's "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" for emotional impact. This is an incredibly difficult song to listen to, but it should not be missed.
"Paradise" (from John Prine) -- the story of a town literally strip mined off the face of the earth. The main street in Drakesboro, Kentucky is named after Prine because of this song.
"Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" (from German Afternoons) -- the thing that separates Prine from Dylan and all those other "next Dylans" is the fact that he has a sense of humor and is not afraid to show it, and this hilarious tune proves it.
"Unwed Fathers" (from Aimless Love) -- dang, what a song. Prine teamed up with one of country music's greatest songwriters, Bobby Braddock (who wrote "He Stopped Loving Her Today"), for this exceptional song about the one-sided nature of pointing fingers when it comes to teenage pregnancy.
Monday, January 19, 2009
From Dumbo to a Soulful Ballad
Category: 50 Songs to Hear
The rock list, alphabetically speaking, begins here.
SONG: Baby Mine
ARTIST: Bonnie Raitt and Was (Not Was)
SONGWRITERS: Ned Washington / Frank Churchill
ALBUM: Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Various Disney Films
YEAR/LABEL: 1990; A&M
I loved working with Don Was.
(Bonnie Raitt)
In 1990, A&M Records put together a diverse group of performers on an album of classic songs from Walt Disney films. The results were mixed. Some were good (Aaron Neville doing the theme to the Mickey Mouse Club) and some were bad (having Tom Waits do “Hi Ho, Hi Ho (Dwarfs’ Marching Song)” might sound like a good idea, but it came out very weak).
The rock list, alphabetically speaking, begins here.
SONG: Baby Mine
ARTIST: Bonnie Raitt and Was (Not Was)
SONGWRITERS: Ned Washington / Frank Churchill
ALBUM: Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Various Disney Films
YEAR/LABEL: 1990; A&M
I loved working with Don Was.
(Bonnie Raitt)
In 1990, A&M Records put together a diverse group of performers on an album of classic songs from Walt Disney films. The results were mixed. Some were good (Aaron Neville doing the theme to the Mickey Mouse Club) and some were bad (having Tom Waits do “Hi Ho, Hi Ho (Dwarfs’ Marching Song)” might sound like a good idea, but it came out very weak).
On this album Bonnie Raitt teamed for the first time with Don Was, the bass player/producer of the eclectic funk/fun group Was (Not Was), on “Baby Mine.” The song, originally from the movie Dumbo, was the best cut on the album and one of the classic performances in Raitt’s career. It also began a relationship with Was that would lead Raitt into the land of multi-platinum sales and Grammy awards.
The song, originally from the movie Dumbo, was the best cut on the album and one of the classic performances in Raitt’s career. Raitt put her heart and soul into the song while the sweet voices of Sir Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson provide beautiful backing vocals. It is gorgeous, soulful, and priceless.
Bonnie Raitt and Was (Not Was) would continue their relationship on Nick of Time, Luck of the Draw, Longing in Their Hearts, and Road Tested. The musical partnership netted seven Grammy awards. That award-winning partnership began right here with an exceptional song that needs to be found and heard. With a song this good, you envy Dumbo for his big ears!
OTHER BONNIE RAITT MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:
“Runaway” (from Sweet Forgiveness) – the Del Shannon classic is turned into a mournful blues tune complete with Norton Buffalo’s killer harmonica playing. This is classic Bonnie Raitt.
“Sweet Forgiveness” (from Sweet Forgiveness) – listening to this two-speed song only serves to make one wonder just why it took Bonnie so long to move from cult star to superstar.
“Angel From
“Love Has No Pride” (from Give It Up) – if the only version you know is Linda Ronstadt’s, treat yourself to Riatt’s knockout version.
OTHER WAS (NOT WAS) MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:
“(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks” (from Born to Laugh at Tornadoes) – this song became a running joke of sorts, appearing on every Was (Not Was) album in the 80s and 90s. This version is far and away the best.
“Smile” (from Born to Laugh at Tornadoes) – featuring the Knack’s Doug Fieger on lead vocals, the Was brothers turn out a great song combining funk and synth.
“Love Can Be Bad Luck” (from What Up, Dog) – soul singing is not out of style, thanks to the dual lead vocalists of Sir Harry Bowens and Sweet Pea Atkinson. This is a beautiful song, co-written with Marshall Crenshaw. (If that sounds like strange bedfellows, remember that both Was (Not Was) and Crenshaw are from
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I Am Not a Number, I Am a Free Man!
Category: Obituary
It is with tremendous sadness that I report the death of actor Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan died in Los Angeles on January 14 after a brief illness.
