Old Man Riva

Given that this was his farewell I think it's a beautiful album. The sound is so warm and embracing, comforting even. It feels quite an uplifting album in many ways. The sound of a man saying his goodbyes in a way befitting his unique and wonderful talent..

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1452514191' post='2950599'] Starman...mainly because it takes me back to 1972 every time I hear it. And as for that incredible Top of the Pops performance... [/quote] Today it's this for me also. The moment a black & white world turned vivid Technicolor and things were never quite the same again.. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v342TST9tFw[/media]

Always liked this from the Rio album.. http://youtu.be/25m4P72FK6E I think the bass line was actually played by Mark King using a plectrum belonging to Derek Forbes, along to a sequenced track put together by Rick Wakeman from Keith Emerson's sweat.. John Taylor was too busy applying blusher and chasing women to actually take part in proceedings.

[quote name='Panamonte' timestamp='1452353579' post='2949199'] Listening to it now for the 4th time. He's still got it. Can't believe that it's 43 years since I bought my first Bowie album (Aladdin Sane). [/quote] Same here. Aladdin Sane bought from saved up pocket money and a little help from my dad. (Love the 'Overplaying since 1977' line btw..!) [quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1452407811' post='2949626'] Not related to the album which I've yet to hear, but: I went to the Bowie V&A Exhibition which was at Melbourne before Xmas. It told me something I never realised - he was hugely important in my musical life, but only in a couple of periods. The rest of his stuff left me cold. I would be amazed given the changes (huh?) he's been through that there are any true lifetime fans who've connected with everything. Sorry to derail... [/quote] I went to the exhibition when it was in London and it reinforced how important he's been musically for a large chunk of my life, esp. the formative years. Everything from Space Oddity to Let's Dance meant something, even in some small way. I got a bit choked up at the exhibition as I was able to relate the music to so many good experiences when I was a kid/younger person. In terms of connecting with everything, not a chance. Tonight was such a let down (apart from Loving the Alien the rest left me cold - and really, why would anyone - even the Genius Jones - take on God Only Knows?!). Never Let Me Down was very 80s but not in a good way - and, again, deciding to get Mickey Rourke rapping on a track may have been a stretch too far. Then there was the Glass Spider tour (Spinal Tap II without Messrs St. Hubbins, Tufnel, Smalls et al) and to top it all the Sound+Vision stripped down/Adrian Belew show. Didn't really like the Earthling direction but admired him for sticking his handsome head into the world of drum and bass rather than going after the easy wins. All that being said, he's still the musician that has influenced me the most in life (and whose music means the most to me) and the fact that he's still making music that challenges us all these years later is testament to his brilliance. Blackstar gets its first listen chez Riva this afternoon with a nice cuppa and an open mind (sort of!).. can't wait. [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1452416236' post='2949658'] Very true. I've never bonded with the Black Tie, White Noise album - it just sounds too shiny! [/quote] I've struggled for years to describe that album. "Shiny" is perfect!

Billy Connolly last night at Hammersmith Apollo. Very frail, very very funny..

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1452367925' post='2949367'] The mind boggles to wonder which bass guitarists wouldn't benefit from some coaching by Bernie Edwards. [/quote] Indeed. John Taylor was a huge Bernard Edwards fan. I think all the "John Taylor doesn't actually play the bass lines" stuff began when, as producer, Bernard Edwards added a couple of bits of bass to Get It On when putting together the Power Station album. I'm always impressed with any musician who puts the song first.. and why not utilise the talents of one of the best funk bass players ever to add to the song in the way that Bernard Edwards did. On a similar theme I always liked Curt Smith's playing in Tears For Fears but he stood aside to allow Pino to do his thing on Badman's Song for the sake of the track.

If that's the genuine track from Rio then it's John Taylor. 100% In a previous life I was once in a band signed to Duran Durans' managers' publishing company (Tritec) so know a bit of the background of what went on in those early days. The John Taylor/Bernard Edwards thing often comes up due to the recording of the Power Station album and the documentary of the making of the album showing John being coached (produced) by Bernard Edwards - "Ha, JT can't play, it was Bernard wot dun it.. etc." which is nonsense. A number of the 80s pop acts were terrific players - Duran, Culture Club, Nick Kershaw, Kajagoogoo to name but a few - but were/are scrutinised to the point of disbelieving they were actually any good because guys who make pop records can't play, right? Wrong.

Someone on here (Bubinga?) pointed this lot previously, I think, and I stumbled across them again this afternoon so have spent most of the afternoon trawling YouTube for their stuff... they throw out a lovely sound - bits of Bill Withers in there along with Greg Allman, it's been perfect for this afternoon. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxyOSov1ESI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxyOSov1ESI[/url]

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1450437088' post='2932756']Jaco was denied entry to a nightclub because he was drunk. According to the bouncer, Jaco turned aggressive and started to hit him. One retaliatory punch knocked him to the floor and it was hitting the pavement that fractured his skull. The bouncer was charged with 2nd degree murder but convicted of involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 22 months but released after 8 months (4 of which had been served before trial). The sentence given is similar to those received in the UK for comparable incidents. [/quote] I thought it was generally accepted that the bouncer (Luc Havan) was incredibly fortunate (if that's the right word) to get off so lightly, given the extent of Jaco's injuries vs. Luc Havan's 'one punch' line..

