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Post by THE BEAST on Jul 2, 2024 12:49:48 GMT
Carole King was an established songwriter before finally getting behind the microphone herself. Born with perfect pitch she learned the piano from the age of 4. At High School she made demo records with Paul Simon and dated Neil Sedaka (his hit “O Carol” was about her). At college she met and married Gerry Goffin. Carol got pregnant so they left college and got jobs but kept writing songs in the evenings. She was still a teenager in 1960 when their song “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by the Shirelles became the first #1 record by a black girl group. They ditched their jobs and began writing full time. In 68 they divorced and Carole moved to Laurel Canyon. She recorded with a band but was not willing to perform live. Eventually James Taylor persuaded her to record and perform her own stuff and played guitar on her first album “Writer”. This was Carole’s “Road to Damascus” moment. The first album got good reviews and some sales but she found she really enjoyed the process. She then devoted several months to writing new material and jamming with JT and Joni Mitchell to test the songs out. She recorded them in January 71 and the next month “Tapestry” was released spawning 2 singles that both went to #1. Tapestry itself spent 15 weeks at the top of the US album charts and remained in the chart for the next 6 years. Yes, Tapestry is one of the very best albums of all time and yes, I am selecting a track from it because back then and still today, the words mean so much. I give you - So Far Away. that was such a wonderful album Thank you mate
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Post by threehundred on Jul 2, 2024 14:29:05 GMT
I'm glad you liked it, the man was a legend… I can't help wondering what he would have been like if he been able to stay clean. probably would have sounded so different we'd never of heard of him! He's done a lot of stuff, you really might like the stuff he did with Isobel Campbell, some of it was sublime, it was such a surprise when these 2 partnered up, everyone thought he would destroy her but actually she turned out to be the beast in the relationship and he turned out to be the pussycat… Anyway, surprising or not, the stuff they created was really interesting and they blend beautifully vocally. Just dip your toes in the waters of his records, he did quite a few, if you find a track you don't like, move on, you will find one you do or the time after. I’ll deffo be checking him out. To be honest, I’d not heard of him (although obviously aware of QOTSA). Just Wiki’d and I can’t believe the Isobel Campbell he teamed up with was ex Belle and Sebastian… that does indeed seem a strange partnership. I love B&S, so will start there…
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Post by THE BEAST on Jul 2, 2024 16:01:18 GMT
I'm glad you liked it, the man was a legend… I can't help wondering what he would have been like if he been able to stay clean. probably would have sounded so different we'd never of heard of him! He's done a lot of stuff, you really might like the stuff he did with Isobel Campbell, some of it was sublime, it was such a surprise when these 2 partnered up, everyone thought he would destroy her but actually she turned out to be the beast in the relationship and he turned out to be the pussycat… Anyway, surprising or not, the stuff they created was really interesting and they blend beautifully vocally. Just dip your toes in the waters of his records, he did quite a few, if you find a track you don't like, move on, you will find one you do or the time after. I’ll deffo be checking him out. To be honest, I’d not heard of him (although obviously aware of QOTSA). Just Wiki’d and I can’t believe the Isobel Campbell he teamed up with was ex Belle and Sebastian… that does indeed seem a strange partnership. I love B&S, so will start there… yeah, that's why it's weird… The weirder thing though is that it works!
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Post by spot51 on Jul 3, 2024 6:45:13 GMT
Leaping forward two decades we are now in the 90s. Yours truly has survived a mid-life crisis and is now in a position with responsibilities for staff and the office, car, and other financial sector benefits gifted to Boomers. I also had a Portsmouth season ticket.
Don’t misunderstand; I had been a Scummer for 20 years and this ST was for the BSO Classical Season at the Guildhall. I was going to more classical concerts now but Drew and I would also choose other gigs to attend each year.
I was still exploring different musical styles and had begun looking into World Music and it was through this I discovered a unique talent from. of all places, Ontario. Born in Manitoba, Loreena McKennitt wanted to be a Vet but while at the local University in Winnipeg became infatuated with folk music. She was already an accomplished pianist but her folk journey took her to Ireland from where she returned with a Celtic harp and taught herself to play it.
