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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:	The UK Music Conference
Notice:	Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:	RDGENG::CROOK

Created:	Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1381
Total number of notes:	39269

114.0. "The slide area" by CHEFS::IMMSA () Wed Jun 15 1988 21:58

    Ry Cooder made a triumphant return to London on the 13th and 14th
    June 1988 after an absence of nearly 5 years.
    
    He appears to have changed little but it was interesting to note
    that amongst the many fans greying at the temples were a number
    who must have been at the learning to talk stage when Ry was emerging
    from the LA session scene in the early 70s.
    
    His band, billed as the Moula Banda Rhythm Aces, and which he refers
    to as THE band is a remarkable mixture of great and varied musicians
    such as Jim Keltner on drums, Van Dyke Parks on electric piano,
    Flaco Jiminez on accordian, a sax and bass and Willie Green, Terry
    Evans and Bobby King on vocal back-up. 
    
    What we know from the heady days of the Chicken Skin Review is that
    it works like a charm.
    
    The content of both shows was the same but as Cooder says in the
    programme, a lot of what they do is improvised so delivery was quite
    different on each night.
    
    The set kicked off with "Low-commotion" from the "Get Rhythm" album
    and the slide playing set the tone for the evening (no pun intended).
    
    Cooder weaved his way round his repertoire covering
    
    Do re mi (Showtime)
    Hold that snake (Streets of fire)
    Down in Hollywood (Bop till you drop) and when he sings "you better
    not run out of gas" he leaves you in no doubt that you better believe
    it!
    Jesus on the mainline (Boomers story) played on a solid body electric
    mandolin, slide, enough to make the most hardened aetheist drop
    to his knees in prayer!
    13 Question method (an obscure C Berry song) from Get Rhythm played
    finger pickin good and slide on his Martin. This had to be the most
    breathtaking display of guitar playing anyone is ever likely to
    see or hear, probably ever.
    Dark is the night (Paris Texas)
    Vigilante Man (Into the Purple valley)
    Fool for a cigarette (Paradise and lunch)
    Feeling good (Paradise and lunch)
    Goodnight Irene (Chicken skin music)
    Across the borderline (The Border and Get Rhythm) joined by Harry
    Dean Stanton on stage for this and a track from Paris Texas
    Little sister (Bop till you drop)
    Get Rhythm (Same)
    All shook up (Get rhythm)
    The very thing that makes you rich (Bop till you drop)
    Down in Mississippi (Crossroads)
    Live and let live (from The new album by Terry and Bobby on which
    Cooder plays all through - its like one of his with someone else
    doing the vocals!)
    
    
    As last time he was over he did a straight 2 1/4 hour show, no support,
    no break and he leaves you begging for more.
    
    I for one hope he comes back soon. 
    
    Its my opinion (although know it is shared by others) that he is
    a musical genius and no self respecting guitarist or guitar enthusiast
    should ignore him.
    

    Get rhythm - get Ry Cooder!!!

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
114.1		KERNEL::COHEN	Keep Music Live	`Wed Jun 15 1988 22:25`	6
	I'm really sorry that I missed him this time - sounds like a great show. How did it come across at Wembley? David.
114.2	"lord snooty and his pals on triangle"	CHEFS::IMMSA		`Thu Jun 16 1988 13:02`	32
	I have never been to Wembly arena before so I had no preconceived ideas about what it was going to be like. On the first night we were sitting in the stalls about halfway back and the sound was a bit muddy. The second night we were at the side halfway up about level with the speakers suspended above the stage and the sound was much clearer. I suppose it is to be expected with live shows but I got throughly fed up with people coming in late despite bells and announcements and one group right in front of us arguing about seat numbers 45 minutes into the set!! There were also the people who spend half the show drinking and the other half getting up and down going to the lavatory to get rid of it. This was less of an aggrevation when sitting on the steeply banked seats. In the stalls its like sitting on the edge of the M1!! Theres a PS to the list of tunes he played. Add "how can a poor man stand such times and live" from "into the purple valley" and "showtime". He stretches this out to about 7 or 8 minutes with a a slide guitar solo which is like a slow burning fuse. lovely stuff Thanks for your interest andy
114.3	Van Dyke Parks, there's a thing...	LARVAE::BRIGGS	They use computers don't they?	`Thu Jun 16 1988 13:39`	14
	I bought 'Why Don't You Try Me Tonight' last year on CD. Really good mixture of Ry Cooders work and suprisingly low key emphassis on slide guitar. Not knowing much of his work it was a refreshing suprise to find things like Down in Hollywood, Why don't you try me tonight and He'll Have to go (who played that mean accordion?). Van Dyke Parks, now there's a name. First heard of on Harpers Bizarre LPs in mid 60s (you know, of Feelin' Groovy, Anything Goes fame) as a session musician composer. Then a couple of wierdish 60's LPs (which I have) and then prominent exposure on the Beach Boy's Surfs Up album. Not heard of him since. Richard @snam
114.4	Is'nt life a bitch !!	AYOU11::S_GOUDIE	Gonna cry 96 tears	`Thu Jun 16 1988 17:37`	9
	Due to some pretty serious business I couldn't get to any of his Scottish dates ,but all my friends are still raving about him . The Man is brilliant !! Stuart_.
114.5	drool....	ERIC::SALLITT	Dave @RKG or LZO	`Thu Jun 16 1988 19:04`	6
	.0's description makes me even more sick at missing the NEC gig. the man's a genius who attracts similar genii<?> to play alongside him. Dave
114.6	Empire Way .....	KERNEL::COHEN	Keep Music Live	`Thu Jun 16 1988 19:49`	16
	RE: .2 This brings in the whole thing about gigs - where is the best place to sit etc. You noticed a lot of distractions - it's true - and a lot different than goin' to see a movie, where there aren't so many distractions. Best place (now) at Wembley Arena is Block C - just where the stalls starts to rise. Whatever the venue - if you sit level with the PA stacks (ie. your ears level with the middle of the stack) you usually get good sound. David.
114.7		HAZEL::STARR	You grow up and you calm down	`Fri Jun 17 1988 01:29`	11
	re: -1 I found that sitting near the soundboard is where the best mix usually is. (Alright, maybe this is obvious, but it's also true!) The only problem is that you don't always know where the mixer is, or what seats will be near it. Of course, another point to take into consideration is that this place may not have a very good vantage point to view the band. Alan S.
114.8	the best of.......??	CHEFS::IMMSA		`Fri Jun 17 1988 17:10`	13
	.3 who played the accordian is Flaco Jiminez Van Dyke parks appears on cooders second album Into the Purple Valley. He is often referred to as "the enigmatic....." I was delighted to see that there are other Cooderphiles out there. For you new to him (and this is my humble! opinion) try the track called "this is the way we make a broken heart" and tell me if this isnt the most beautifully played and produced track you have ever heard......by anyone. Theres no slide on it but..... Listen closely to Jim Keltner's contribution on drums....... Aint he the business!!!!
114.9	Live Cooder Anyone ???	HPSVAX::FLANAGAN	I need a miracle every day	`Wed Jul 20 1988 04:16`	10
	I'v not been so lucky as to see Mr. Cooder play in person, however I have a recording of a nite in Nov. 1975 when he played at Clark University in Worcester Massachusetts. All alone, just him, his guitar, and a mandolin. That is the best tape of any type that I have. If anyone really wants this send me mail and we can make arrangements for trading a copy of that for something of interest that you have. Kevin