426

(580 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Peatle Jville wrote:

Great choice TF  I have in last few weeks been listening to to my  old  Emerson, Lake & Palmer album Brain Salad Surgery. My 98 year old mother loves the song Jerusalem on it. Most of  my old record collection I have passed onto my younger family members but I have hung on to that one and a few others. I will never be politically correct and not talk about Christmas. Here in NZ it  is celebrated by people I know and mix with of of all religous and none religous  persuasion.

Cheers, Peatle ...I've also been catching up on some ELP lately. Great minds think alike / fools seldom differ ... pick one. smile For many of us 70's stoners, ELP gave us a first introduction to classical music. Their performance of "Pictures at an Exhibition" at the California Jam in 1974 left the audience "gob smacked" (as my Brit wife would say).     

427

(42 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Here's Italian prog band Barock Project, with their cover of Emerson Lake & Palmer's "Pirates" ... very ambitious, and very well done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xezeDAp1Yw     

428

(580 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Greg Lake    "I Believe in Father Christmas"    1975

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjggWxGYLdo

Aside of the cynical message in this song, it does highlight how much fantasy over shadows the root meanings of - not only Christmas - but so many other things in life. The song first appeared as a single, on a 45 RPM disk with "Humbug" on the flip side. It was co-written with Peter Sinfield, recorded in 1974, and finally released until November 1975. Greg admitted he was somewhat surprised at how popular it became, and also how so many interpreted it as an anti-religious song. He simply meant to write against the over commercialization of Christmas, and offered these thoughts in an interview with MOJO Magazine:

"I find it appalling when people say it's politically incorrect to talk about Christmas, you've got to talk about 'The Holiday Season'. Christmas was a time of family warmth and love. There was a feeling of forgiveness, acceptance. And I do believe in Father Christmas."

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ff5MJzk-sRY/ST_6nhk9GTI/AAAAAAAAAlo/9wQxvrSMLHs/s320/greglake1.jpg     

429

(7 replies, posted in Songwriting)

This is fantastic, Neo ... many thanks! I'm not a song writer, but do write a lot of poetry. I've always found it best not to force it, but using tools like your chart has will certainly stimulate the thought process. Great post ... thanks again!     

430

(8 replies, posted in Poems)

Excellent work, Peatle ... really stirs the imagination and some warm meditation. Although your Boxing Day is past, the sun is just rising on it here as I write. This time-line stuff can get a bit confusing, eh? Reminds me of the sketch with Brian Sergeant in "Flight of the Conchords", pretending to be the Prime Minister of New Zealand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L17nU78ADSU     

431

(7 replies, posted in Electric)

Congrats, Beamer ... nice looking Tele. I had an Ibanez "lawsuit era" Tele with single-coils pups in it a l-o-n-g- time ago, and it had a maple neck like yours. Lovely axe, dude!     

432

(7 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Dominoes here also, Bill ... is this the vid you were recommending?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQI3ePeIJiI

Greg was a singular talent throughout his career, and his singing of "Epitaph" and "Karn Evil 9" are some of my all-time favorites.     

433

(474 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Traditional    The Christmas Song / Let It Snow   (performed by Uros Baric)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJIyqy4D1W4

Something to help digest excessive quantities of turkey, potatoes, carrots, dressing, gravy, dinner rolls, cranberries, yams, peas, corn, squash, string beans, broccoli, pie, cake, shortbreads, fruit cake, and more, and more, and more ...     

434

(8 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Merry Christmas to everyone at Chordie, along with your families. Here's a favorite Christmas song of mine to go along with these greetings, and I hope others will post a favorite of theirs here as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unVBTnJaQwA

435

(18 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Looks like you two had a blast, Beamer ... you're obviously "into it", but Paul looks like he's about to doze off ... funny how a pic can capture a moment in time like that. Hope you guys enjoy many more great gigs together.     

436

(1,560 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Great track, BadEye ... Pete and Brownie look like a couple of farm hands at the lunch table, while Sonny's all spiffed up in his suit, like he's there to collect taxes. lol Great music!     

437

(6 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Just looked 'em up, Graham, and the 30-watt Laney seems perfectly suited for the uses you describe. Love the portability, and what a bargain you got!     

My 32-year-old son and I were having this deep discussion about music last evening, and trying to explain to each why we liked certain genres and didn't like others. Even within genres, we agreed that it can go from really good to really bad, so we also talked about why we felt this way about it also.