She gave up her studies and moved to Stratford, Ontario and began working on her first album Elemental (1985). Rather than just write songs, she developed themes for each of her albums while continuing her research into the roots of Celtic music. She spent time in Spain where the traditions of Arab music had been incorporated then eastward to Greece, Turkey and eventually the Silk Road. She wove these themes and traditions into her music: as well as putting her own spin on existing songs (e.g. Bonnie Portmore).
I came upon her work about the time her 4th album The Visit came out in 1991 and the song I have chosen comes from that album. My previous two videos were deliberately chosen as the pure, unembellished original tracks. Loreena deserves to be seen in action alongside her long time colleagues playing live at the Alhambra Palace in Granada. This is The Old Ways.
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Post by threehundred on Jul 3, 2024 10:07:13 GMT
Leaping forward two decades we are now in the 90s. Yours truly has survived a mid-life crisis and is now in a position with responsibilities for staff and the office, car, and other financial sector benefits gifted to Boomers. I also had a Portsmouth season ticket. Don’t misunderstand; I had been a Scummer for 20 years and this ST was for the BSO Classical Season at the Guildhall. I was going to more classical concerts now but Drew and I would also choose other gigs to attend each year. I was still exploring different musical styles and had begun looking into World Music and it was through this I discovered a unique talent from. of all places, Ontario. Born in Manitoba, Loreena McKennitt wanted to be a Vet but while at the local University in Winnipeg became infatuated with folk music. She was already an accomplished pianist but her folk journey took her to Ireland from where she returned with a Celtic harp and taught herself to play it. She gave up her studies and moved to Stratford, Ontario and began working on her first album Elemental (1985). Rather than just write songs, she developed themes for each of her albums while continuing her research into the roots of Celtic music. She spent time in Spain where the traditions of Arab music had been incorporated then eastward to Greece, Turkey and eventually the Silk Road. She wove these themes and traditions into her music: as well as putting her own spin on existing songs (e.g. Bonnie Portmore). I came upon her work about the time her 4th album The Visit came out in 1991 and the song I have chosen comes from that album. My previous two videos were deliberately chosen as the pure, unembellished original tracks. Loreena deserves to be seen in action alongside her long time colleagues playing live at the Alhambra Palace in Granada. This is The Old Ways. That’s beautiful, Spot. Not what I would normally listen to at all, but absolutely lovely. Blimey - you’re really taking us on a journey this week!
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Post by THE BEAST on Jul 3, 2024 10:07:16 GMT
sorry people, forgot to post my last track of the week. I was so sad when he died, he was such a great voice, but he stays with me in a lot of his work with a lot of other people, screaming trees, QOTS, his work with Isobel Campbell and so many other contributions to music both on his own or as collaborations with others. He was a tragic yet majestic figure and I adore his voice… so with no further preamble I give you Mark Lanegan and the wonderful track "One Hundred Days" This is bloody fabulous! BTW, drop me a line if you want to hear some of his stuff without committing to buying, I might be up to lend you some if I can figure out a way of sending large files
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Post by threehundred on Jul 3, 2024 10:29:31 GMT
BTW, drop me a line if you want to hear some of his stuff without committing to buying, I might be up to lend you some if I can figure out a way of sending large files Thanks, Beast - I’ve been down a bit of a YouTube rabbit hole and ordered Ballad of the Broken Seas - CD arrives tomorrow… Always loved Isobel’s voice and the two voices mesh together perfectly
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Post by spot51 on Jul 3, 2024 10:43:16 GMT
Leaping forward two decades we are now in the 90s. Yours truly has survived a mid-life crisis and is now in a position with responsibilities for staff and the office, car, and other financial sector benefits gifted to Boomers. I also had a Portsmouth season ticket. Don’t misunderstand; I had been a Scummer for 20 years and this ST was for the BSO Classical Season at the Guildhall. I was going to more classical concerts now but Drew and I would also choose other gigs to attend each year. I was still exploring different musical styles and had begun looking into World Music and it was through this I discovered a unique talent from. of all places, Ontario. Born in Manitoba, Loreena McKennitt wanted to be a Vet but while at the local University in Winnipeg became infatuated with folk music. She was already an accomplished pianist but her folk journey took her to Ireland from where she returned with a Celtic harp and taught herself to play it. She gave up her studies and moved to Stratford, Ontario and began working on her first album Elemental (1985). Rather than just write songs, she developed themes for each of her albums while continuing her research into the roots of Celtic music. She spent time in Spain where the traditions of Arab music had been incorporated then eastward to Greece, Turkey and eventually the Silk Road. She wove these themes and traditions into her music: as well as putting her own spin on existing songs (e.g. Bonnie Portmore). I came upon her work about the time her 4th album The Visit came out in 1991 and the song I have chosen comes from that album. My previous two videos were deliberately chosen as the pure, unembellished original tracks. Loreena deserves to be seen in action alongside her long time colleagues playing live at the Alhambra Palace in Granada. This is The Old Ways. That’s beautiful, Spot. Not what I would normally listen to at all, but absolutely lovely. Blimey - you’re really taking us on a journey this week! Call me an Old Perv but I can't think of much more erotic than a pretty woman playing cello in a short skirt...
