Thanks, Martin.
Jan 212008
Jan 202008
Okay, much as Mick Taylor’s leaving The Stones really never led to anything great, it did lead to several things that aren’t bad. This collaboration isn’t one of them. John Phillips ended up releasing the session as Pay, Pack and Follow, probably as a result of this bootleg getting out. The sound quality here was more than good enough for me so I never bothered to get the official release. I remember at the time getting up on my fanboy soapbox and loudly proclaiming, “The Rolling Stones are nobody’s backing band!”
Anyway, here are four tracks. I can get you the other two, including the icky “Zulu Warrior” if you really want. Just let me know and we can work it out. But I really think this is enough to burden the Hall members with. Do they all seem much longer than they really are to you? They do to me.
Enjoy!
Jan 202008
I can’t profess to ever knowing much about former Kingston Trio member John Stewart, but as a lad I always was fascinated by the Lindsey Buckingham-produced “Gold”, on which Stevie Nicks duets. Maybe it was the shades! I do recall reading the story of mutual influence between Stewart and Buckingham.
Jan 192008
Seems like we’ve been through something like this before.
There are two issues of vital national interest in the cross hairs here.
1. Was Ollie Halsall a Rutle?
2. Who was Dirk McQuickly? Eric Idle or Ollie Halsall?
Here’s what various sites on the internets have to say:
‘Leppo, The Fifth Rutle’ (Stu Sutcliffe) — seen only in a still photograph in the film – the photo showed Ollie Halsall, who actually played and sang on the soundtrack. (Halsall, in real life, was one of the four musicians who performed all The Rutles’ music, the others being Innes, Halsey and Fataar. Idle did not actually play or sing on the soundtrack.)
The fourth ‘real’ Rutle, Ollie Halsall, died in Spain in 1992.
Ollie desperately wanted to portray ‘Paul’ in the Rutles, alongside Admiral’ John Halsey’s ‘Ringo’. The US backers needed a ‘star’ however, and the part of ‘Dirk McQuickly’ was taken by Rutles creator Eric Idle himself Ollie had to settle for the ‘walk-on’ part of Leppo (original bassist ‘Stuart Sutcliffe’). But Halsey recalls that, when it came to recording the soundtrack, Idle couldn’t quite handle the vocals parts so, Ollie, as well as creating the amazing BeatIe guitar pastiches, also sang ‘Paul’s’ part, speeded up slightly. In this and other respects, Halsall’s contribution the Rutles project has never been fully recognised.
Video after the fold.
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Jan 182008
Our hero, ca. 1979
At Mr. Mod’s suggestion, I am posting a few choice tracks from Mick Taylor’s spottily excellent solo album, entitled simply “Mick Taylor.” I admit to having serious nostalgia-colored glasses as far as this record is concerned; I bought it when it came out, and it was a key part of the soundtrack to most of my high school years. I pumped my fist angrily through the rockin’ numbers, incompetently noodled along to the introspective, jammier pieces — and shed a lonely tear or two to the accompaniment of the treaclier ballads (Carla Boswell, how could you?!). Anyhow, as I said yesterday, the album is pretty good, if a bit dated. Mick’s lyrics are kind of dumb, for the most part, but — like one of the better Jeff Beck albums from the era — the LP is a masterpiece of guitar wankery. All in all, it could have been a lot worse, and I struggle to think of how it could’ve been any better, given what it is and who wrote it. I’m sure Mick Taylor wanted to produce a solid album that put the music first, and that showcased his talents to the best degree possible. To that extent, it’s a winner — and there are a few particular tracks (including those that follow here) for which no excuse or explanation is necessary.
Jan 182008
With no disrespect to the deceased, booted, or left of own will, Mick Taylor‘s RTH birthday celebration got me thinking about whether certain band members left their bands just about the time they were reaching their expiration date. Did Taylor, for instance, have the good sense to get while the gettin’ was good? What use would the Stones have had for him had he stuck around much longer? Were they already getting a bit stagnant with him when he split?
Certainly this is a ridiculous chicken-and-egg question, but allow yourself to think ridiculous thoughts. We are in the Halls of Rock, you know.
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Jan 182008
Sometimes the whole show is better than the parts, wouldn’t you say? A couple of weeks ago I caught The Mars Volta on Henry Rollins‘ talk show, which I come across on some music cable station now and then. I’d heard a little bit of this band before and was slightly impressed by all the noise they cooked up, but mostly I laughed at how over the top it was. Seeing them play this racket, however, was much more impressive. I was still laughing at how over the top it was, but I got into the revolutionary vibe. It was like Hendrix, Miles, Santana, the MC%, and Geddy Lee decided to jam. Hrrundi and Saturnismine, I’m especially interested in hearing what you think of this:
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