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I must admit, Van's Avalon Sunset period was something of a low in his career, and Whenever God Shines His Light was a low point within that low period. Mind you, Bob Dylan's god period wasn't exactly the hight point of his career either, was it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Which, of course, is a sentiment I'd hope many people would agree with even outside of the Covid context.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
"Amen to that!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Well, but Veedon Fleece was pretty damn close.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
(Incidentally, not only did I hear the 'petrol pump' joke from my sister, it was her copy of Veedon Fleece that got me listening to The Man. So, she has a lot to answer for.)
There's too much on this forum recently that I agree with. (Well, apart from liking the Cliff and Van duet, obviously.) It's just too damn nice and polite, and it's making me nervous. Is it just a lull before the storm?
Yes; undoubtably Flem
Veedon Fleece is a magnificent piece of work. Maybe Van’s most ‘complete’ album
One can go too far you know...and believe me Bobby has made far worse albums than those and I don't just mean Christmas In The HeartQuote:
Originally Posted by Flem
[QUOTE=Flem;666131] Well, apart from liking the Cliff and Van duet, obviously. /QUOTE]
I don't suppose they were even in the same country when the track was recorded.
Which reminds me - stretching the thought to a quintet - of when all five ex-members of the Byrds cut a track which gave the impression of a "reunion" after their history of vicious acrimony; but in fact all five members recorded their contributions seperately at different times and they were all just patched in.
Things have never been the same since good ol' boy Sam Phillips left Sun Studios.
Talking to a friend of mine from Belfast about Van's grumpy reputation, she says"he's always been very kind to me".
Turns out they'd played together on a number of occasions!
He has always regarded himself as a "musician" and I would expect him to respect other musicians - if they can deliver. His ire has generally been directed towards media and business and record company people ie those who aren't artists like himself. But he himself and no other has made some calamitously stupid decisions and he has only himself to blame - not that he ever did. He used to argue all that mattered to the world was the "work" and nobody need know anything about him, but he still expected people to give him their money. Well it don't work like that man...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Mole
In recent years he has become milder but now he produces and controls his output if nobody buys his
stuff he can no longer blame everybody else for crushing his muse.
I did once have lunch with somone who knew him - but they were from Northern Ireland so may have been biased.
A bit like me then being a fell runner and respecting other fell runners :) ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
(That said I respect non-probrexit-y, non-Nigel Farag-y, non-Boris junta loving-y, non-coronavirus denying-y and non-climate change denying-y fell runners best)
don't you mean probrexit, proNigel Farage, proBoris, anti-corona and climate change denial sceptics?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fellbeast
I think I'm going to call myself an anti-coronavirus sceptic from now on.
Haha I think I confused myself with my "nons" but you hopefully can read between the linesQuote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Mole
I always used to think it was strange that the head of a university would be called a Pro Vice Chancellor.
I mean, I'm all for vice, but wouldn't want it in my job title.
No, the head of a university is just the vice-chancellor. Below him/her there is a deputy vice-chancellor, and then (at Loughborough) three pro-vice-chancellors, one for research, one for teaching, and one for enterprise. It is important to promote vice in every aspect of the university's work. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Mole
In view of the recent adoration of Astral Weeks on here, and not for the first time either, I actually sat down and listened to it all yesterday. Every track, in its entirety, in the correct order.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Whilst the music was quite pleasant, and the guitar and flute was good, the vocals and lyrics ruined it for me. Unless they take the vocals off it, to make an instrumental version, I won't be listening to it again.
I gather it wasn't that well received when it was released in 1968. Had I had been a music-buying youngster in 1968, rather than 1978, I wouldn't have bought it; not when I could have bought A saucerful of secrets, Waiting for the sun, Electric Ladyland, Beggars banquet or possibly Bookends or In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida instead.
Interesting Marco. Have you tried Veedon Fleece?
I had to google In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida btw. Not a lot wiser mind
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Mmmh. I am relieved to note that I have certainly never bought any of those, I don't think I have ever listened to them and I am not absolutely sure who recorded some of them.
Now - early Neil Young, Randy Newman, Dylan - obviously, Paddy McAloon, Gene Clark, (some)Bruce Hornsby,... I will wager Van Morrison listens to them!
Anyone for a massive weekend of food and drink???
New restrictions are apparently vital. But apparently not until Monday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
I'm in a state of shock! I haven't been this shocked since I learnt that some people actually liked Lance Armstrong, and thought he was clean. No, even before that - since I learnt that some people preferred Sebastian Coe to Steve Ovett. "Quite pleasant"! "Ruinied it"!. Good grief.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I wasn't a music-buying youngster in 1968, either, but it is still possible to buy albums after the year of their release, you know. :) And, if you have older siblings, to listen to their records. Although I must admit, I've always been one for living in the past. (I thought I'd throw in a Jethro Tull reference.)
