Bruce Springsteen new albúm !

[Steven]

Hi Kush,

I'd guess that Richie still has his beard. You too have a happy 4th.

[Diane]

Max is here all right, Kush. Who's Conan?

Glad you're liking some of Tell No Lies. Some tracks have less going on. Banjul Girl is different again, with a Cuban flavour. Fulani Coochie Man - yes cool isn't it. Sahara is my fave track. I'll come back later on Ghost of and Two Rivers, but just to say - if you're unfamiliar with Robert Plant, the links I put up earlier aren't representative. Robert was lead singer with the greatest blues-rock band ever - Led Zepellin. Here is a quick glimpse back over his lengthy career - all three songs here originally played with Led Zep, but only last clip with the band (they split in 1980):


No Quarter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr2PDWruNy8:

You Shook Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNWsKRNR78

Since I've been Lovin You:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la42R5MX_PE

"Wild Thing"
is a campy, fun song in the same category, i.m.o., as "Louie Louie."

Yes it's one of those standard much-covered songs, must be formulaic in some way. (Led Zep did a version of Louie Louie early in the 70's and there's a more recent nice recording on Robert Plant's 66 to Timbuktu album.)

But Max is here. That's what matters.

[Steven]

"Yes it's one of those standard much-covered songs, must be formulaic in some way. (Led Zep did a version of Louie Louie early in the 70's and there's a more recent nice recording on Robert Plant's 66 to Timbuktu album.)

But Max is here. That's what matters."

Hi,

Diane, probably the same kind of formulaic fun hook as in "Wooly Bully." Now that you mentioned it, I do
recall that Led Zep cover. Regards to Max. Someone I know just jetted back to the States after seeing/hearing
him too.

[Kush]

Hi Steven,

I get confused between Richie Havens, Van Halen??, Vedder?? and one more guy I cant remember.

Diane...Conan O Brien is the late night comedian where Max Weinberg does his thing. He (i.e. Conan) recently took over from Jay Leno Tonite Show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B3vI0d_n0c (they talk about BS here)

[Diane]

Yes don't suppose there's any chance of a link, Steven, for Richie Valens;-)

I will give both of your regards to Max. But then again, in the time honoured fashion around here, should I get close enough for that, I may nick his glass instead. Or his drum sticks, or something.

Here's something funny (hope no-one finds it offensive):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGJpu5AiYoE

ps, Just one more RP link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M_7rzz_Cbc This is a fantastic interpretation of When the Levee Breaks, imho. (JA on the end there.)

[Steven]

"Yes don't suppose there's any chance of a link, Steven, for Richie Valens;-)"

Hi Diane,

Richie Havens made reference to everyone being linked, i.e. "connected." And I say we're
still connected to Valens too, with his music that continues on despite Valens' passing away.
Got to get to those computer links later on. Something to look forward to.

[Kush]

Nice one Diane - When the levee breaks. He has a good voice but not typically a blues voice which tend to be rough. But it offers an alternate. I always say Springsteen could make a really great blues album if he puts his mind to it.
The comedy was hilarious but I think Adolf would have considered Springsteen as a degenerate like he did the Weimar era musicians and songwriters.

[Diane]

He has a good voice but not typically a blues voice which tend to be rough.

Yeah I guess you're right there - that never occurred to me (although on my scratchy old LPs his voice always sounded pretty rough). There is an edge there tho'. Check out Robert's interpretation of TVZ's Nothin' from Raising Sand, a joint album he did last year with Alison Krauss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxPfc9A3BlU (album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uco5OEdY8o (live)

Springsteen could make a really great blues album if he puts his mind to it.

Oh yes. He could. We wish.

Steven, I looked up Richie Havens, but I'd love to see a link from you. Not that sort of link. You know the sort. Did you once have a link problem, and have to give them up?

K, I was preparing to tell you how I couldn't get on with Two Rivers - it was more challenging than Kinsmen. But I've slowly got into it, like when you gradually immerse yourself in very cold water, and I am once again wowed by this totally different musical experience. Soon I might be able to listen to the entire thing without flinching. I have to listen to it in a state of alert. Higher than blue. Cheers.

Hold tight we're off to Ireland for more Bruce.

[Kush]

Enjoy the concert Diane.

Fo' sho' Two Rivers is much less accessible than Kinsmen, it was only when I heard them live I really got into it. But Live was really awesome - sounds from all directions floating in and out.
I have heard Robert Plant/Alison Krauss Nothin' when it came out, didnt like it much but I always change my mind about these things. It is certainly different so probably just a matter of getting used to it.

p.s. JTs (TVZ's son) version of Nothin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcnC8293J_4

[Steven]

Hi Diane,

The link issue remains. New computer is here but don't want to go dial-up with it. Broadband coverage
here recently became cost-prohibitive for downloads of concert footage. The carrier I looked into charges
a fee for excess over an allowable per month usage. I'm looking forward to getting to the links you
and Kush have recently provided, at the library or other non-home area, hopefully, soon. And I'll be
celebrating on-line when I can finally enter the computer age competently enough to view Youtube, etc.
from home.

So, to get back to Richie. In lieu of links, here are some of my favorite songs: "High Flyin' Bird,"
"Drown In My Own Tears," "Morning, Morning," "Just Like A Woman," "Freedom," "Here Comes
The Sun." On his latest CD, he masterfully covers "Won't Get Fooled Again." Richie Havens was the opening
performer at the original Woodstock. He played there for 2 hours and 45 minutes.