Bought a Fender Roadworn Jazz off Mike/Pestie today. Absolute pleasure to deal with - an all round true gent. Thanks Mike!

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1450290876' post='2931451'] Hard to be objective cos theyre all played to death. Aint been a good new one for years. Worst has to be Keefs solo attempt at Run Rudoph Run from the 70s. [/quote] The Chuck Berry version came on the radio today - sounded great, grooved along like a good un..

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1450035875' post='2929064'] Sly Stone at a time too. Bobby Vega is proof, if proof was needed, that pick playing can be awesome! [/quote] This is the talented Mr Vega with Sly... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Amv2QjE3M"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Amv2QjE3M[/url]

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1450017665' post='2928798'] +1 posted this one earlier in the thread HYeah == [/quote] Apologies, that'll teach me to pay attention. Anyway, it's good enough to be mentioned twice!

Portentous, simple and effective, eh? This does the job perfectly.. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsSoDsxB7Yo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsSoDsxB7Yo[/url]

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1449926078' post='2928043'] He’s wearing the tea cosy rather than the headband, so good choice… From the sublime to the ridiculous – here’s a couple of offerings from Pete Way…! [/quote] I always assumed Paul Chapman had played the intro to Anyday?!

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1449924168' post='2928012'] There are a lot of people who would be on that list, many of them already mentioned. Many of them were playing in pub rock bands & just jumped on the punk bandwagon when they saw there might be a bit of cash in it. [/quote] Indeed. And a number of the players mentioned and their fellow band members were fans of the bands they were supposedly rallying against - The Pistols liked Rod & the Faces and The Who; Mick Jones was a fan of Zeppelin and Mott the Hoople - which is maybe where Danny Baker's notion comes from? But that's probably one for another day!

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1449922909' post='2927990'] If you buy into the idea that punk was a reaction against the overblown musical virtuosity of bands like Led Zep,The Who & Pink Floyd in favour of a bunch of kids picking up instruments and playing their first gigs a few days later then The Police probably don't belong. I'd definitely allow them in as part of the 'New Wave' though. I suspect that like most things musical labels are largely down to personal interpretation. [/quote] Danny Baker would argue that the main reaction was against the likes of ELO, Queen, Sad Cafe, Rod Stewart (in his Britt period) et al who were all in the charts at the time. The Police in with new wave is a valid point, though as someone else said it does feel slightly bandwagon-y. Their label, A&M, marketed them as new wave, also launching Squeeze under the same banner (both acts had singles on coloured vinyl at the time, which denoted a certain 'edginess' and added to any new wave credentials!)..

Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Norman Watt-Roy The Ruts - Segs

So in summary, Your Honour... It is entirely possible not to like a musician/artist and their music/playing and still have the wherewithal to respect their talent. It should also be entirely possible to state that one does not like a certain musician/artist without being made to feel that this opinion is somehow not worthy (though when offering such an opinion it may be better to try and find a better/different construct than, say, "aimless noodling" or "Emperor's new clothes"..). Straight from the court of Judge Fudge..

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1449859027' post='2927625'] Bobby Vega is fantastic and I bet he loves both McCartney and Pastorius too. [/quote] Do you know what, I think he genuinely does.. Mr V certainly references the "Jaco tone" when he's talking about his love for the old Acoustic 360 gear. If ever a bassist deserved to be showered with praise and lavished with riches it's Mr Vega.

Always loved this as an intro, great fun to play along to also... Tom Hamilton is a tasty player often overlooked.. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion http://youtu.be/ymbNKQWYKRM

Here are three that can get overlooked but are well worth having a listen to... all lovely in their own unique way, IMHO. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qpNKq2cZBI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qpNKq2cZBI[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KvM2T40RQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KvM2T40RQ[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hqyfOSXYQc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hqyfOSXYQc[/url]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1449687166' post='2926016'] Max Bennett plays bass on 'Song for Sharon'. [/quote] ...and what a marvellous job he does too. (always had it down as a fretted P-bass).. And then back to Wilton Felder on Don't Interrupt the Sorrow.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1449528845' post='2924471'] I recently discovered Herbie Hancock. The stuff he did with his Headhunters band is fantastic, it's very funky and has some great electric baselines, although it's rarely,if ever the lead instrument. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAlejqkd-gg [/quote] An album well worth getting hold of is the Fat Albert Rotunda LP. From 1969 it was originally written as the music to a Bill Cosby TV show. Funky, jazzy, cool and groovy it tends to get overlooked when HH's output gets discussed. Fat Mama is ace..