Conference mr1pst::music

    I just recieved my copy of the new Steve Morse video instructional
    tape: "The Essential Steve Morse".
    
    Some of the topics covered:
    
    	o How to learn "hard parts"
    
    	o Overview of his pedalboard
    
    	o The Steve Morse Band playing about 3 tunes (I know that "Cut to
    		the Chase", and "Cruise Control" are among the tunes)
    
    	o Steve's unique picking technique
    
    I found all of it interesting (no surprise there if you know me at
    all).  However, I should point out that this is really less of an
    "instructional tape" than the other tapes (1 video, 1 audio) that
    he's done.  This is more of a "How I do it" tape.
    
    I'd like to think that almost anyone could benefit from the "Learning
    the 'hard parts'" section.  His method was covered in the audio
    tape he put out years ago and I found it very helpful.  In particular,
    I think it's helped me to be able to learn things that I would have
    previously regarded as being not within reach.
    
    The effects part was stuff I didn't know and found very interesting.
    In almost every case, he gave an example of how he uses the effect.
    I had never realized that some things that I thought were more tone
    oriented are actually achieved using a very short delay.
    
    The picking technique stuff has been covered before - it's interesting,
    but it's not a method that anyone whose been playing for a bunch
    of years would likely suddenly pick up - but there are definitely
    things that ONLY Morse is likely to ever do because of it.
    
    I will post ordering information in a future note.
    
    BTW, I still haven't seen any offering of the rumored tablature book
    for "Southern Steel".
    
    	db

    
    Does Andy West have a new band that he's recording/touring with ? 
    
    Peter
    

    I've heard two conflicting stories about Andy West, both of which
    I believe to have "some" degree of truth:
    
    	1) He's working for an engineering company out west
    
    	2) He's a follower of some sort of "guru" and plays in a band
    	   that has major connections to the guru.
    
    It was some combination of these that prevented him from going on
    the Dregs reunion tour a few years back.
    
    His Alembic bass (the main one he used with the Dregs) was recently
    offered for sale at Cambridge music at the incredible price of $1200
    (not really bad for ANY vintage Alembic, pretty good for one that's
    special in this way).
    
    

    
    That makes sense. The band's name (still can't recall it) was either
    kind of Eastern in nature or alluded to something mystical ("Eastern 
    Intrigue" by Todd Rundgren started running through my head as soon as I 
    wrote that last sentence....X-}).
    
    BTW, is $1200 really that high a price to pay for an old Alembic
    (Andy's or not) ? I remember when they first came out around '75 or so
    (and Stanley Clarke was packing one) that their list price was around the 
    same, and the craftsmanship was really superb on those earlier models.
    (I was always holding out for finding a used Veilette-Citron
    longhorn...and I'm still looking.)
    
    Peter
      
      

re:  who's where....
    
T. Lavitz is playing for Widespread Panic who have released a 2nd lp.
Check them out - they are good (I like them for the same reasons I 
liked the "Dixie" Dregs....)

re:  Andy West - what sort of guru are you talking about ... a religious
type of guru?  

bob

p.s  Widespread Panic are another band out of Athens, GA...

    re: .4
    
    No, unless I mis-spoke, I was trying to imply that $1200 was a great
    price for that bass even if it weren't Andy West's.
    
    I was VERY tempted because I would like to have "a" bass (even though
    I'm a guitar player) and I already have a Steve Morse guitar to keep
    Andy's bass company.  But $1200 just seemed a bit too much to spend
    on a muse.
    
    re: .5
    
    I'm not really sure what kind of guru - I think it's sorta more of your
    meditation-type guru than like a "Moon" or "Jim Jones" or whatever.
    But I'm really not sure.

    Steve has a another new song and another new compiltion album:
    
    The song is "Morning Rush Hour" and it's on "Guitar Speak III"
    (on the I.R.S. label).
    
    It has some hot playing, including some fast-picked arppegios,
    but I'm slightly dissapointed.  I'd describe it as sub-average
    for Morse.
    
    Also don't forget he has a classical guitar piece on "Guitar's
    Practicing Musician's Volume II".
    
    And of course there's the new instructional videotape "The Essential
    Steve Morse".

    Looks like Steve actually came out with not ONE but TWO new videos.
    
    In a prior mailing I told you about "The Essential Steve Morse"
    instructional video.
    
    In the American Musical Supply catalog I just got, there's also
    an item "Steve Morse - the complete styles".
    
    The description:
    
    	Steve uses excerpts from his tunes as well as original
    	examples to illustrate the various styles he combines to
    	achieve his unique sound.  The Steve Morse band is featured
    	in several burning performances which serve to illustrate
    	the material covered.
    
    It's $49 and needless to say, I'm ordering it.
    
    	db

    
    	In case you didn't know, Steve plays lead on "Don't Misunderstand
    	Me" on The Rossington Band's "I'm Your Man".
    
