Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob, the AC/DC stuff has long ago been turned into BTU.

I bought one of my Gretsches from a guy in an SF area "AC/DC Tribute band". I ran out the door with pit bulls tearing at my heels, then attacking the burger grease spot on my left front tire. New meaning to the word "shred". Anyway, the price was right... I had to sterilize it before restringing it.

Aitch, everytime I log off eBay having resisted the impulse to buy another gitt, I cross myself and say, "Bless me, Father, for I have not BIN'd".

I'm gonna start an SCTV Tribute Band...

Mentioning Beta makes me glance around the room and wonder how much of this indispensable modern **** will soon be made obsolete...I've got three computers sitting out in my garage because I can't afford to pay to have them 'recycled'...

The epistle according to St. Curmudge.

Four dinosaurs. I have probably 50 beta tapes of SNL, Crime Story and others. But no beta deck. One of these days I grab one from Ebay. Maybe.

I still have my Sanyo Beta recorder which still works (I think). Beta was definitely technically superior to VHS.

Ain't "progress" wonderful?

Back to the original subject... did 'Melanie' write songs? If she did, she sure as heck couldn't sing 'em. (IMO)

I found a wonderful childlike joy in Melanie's version of "Brand New Roller Skates." The child couldn't sing, however.

Dave: You have struck at the heart of the matter in your Brand New Roller Skates comment.

There are many songs that are embraced by music lovers that don't stand on their own with regard to perhaps the melody, lyrics or voice and yet overall have an idea or concept expressed that transcends these shortcomings. This. at least to my way of thinking, explains how a good number songs rise to the top of the charts that some find almost intolerable.

I would argue that it is the idea of the song or the overall gestalt that is important. This is what makes music such a subjective experience. When you think of it, it is really amazing that so many of us with varying tastes and backgrounds can agree on having the same strong musical preference. A fascinating subject for me.

But we strike out on Sir Paul, sadly.

I did read his interview and cover story in this month's "Bass Player". But, my old cynical mind insists that there were many layers of handlers, press agents, and editors beavering away to fine-tune his image, so to me the interview was, like much of his music:

"bit o' fluff".

Read the Rolling Stone Interview. It's better.

Today at my local library book sale, I bought a copy of "Blackbird Singing", which I'd heard of, but never seen in the paper.

From the Foreword of this book:

"When I was a teenager, for some reason I had an overwhelming desire to have a poem published in the school magazine. I wrote something deep and meaningful--which was promptly rejected--and I suppose I have been trying to get my own back ever since."

"...For some reason..."? That is as deep as a 59-year-old man is willing to go for himself or in a public light?

Anyway, he's "got his own back" many times since, in every way possible, but he doesn't know it.

Thanks Dave, I'm gonna read that interview later tonight, but gotta work just now...

I imagine I'll have a lot of people disagreeing with me but I cannot stand Robert Plant's voice. He has lots of power and good range but he has one of those unique voices, like so many other artists that have already been cited above, that you immediately either love or hate. Makes me recall Peter's comment about music being so subjective. Plant's voice, to me, is like fingernails on a chalkboard. It always seemed that he was trying too hard to "sound sexy" or something like that. But I've always liked the ruff, gruff out of tune voices-Bob Dylan, Shane McGowan, Neil Young. I even like Leonard Cohen's voice despite myself.

We used to joke. my friend Jim Golden and I, thus:

"Plant has an average voice, and a great microphone."

Agreed...love the vocals Neil Young and Bob Dylan and Shane McGowan...even Leonard Cohen...and I also don't like Robert Plant's vocals...actually, I REALLY can't stand Janis Joplin's voice...yet I love Kate Bush's voice, and it seems most people don't.