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- Latest Member: Dae Lims
| May 08, 2024, 08:56:02 AM |
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Re: Elvis Presley
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on: December 07, 2023, 06:56:55 PM
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You're not alone. There are many people who didn't like the approach Luhrmann took. I love it, though. It's actually reminding of the way the gospels tell Jesus' story (not to be blasphemic): take certain elements, put them together in a new way to create a picture that may be not historically correct as such but realistic and accurate in it's impact. Take the sermon of the mount for example. That speech asawhole probably never took place. But the author took different sayings of Jesus that were handed down and composed this long and extraordinary homily that gets you even today and probably better shows what the teachings of Jesus were about than an actual account of every situation each part of this was said. So in the movie, Luhrman takes the show in Memphis on July 4th 1956. The stage appearance is pretty close to what we know of an Elvis show. He lets Elvis sing "Trouble" which at this point hadn't even been recorded. Nor was it ever performed live in the 50s. But the use of the song has a meaning here: Elvis is trouble. Trouble for the white nationalists who are portraited by George Wallace and his speech that gets cross played with Elvis' show. Never happened that way of course. But what an image to show the effect Elvis and music (a blues!) had. Then the way when pandemonium eruptsand Elvis is separated in a heavy guarded police car from his parents and his band. That's what happens to you if you get as big as Elvis - not only musically but culturally. Millions of people see you as the devil while just as many people look at you as their saviour (to keep it biblically). Elvis is too big for just another re-telling of his life. It wouldn't work with another subject. Then again there hasn't been a "regular" biopic of Elvis that was worth anything. As a Elvis fan I'm happy that we have this movie that paints the picture in a more stimulating (to me) way. As a theologian I'm fascinated how well this old way of storytelling works int his case. That said, everyone has his own taste and that's fine. You can't force anyone to like or dislike something. A few days ago, I got the RCA Album Collection box set...wow! I've always been a fan, but I only owned about a half dozen or so of his albums and had always been a little confused and intimidated by his catalog. Now, I've got it all, and all confusion and intimidation has been eliminated. The set is very high quality, IMO. Great book, fantastic packaging. I even like how they labeled each album/disc 1-60 to keep things organized. And you'd think the box would be huge, but it doesn't take up as much space as you'd think. Anyway, I expect to become an increasingly bigger fan of his in the coming weeks and months. I listened to a bunch of early '60s soundtrack albums yesterday for the first time and they were much better than I anticipated. I'm really going to love this!
That must be a really great box to own. Well, even the worst of the soundtracks may have a good song here and there. Also, time has been kind to some of them. A recording like "Puppet on a String" may have sounded out of place when it was released (1965) but nowadays one can appreciate it for what it is. But there definitely is a lot of trash on those albums. The soundtracks of the early 60s (let's say 'til '64) are even great in cases. I love Fun in Acapulco and Girls,Girls,Girls. |
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Brian Wilson - What I Really Want For Christmas
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on: December 06, 2023, 02:24:14 PM
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I was just going to write something about giving Brian's Christmas album a fresh listen this year and repeat again how it's usually due for a re-evaluation (or at least a re-listen) because it's so damned good as far as holiday albums go. Then it turns out I already did it here 6 years ago (and before that too) and what I wanted to say is already there! The only thing is the old playlist is defunct but this album is fairly easy to access and listen on any of the usual streams and to purchase a hard copy too. I still think it's an almost criminally overlooked and underrated Christmas album with some great sounds and performances, and it's worth a listen this year too among all the holiday music being spun. And as mentioned in the discussion above, some of the videos surrounding the release are definitely worth checking out too. Brian and band knocked this one out of the park, and why some of these tracks are not being spun on the 24/7 Christmas stations and streams more frequently is a mystery to me.   Yes, it is a great album imo. The first album Brian released after Smile and you can immediately hear that the burden was taken off of his shoulders by the way he sings (even better things where to come). It's interesting to note that - apart from his own compositions - Brian sticks to traditional Christmas songs instead of Pop or Rock songs. It's probably the kind of music that was played in the Wilson's house during the season. The bonus tracks are most welcome. "Joy to the World" is so beautiful. And although just a bonus track, it circles back to the new ending of "The Man with all the Toys". |
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Brian's official lead vocal on \
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on: November 28, 2023, 04:34:17 PM
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Who is singing the "it's happening again ..." section of You're Still a Mystery? It doesn't sound like any of the Beach Boys to me.