    	[Did I already say this?  Sounds familiar.]
    
    							GTI
    

    It has been confirmed that the Dregs have reunited for another
    brief tour.
    
    I've already heard of confirmed dates for Boston and Atlanta, and one is 
    being worked on for Worcestor (Mass).
    
    In other news, apparently Steve is once again moving.  Last year, I
    reported that he moved to California.  In a recent interview with
    Eric Johnson (Steve was the interviewER, Eric the interviewee):
    
    Eric: "Do you think you'll start on a new record early next year?"
    
    Steve: "I'll start sooner than that, but I just don't work for very
    long at one time, 'cause I get sick of it.  I'll start in a few weeks,
    do some songs, then after I move to Florida the first of the year,
    we're gonna go out for two legs with the Dregs."
    
    I have no news as to WHICH members of the Dregs are going on this
    tour.  I'd tend to think that it would NOT be called a Dregs tour
    if Rod Morgenstein wasn't there, and I also get the impression
    that T Lavitz would NEVER miss such an opportunity (he is the guy
    that wants them back together permanently).
    
    It seems unlikely that Allan Sloane (now a medical doctor) would
    leave his practice for a low-paying rock tour, and last I heard
    Mark O'Connor was busy with the house band on a TNN show.
    
    It's anybody's bet as to whether the bass player will be Dave LaRue
    or Andy West.   I'm hoping for Andy (for sentimental reasons) but
    strongly suspect that it will be LaRue.
    
    If anyone has heard anything please let me know.

Mark O'Connor was in Atlanta a few weeks ago and mentioned that Steve was 
moving to Florida.  He did not mention anything about (Mark) playing with 
the Dregs again or about a Dregs tour.  

Mark is doing a tour playing solo concerts.  I'll enter a review when I
regain a reasonable grasp on reality.  It messed up my head.  The boy is 
definitely not human.  Did he record with the Dregs?


Bob

    Andy West is now in a band called Zazen which has just (well, within
    the last three or four months) released a CD.  Anyone heard it yet? 
    From what I can guess from the ads I would expect experimental/pro-
    gressive rock of some sort.
    
    						Brian

    > Did [Mark O'Connor] record with the Dregs?
    
    Mark O'Connor recorded one album with the Dregs - "Industry Standard".
    
    Via the miracle of computer networks and "networking", I obtained
    a press release about the tour.  The short story is that the
    lineup is:
    
    		Steve Morse, Rod Morgenstern, Allen Sloan, T Lavitz
    		and Dave LaRue (subbing for Andy West)
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
January 15,1992


        Dixie Dregs Re-Unite for Tour  Live Album to be recorded.


Nashville,TN:  Capricorn Records announced today that one of the most
critically lauded and influential rock bands of the 1970's and 1980's
--The Dixie Dregs-- will re-unite for a concert tour in February
that will also yeild a live album scheduled for release on Capricon
in June 1992.  The live recording will be done at the band's atlanta dates
in February 14 & 15.

The Dixie Dregs lineup for this special series of dates features
the original founding members Steve Morse on Guitar Rod Morganstein on drums
Allan Sloan on violin Former Dregs Keyboardist and current Widespead Prarie 
member T. Lavitz and present Steve Morse Band Bassist  Dave Larue.

Best known for their spectacular musicianship, the Dixie Dregs
blended rock, funk, country, classical and bluegrass into a
powerful mix that set the band apart as the best instrumental
ensembe of it's time.

With origins in Augusta, Georgia, the band coalesced into the 
Dixie Dregs while several of its members were enrolled in the
University of Miami, After Graduation, the band toured several years
before signing with Capricorn Records in 1976.

Capricorn released three albums by the Dixies Dregs--Free Fall (1977),
What if (1978) and Night of the living Dregs (1979) before the group
signed with Arista records, rleasing three more albums before disbanding
in 1982.  During its lifetime, the Dixie Dregs received four grammy
nominations.

The Dixie Dregs Tour 1992 is as follows


			February

	6 	 Myskyn's			Charleston, SC
	7	 To Be Announed			Augusta, GA
	8	 Macon Auditorium		Macon, GA
	10	 Sunrise Musical Theatre	Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
	12 	 Becham Theatre			Orlando, Fl.
	13	 The Moon			Tallahasse, Fl.
	14 15	 Center Stage			Atlanta, GA
	16	 To Be Announced		Greenville,SC.
	18	 Chestnut Cabaret		Philidelphia, PA
	19	 Brichmere			Alexandria, VA
	20	 Club Bene			Morgan, NJ
	21	 NIghtStage			Cambridge, MA
	22 	 The Ritz			New York, NY
    

    Please post any info on tickets for the Feb 21st date in Cambridge.
    I've never seen them (except Steve opening for Rush) and would love to
    see the whole band.
    
    THANX

    Tickets are $14 + $4 from Ticketron.  Call (617) 931-2000.
    
