Excellent Radio Documentary - Frank Zappa (page 2)

hillary_step

Hello Duncan,

Glad the tramp down memory lane suited you. I actually have a couple of Hatfield tracks which were not put out for general release. I will send them to you.

I was always pleased that since the late 60's Caravan, Kevin Ayers, Bob Wyatt and the Hatfield crews always refused to sing with American accents. Why do UK performers feel the need to do that? I well remember an explosive interchange between Kevin Godley ( 10CC ) and Pye Hastings ( Caravan ). Pye was convinced Kevin had plaigerized the melody line from his 'No Backstage Pass' track from the 'Cunning Stunts' album and wrote 'I'm Not In Love' from it - which of course did huge business in the States. Though not exact, the songs do bear more than a passing resemblance to each other. Anyway, Pye suggested that Kevin Godley move to the States and write TV commercial jingles for soap powder as he had the perfect accent for it already....lol

Pete did tell me about "Sid Sideboard and the Chairs", but I have never heard them, or your own band. Actually Pete was a very nifty guitarist wasn't he, and I heard very good comments about the band.

'Soft Machine' were always at the cutting edge of progressive rock / jazz, and their music is as fresh today as it ever was. 'Third' is an excellent recording and Mike Ratledge is still on keyboards - he was a incredible musician. 'Bundles', with Alan Holdsworth is one of my favorites and still gets played very regularly.

Take care Duncan - HS

OUTLAW

Satanus..I`ve been picking up Harry Manx tunes a cd at a time..I love how his music has progressed."West eats Meet"..Wise and other Wise".."Mantras for a Madman"..I remember the first cut I ever heard of his:"Roses Given" from the Wise and Other wise cd..His ability to blend an eastern sound with the Blues is unique..After reading one of the comments in his cd liner it would seem he is even suprised by his success...OUTLAW

Duncan

Hi HS

Just noticed your reply today. Actually went out and bought a Soft Machine anthology from Borders just this afternoon - so I'll listen to that over the next week or two.

You won't ever have heard anything from our band, I'm pretty sure no recordings exist. We were half-decent, but only because of Pete - he had all the talent. Like I said, our biggest gig we ever had was playing support for Sid Sideboard that one time. And how about this for a co-incidence:

This August, we spent our summer vacation with friends, Christina and John, who now live in Connecticutt (we had 2 weeks sailing on Long Island Sound - fantastic). They used to live round here in Watford. Anyway, one night we got talking about bands, and I mentioned the Sid Sideboard thing - and it turns out that Chrristina back in those days was the girlfiend of Sid's drummer, Spike, and she was in the audience that night!

What a hoot, eh? Small world.

Anyway, take care old friend - see ya.

Duncan.

hillary_step

Duncan,

This August, we spent our summer vacation with friends, Christina and John, who now live in Connecticutt (we had 2 weeks sailing on Long Island Sound - fantastic). They used to live round here in Watford. Anyway, one night we got talking about bands, and I mentioned the Sid Sideboard thing - and it turns out that Chrristina back in those days was the girlfiend of Sid's drummer, Spike, and she was in the audience that night!

lol....Yes, quite a co-incidence.

Remember Kevin Ayers? I found this clip from 1972! Lol Coxhill on Saxes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUvG5-UB7_0&mode=related&search=

Kevin was a terrible guitarist, still is, but his songs were mesmerising. He is still recording with as much ingenuity as ever.

HS

hillary_step

Duncan,

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

The beautiful Laura.

HS

minimus

Hillary, since you said we can discuss music in general, do you like soul, or R&B? Any group or performer that you think is excellent ??

hillary_step

Minimus,

Yes, I do. Curtis Mayfield for example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruFFu8YjxRA

One of his most powerful songs.

HS

minimus

Hillary, I listened and watched that clip. I thought Mayfield had a unique voice and he liked making political statements, especially having to do with race. Personally, I prefer the soul of Marvin Gaye. What's Going On? was a wonderful album. 2 weeks ago I saw Aretha. She was musically, vocally, wonderful but played many obscure songs or music that would be coming out next year. I was somewhat disappointed in that. Hillary, do you like any current new soul/r&b artists??

hillary_step

Minimus,

Hillary, do you like any current new soul/r&b artists??

To be honest, not really.

I realized a few years ago that life really is finite, and every minute is precious - getting older focuses the mind. I try not to waste time listening to clones, and so much of music the past twenty years or so is just a clever copy of the former. For example, their are many superb young jazz saxophonists playing these days. Many have studied at Universities, some have been granted to do so, some chose it as a career as opposed to the career chosing them.

They all study the styles of Dexter Gordon, Booker Ervin, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Don Rendell, Archie Shepp, etc. etc. Some can play Coltranes music better than he could, at least in an academic way. But to me, these people are like comics who impersonate the real McCoy. We are amazed at their ability to mimic, acknowledge that they are very clever, often entertained by them but still wait for the innovator rather than the copyists. So I still prefer to listen to John Handy than someone who sounds like him.

Best regards - HS

juni

One of life's important lessons learned from Zappa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2wgxwdPYFE

Dreamed I was an Eskimo

(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)

Frozen wind began to blow

(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)

Under my boots 'n around my toe

(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)

Frost had bit the ground below

(Boop-boop aiee-ay-ah!)

Was a hundred degrees below zero

(Booh!)

(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)

And my momma cried:

Boo-a-hoo hoo-ooo

And my momma cried:

Nanook-a, no no (no no . . . )

Nanook-a, no no (no no . . . )

Don't be a naughty Eskimo-wo-oh

(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop-bop Ta-da-da)

Save your money: don't go to the show

Well I turned around an' I said:

HO HO

(Booh!)

Well I turned around an' I said:

HO HO

(Booh!)

Well I turned around an' I said:

HO HO

An' the Northern Lites commenced t' glow

An' she said

(Bop-bop ta-da-da bop . . . )

With a tear in her eye:

WATCH OUT WHERE THE HUSKIES GO

AN' DON'T YOU EAT THAT YELLOW SNOW

WATCH OUT WHERE THE HUSKIES GO

AN' DON'T YOU EAT THAT YELLOW SNOW

Juni

Excellent Radio Documentary - Frank Zappa

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