Could it be Andy Paley's voice?
That's Matt Jardine and Brian. It's indeed strange that Brian re-recorded his vocals. If it wasn't just for fun I guess he had an idea of releasing a Beach Boys abum and use some songs that featured Carl (which at this time were still quite fresh recordings). After all, Brian did hold songs like "Summer's gone" back for a last Beach Boys album - which would become TWGMTR - when he could've released them on a solo album. So something was on his mind even after Carl's death. It's Matt and Carl, not Brian. Brian recorded a vocal track for that part but it isn't used in the mix. Didn't know that. Thank you for clearing that up! |
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Brian's official lead vocal on \
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on: November 26, 2023, 08:06:08 PM
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Who is singing the "it's happening again ..." section of You're Still a Mystery? It doesn't sound like any of the Beach Boys to me.
Could it be Andy Paley's voice?
That's Matt Jardine and Brian. It's indeed strange that Brian re-recorded his vocals. If it wasn't just for fun I guess he had an idea of releasing a Beach Boys abum and use some songs that featured Carl (which at this time were still quite fresh recordings). After all, Brian did hold songs like "Summer's gone" back for a last Beach Boys album - which would become TWGMTR - when he could've released them on a solo album. So something was on his mind even after Carl's death. |
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Re: Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos
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on: November 11, 2023, 07:08:19 AM
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Restoring StaxBy Michael Graves On June 23, 2023, Craft Recordings released Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos. There are two stories within this monumental release; the first is the story of the Stax songwriters and performers, and the music they made. It’s the entire reason for this project. The second is the story of how this project came to be. There’s been so much great, insightful writing on the first story (Rolling Stone, Memphis Flyer, KCRW, New Yorker Magazine, Goldmine Magazine), not to mention Deanie Parker and Robert Gordan’s excellent album notes in the boxed set itself. But I wanted to shed a little light on my part of the second story, specifically the audio restoration and mastering side of things.https://www.osirisstudio.com/home/restoring-stax
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Re: The Beatles
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on: November 04, 2023, 09:43:16 AM
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Well, if you're happy with the recording, that's great. That's all that counts in the end. Personally I don't care very much for it. The AI work is impressive but well, it's just not a good song. One can't blame Lennon for the weak singing because he certainly didn't record this with an eye toward it being used as a master. The production is not quite up to my taste but I probably could live with it if the song was better. But this does not come close to the charmingly "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love". The song sounds more like something Lennon was just improvising and hadn't even finished.
The video basically tells the same story imo. The way the young Beatles are used looks very good but the rest has no emotion or meaning to me. Especially the parts of Ringo and Paul recording in the studio look like the typical pandemic home video.
I can see why they didn't finish the song in the 90s. Imo this was not a smart move in terms of the Beatles' legacy (although it probably will not have any influence on that). "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" were very good ending for the Beatles' recording career and while it is certainly nice for the fans to have this "Now and then", it feels like it does not come out of a natural and progressive way of thinking about music (as the Beatles' best stuff has done) but from a standpoint of "well, everybody does it, so let's do it as well".
Again, just my opinion. I don't wanna be a downer. If you like it, that's great.