    There's also a $1.30 "convenience charge" per order.
    
    There's tweo shows, 8pm and 11pm.

    $14, plus $4 (for what?) plus a "convenience charge"?  I'm glad it's
    so convenient to add 40% to the ticket price....  ?????? 
    
    Sorry for the digression...
    
    						Brian

    Well here's my impressions of the 8pm Dixie Dregs show at Nighstage 
    in Cambridge, MA.
    
    Overall, it was, IMHO, MUCH better than the previous Dregs for the
    primary reason that THIS time they had a violin player.  I've always
    felt that the violin playing in unison and harmony with the guitar
    was a KEY element to the Dregs sound and this show confirmed it.
    
    The last tour struck me more as "a trio + keyboards".  This time, it
    was clearly "the Dregs" as I tend to think of them.
    
    It's also interesting to note that they seem to be using the name
    "Dixie Dregs" instead of "Dregs".
    
    The band consisted of Steve Morse, Rod Morgenstern, T Lavitz,
    Allen Sloan and (filling in for Andy West) Dave LaRue.
    
    To fill you in on what these guys have been doing,  Morse and Larue
    have, of course, been working with Van Romaine as a trio; they plan
    to do a "classical" tour in May and will record another Morse solo
    album due out probably around the later part of the summer.
    
    Rod is making mega-bucks playing for Winger (an absolute waste of
    his unique style IMHO).  T is playing with "Widespread Panic".
    Allen Sloan is a practicing anesthesiologist, but the way he played
    it's hard imagining him putting anyone to sleep.  ;-)
    
    Another item of note is that some of the gigs on the tour have been
    recorded and will be released as a live album in the summer!!!
    
    The show had it's share of technical problems.  T had some problem
    with his keys just as the show was about to start that delayed the
    show for about 10 minutes, although we were treated to some great
    improvised country-styled comping by the other members.  It struck
    me how talented these guys were that they could just fool around like
    that and make it sound not only "special" but definitely "Dregs" too.
    
    Allen had problems with his violin setup all night, sometimes it was
    hard to hear him, and given the rave reviews he's got in reviews of
    other concerts, I suspect that these problems affected his playing
    because while it was GREAT having him back, he seemed "off" to me.
    
    I didn't write all of the tunes, but here's a partial list (I can't
    even guarantee that this is not a superset of what they played but..):
    
    Road Expense            Assembly Line
    Holiday                 Country House Shuffle
    Odyssey                 Kat Food
    Divided We Stand        Wages of Wierdness
    Blood Sucking Leeches   Little Kids (???)
    The Bash                Cruise Missile
    
    For the encore: Led Zep's Kashmir
    
    I was extremely dissapointed that they played neither "Night Meets
    Light" (probably my favorite) nor "Take it Off the Top" nor "What If"
    considering I had recieved reports that these tunes were played at
    other shows on this tour.
    
    However it was pleasing to see so many tunes (three) from the
    "Freefall" album covered.  I hadn't seen "Wages of Wierdness"  (the one
    that ends with the "Marlboro theme") done live since the days of the
    Dregs being the "U. of Miami Jazz-rock Ensemble".
    
    "Freefall", to my ears, is the most "different sounding" Dregs album.
    It's almost like they really didn't define their sound until "What If"
    but it's still a great album and I was glad to see those tunes covered,
    and they covered my favorite two ("Wages" and "Freefall").
    
    I think it's time to retire "Cruise Control".  Yes, it's a signature
    tune for them, but I've seen it too many times.  It's now boring.
    
    DRUM SOLO
    
    I must say that Rod performed the MOST INTERESTING DRUM SOLO I have
    ever seen.  I normally HATE drum solos but Rod, being Rod, did NOT
    do a standard drum solo.  He played along to a sequencer to give it
    a bit more musicality and it was great: I truly pray that that makes
    it onto the live CD - it's the ONLY drum solo that I've ever heard
    that stood on its own as a piece of music, as opposed to a live
    demonstration of one thing or another.
    
    T-SHIRTS/SOUVENIRS
    
    There were two kinds of T-shirts on sale: a white one with a jig saw
    puzzle motif, and a simple black one that said Dregs on the front and
    "Centerstage" (an Atlanta club with both Dregs reuninion tours were
    more-or-less kicked off).
    
    I got both shirts (obviously, if you know me at all).
    
    But a friend of mine ended up with an even better souvenir.  From what
    I can tell, one of the road crew gave her a custom printed "All Access"
    pass with the same design as the jig-saw T-shirt!
    