In a moment of transcendent enlightenment roll I summarized to him what I felt was missing in so much modern music: the musicians! That's right, the actual individuals who actually play musical instruments with some degree of skill, and can also write the music for their instruments to play.

What do you like or dislike about various music genres, or even the various eras of musical styles. And most importantly: why? 

439

(10 replies, posted in Songwriting)

You'll be sending me hate-mail for even saying this, but for whatever reason I thought of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" when I read this. tongue So that would be my only suggestion: at all costs, avoid having it sound like Mariah's song. Her voice reminds me of someone taking a cheese grater to a piece of angle iron ... your song deserves better.

440

(8 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Looks like you've got all the bases covered, Beamer. The only one in your chain I've tried is the Behringer Vintage Phaser, and I personally didn't care for it. I like getting gear as much as anyone, but I'd have to think your RP-30 would do everything you show here. If not, a compact multi-pedal (like a Zoom G3N) sells for well under $200, and there'd be a lot less cabling involved.

Just a personal opinion, and I again think you've covered off things quite well .. have at it, dude!     

441

(580 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Queen / Roger Taylor    "Tenement Funster"    Paris, 1994

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsqchpnrTcY

Although not really a Prog Rock song, I figured "Hey ... why not?" for this week. Roger didn't do much lead singing for Queen, 'cuz when you've got Freddie Mercury at the mike, it would be hard to get that starting position. Yet he certainly holds his own, and at times sounds like a younger Roger Daltry. When asked what a "tenement funster" was, Roger basically says it's a term he made up. Here's an excerpt from a Gold Mine Magazine interview in February 2015:

"GM: By the way, what exactly is a “Tenement Funster?” Inquiring minds want to know …

RT: (Laughs.) Well, it’s just an expression that I just sort of made up. It was like the prankster on the block, the naughty boy; you know what I mean. It was the good-time guy in the area. (Laughs.) I’ve never heard that term before of a “Tenement Funster,” so I sort of made it up."

The song was released in Queen's 1974 album "Sheer Heart Attack", and although this pic isn't of my album, I was lucky enough to get one of these red vinyl editions when it came out.

https://www.popsike.com/pix/20160118/191785761364.jpg     

442

(474 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Jason & Elysa Hochman    Rumba Flamenca    (original)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZk8DBSGua0

A lively piece by the husband & wife founders of the New York Guitar Academy, featuring Cordoba guitars (my favorite 6-string).

443

(9 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Magnificent work, Arkady ...excellent in fact. Ambient music (may I call yours that?) always stirs me, since my earlier days of following Tangerine Dream. My preferred way of listening to this is not as background music, but foreground music. Comfy chair, head back, eyes closed, and cranked up loud ... the total feel of the composition is all encompassing. Love your work, mate ... five stars!     

444

(5 replies, posted in Poems)

That's really quite special, Peatle ... very moving. Isn't it a privilege to know people who have the inner strength to roll with whatever comes their way? My condolences for the loss of your dear friend.     

445

(9 replies, posted in Songwriting)

That's some terrific writing, Beamer. It's a shame we can't see ahead as well as we can see back, but that's the mystery of life ... you've expressed it very well.     

446

(8 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Excellent music, Peatle ... thanks for introducing her to us. I did some reading about her online, and really appreciate her down-to-earth approach to her music, and life in general. It's also cool to hear the animals in the background, which I found out aren't dubbed in; they were on site while the recordings were being done.     

447

(12 replies, posted in Songwriting)

Very nicely done, TIG. This one takes me out of the materialistic hustle & bustle, and reminds me of the eternal truths upon which Christmas is founded.

448

(13 replies, posted in My local band and me)

So much appreciated, Peatle! Thanks, and Merry Christmas to yourself also. I'm sure I speak for the rest of the Chordie Universe, that we have all appreciated your music, your poetry, your humor, and the in-depth background you often provide us with about so much of the world's great music. You're truly deserving of "The Loremaster" title, and we're fortunate to have you among us.     

449

(10 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

Hi Lynne ... welcome to Chordie! I found this link to a song of that name with ukele chords, but I'm not certain if it's the one you're looking for:

https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/uke-songs/ … 26979.html

Closest thing I could find ... hope it's helpful.     

450

(1,560 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Another fantastic Blues Fix, Badeye ... thank you. Stevie Ray will surely go down in history as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. There's aren't too many who can match him for skill and passion ... really makes every song his own property.