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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

925.0. "Guitar Speak: the album" by RICKS::CALCAGNI () Tue Oct 18 1988 13:21

    In addition to a lot of interesting amp information, this month's
    Guitar Player has an article on an album project called "Guitar
    Speak".  Check this out!  Miles Copeland, chairman of IRS records
    (and also fondly remebered as Sting's "loveable" tour manager in
    the movie "Bring On the Night"), commissioned some well known rock
    guitarists to do some instrumental tracks.  In his own words,
    "Forget everything all these record companies have been telling
    you - that you have to have a hit single, have a fancy hairdo, do
    all the bullshit. You don't have to worry about anything - just
    impress me".  Each guitarist contributed a single track, was allowed
    to hand pick his own band, and given total artistic freedom and control.
    Here's a list of the artists: Leslie West, Ronnie Montrose, Eric
    Johnson, Alvin Lee, Randy California, Steve Howe, Phil Manzanera,
    Rick Derringer, Pete Haycock (Cilmax Blues Band), Steve Hunter,
    Hank Marvin, Robbie Krieger.  Guitar Speak volumes 2 and 3 are 
    already being planned, with mostly different artists, and a "Metal
    Speak" album is also in the works.  Yowzaa!
    
    If anyone else sees this in the record stores first, let me know.
    
    /rick
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925.1Also on TVCSC32::G_HOUSEThe Freak Phone - DTN 522-4715Tue Oct 18 1988 20:447
    I saw a special on TV featuring Miles, describing this project and
    with interviews of some of the artists involved.  It was about a
    month ago and I believe it was on MTV, IRSs The Cutting Edge program.
    
    I could be wrong on the channel, but the program was very interesting.
    
    Greg
925.2oh wellRICKS::CALCAGNIFri Nov 04 1988 13:2824
    Well, I've been listening to Guitarspeak for about two weeks now
    and its generally a disappointment.  Evidently an atmosphere of "total
    artistic freedom" is not what these guys thrive on.  I was particularly
    looking forward to the cuts by Alvin Lee, Randy California, and Leslie
    West; these are players who forged distinctive voices on guitar earlier
    in their careers.  The stuff they do on Guitarspeak is virtually
    indistinguishable from the mediocre guitar dreck you can hear in your
    average pop-metal band.  It's even hard to tell them apart.  Maybe it
    would help if they threw away half the junk in their effects racks and
    got back to playing.  Some of the other cuts are a little better. 
    Ronnie Montrose's offering could have come right off Joe Satriani's
    latest album (I mean that as a compliment); Ronnie is one of the few
    players around who can really use the technology available today and do
    something worthwhile with it.  Hank Marvin's entry was also a tasty surprise. 

    There are other interesting moments here and there, and the album
    is chock full of lovely state-of-the-art guitar tones, but if I had
    to sum the whole thing up in one word, it would be BLAND.

    Caveat emptor, your mileage may vary
    
    /rick    
    
    
925.3STRATA::WCLARKI need a dump truck to unload my headFri Nov 04 1988 15:574
    I agree with Rick about Montrose. Can anybody recommend anything
    else by him?
    
    -Dave
925.4Legends Tarnish Their ImagesAQUA::ROSTYou've got to stop your pleadingFri Nov 04 1988 16:2612
    
    Re: .2
    
    Well, you shouldn't be *too* surprised considering that Alvin, Leslie
    and Randy have all had little to say once their original bands went
    belly-up back in the early seventies.
    
    As for effects, I gotta agree.  I'm sick of overly processed
    instrumental sounds.  Gimme some John Lee Hooker or Muddy Waters
    over some guy with a rack system any day of the week...
    
    
925.5Not so great but the right idea anywayDREGS::BLICKSTEINYo!Fri Nov 04 1988 17:026
    I liked the Eric Johnson cut (not surprisingly), but the rest of
    it didn't make much of an impression on me after about 5 listens.
    
    Steve Howe's seems extremely self-indulging on several counts.
    
    	db
925.6no pityRICKS::CALCAGNIFri Nov 04 1988 17:256
    Ronnie Montrose has a recent album out, Speed of Sound (I think).
    After hearing him here, I'm tempted to check it out.  I remember
    Ronnie doing a killer instrumental version of "Town Without Pity"
    way back when; it still gets occasional airplay.
    
    /rick
925.7Montrose live....HAZEL::STARRLike a fool, fell in love with you...Fri Nov 04 1988 18:0221
>                                                         I remember
>    Ronnie doing a killer instrumental version of "Town Without Pity"
>    way back when; it still gets occasional airplay.

I remember that I was looking for this record for *years*. I finally found
it about 6 months ago! What a great version of that song!

I also saw Ronnie Montrose about 2 months ago at the Channel - it was
on a Tuesday night, and the place was empty (maybe 200 people). But
the show was great! He did "Town Without Pity" and "Telstar" (a remake
of the old hit that was on his last album), and some old Montrose
material. 