McGoohan was a talented actor with many roles to his credit. However, his legacy, without question, is The Prisoner. He created, produced, and even wrote and directed episodes of the 1960s ITC cult classic centered around an unnamed British agent who resigns from his job and is promptly whisked away to "The Village." Who he is (there were plenty of rumors that the character was John Drake, McGoohan's character in Danger Man -- also known as Secret Agent Man in the U.S.), who has abducted him, where he is, and why were all questions that he AND the audience tried to sort through for 16 delicious episodes. In the world of copycat programming, The Prisoner was, and still is, totally unique.
Number 6 is free at last. McGoohan was 80.
It is with tremendous sadness that I report the death of actor Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan died in Los Angeles on January 14 after a brief illness.
McGoohan was a talented actor with many roles to his credit. However, his legacy, without question, is The Prisoner. He created, produced, and even wrote and directed episodes of the 1960s ITC cult classic centered around an unnamed British agent who resigns from his job and is promptly whisked away to "The Village." Who he is (there were plenty of rumors that the character was John Drake, McGoohan's character in Danger Man -- also known as Secret Agent Man in the U.S.), who has abducted him, where he is, and why were all questions that he AND the audience tried to sort through for 16 delicious episodes. In the world of copycat programming, The Prisoner was, and still is, totally unique.
Number 6 is free at last. McGoohan was 80.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
An Addition to the Obits
Category: News/Obituary
Sadly, another verse must be added to the list of 2008 musical losses.
Delaney Bramlett, who co-wrote Eric Clapton's hit "Let It Rain" and had a hit on his own with then-wife Bonnie Bramlett with "Never-Ending Song of Love," died Saturday (December 27) from complications of gallbladder surgery.
"Never-Ending Song of Love" was credited to "Delaney and Bonnie and Friends" and reached the top 15 on the Billboard charts in 1971. Dicky Lee's cover in country made the top ten that year.
Bramlett was 69.
Sadly, another verse must be added to the list of 2008 musical losses.
Delaney Bramlett, who co-wrote Eric Clapton's hit "Let It Rain" and had a hit on his own with then-wife Bonnie Bramlett with "Never-Ending Song of Love," died Saturday (December 27) from complications of gallbladder surgery.
"Never-Ending Song of Love" was credited to "Delaney and Bonnie and Friends" and reached the top 15 on the Billboard charts in 1971. Dicky Lee's cover in country made the top ten that year.
Bramlett was 69.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Musical Farewells of 2008
Category: News/Obituary
The list of people who played their last notes in 2008:
Edie Adams (October 15, pneumonia and cancer, age 81). Tony award-winning singer and actress.
Rod Allen (January 10, liver cancer, age 63). The lead singer of the British band the Fortunes, who had the hit "You've Got Your Troubles" in 1966.
Joe Ames (December 22, 2007 - not announced until January 15, 2008, heart attack, age 86). The eldest of the singing Ames Brothers, the pop quartet of the 1950s.
Eddy Arnold (May 8, complications from a fall, age 89). Country music's #1 singles artist according to Billboard magazine, Arnold also had numerous pop hits. He was also the only artist to win the CMA "Entertainer of the Year" after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sally Arnold (March 11, Alzheimer's disease, age 87). The woman who inspired Eddy Arnold's love songs, his loving wife passed away two months before he did.
Neil Aspinall (March 24, lung cancer, age 66). The road manager for the Beatles.
Jimmy Carl Black (November 1, cancer, age 70). Drummer for Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention.
Bill Bolick (March 14, natural causes, age 90). The elder of country music's Bolick brothers who performed for decades as the Blue Sky Boys.
Lawrence Brown (April 6, respiratory ailment, age 63). An original member of the R&B group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.
Nappy Brown (September 20, illness, age 78). A 50s R&B singer with three charted hits, all of which made the top ten: "Don't Be Angry," "Little By Little," and "It Don't Hurt No More."
Ola Brunkert (March 15, accident [bled to death after falling through a glass door], age 61). The drummer for the pop band ABBA.
Hiram Bullock (July 25, throat cancer, age 52). The guitarist for David Letterman's "World's Most Dangerous Band" in Letterman's NBC days.
Jheryl Busby (November 4, natural causes, age 59). President of Motown Records during the 1990s.
George Butler (April 9, Alzheimer's disease, age 76). A record producer who worked with the likes of Shirley Bassey and Harry Connick, Jr.
Madame Marie Castello (June 27, unknown causes, said to be in her 90s). A fortune teller who gained international notoriety in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)": "The cops finally busted Madame Marie for telling fortunes better than they do."
Page Cavanaugh (December 19, kidney failure, age 86). The leader of the jazz group the Page Cavanaugh Trio, who appeared in several movies including Romance on the High Seas with Doris Day.
Jerry Cole (May 28, heart attack, age 68). Rockabilly Hall of Fame guitarist who played as part of the Champs on "Tequila."
Paul Cole (February 13, natural causes, age 96). An American man who just happened to be in the right place at the right time to become part of pop culture: he was walking along Abbey Road when the cover of the Beatles' album was shot.