    Only thing is, she coulda gotten into the 2nd show, or backstage with
    it, but went home right after the show!  Shame on you Patsy!!!  ;-)
    
    HIGHLIGHTS
    
    o Definitely Rod's drum solo
    
    o T's solo on The Bash was as inspired as I've ever seen him
    
    o "Little Kids" (performed with both violin AND bass guitar)
    
    o All of Morse's solo's.
    
    o Allen Sloan just being there
    
    o Rod Morgenstern just being there
    
    o They did NOT play "I'm Freaking Out" as they had at other shows.
      I simply don't care for that tune.
    
    o Seeing and understanding how Morse uses his rig to get that special
      sound (bringing effects and synth in and out, etc.)
    
    FUTURES
    
    One of the crew told my friend Patsy that they were coming BACK in the
    summer.  This conflicts with other plans I've heard of, but let's hope
    it's true.
    
    I did get a report that Morse mentioned that these reunion tours would
    be a regular thing.

    Current rumor is that a new Morse album is due out April 28th called
    "Coast to Coast".
    
    I also got my copies of the tab for "Southern Steel" and the new
    video "Steve Morse: The Complete Style"
    
    "The Complete Style" video is something I would've asked for had Steve
    come to me for suggestions for an instructional tape.  Steve seems to
    have a bunch of styles that he seems to play in - there's typically
    a representative from each style on every every album.
    
    On this tape he goes over some particular techniques associated with
    those styles:
    
    	"Piano Style": The riff from "Assembly line" that's doubled by
    		the piano
    
    	"Banjo Style": The amazing intro to "Southern Steel"
    
    	Chicken Pickin' : Ice Cakes Intro
    
    There's also lots of "in context" example of him playing with the band
    and what not.
    
    It's hardly "Complete", but nonetheless like all his other tapes, it
    does give you a very useful "foot up" on some of the things he does.
    All of it, seems very applicable if you're trying to use these various
    influences in your own writing/playing.

    I have it on reasonable good authority that the new Steve Morse
    album, "Coast to Coast" will be release June 9th, and the the
    new Dregs live CD (tentatively titled "Bring Them Back Alive")
    will be released on June 30th.
    
    The tunes for the live CD are supposedly (in order of appearence):
    
    Road Expense, Assembley Line, Holiday, Country House SHuffle, Kashmir,
    Oddessy, Kat Food, Hereafter, "Take it Off the Top medley" Divided We
    Stand/ Blood Sucking Leeches, Cruise Control
    
    Supposedly "Blood Sucking Leeches" will be released as a "single".
    
    There's been quite a bit of talk about a possible Dregs studio album with
    new material and all, but nothing definite seems to have been planned
    yet.

Well despite rumors of a delay, the new Steve Morse album, "Coast to Coast"
is out and I've already got my copy.

The cover is a picture of an airplane propeller with a global in the
senter.  The general color is grey.

The songs are:

	1.  User Friendly
	2.  Collateral Damage
	3.  Get it in Writing
	4.  Morning Rush Hour
	5.  Runaway Train 
	6.  Long Lost
	7.  The Z  (with the Z in a read circle)
	8.  Over Easy
	9.  Cabin Fever
	10. Flat Baroque

The CD sleeve is a foldout.  There's a picture of Morse's distinctive
Blue Ernie Ball MusicMan guitar, a picture of the band at an airport
and a big aeronautical map of the US.

There are NO guest artists on this record.  Just the Steve Morse band which
is (still) Dave LaRue and Van Romaine.  

Dave LaRue got a producing co-credit (w. Morse).

Stand-out cuts so far are "Runaway Train" (an outrageous country pickin'
tune ala "Pride of the Farm"), "Morning Rush Hour".  The solo on "The Z"
is also pretty outrageous.

As I sit here and listen to it, I'm amazed how each new tune I hear seems
to be very much "in the mold of" some other Morse tune.  I'm sure that 
in the full review (that I intend to write after I've listened to it a few
times) I'm likely to compare each song to a some other Morse tune.  Sometimes
it's even suggested by a lick.

As usual, my initial impressions are sorta luke-warm at best.  However, as
a veteran of many Morse releases, one thing I've learned is that I NEVER EVER
like a Morse album on the first listen.  

That was especially true for "Southern Steel" which I listen to several times
a WEEK now!!! (Most Morse albums get listened to once a month at most).

BTW, ELP's new album was released today.  Almost too much for this old boy:
a new album by his #1 guitar hero and his #1 keyboard hero.

	Stay tuned,

	Dave Blickstein
	Dregs Central

    Yo, db, is he still workin' for MCA?
    
    						Brian
    

    Yep, the album is on MCA.

    
    Hi,
    
    Cool topic.  Could you provide a brief Morseology for we the
    uneducated?  (including the Dregs)
    
    I bought Coast to Coast.  After three listenings, I'm hooked.  
    Maybe I wouldn't be so enthousiastic if there was more stuff 
    like this out there, but, well,...THERE ISN'T.     :-( 
    
    "User Friendly" and "Runaway Train" blow me away.
    
    Thanks in advance.
    Frank Nyul (a summer co-op student)
    
    

    Well, a Morseology... hmmm...
    