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Post by Mandochris on Jul 3, 2024 22:19:03 GMT
Guys, I'm afraid I'm not going to be ready again for next week. Can someone jump in? I'll give a wave when I'll be ready and,see then when I can take my turn..
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Post by spot51 on Jul 4, 2024 8:09:39 GMT
If another songwriter deserves the accolade awarded to Bob Dylan it has to be Mary Chapin Carpenter. I fortunately discovered her relatively early in her career and marvelled at how a girl from Princeton, New Jersey and 6 years my junior could get inside my head and put my thoughts into words. I have virtually all her albums and there is not a single duff song on any of them!
I first saw MCC (and tomorrow’s pick) performing on BBC’s excellent Transatlantic Sessions celebrating the way folk traditions from Britain took root and flourished in the Americas. I finally got to see her perform with her long-time band at Basingstoke a few years back. She was just as genuine live as she sounds on record.
Mary’s ability to keep producing exceptional words and music, album after album is special. Some of her songs reflect real or imagined experiences, others expose the issues we face living our lives in the modern world or examine human relationships in a brutally frank way.
The song I’ve chosen is one I often use to motivate myself - and others. When my work team took a day out to brainstorm how we could be more effective I played this to them and gave each a copy of Mary’s album (Come On, Come On) from which it comes. Released in 92, it was her best selling (quadruple platinum) record.
Things turned out nicely for my team who were soon managing major improvement initiatives across the organisation. Mary made many more beautifully crafted records but, as yet, her magical words have still to be rewarded with Alfred’s Gong.
Never forget - Everything we got, we got The Hard Way!
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Post by threehundred on Jul 4, 2024 8:58:00 GMT
If another songwriter deserves the accolade awarded to Bob Dylan it has to be Mary Chapin Carpenter. I fortunately discovered her relatively early in her career and marvelled at how a girl from Princeton, New Jersey and 6 years my junior could get inside my head and put my thoughts into words. I have virtually all her albums and there is not a single duff song on any of them! I first saw MCC (and tomorrow’s pick) performing on BBC’s excellent Transatlantic Sessions celebrating the way folk traditions from Britain took root and flourished in the Americas. I finally got to see her perform with her long-time band at Basingstoke a few years back. She was just as genuine live as she sounds on record. Mary’s ability to keep producing exceptional words and music, album after album is special. Some of her songs reflect real or imagined experiences, others expose the issues we face living our lives in the modern world or examine human relationships in a brutally frank way. The song I’ve chosen is one I often use to motivate myself - and others. When my work team took a day out to brainstorm how we could be more effective I played this to them and gave each a copy of Mary’s album (Come On, Come On) from which it comes. Released in 92, it was her best selling (quadruple platinum) record. Things turned out nicely for my team who were soon managing major improvement initiatives across the organisation. Mary made many more beautifully crafted records but, as yet, her magical words have still to be rewarded with Alfred’s Gong. Never forget - Everything we got, we got The Hard Way! Not quite my bag today, but lovely to hear a Rickenbacker!