Philip Costa (February 14, natural causes, age 91). A big band-era saxophonist who played with the likes of Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra.
Opal Courtney, Jr. (September 18, heart attack, age 71). A member of the band the Spaniels, famous for the song "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight."
Clifford Davies (April 13, suicide [gunshot], age 59). Former drummer for the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent.
Danny Davis (June 12, cardiac arrest, age 83). In the 40s he was a trumpet player for Gene Krupa. In the 50s, he produced records for Connie Francis. In the 60s, he moved to Nashville to continue producing. He also formed the Nashville Brass, winning a Grammy and six CMA Instrumental Group of the Year awards.
Paul Davis (April 22, heart attack, age 60). Pop songwriter and singer, best known for his 1977 hit "I Go Crazy." He also had two #1 country hits as duets.
Bo Diddley (June 2, heart failure, age 79). A founding father of rock and roll.
Danny Dill (October 16, unknown causes, age 84). Prolific country songwriter, his masterpiece was co-writing (with Marijohn Wilkin) Lefty Frizzell's 1959 hit "The Long Black Veil," which went on to be covered in rock (the Band), bluegrass (Bill Monroe), and everything else in between (the Chieftains and Mick Jagger).
Klaus Dinger (March 20, heart failure, age 60). Drummer for the German band Kraftwerk.
Bobby Durham (July 7, lung cancer, age 71). Jazz drummer who played with a number of the legends, including Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, and Duke Ellington.
Ray Ellis (October 31, melanoma, age 85). Pop music arranger who worked on such classics as "Splish Splash" and and "Chances Are."
Bob Enos (January 11, heart failure, age 60). The trumpet player in the band Roomful of Blues.
Danny Federici (April 17, melanoma, age 58). The original organist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Steve Foley (August 23, accidental prescription medication overdose, age 49). A session drummer who worked with, among others, the Replacements.
Chris Gaffney (April 17, liver cancer, 57). Songwriter for alt-rockers the Hacienda Brothers and Dave Alvin.
Mel Galley (July 1, cancer, age 60). Guitarist for Whitesnake.
Mort Garson (January 4, renal failure, age 83). A songwriter, best-known for "Our Day Will Come."
Gidget Gein (ne Bradley Stewart) (October 9, heroin overdose, age 39). Former bass player for Marilyn Manson.
Drew Glackin (January 10, thyroid problems, age 44). Member of the alt-rock band the Silos.
Alan Gordon (November 22, cancer, age 64). Songwriter of such hits as Three Dog Night's "Celebrate" and the Turtles' "Happy Together."
Davey Graham (December 15, seizure/cancer, age 64). A British folk guitarist, his work influenced no less than Jimmy Page.
Cherry Green (September 24, heart attack, age 65). Lead singer of the Wailers, the band that backed Bob Marley.
Earle Hagen (May 26, illness, age 88). Best known for writing "The Fishin' Hole," the theme song to The Andy Griffith Show.
Jim Hager (May 1, heart attack, age 66). Half of Hee Haw's Hager Twins.
Connie Haines (September 20, myasthenia gravis, age 87). Pop singer who worked with Frank Sinatra.
Buddy Harmon (August 21, congestive heart failure, age 79). "The most recorded drummer in Nashville" played for the biggest acts in country music. He was also the drummer for the Grand Ole Opry's staff band.
John Hart Sr. (April 11, heart failure, age 67). Original member of the R&B band the Trampps.
Isaac Hayes (August 10, heart attack, age 65). Innovative soul singer (he once released an album with only four songs on it, one of which was a 14-minute version of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"), he was best-known for being the bad mother-shut-yo-mouth who did the Oscar-winning theme to the movie Shaft.
Robert Hazard (August 5, cancer, age 59). Rock songwriter who penned Cyndi Lauper's breakthrough hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
Jeff Healey (March 1, cancer, age 41). Blues-rock guitarist best known for his cover of John Hiatt's song "Angel Eyes."
Neal Hefti (October 11, unknown causes, age 85). A former Count Basie trumpet player who is best remembered for performing the theme to Batman.
Don Helms (August 11, heart attack, age 81). The final member of Hank Williams' backing band, the Drifting Cowboys.
Pat Holley-Kaiter (September 25, unknown causes, age 78). The sister of Buddy Holly.
Steve Isham (December 9, cancer, age 56). Keyboardist for the 80s band Autograph and co-writer of their biggest hit, "Turn Up the Radio."
Leo Jackson (May 4, suicide [gunshot], age 73). Prolific country session guitarist who got his start playing as a member of Jim Reeves' Blue Boys.
Pervis Jackson (August 18, liver cancer, age 70). The bass singer for the R&B band the Spinners.
Hugh Jarrett (May 31, injuries from a car accident, age 78). Member of the Jordanaires.
George "Wydell" Jones (September 27, cancer, age 71). A member of the band the Edsels and writer of the song "Rama Lama Ding Dong."