    Discology:
    
      With the Dixie Dregs:
    
    	The Great Spectacular - a demo that was never released
    
    	"Freefall"
    	"What If"
    	"Night of the Living Dregs"
    	"Dregs of the Earth"
    	"UnSung Heroes"
    	"Industry Standard"
    
    	(Breakup)
    
    	"Off the Record" - a two-song demonstration CD for Ensoniq
    		musical equipment
    	"Bring them Back Alive" - a live CD
    
    	"The Best of the Dixie Dregs" - Grand Slamm 
    	"The Best of the Dixie Dregs - Divided We Stand" - Arista records
    
      Solo:
    
    	"High Tension Wires"
    
      With the Steve Morse Band:
    
    	"The Introduction"
    	"Stand Up"
    	"Southern Steel"
    	"Coast to Coast"
    
      With Kansas:
    
    	"Power"
    	"In the Spirit of Things"
    
    To me "essential Morse" is with the Dregs.  I'd have to recommend
    "Dregs of the Earth" as the next album even though it (and all his
    albums with the Dregs) are less "guitaristic" than his solo albums
    and his albums with the Steve Morse Band (which is a trio, the Dregs
    is a 5-piece).
    
    The Dregs albums, to my mind, present more complex music and the
    composition is featured just as prominently as the virtuosity.
    All the guys from the Dregs are absolutely top-notch players
    and the music provides ample opportunity to demonstrate that with
    sacrificing artistic value.
    
    The first three Dregs albums are kinda unlike subsequent Dregs
    albums and each is unique in its own sort of way.  "Freefall" has
    a very live, quartet type quality.  The production on it is not nearly
    as slick as ALL subsequent albums.  The tunes are also far more "Dixie"
    (country) than most other albums.
    
    "What If" may be their most "artsy" album.  In this album, you can hear
    clear-cut homages to progressive rock bands like Emerson, Lake &
    Palmer, Kansas and Yes (especially in the cut "Odyssey").  It also
    has one of my favorite tunes in "Night Meets Light".
    
    "Night of the Living Dregs" is unique in that it's got one side (back
    in those days before CD we had these vinyl things called "records"
    which had two sides) of new songs recorded live at the Montreux Jazz
    Festival.
    
    Now regarding his stint with Kansas, to my tastes, the first album,
    "Power", is vastly superior to the second album.  In fact, it's a great
    album and I listen to it frequently.  It is exactly what you'd expect,
    a seamless blending of "Morse" and "Kansas" and while I admit that it
    was interesting to see Morse play in this context (Kansas has LONG been
    one of my favorite bands, perhaps even before I first saw the Dregs),
    Morse is best as a bandleader IMHO.  Kansas's best material with Morse
    still couldn't compare to almost any Morse/Dregs material IMHO.
    
    Not only is Morse my favorite guitarist, but Rod Morgenstein,
    the drummer from the Dregs is by far, my favorite drummer.
    He has a very unique style involving shifting tempos, ghost hits
    (implied but not played), etc.   I wish my drum machine had a "Rod
    Mode".  ;-)
    
    Morse is a 5-time winner of Guitar Player magazine's Best Overall
    Guitarist catagory - that makes him ineligible to win any more
    and only one other player has taken Best Overall 5 times (Steve
    Howe of Yes).
  
    Now if you're into bass guitar, I'd highly recommend that you check out
    "The Introduction".  That featured an unknown bass player named Jerry
    Peek who Morse rescued from a 9-5 job in the computer industry
    (sigh...) who is absolutely the best bass player I have ever heard. 
    The role of the bass guitar is really pushed and expanded on that album
    and it features bass solos that are both technically incredible and far
    more musically appropriate and valid ("part of the song") than any
    other bass guitar playing I've heard, and perhaps a lot of guitar
    playing too!  
    
    What more would you like to know?
    
---------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Here's a brief history of the Dixie Dregs I typed in awhile back:
    
Morse grew up in the Detroit area and his family moved to Georgia when he
was in High School where he met Andy West, the bass player for the Dregs.
They formed a band with Mark Parish on keyboards called the Dixie Grits.

Morse saw Juan Mercadel (classical guitar player) and was mesmerized and
after H.S. enrolled at U. of Miami where Mercadel taught.

As part of a class project there, the "University of Miami Jazz/Rock Ensemble"
was formed that included Rod Morgenstein on keyboards, and then Rod switched
to drums.

When the bass player left, Steve convinced Andy West to move down to Miami
and since this was the "Dregs" of "Dixie Grit", they decided to rename
the UofM Jazz/Rock ensemble to be "The Dixie Dregs".  This is about the
time I first saw them (walked by a gig on the way to class and was 
totally blown away - never even made it to class).

They recorded a demo "The Great Spectacular" but it never got released
(all songs on it have since be re-recorded and release on other Dregs
albums, although one tune ended up on a Kansas album).