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Post by channonite on Jul 4, 2024 20:56:31 GMT
Guys, I'm afraid I'm not going to be ready again for next week. Can someone jump in? I'll give a wave when I'll be ready and,see then when I can take my turn.. I have my five ready to go and should be able to do next week.
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Post by spot51 on Jul 5, 2024 8:23:11 GMT
For Friday I'm calling up one of the Big Beasts of Bluegrass. Tim O'Brien is also a music historian so was one of the first Americans invited by Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham to participate in the Atlantic Sessions project. Can’t remember how it came up but I must’ve mentioned him to Mandochris who gave me chapter and verse on his long career in Bluegrass and recommended both solo and collaborative albums to listen to. I have some records from earlier in his career but most, if not all, of his output since 2000. I was hugely impressed when Chris finally got Tim and his band over to play La Roche last Summer and wished circumstances might have allowed me to see it. Like most of the writers this week, Tim writes about anything and everything and his sharp mind and wonderful musicianship produce a fiery cocktail of wonderful songs. Today’s track comes from the 2010 album Chicken and Egg. I just love this. It will be the last thing played as my coffin disappears behind the velvet curtain at Whippingham Crematorium. It is called The Space Between the Lines.
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Post by threehundred on Jul 5, 2024 8:50:53 GMT
For Friday I'm calling up one of the Big Beasts of Bluegrass. Tim O'Brien is also a music historian so was one of the first Americans invited by Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham to participate in the Atlantic Sessions project. Can’t remember how it came up but I must’ve mentioned him to Mandochris who gave me chapter and verse on his long career in Bluegrass and recommended both solo and collaborative albums to listen to. I have some records from earlier in his career but most, if not all, of his output since 2000. I was hugely impressed when Chris finally got Tim and his band over to play La Roche last Summer and wished circumstances might have allowed me to see it. Like most of the writers this week, Tim writes about anything and everything and his sharp mind and wonderful musicianship produce a fiery cocktail of wonderful songs. Today’s track comes from the 2010 album Chicken and Egg. I just love this. It will be the last thing played as my coffin disappears behind the velvet curtain at Whippingham Crematorium. It is called The Space Between the Lines. If I could hit “like” twenty times, I would. You’ve mentioned this track on other threads before (and referenced your funeral too, if I’m not mistaken). I checked it out then on your recommendation and I love it. B.T.W. - my “last song” is I’ll Fly Away. I love the version by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch on the “O Brother” soundtrack.
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Post by spot51 on Jul 6, 2024 9:29:47 GMT
True story.
When I thought of my theme for this week and began selecting videos and writing commentary there was a specific MCC track I absolutely loved which illustrates the poetry of her lyrics. I did not know what it was called so eventually chose another song instead.
I found it Wednesday while listening to her on Spotify as I completed the Austria v Turkey report. I’d already written the blurb for The Hard Way so I’m going to “do a Mandochris” and include a 6th vid this week. This song is called ”iceland” from the Age of Miracles album and I’m including the lyrics which are just fabulous. How can this not be worth a Nobel Prize FFS?
Last night I dreamed of icy cliffs Standing on the precipice I leaned to see just where the edge would take me The wind came up, I closed my eyes I heard a shout and to my surprise A hand reached out and pulled me back to safety
What's a hand, what's a dream Who can say what it means When everything that you know Can disappear Don't look back, the spirits cry Just be glad to be alive Everything that you love is right here Everything that you love:
Life feels smaller than this stone Worn smooth inside my palm I keep it like a charm inside my pocket I keep thinking I'll flame out Leave no one with a doubt That I was meant to fire like a rocket
What's a stone, what's a flame There's always someone else to blame When everything that you know disappears Don't look back the spirits cry Just be glad to be alive Everything that you need is right here Everything that you need:
When I'm left here on the shore The ancient basalt moor Will beckon me to sleep among its heather Who's not tempted to fold in So that sleep may come again Where the fire and the ice hide their treasure
Everything that you love Everything that you need
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