Hal Kant (October 19, pancreatic cancer, age 77). Lawyer for the band the Grateful Dead.
Eartha Kitt (December 25, cancer, age 81). A singer -- and then some.
Sean Levert (March 30, complications of sarcoidosis, age 39). An R&B singer on his own, he was also the son of O'Jays Eddie Levert.
Larry Levine (May 8, emphysema, age 80). A record engineer, he worked on the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and won a Grammy for his work on Herb Alpert & the Tiajuana Brass' hit "A Taste of Honey."
Bobby Lord (February 16, illness, age 74). Country singer from the 1950s and 60s, his biggest hit was "Without Your Love."
Robert Lucas (November 23, drug overdose, age 46). Replacement singer for the band Canned Heat.
Teo Macero (February 19, illness, age 82). A jazz producer best known for his work with Miles Davis.
Kenny MacLean (November 24, drug overdose, age 52). Bass player for the band Platinum Blonde.
Buddy Miles (February 26, congestive heart failure, age 60). Drummer in Jimi Hendrix' Band of Gypsies band.
Mitch Mitchell (November 12, natural causes, age 61). British drummer best known as a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
LeRoi Moore (August 19, complications from ATV accident, age 47). Co-founder of the Dave Matthews Band and the group's saxophone player.
Gilbert Moore Jr. (August 31, throat cancer, age 67). Member of the band the Esquires, who did "Get On Up."
Frank Navetta (October 31, illness, age unknown). Guitarist and co-founder of the punk band the Descendents.
Ken Nelson (January 6, natural causes, age 96). One-time A&R man at Capitol, he became one of country music's most prolific and influential record producers, working with nearly everyone on the Capitol Records country roster.
Larry Norman (February 24, heart failure, age 60). Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame member, considered by many to be the father of the "Christian rock" genre.
Odetta (nee Odetta Holmes) (December 2, heart disease, age 77). "The Queen of American Folk Music" who influenced numerous folk singers from Dylan to Baez.
Clyde Otis (January 8, unknown causes, age 83). Songwriter who penned "Endlessly" and "Broken Hearted Melody."
Ray Overholt (September 23, heart failure, age 84). Gospel songwriter who wrote the classic "Ten Thousand Angels."
Earl Palmer (September 19, illness, age 84). A session drummer who performed on such classics as the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Tutti Fruiti."
Dottie Rambo (May 11, bus crash, age 74). Gospel Music Hall of Fame singer/songwriter, considered by many to be the queen of the genre.
Jerry Reed (September 1, emphysema, age 71). Acclaimed country singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor who appeared in the Smoky & the Bandit films.
Jack Reno (November 1, brain cancer, age 72). Country singer with a dozen hits over a seven-year career, the biggest being "Repeat After Me."
Jody Reynolds (November 7, liver cancer, age 75). The singer of the hit "Endless Sleep."
Nick Reynolds (October 1, respiratory disease, age 75). Founding member of the Kingston Trio.
John Rutsey (May 11, heart attack, age 55). Co-founder and original drummer for the Canadian rock band Rush.
Charlie Ryan (February 16, heart disease, age 92). The writer of the classic "Hot Rod Lincoln."
Merl Saunders (October 24, stroke, age 74). Keyboard player for the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band.
Mike Smith (February 27, pneumonia, age 64). Lead singer for 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Dave Clark Five.
Norman "Hurricane" Smith (March 3, natural causes, age 85). A recording engineer who worked with Pink Floyd and on the Beatles' Rubber Soul.
Tony Snow (July 12, colon cancer, age 53). The former White House press secretary and Fox News anchor was also a member of the rock band Beats Workin'.
Jo Stafford (July 16, congestive heart failure, age 90). One of the greatest pop singers of her generation -- or any other.
John Stewart (January 17, stroke, age 68). A member of the Kingston Trio in the 1960s, he also found success as a songwriter ("Daydream Believer") and singer ("Gold").
Levi Stubbs (October 17, stroke and cancer, age 72). The lead singer of the Four Tops, he also provided the voice for Audrey II in the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors.
Captain Tony Tarracino (November 1, heart and lung diseases, age 92). A legend in Key West, the subject of Jimmy Buffett's song "Last Mango in Paris."
Studs Terkel (October 31, complications from a fall, age 96). Among his many talents, he was one of the greatest authorities on the diverse Chicago music scene and host of a long-running Chicago radio program showcasing that music.
Ira Tucker (June 24, heart failure, age 83). A singer in the legendary gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds.
Phil Urso (April 14, illness, age 82). Prolific jazz saxophone player as a solo artist and with Chet Baker, who called him "the most underrated of America's jazz players and composers."
Charlie Walker (September 12, colon cancer, age 81). Texas honky tonk country singer with a string of hits starting with "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down."