After they graduated, they were "discovered" by Chuck Leavall of Sea Level
who along with Twiggs Lydon (Sea Levels road manager) got them a deal with
Capricorn records.  Twiggs fell in love with the band, and became their
road manager and was regarded by Morse as a full-fledged member of the band
until his death (while sky diving, his parachute failed to open and he died
while the members of the Dregs watched from the ground).

The first album "Freefall" was recorded with Steve Davidowski on keys and
Allen Sloan on violin.

They did a second album "What If" with Ken Scott producing.  Original Dixie 
Grit keyboard player Mark Parish returned for this album.    They also
did another album called "Night of the Living Dregs" where one side was
live recorded at Montreux.

At this point, T Lavitz became the keyboard player.  They recorded two more
albums with this lineup, "Dregs of the Earth" (a personal favorite) and
"Unsung Heroes".

Then Allen Sloan (violin) left to become an anesthesiologist.  Mark O'Connor
a multiple winner of the Grand National Fiddle, Guitar AND Banjo awards
came in and they recorded "Industry Standard" which featured two tunes
with vocals.

O'Connor left after the tour - the remaining members briefly toured as
a foursome and then decided to disband.  Morse had a stint with Kansas
as well as a solo career.  Rod Morgenstein became the drummer for the MTV
band "Winger".  Andy pursued a career in marketing computers, and T Lavitz
did various studio appeareances and "on and off again" bands such as "Players".

The Dregs briefly reunited around 1990 to record a demostration for Ensoniq (a
maker of keyboards and other musical equipment).  It came out as a 2 song
CD that feature some interesting re-recordings of two classic Dregs tune.

Despite various committments to other activities, they managed to squeeze
in a brief tour as "The Dregs" although Andy West couldn't make it and
was replaced by Dave LaRue from the Steve Morse band - Allen Sloan also
couldn't make it (I suspect Mark O'Connor wasn't even asked) and thus they 
did that tour without a violin.

Here it is a few years later, they have reunited again, this time WITH
Sloan (and again LaRue on bass).

Rumor has it that a studio album with new material will be coming out.

	db

    
    	They have just released a live album I think...it has a cut off it
    from a Zepp album..Kasmere(sp) really quite impressive!
    
    	I could be wrong.
    
    B.A.

    
    Wow!  Thanks for the history.
    
    I actually heard that the live album contract came with the obligation
    of a tour and TWO NEW STUDIO ALBUMS.
    
    I can only hope this info is accurate.
    
    Frank
    

    I've heard the same thing (new studio albums are part of the deal),
    the person this came from said he spoke direction with the label
    so it seems pretty reliable.
    
    Anyway, it's always fun to see another "I just heard Morse for the
    first time and was blown away" story.
    
    It seems you are either blown away by him (most people who are
    musicians fall into this category) or your totally left cold (most
    people who don't play fall into this category).
    
    The Dregs were always known as "musician's musicians".
    
    I definitely fall into the first category.  I was walking to my
    midterms at college and the Dregs were playing an outside gig.  I
    stopped to listen and... never made it to class.  That's how blown
    away I was.
    
    	db

    
    Picked up the Dregs' "Bring 'Em Back Alive" yesterday, but I won't have
    a chance to hear it until tonight.     >:-\     <--Read: Expectant face.
    
    Very cool cover.
    
    My story: About a year and a half ago, a friend played me the
    aptly-named "Tumeni Notes", and I just fell on the floor.  I bought
    "High Tension Wires", "Southern Steel", and "What If" soon after.
    This kind of stuff is kind of rare above the 49th parallel.  
    
    Anyway, I don't consider myself a musician, (I possess an acoustic
    guitar) but I enjoy seeing concerts and I DO consider myself a good
    listener.  
    
    I saw the Dregs in February in NYC (A long drive, but worth
    it), and my lower jaw spent the evening in residence on the floor.
    The opening band (Col. Bruce Hampton (retired) and the Aquarium Rescue
    Unit) were unbeleivably good.  The only other group I can imagine
    playing alongside the Dregs would be the Flecktones.  
    
    Frank
    
    

    Well...
    
             here's another non-musician noting here; and quite possibly
    another Dregs collector. Always being one to take chances, I saw a
    "Best of" CD in Tower last week (I forget the sub-title); and I must
    admit I was totally surprised (pleasantly!!) when I listened to it!
    
    The material dates from about 1980-1988 and on first listening, reminds
    me of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra.
    
    So..my next quest, is to backtrack from this CD and pick up some nore
    material ...
    
    Q: Are all Dregs/ Morse LP's totally instrumental ?
    
    Q: Any tips for the 2nd CD?
    
    Rgds
    
    Harvey

    
    	Get the new "live" CD, it's excellent. Sound is about 
    as good as it gets on CD. I also have "What If" which is
    also excellent. The new "live" CD is called "Bring 'Em Back
    Alive:Live from Feb 1992.
    