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Re: The Beatles
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on: November 01, 2023, 12:49:49 PM
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To some degree I’ve lost interest in more Beatles products, which is crazy because I love them. I feel like I have all I need…on the other hand I am fascinated by all the unreleased beach boys that has come out
I'm not much of a Beatles fan but I think usually their products seem to be top quality and the PR is great. When it comes to this "new" song I don't know what to think. The idea is of course good but it has already be done with "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" (both of which I absolutely love). So it feels kinda like a rehash. Then again, from my non-fan perspective everything they do seems to be very tasteful and done with care (as opposed to say... the Beach Boys - it's a wonder C50 and TWGMTR turned out so beautiful) and therefor I am looking forward to the new recording. Probably won't have as much an impact to me as the mid-90s songs, though. Especially since I don't consider "Now & then" a particular good song. The Beatles - Now And Then - The Last Beatles Song (Short Film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APJAQoSCwuA |
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: 1974 is now up on my site
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on: October 31, 2023, 09:58:13 AM
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I would love to know what CSNY's reaction was. First your promoter has to convince you to let a band you don't want to be part of the program open for you and then during that one hour you let them have you get regularly (according to the reviews) put in your place...  Did they even share the stage for a couple of numbers near the end of the day? And whose guitar is Al playing on the picture from July 31st? Haven't seen him or Carl with that one before. That looks like one of Carl's usual Epiphone 12-string electrics, the Casino/335 style body with who knows what neck at that point since they tended to break and be replaced. It looks like the photo colors got washed out a bit, so the upper horn near the neck shows that it's a sunburst finish and the lower body appears to be in black and white due to the film. Maybe Ed Roach can shed some light on why the colors got washed out like that? It looks like the standard Epiphone 12-string (or Gibson, whatever year and incarnation it was/is) that the band had in its guitar arsenal for years. especially looking at the trapeze tailpiece. But Carl's 12-strings would go through neck changes so it's hard to tell from that shot. I could be wrong. Thanks! Al should've teamed up with John Fogerty as California's Famous Flanell Factory. |
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: 1974 is now up on my site
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on: October 30, 2023, 10:30:31 AM
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I would love to know what CSNY's reaction was. First your promoter has to convince you to let a band you don't want to be part of the program open for you and then during that one hour you let them have you get regularly (according to the reviews) put in your place... Did they even share the stage for a couple of numbers near the end of the day? And whose guitar is Al playing on the picture from July 31st? Haven't seen him or Carl with that one before. |
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Re: Bo Diddley R.I.P
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on: October 24, 2023, 09:29:51 AM
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Bo Diddley - Legend of - Intro & Full movie ( feat. Marshall Chess interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIx7jzsWCq0The Legend of Bo Diddley produced by Marshall Chess in 1966 with film makers Gary Sherman & Peter Weiner of IIT & University of Chicago.
This is the most unique recorded documented movie of Bo Diddley recording at the famous 2120 Sth Michigan Ave., Chicago Chess studios.
Also featuring Ron Malo legendary Chess engineer, Gene Barge and key Chess artist staff.
Listen to the intro by Marshall Chess how the movie was made.
See footage of Bo Diddley, the Gems, Minnie Riperton and his earliest memories of Chicago and Chess Records founders Len & Phil Chess.
Introduction produced by Marshall Chess & Richard Ganter.
Film conversion & Edit by Induna Entec Productions.
Courtesy of Marshall Chess.
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Gibson Factory Tour Documentary From 1967
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on: October 18, 2023, 08:11:11 AM
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Just came across this. We Found A Gibson Factory Tour Documentary From 1967 In the fall of 2020, Gibson unearthed an unmarked reel while digging through vault archives. Intrigued by the discovery, Gibson TV producers took that reel and had it digitally remastered. The footage you are about to see was shot at Gibson's Factory in 1967. It has never been seen until now.
This documentary, filmed in 1967 shows you the sheer amount of craftsmanship, attention to detail and care that went into, and still goes into making a Gibson guitar. A process that has only been improved with each passing year.
In this lost Gibson factory documentary, we get a closer look into how Gibson guitars were made back in the 60s, the process of choosing tonewoods and the origins of the F-shape soundholes featured in ES and semi-hollow body Gibson guitars.
Watch as Gibson luthiers create a Gibson guitar step by step, choosing tonewoods, shaping acoustic and electric guitars, and installing mother-of-pearl inlays. Then get a closer look into the finishing process and the installation of electronics, right down to the matching of humbuckers with guitars in this never before seen documentary.
Eagle-eyed viewers will also spot the Gibson amplifier factory line, responsible for creating some of the world's most sought-after amplifiers, sadly, no longer in production…right now.
Chances are, if you own a Gibson guitar from 1967 - your guitar could be in this lost Gibson documentary! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-zOaOYB120 |
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