Jerry Wallace (May 5, congestive heart failure, age 79). A singer with a two-stage career: 60s pop singer ("In the Misty Moonlight," "Primrose Lane") and 70s country singer ("If You Leave Me Tonight, I'll Cry").
Ruth Wallis (December 22, 2007 -- not announced until January 8, 2008, Alzheimer's disease, age 87). A singer of risque songs in the 1940s and 50s ("Queer Things," "The Dinghy Song") that, unlike Rusty Warren's, are still risque. The play Boobs! The World According to Ruth Wallis was based on her music.
Dee Dee Warwick (October 18, illness, age 63). The sister of Dionne Warwick who performed the first hit version of the song "You're No Good."
Jerry Wexler (August 15, congestive heart failure, age 91). Atlantic Records' legendary record producer.
Norman Whitfield (September 16, complications from diabetes, age 67). Motown songwriter who penned such hits as "War" and "Ball of Confusion."
Al Wilson (April 21, kidney failure, age 68). R&B singer who had a #1 pop hit in 1973 with "Show and Tell."
Richard Wright (September 15, cancer, age 65). Keyboard player for Pink Floyd.
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (September 7, heart failure, age 69). A piano player who worked on numerous Motown sessions (including "Shop Around" and "Please Mr. Postman") as well as his own recordings.
Dennis Yost (December 7, respiratory failure, age 65). The lead singer of the band the Classics IV.
Farewell, and thanks for the music.
The list of people who played their last notes in 2008:
Edie Adams (October 15, pneumonia and cancer, age 81). Tony award-winning singer and actress.
Rod Allen (January 10, liver cancer, age 63). The lead singer of the British band the Fortunes, who had the hit "You've Got Your Troubles" in 1966.
Joe Ames (December 22, 2007 - not announced until January 15, 2008, heart attack, age 86). The eldest of the singing Ames Brothers, the pop quartet of the 1950s.
Eddy Arnold (May 8, complications from a fall, age 89). Country music's #1 singles artist according to Billboard magazine, Arnold also had numerous pop hits. He was also the only artist to win the CMA "Entertainer of the Year" after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sally Arnold (March 11, Alzheimer's disease, age 87). The woman who inspired Eddy Arnold's love songs, his loving wife passed away two months before he did.
Neil Aspinall (March 24, lung cancer, age 66). The road manager for the Beatles.
Jimmy Carl Black (November 1, cancer, age 70). Drummer for Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention.
Bill Bolick (March 14, natural causes, age 90). The elder of country music's Bolick brothers who performed for decades as the Blue Sky Boys.
Lawrence Brown (April 6, respiratory ailment, age 63). An original member of the R&B group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.
Nappy Brown (September 20, illness, age 78). A 50s R&B singer with three charted hits, all of which made the top ten: "Don't Be Angry," "Little By Little," and "It Don't Hurt No More."
Ola Brunkert (March 15, accident [bled to death after falling through a glass door], age 61). The drummer for the pop band ABBA.
Hiram Bullock (July 25, throat cancer, age 52). The guitarist for David Letterman's "World's Most Dangerous Band" in Letterman's NBC days.
Jheryl Busby (November 4, natural causes, age 59). President of Motown Records during the 1990s.
George Butler (April 9, Alzheimer's disease, age 76). A record producer who worked with the likes of Shirley Bassey and Harry Connick, Jr.
Madame Marie Castello (June 27, unknown causes, said to be in her 90s). A fortune teller who gained international notoriety in the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)": "The cops finally busted Madame Marie for telling fortunes better than they do."
Page Cavanaugh (December 19, kidney failure, age 86). The leader of the jazz group the Page Cavanaugh Trio, who appeared in several movies including Romance on the High Seas with Doris Day.
Jerry Cole (May 28, heart attack, age 68). Rockabilly Hall of Fame guitarist who played as part of the Champs on "Tequila."
Paul Cole (February 13, natural causes, age 96). An American man who just happened to be in the right place at the right time to become part of pop culture: he was walking along Abbey Road when the cover of the Beatles' album was shot.
Philip Costa (February 14, natural causes, age 91). A big band-era saxophonist who played with the likes of Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra.
Opal Courtney, Jr. (September 18, heart attack, age 71). A member of the band the Spaniels, famous for the song "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight."
Clifford Davies (April 13, suicide [gunshot], age 59). Former drummer for the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent.
Danny Davis (June 12, cardiac arrest, age 83). In the 40s he was a trumpet player for Gene Krupa. In the 50s, he produced records for Connie Francis. In the 60s, he moved to Nashville to continue producing. He also formed the Nashville Brass, winning a Grammy and six CMA Instrumental Group of the Year awards.
Paul Davis (April 22, heart attack, age 60). Pop songwriter and singer, best known for his 1977 hit "I Go Crazy." He also had two #1 country hits as duets.
Bo Diddley (June 2, heart failure, age 79). A founding father of rock and roll.