    
    Vinny

> T Lavitz did various studio appeareances and "on and off again" bands such as
> "Players".

Is this the band "Player" that had the hit "Baby Come Back?"  (I think they did
that song, anyway I'm more concerned with the band name than the song).  I'm
probably wrong since Baby Come Back probably pre-dates the Dregs breakup.

thanks,

adam

    
    db seems to be away.  Well, here's what I think of the new live album
    "Bring 'Em Back Alive".
    
    CRUISE CONTROL is simply unbelievable.  Everyone who appreciates
    musicianship should have a listen to the drum and guitar solos in this
    15-minute tour-de-force.  The ending is ridiculously tight.
    
    The MEDLEY is a lot of fun.  I have seen it in two other incarnations
    at Steve Morse Band Shows.  Something even a non-fan could get in to.
    
    KASHMIR is every bit as good as I remember it live, although too short.
    
    The other nine tunes are close to the studio versions, in format at least. 
    Some of the new solos are interesting and some spectacular, like
    the one in HEREAFTER.
    
    The sound quality is superb.  The performers are ON.  Some of the Mr.
    Sloane's (violin) bits seem less than spirited, but otherwise there is
    a high level of intensity.  
    
    Recommended.
    
    
    Re: last couple
    
    I have heard most of the LP's, but the only one I currently OWN is
    "What If".  There is not a weak song on this album.  Those releases are
    kinda hard to get up here in Canada.  (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TOM COCHRANE
    AND BRYAN ADAMS COMING OUT OF OUR BUTTS!  Oh, sorry for that outburst,
    I'll try and keep it under control.)
    
    Later 
    
    Frank
         
    
    

... it's not the band 'Players' that had this hit but 'the Equals' (that also
wrote 'Police on my back' later covered by The Clash on Sandinista).

Didier

    Players is not Player and "Baby Come Back" by the Equals is not the
    same song as done by Player.  Trust me on this one  8^)  8^).
    
    						Casey Kacem
    

    I have the "Players" album with T Lavitz, Jeff Berlin, Steve Smith, and
    Scott Henderson...it is one SMokin' album, incredible playing, great
    toonz
    
    do they have others, or just the one album ??
    
    I recently found "Dregs of the Earth" in a CD cutout bin at Stawberries
    for $5.99   tough to beat that
    
    Wes

    re: .29 Harvey Lang
    
    Sorry for the delay in responding.
    
    Just got back from 4 days of gigging and volleyball at the beach.
    
>    The material dates from about 1980-1988 and on first listening, reminds
>    me of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra.
    
    That's no coincidence.  The formation of the Dregs was heavily
    influenced by Mahavishnu Orchestra.  In the early days, The Dregs
    did a bunch of MO covers.
    
>    Q: Are all Dregs/ Morse LP's totally instrumental ?
    
    Well, not "all" but essentially "all".
    
    The Dreg's "Industry Standard" has two tunes with vocals on it and
    Morse had a solo album called "Stand Up" that also had two tunes
    with vocals.
    
    Everything else is instrumental.
    
>    Q: Any tips for the 2nd CD?
    
    Check out reply .29.  Short story: my recommendation is "Dregs of the
    Earth".
    
    	db

    Anyone else go to the show last at the "Paradise" theatre in Boston?
    
    Or any reviews from the road?

    Dregs fans,
    
    Aren't the Dregs scheduled to appear on the "Tonight Show"
    tonight (Thursday, Jan 6)?  I vaguely remember reading about it
    in this weeks TV Guide...
    
    
    chUck

    >Aren't the Dregs scheduled to appear on the "Tonight Show" tonight
    >(Thursday, Jan 6)?  
    
    Well, Thursday was the 7th, but yes they did appear.  
    
    Most Dregs fans were somewhat dissapointed because a) they were
    scheduled to do two songs and only got time to do one and b) they
    chose to do a song that was mostly a medley of familiar radio
    tunes ("Freebird", "Missippee Queen", "My Sharona", "Summertime
    Blues").
    
    Hey, I guess they were shooting for the common denominator.  But my
    feeling is they've made a living doing their own kind of unpopular
    music and they aren't ever going to be a cover band.  I wish they
    would have given it a shot with some of their originals.
    
    They have originals that might have a wide appeal.
    
    Oh well... that's show business...
    
    	db

Well, it's about time for another live Dregs/Morse fix.  Any info
on tour places and dates, specifically in the Boston area, would
be appreciated.  Heck, I may even buy you a beverage of your choice
if I see you there. :-)

Dave

    Probably won't be anytime soon.  The New England leg of the current
    tour came around here about two months ago.  They ended up NOT
    playing in the Boston area, but in the Amherst, MA area.
    
    Frankly, the club they played at there was SO nice (especially compared
    with the places they play around here like the so-called "Paradise"
    Theater) that I hope they ALWAYS do that.
    