The show was all instrumental. The band consisted of three guitarists, a 
bass player and a drummer, all of whom were outstanding. During most of
the leads, one or both of the other guitarists would play harmony to 
Ronnie's lead - it was amazing to hear!

If you got a chance to see him - do it! You won't be disappointed!

Alan S.
925.8I like Ronnie's version of TWP a lot.MAY26::DIORIOFri Nov 04 1988 18:033
    What album is Town Without Pity on?
    
    MD
925.9OPEN FIRE!FTMUDG::HENDERSONTue Nov 08 1988 20:235
    	I believe that Town Without Pity is on the Open Fire album
    released in the mid 70's.
    
    DonH
    
925.10waiting!!!!!VIDEO::BUSENBARKWed Nov 09 1988 11:337
    RE .5
    
    	Hey db,isn't Eric Johnson suppose to have a second solo album
    out soon? 
    
    							Rick
    				(whose "Tones" tape is wearing out)
925.11yow!DEMING::CLARKI need a dump truck to unload my headWed Nov 09 1988 12:568
    So, I bought this new Montrose album. I remember hearing Town
    Without Pity and thinking it was a great rendition of a really
    sickening song, but that was the only thing I'd ever heard by 
    this guy. I am IMPRESSED by the playing on this new album. Lots
    of classic screaming guitar without sounding like a fingertap
    machine. Check it out. Any others you'd recommend?
    
    -Dave
925.12RICKS::CALCAGNIWed Nov 09 1988 13:338
    beware.  Ronnie Montrose has a number of albums out, not all of
    which are in the same vein as the latest one.  For instance, 
    he had a band with Sammy Hagar that was more straight ahead
    rocker oriented; not to say that stuff is bad, just different.
    In a GP interview, Ronnie said this latest album was the first
    one that really came out the way he wanted.    

    /rick
925.13LIVE....TRUCKS::JANSEN_JTue Nov 29 1988 11:1427
    For those of you that are interested Miles actually put together
    a tour of the UK featuring Pete Haycock,Steve Hunter,Randy
    California,Ted Turner and Andy Powell,Leslie West,Steve Howe,Alvin
    Lee and Robbie Krieger...I went to the gig at Hammersmith which
    was the last date of the tour.
    
    The highspot of the evening was the Wishbone Ash duo who were superb
    and I shall be keeping an eye open for any future dates of the band.
    Pete Haycock was superb,rather Jazzy and not too disimilar from
    early Larry Carlton.
    Leslie West was a noise,Steve Howe dissapointing,Randy California
    entertaining but not offering any of his earlier guitar skills(when
    I spoke to him after the show he was "totally out of it",which possibly
    explains things,Robbie Krieger suprisingly good,Steve Hunter
    interesting and Alvin Lee made me wonder why he has kept such a
    low profile for so long...he was excellent.
    
    The concert was video'd by Granada television.
    
    As for Ronnie Montrose ...I don't know much about his recent work
    but he did play on the Edgar Winter Group's "They only come out
    ay night" after which he left and formed Montrose who produced an
    album called "Montrose","Warner Bros presents Montrose" and a  few
    other albums the titles of which escape me for the moment...
    
    Regards
    Jeff Jansen  P&T  @ F1/10 SBP UK 
925.14Sly and Robbie?RICKS::CALCAGNITue Nov 29 1988 13:265
    just wondering, did all of these artists bring their own rhythm
    section or was there a "house" band?  I would like to have seen
    Turner and Powell together again.
    
    /rick
925.15This was a "compilation" type albumDREGS::BLICKSTEINYo!Wed Nov 30 1988 14:007
    They all used their own band.  They didn't "come in" and do these tunes.
    
    They were basically given a budget to produce a tune and had total
    control over it.  All the tunes were done in different studios with
    different backup musicians, etc.
    
    	db
925.16RICKS::CALCAGNIWed Nov 30 1988 16:253
    re .15
    
    I was asking about the live show
925.17LIVETRUCKS::JANSEN_JFri Dec 16 1988 10:4714
    Live Show
    
    They all used the same rythmn section throughout the show with the
    exception of the last few numbers on which Stewart Copeland played
    drums.I must admit that I hadn't heard of any of the supporting
    musicians before but they were good.
    
    I bought the "No Speak Sampler" the other day and reckon that the
    best offerings on it are by Wishbone Ash and Steve Hunter.
    
    Apparently another tour is being lined up with different players
    so it will be interesting to see who's included on the next one!
    Regards 
    Jeff Jansen
925.18thumbs upSTAR::KMCDONOUGHset kids/nosickMon Oct 09 1989 15:4613
    
    
    I have listened to the Night of the Guitar Live tape a bunch of times. 
    There is some wonderful playing here, if you like '70's blues-based
    guitar work.  Pete Haycock's stuff is jazzy and very well played, the
    Wishbone Ash guys were real strong, Alvin Lee can still burn.  I even
    liked Leslie West.  
    
    There is a jam at the end on All Along the Watchtower where almost
    everyone gets into the act.
    
    
    Kevin