Danny Dill (October 16, unknown causes, age 84). Prolific country songwriter, his masterpiece was co-writing (with Marijohn Wilkin) Lefty Frizzell's 1959 hit "The Long Black Veil," which went on to be covered in rock (the Band), bluegrass (Bill Monroe), and everything else in between (the Chieftains and Mick Jagger).
Klaus Dinger (March 20, heart failure, age 60). Drummer for the German band Kraftwerk.
Bobby Durham (July 7, lung cancer, age 71). Jazz drummer who played with a number of the legends, including Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, and Duke Ellington.
Ray Ellis (October 31, melanoma, age 85). Pop music arranger who worked on such classics as "Splish Splash" and and "Chances Are."
Bob Enos (January 11, heart failure, age 60). The trumpet player in the band Roomful of Blues.
Danny Federici (April 17, melanoma, age 58). The original organist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Steve Foley (August 23, accidental prescription medication overdose, age 49). A session drummer who worked with, among others, the Replacements.
Chris Gaffney (April 17, liver cancer, 57). Songwriter for alt-rockers the Hacienda Brothers and Dave Alvin.
Mel Galley (July 1, cancer, age 60). Guitarist for Whitesnake.
Mort Garson (January 4, renal failure, age 83). A songwriter, best-known for "Our Day Will Come."
Gidget Gein (ne Bradley Stewart) (October 9, heroin overdose, age 39). Former bass player for Marilyn Manson.
Drew Glackin (January 10, thyroid problems, age 44). Member of the alt-rock band the Silos.
Alan Gordon (November 22, cancer, age 64). Songwriter of such hits as Three Dog Night's "Celebrate" and the Turtles' "Happy Together."
Davey Graham (December 15, seizure/cancer, age 64). A British folk guitarist, his work influenced no less than Jimmy Page.
Cherry Green (September 24, heart attack, age 65). Lead singer of the Wailers, the band that backed Bob Marley.
Earle Hagen (May 26, illness, age 88). Best known for writing "The Fishin' Hole," the theme song to The Andy Griffith Show.
Jim Hager (May 1, heart attack, age 66). Half of Hee Haw's Hager Twins.
Connie Haines (September 20, myasthenia gravis, age 87). Pop singer who worked with Frank Sinatra.
Buddy Harmon (August 21, congestive heart failure, age 79). "The most recorded drummer in Nashville" played for the biggest acts in country music. He was also the drummer for the Grand Ole Opry's staff band.
John Hart Sr. (April 11, heart failure, age 67). Original member of the R&B band the Trampps.
Isaac Hayes (August 10, heart attack, age 65). Innovative soul singer (he once released an album with only four songs on it, one of which was a 14-minute version of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"), he was best-known for being the bad mother-shut-yo-mouth who did the Oscar-winning theme to the movie Shaft.
Robert Hazard (August 5, cancer, age 59). Rock songwriter who penned Cyndi Lauper's breakthrough hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
Jeff Healey (March 1, cancer, age 41). Blues-rock guitarist best known for his cover of John Hiatt's song "Angel Eyes."
Neal Hefti (October 11, unknown causes, age 85). A former Count Basie trumpet player who is best remembered for performing the theme to Batman.
Don Helms (August 11, heart attack, age 81). The final member of Hank Williams' backing band, the Drifting Cowboys.
Pat Holley-Kaiter (September 25, unknown causes, age 78). The sister of Buddy Holly.
Steve Isham (December 9, cancer, age 56). Keyboardist for the 80s band Autograph and co-writer of their biggest hit, "Turn Up the Radio."
Leo Jackson (May 4, suicide [gunshot], age 73). Prolific country session guitarist who got his start playing as a member of Jim Reeves' Blue Boys.
Pervis Jackson (August 18, liver cancer, age 70). The bass singer for the R&B band the Spinners.
Hugh Jarrett (May 31, injuries from a car accident, age 78). Member of the Jordanaires.
George "Wydell" Jones (September 27, cancer, age 71). A member of the band the Edsels and writer of the song "Rama Lama Ding Dong."
Hal Kant (October 19, pancreatic cancer, age 77). Lawyer for the band the Grateful Dead.
Eartha Kitt (December 25, cancer, age 81). A singer -- and then some.
Sean Levert (March 30, complications of sarcoidosis, age 39). An R&B singer on his own, he was also the son of O'Jays Eddie Levert.
Larry Levine (May 8, emphysema, age 80). A record engineer, he worked on the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and won a Grammy for his work on Herb Alpert & the Tiajuana Brass' hit "A Taste of Honey."
Bobby Lord (February 16, illness, age 74). Country singer from the 1950s and 60s, his biggest hit was "Without Your Love."
Robert Lucas (November 23, drug overdose, age 46). Replacement singer for the band Canned Heat.