    The ride out to Northhampton was eminently worth it to see them in
    such a nice environment.  Or at least, that's my opinion.

    Re: .41
    
    Where did they play in Northampton?  Iron Horse?
    
    						Brian

    Yes, they played at the Iron Horse.
    
    Great place in my opinion.

    
    	The Dregs at the Iron Horse?  Ouch!!  Is it still VERY small,
    	with that balcony?
    
    	I saw Joe Pass, Alan Holdsworth, Attila Zoller, John Abecrombie
    	and Ralph Towner there.  
    
    	Great, intimate place!
    

    I guessed it would have been the Iron Horse. I'm still amazed they can
    fit amplified rock bands into that room, the stage is so tiny there's
    barely room for a drum kit.
    
    Well, the Iron House is more of a coffeehouse than a rock club.  The
    bulk of their bookings are folk music, the closest equivalent in the
    Boston area would be the now defunct Nightstage.
    
    							Brian

    I'm not sure that it's any smaller in terms of square feet than,
    say the "Purgatory Theatre" in Boston, it's just that they don't
    pack you in like cattle.
    
    All I know is that the experience of seeing them was the most pleasant
    I've had in recent memory.  No seat in the house is really bad.
    
    I'd go see them again there in a flash.  HEck,  I'd even pay a scalper
    big bucks to see them there (but don't tell Lale ;-) ).
    
    	db

    
    I heard that !
    
    ;-)
    
    Lale

    
    	I read they had a new CD out "Full Circle" w/ Jerry Goodman
    on violin. What's the story db?
    
    
    Vinny

    Not officially released until June 4th, but a lot of radio stations
    seem to have it.

    Radio stations have it? What for, they never play that stuff 8^)
    
    							Brian

   Heard the title cut on KBCO out of Boulder, CO. last night.  Pretty good.
   Typical Dregs stuff.  I'll probably buy it to satisfy my need for a Dave
   LaRue fix.  :-)

   -- Sam

   P.S.  Does anyone know the name of LaRue's solo album?  Is it still in
   print?  Is it any good?  Thanks.

    The new Dixie Dregs album, "Full Circle" is out - I picked up my copy
    this afternoon.  
    
    I've only had a chance to play the first 30 seconds or so of each song
    and it's hard to get much of an impression from that.  Some things
    hooked me right away, others didn't.   I'll post a review when I get
    a chance to listen to it more.
    
    Interestingly enough, the album advertises a "24 hour Dixie Dregs
    Computer Bulletin Board" at (404) 832-7000.   I'll try that as soon as
    I get a chance.
    
    What kind of bugs me is that I'm the moderator of the Internet Dregs
    mailing list and I've been trying to offer the use of that list and
    setting up some kind of bboard to Steve's manager for sometime now
    but he has never even done me the courtesy of returning a phone call.
    
    From various sources, including a talk with Steve himself, I get the
    impression that the manager is laboring under some sort of extreme
    confusion about what the list is about.  He seems to think it's a
    "online critic" type of thing and he is attempting to shield Steve
    from what he thinks would be a shredding by critics.  
    
    Obviously nothing could be further from the truth.  The list is mostly
    comprised of people who (like me) thinks this guy walks on water.
    
    	db

Steve Morse posted a notice on the Dregs bboard confirming the rumors that
the Dregs have a new keyboard player and that he'll be joining Deep Purple
for the rest of their European tour.

Here's the notice from Steve, followed by the usual postings:

   TO ALL:
   FROM: Steve Morse
            
      I have been out of touch for quite a while. In case you haven't
   heard, the Dregs have a new keyboard player named Jordan Rudess. He is an
   incredible player and we just finished a leg of the tour with him.
   Deciding what to do, and getting him worked in, playing the gigs and just
   plain old taking care of urgent things has taken all the time I've had. I
   just tried to download all the personal messages and my computer freaked
   out and said the file was too large to open. I'm afraid that if the
   computer thinks there's too many that I won't be able to answer them
   either. In any case, I did manage to tell the bulletin board that I had
   all the messages, only to find that I can't get to them in my computer.

      I will be replacing Joe Satriani for the end of the Deep Purple tour
   sometime in October. The only dates that I know about are in other
   countries, none in the U.S. This is going to be a fun gig. If all goes
   well, it could lead to more involvement since these guys like to keep a
   laid back touring schedule which would allow me to do my thing as well.

      Once again, thanks for calling in and please don't get discouraged with
   the lack of personal response. I'm a slow typist and I would need about 6
   months of "discretionary time~ to begin to answer the messages so far,even
   if I could figure out how to access them. Our incredibly able sys-op,
   Tony, might be able to help on that one, now that I think of it. Thanks
   all for your support. Oh yeah, I left a cryptic message somewhere in the
   labyrinth....number somewhere around 370 or so, I think..