[Steven]

Hi Diane and Kush,

Got to view/hear the links tonight. The Adolf link was very funny, i.m.o., in a "Producers" kind of way.
Went to the links at the library. I laughed out loud, more than once.

The "Nothin" cover by TVZ's son was delivered with integrity and probably couldn't be topped by anyone.
The Plant/Krauss covers were interesting, i.m.o. The Cheb Mami and Susheela Raman link sounded
good, though I've no idea what the song's translation would be. There was a hasidic, eastern european
flavor to it, I thought, at a few points. Just a couple of responses to the links.

[Diane]

I am clean out of superlatives to describe Springsteen's concerts. What a night in Dublin on Sunday. The atmosphere was electric. This time we had Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Sherry Darling (real pleased to hear that cos that's one of my fave 'happy' songs of all time). They did Trapped (again), plus Promised Land. Prove it all Night. The Rising. Youngstown. Lonesome Day. Glory Days. All perfect. As in Hyde Park, the crowd was instinctively silent when necessary - which this time was during Jungleland (again), and 41 Shots (how good it was to hear that live). There were only a couple of songs out of over three hours' worth that I didn't appreciate. The band were so cohesive it's magic. Nils and Big Man shone in particular. Gary Tallent also deserves a mention. He tucks himself into the background, but what would the band be without his solid presence on bass.

I don't appreciate Badlands the same these days, now that it is played as one of the opening numbers - it works much better when the audience is totally surrendered. So Born to Run took over its slot as the peak of the show, as it did in Hyde Pk. Working on a Dream sounds bland even when 40,000 people are singing along. There is no redemption for that song. Also, I don't like the speeded up American Land that I have now heard twice. It sounds like an Irish jig and not a very nice one, but at least in Dublin Clarence wasn't playing the tin whistle, as he (rather screechingly) was in Hyde Park. They are just small gripes though.

Bruce simply exploded (with his rock n roll band). His voice is sounding very good at the moment. I don't know what he has lined up for the next album, but something different (i.e. not another Brendan O'Brien) seems like a good idea.

---------

Fo' sho' Two Rivers is much less accessible than Kinsmen, it was only when I heard them live I really got into it. But Live was really awesome - sounds from all directions floating in and out.

This is extreme music, on the edge of chaos at times and yet outstandingly good at others. Example: track 9, Blood and Ink, is amazing, from the opening chanting through the instrumental parts which build beautifully and are highly engaging. But then track 10 (can't remember what it's called, don't have the cd to hand - possibly I hurled it out the window) descends into a right awful racket. After hearing Two Rivers and Kinsmen, I consider Kadri Gopalnath and Dub Qawwali to be 'easy listening' and those last two are my most listened-to albums in recent times (after Tell No Lies) - so smooth and melodic and pleasant in comparison. It's good to have the balance.

Got you on the link thing, Steven. I thought you were just being stubborn . Will look up Mr Havens on youtube.

He also did Spirit in the Night. Bruce that is. And I am playing Asbury Pk from Lost in the Flood to the end and had forgotten how good is The Angel. She rubs against the weather-beaten frame, and asks the angel for his name. What a line. Could be that I'm off on a Boss-trip tonight. Some nice depresso Bruce this time.

[Steven]

Hi Diane,

Glad that you enjoyed this concert as you did. "Working On A Dream," doesn't need redemption, to my ears, though, lately. Here's why: there's a common denominator it may be speaking to among fans -- the stuggle to bring a dream or
aspiration to realization. Not a strong song, but redeemed by virtue of good positive intention. This song is more to my preference than "Glory Days," on any day, except maybe the odd one that's more pop inclined.
I'd be interested to know what you think of Richie Havens.

[Diane]

Hi Steven! Glory Days live brims with energy. Working on a Dream, hmm, the words are nice, but the tune is soooooo bland. We're all working on a dream though, yes.

I just youtubed Richie Havens. Heard your first-mentioned fave, High Flying Bird - not bad (was half expecting an old Elton John song by the same name) but couldn't get up the others. I did click on Here Comes the Sun cos I like to hear Beatles' covers - and: Wow - that's excellent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8HBHWYd6ug - great guitar wonderful percussion. Also enjoyed Lady Madonna. He's clearly a unique guitarist with a v. soulful voice. According to wiki, he features on a Peter Gabriel album I have. Will have to dig it out. Thanks for that. How was the concert?

TVZ's son sounds very much like TVZ himself. I'm not sure whether I like the Robert Plant Nothin cover myself, but it is certainly different. Alison K's fiddle over the Zeppy guitar adds a certain melancholy to the sound. Other than Waitin Around to Die, that version of Nothin was the first time I'd heard a TVZ lyric, and I thought the 'being born is going blind and bowing down a thousand times to echoes strung on pure temptation, sorrow and solitude those are the precious things' lines were Remarkable. (Been tryna think of the third tvz I ever heard.)

[margaret]

Diane,
don't know if you caught Bruce's appearance at Glastonbury on BBC4 earlier tonight at 9.00.
If you're still up it's repeated at 2.00am. We are attempting to record it as it didn't work earlier and I missed half of it myself (made a late dash to the local shop to satisfy a desperate craving for some chocolate )

Margaret