Teo Macero (February 19, illness, age 82). A jazz producer best known for his work with Miles Davis.
Kenny MacLean (November 24, drug overdose, age 52). Bass player for the band Platinum Blonde.
Buddy Miles (February 26, congestive heart failure, age 60). Drummer in Jimi Hendrix' Band of Gypsies band.
Mitch Mitchell (November 12, natural causes, age 61). British drummer best known as a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
LeRoi Moore (August 19, complications from ATV accident, age 47). Co-founder of the Dave Matthews Band and the group's saxophone player.
Gilbert Moore Jr. (August 31, throat cancer, age 67). Member of the band the Esquires, who did "Get On Up."
Frank Navetta (October 31, illness, age unknown). Guitarist and co-founder of the punk band the Descendents.
Ken Nelson (January 6, natural causes, age 96). One-time A&R man at Capitol, he became one of country music's most prolific and influential record producers, working with nearly everyone on the Capitol Records country roster.
Larry Norman (February 24, heart failure, age 60). Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame member, considered by many to be the father of the "Christian rock" genre.
Odetta (nee Odetta Holmes) (December 2, heart disease, age 77). "The Queen of American Folk Music" who influenced numerous folk singers from Dylan to Baez.
Clyde Otis (January 8, unknown causes, age 83). Songwriter who penned "Endlessly" and "Broken Hearted Melody."
Ray Overholt (September 23, heart failure, age 84). Gospel songwriter who wrote the classic "Ten Thousand Angels."
Earl Palmer (September 19, illness, age 84). A session drummer who performed on such classics as the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Tutti Fruiti."
Dottie Rambo (May 11, bus crash, age 74). Gospel Music Hall of Fame singer/songwriter, considered by many to be the queen of the genre.
Jerry Reed (September 1, emphysema, age 71). Acclaimed country singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor who appeared in the Smoky & the Bandit films.
Jack Reno (November 1, brain cancer, age 72). Country singer with a dozen hits over a seven-year career, the biggest being "Repeat After Me."
Jody Reynolds (November 7, liver cancer, age 75). The singer of the hit "Endless Sleep."
Nick Reynolds (October 1, respiratory disease, age 75). Founding member of the Kingston Trio.
John Rutsey (May 11, heart attack, age 55). Co-founder and original drummer for the Canadian rock band Rush.
Charlie Ryan (February 16, heart disease, age 92). The writer of the classic "Hot Rod Lincoln."
Merl Saunders (October 24, stroke, age 74). Keyboard player for the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band.
Mike Smith (February 27, pneumonia, age 64). Lead singer for 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Dave Clark Five.
Norman "Hurricane" Smith (March 3, natural causes, age 85). A recording engineer who worked with Pink Floyd and on the Beatles' Rubber Soul.
Tony Snow (July 12, colon cancer, age 53). The former White House press secretary and Fox News anchor was also a member of the rock band Beats Workin'.
Jo Stafford (July 16, congestive heart failure, age 90). One of the greatest pop singers of her generation -- or any other.
John Stewart (January 17, stroke, age 68). A member of the Kingston Trio in the 1960s, he also found success as a songwriter ("Daydream Believer") and singer ("Gold").
Levi Stubbs (October 17, stroke and cancer, age 72). The lead singer of the Four Tops, he also provided the voice for Audrey II in the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors.
Captain Tony Tarracino (November 1, heart and lung diseases, age 92). A legend in Key West, the subject of Jimmy Buffett's song "Last Mango in Paris."
Studs Terkel (October 31, complications from a fall, age 96). Among his many talents, he was one of the greatest authorities on the diverse Chicago music scene and host of a long-running Chicago radio program showcasing that music.
Ira Tucker (June 24, heart failure, age 83). A singer in the legendary gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds.
Phil Urso (April 14, illness, age 82). Prolific jazz saxophone player as a solo artist and with Chet Baker, who called him "the most underrated of America's jazz players and composers."
Charlie Walker (September 12, colon cancer, age 81). Texas honky tonk country singer with a string of hits starting with "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down."
Jerry Wallace (May 5, congestive heart failure, age 79). A singer with a two-stage career: 60s pop singer ("In the Misty Moonlight," "Primrose Lane") and 70s country singer ("If You Leave Me Tonight, I'll Cry").
Ruth Wallis (December 22, 2007 -- not announced until January 8, 2008, Alzheimer's disease, age 87). A singer of risque songs in the 1940s and 50s ("Queer Things," "The Dinghy Song") that, unlike Rusty Warren's, are still risque. The play Boobs! The World According to Ruth Wallis was based on her music.
Dee Dee Warwick (October 18, illness, age 63). The sister of Dionne Warwick who performed the first hit version of the song "You're No Good."
Jerry Wexler (August 15, congestive heart failure, age 91). Atlantic Records' legendary record producer.
Norman Whitfield (September 16, complications from diabetes, age 67). Motown songwriter who penned such hits as "War" and "Ball of Confusion."