If you think Bookends is better than Bridge OTW, A Saucerful of Secrets is better than Wish You Were Here, and you don't like Astral Weeks (god help you), and given that I take the opposite view in all three cases, then maybe you'll (bizarrely) like Avalon Sunset. It certainly takes all sorts. (And the world's a better place for it.)
Incidentally (and to bring this thread back on topic), does anyone know if there have been any reported cases of Covid-19 inducing a loss of musical taste?
Randy Newman and Neil Young. Good old boys, both of them. Although Newman's appalling attack on people of diminutive stature was utterly disgraceful. And Young writing "Rockin' in the Free World" in suppoort of Donald Trump is staggering beyond believe. I hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don't need him around, anyhow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Incidentally, I don't know about the weather where anyone else lives, but what has happened down here is the winds have changed. Earlier today clouds rolled in from the north and it started to rain. It rained real hard and it rained for a real long time. (I really must cut down on my drinking. Too much tea is bad for one.)
It's Dominic Cummings' wife's sister's best friend's birthday on Sunday (apparently). They've organised a big party (also apparently). Once bitten, twice shy, presumably.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark G
Interesting slide from the press conference last night.
Attachment 8810
"Now - early Neil Young, Randy Newman, Dylan - obviously, Paddy McAloon, Gene Clark, (some)Bruce Hornsby"
Fro R'n'R straight to MOR. Did you miss the counterculture, Graham 😄
No Doors, Hendrix, Pink Floyd? Not even Iron Butterfly?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFRR58D1oW0&t=3230s
Interesting 1 hour interview with Karol Sikora.
An hour to say ‘lockdown was an overreaction’. Is the Prof actually Oracle?
I will try Veedon Fleece in the near future. Again, I will listen to it in its entirety before reaching an opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I never said Bookends is better than Bridge OTW, or A saucerful of secrets is better than WYWH. I was just pointing out they were albums of note that were released in 1968. As has been discussed, at length on this thread, you can't compare the Covd-19 figures from one country with another. Likewise, you can't compare an album from 1968 with one from 1970 or '75.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flem
In the interview with Prof Karol Sikora he says (at time 1:18) "In February, we could see it building up. I said it's not going to happen. Nothing's going to happen. It's all back to normal by Easter. And, of course, we know it's not back to normal." So, he's admitting that he got it wrong at the start.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
He also says (at time 3:00) "Whether the decisions at different time points are going to prove the correct ones - we won't really ever know." So, he's admitting that there's some uncertainty to contend with.
Given that Oracle never got anything wrong, and that he (or she) never saw uncertainty in anything (everything was always obviously, blindingly clear and deterministic to Oracle) then it seems pretty obvious to me that the Prof is NOT Oracle.
And, no, I didn't listen to the whole interview. I stopped listening shortly after one of the interviewers said (at time 1:36) "I said myself, it's just the flu". I'm afraid I simply wasn't open-minded enough to spend another 57 minutes listening to the rest of it.
Yeah, but Saucerful is fundamentally better due to the presence of Syd. WYWH is overblown pomp-rock.
It's been donkey's years since I listened to Saucerful, and I only very rarely listen to WYWH, so I'll own up to being on flimsy ground here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Mole
Neil Young didn't write "Rockin' in the Free World" in support of Donald Trump though. Trump used it for his campaign without Neil Young's permission.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flem
I saw Young in concert in Leeds four years ago, and when he introduced that song he began it with a very loud "f*** you Donald Trump!!"
He's currently suing Trump's campaign for the unlicensed use of his songs. From the case: "The [Trump] campaign has willfully ignored Young's requests to stop playing his songs despite knowing that a license is necessary.", "This complaint is not intended to disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens, who are free to support the candidate of their choosing. However, Plaintiff in good conscience cannot allow his music to be used as a 'theme song' for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate."
Besides, Rocking in the Free World was written over 30 years ago.
Just in case anyone missed it due to all the white noiseQuote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
Bill I think Flem might have been being ironic / sarcastic
The guy is an oncologist. Learned fella obviously but he treats people with cancer. He’s not a politician. He’s not an economist. He’s not a virologist. Why are the hipsters chatting with him?
Ah sorry. I'll go back to the dwindling running parts of the forum... :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
He’s a dry one is Flem
I always found Flem moist.....
Graham probably never even owned a pair of flared trousers :eek:.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Mole
Iron Butterfly, forgotten about them and enjoyed IGDV a lot - along with the rest :cool:.