Al Wilson (April 21, kidney failure, age 68). R&B singer who had a #1 pop hit in 1973 with "Show and Tell."
Richard Wright (September 15, cancer, age 65). Keyboard player for Pink Floyd.
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (September 7, heart failure, age 69). A piano player who worked on numerous Motown sessions (including "Shop Around" and "Please Mr. Postman") as well as his own recordings.
Dennis Yost (December 7, respiratory failure, age 65). The lead singer of the band the Classics IV.
Farewell, and thanks for the music.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Attention Deficit Video
Category: Review/Rant
Tis the season for PBS fund raising, fa la la la la. The local PBS stations like to do that with wall-to-wall music on Saturday night. That doesn't necessarily pull my money in, but it does get my attention.
This past Saturday featured some great concerts by Victor Borge (without question one of the funniest things I've ever seen), Elvis Presley's gospel roots, and a 1977 concert by the Who that was filmed for the documentary The Kids Are All Right.
There was one other show, and it was an absolute pain to watch. It was a Steve Miller Band concert filmed in Chicago. No, it was not painful because of Miller's sometimes horrid songs ("Abra, abracadabra, I wanna reach out and slap ya"). What made this concert so impossible to watch was the nonstop switching of camera shots. In all seriousness, there was no shot on any member of the band for any longer than five seconds. Meanwhile, for every five seconds of band shot(s), there was about 15 seconds of audience.
There's something bad to be said about editors who think people want to have their eyes spinning around with this nonstop scene changing. Concert videos shouldn't be chop cut the way an MTV (sorry, VH-1...I forgot, MTV doesn't play videos anymore) video is. I tuned in because I wanted to see Steve Miller, not a five-second close-up of Norton Buffalo's hand followed by half a minute of audience footage singing along with "The Joker."
Austin City Limits (now if PBS wants me to donate, they can show THAT all Saturday night, along with old episodes of Soundstage) had audience shots, but I always dismissed those as a way of showing the viewer that they were editing something out of the show. ACL was great at showing the performer, and NOT at a ratio of three seconds to every ten of the audience. They also kept the camera on the performer instead of bouncing between angles as if they were following a tennis ball.
Perhaps people making concert videos need to watch the grandfather of concert videos, Stop Making Sense. That movie is all about Talking Heads, and that's the way a concert video/movie should be. It's not about the audience, and it's not about "how many camera angles can I present in ten seconds." It's about a band and their music, period.
I would like to see a Steve Miller performance (for some reason I liked him when I was a teenager, and he was part of the very first rock concert I ever attended [with the Eagles and Eddie Money]) presented as if the editor/director were interested in the artist instead of seemingly trying to present an attention deficit mentality.
Tis the season for PBS fund raising, fa la la la la. The local PBS stations like to do that with wall-to-wall music on Saturday night. That doesn't necessarily pull my money in, but it does get my attention.
This past Saturday featured some great concerts by Victor Borge (without question one of the funniest things I've ever seen), Elvis Presley's gospel roots, and a 1977 concert by the Who that was filmed for the documentary The Kids Are All Right.
There was one other show, and it was an absolute pain to watch. It was a Steve Miller Band concert filmed in Chicago. No, it was not painful because of Miller's sometimes horrid songs ("Abra, abracadabra, I wanna reach out and slap ya"). What made this concert so impossible to watch was the nonstop switching of camera shots. In all seriousness, there was no shot on any member of the band for any longer than five seconds. Meanwhile, for every five seconds of band shot(s), there was about 15 seconds of audience.
There's something bad to be said about editors who think people want to have their eyes spinning around with this nonstop scene changing. Concert videos shouldn't be chop cut the way an MTV (sorry, VH-1...I forgot, MTV doesn't play videos anymore) video is. I tuned in because I wanted to see Steve Miller, not a five-second close-up of Norton Buffalo's hand followed by half a minute of audience footage singing along with "The Joker."
Austin City Limits (now if PBS wants me to donate, they can show THAT all Saturday night, along with old episodes of Soundstage) had audience shots, but I always dismissed those as a way of showing the viewer that they were editing something out of the show. ACL was great at showing the performer, and NOT at a ratio of three seconds to every ten of the audience. They also kept the camera on the performer instead of bouncing between angles as if they were following a tennis ball.
Perhaps people making concert videos need to watch the grandfather of concert videos, Stop Making Sense. That movie is all about Talking Heads, and that's the way a concert video/movie should be. It's not about the audience, and it's not about "how many camera angles can I present in ten seconds." It's about a band and their music, period.
I would like to see a Steve Miller performance (for some reason I liked him when I was a teenager, and he was part of the very first rock concert I ever attended [with the Eagles and Eddie Money]) presented as if the editor/director were interested in the artist instead of seemingly trying to present an attention deficit mentality.
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