Comments on: 40 Years and 1000 Years http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:27:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182311 nick s Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:48:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182311 <i>Well, tom, I guess the GF song most suited to RT’s delivery is probably When I’m Cleaning Windows. </i> There's a live cover of 'Why Don't Women Like Me?' on the RT box set, though he leaves out the naughtiest bit. And the Harrison/Formby connection makes perfect sense. Well, tom, I guess the GF song most suited to RT’s delivery is probably When I’m Cleaning Windows.

There’s a live cover of ‘Why Don’t Women Like Me?’ on the RT box set, though he leaves out the naughtiest bit. And the Harrison/Formby connection makes perfect sense.

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182295 harry b Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:19:50 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182295 Very perceptive tom -- George Harrison was a huge fan of George Formby's (and they were all, apparently, fans to some degree) and at the end of one of those post-John's death tracks they released for the Anthology there is a short excerpt of him playing the ukelele a la Formby. On top of that, the knockabout anarchic humour they supposedly exhibited in their early interviews owed a lot to Formby and the other Lancashire music hall acts. Its funny that what came over as fresh and "out of nowhere" to much of the country was completely within a Lancashire tradition and seen as such by the Beatles themselves. Listen to the compilations for a day (if you still have them) and then listen to the Beatles first 2 LPs, and you can see it clearly (but also on Sergeant Pepper, interestingly). My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock, and Swimmin with the Wimmin, are also favourites of my ouger daughter, and they are very naughty, both of them, not that she knows that. I do sometimes woneder what my kids will think when they know as adults what I subjected them to as kids.... Very perceptive tom—George Harrison was a huge fan of George Formby’s (and they were all, apparently, fans to some degree) and at the end of one of those post-John’s death tracks they released for the Anthology there is a short excerpt of him playing the ukelele a la Formby. On top of that, the knockabout anarchic humour they supposedly exhibited in their early interviews owed a lot to Formby and the other Lancashire music hall acts. Its funny that what came over as fresh and “out of nowhere” to much of the country was completely within a Lancashire tradition and seen as such by the Beatles themselves. Listen to the compilations for a day (if you still have them) and then listen to the Beatles first 2 LPs, and you can see it clearly (but also on Sergeant Pepper, interestingly).
My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock, and Swimmin with the Wimmin, are also favourites of my ouger daughter, and they are very naughty, both of them, not that she knows that. I do sometimes woneder what my kids will think when they know as adults what I subjected them to as kids….

]]> By: Tom Hurka http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182264 Tom Hurka Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:23:03 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182264 Harry: Not teasing, or only semi. When I was a kid my dad had three Formby compilation LPs that he and I liked to listen to(some overlap, and all including When I'm Cleaning Windows and Leaning on a Lamppost). Then, for some reason, in my 4th year at university I had the LPs with me, and my flatmate and I played them incessantly, e.g. when playing table hockey. A lot of the songs have surprisingly good melodies and some nice instrumentation behind them. You don't mention any with those 30s/40s naughty lyrics -- how about Frigid Air Fanny? I wait eagerly for the GF post. And -- I'm speculating -- were the Beatles with their clear Liverpool accents a throwback to openly regional (not to mention Lancashire) acts like Formby, as against the more sophisticated, urbane acts that came between, e.g. Cliff Richard? (As a Canadian, I'm just guessing.) Harry:

Not teasing, or only semi. When I was a kid my dad had three Formby compilation LPs that he and I liked to listen to(some overlap, and all including When I’m Cleaning Windows and Leaning on a Lamppost). Then, for some reason, in my 4th year at university I had the LPs with me, and my flatmate and I played them incessantly, e.g. when playing table hockey. A lot of the songs have surprisingly good melodies and some nice instrumentation behind them. You don’t mention any with those 30s/40s naughty lyrics—how about Frigid Air Fanny?

I wait eagerly for the GF post. And—I’m speculating—were the Beatles with their clear Liverpool accents a throwback to openly regional (not to mention Lancashire) acts like Formby, as against the more sophisticated, urbane acts that came between, e.g. Cliff Richard? (As a Canadian, I’m just guessing.)

]]> By: willie http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182260 willie Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:52:14 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182260 Ugh, the blithe Eurocentricity on display in all this vaunting of the "greatest music ever" is, well, appalling. Open your doors of perception, mates! If this girl can do it, U can 2: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Aii-Q_YUTLY Ugh, the blithe Eurocentricity on display in all this vaunting of the “greatest music ever” is, well, appalling. Open your doors of perception, mates! If this girl can do it, U can 2:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Aii-Q_YUTLY

]]> By: Mo MacArbie http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182259 Mo MacArbie Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:50:02 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182259 Well I for one love "The Word." Plblblblblblblb. Well I for one love “The Word.” Plblblblblblblb.

]]> By: Matt http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182252 Matt Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:38:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182252 Cranky- I'm not sure that's true. You do have groups like Cry, Cry, Cry, doing albums of what they take to be the best recent folk music, and in the liner notes for their album they imply that several of the songs have become 'folk standards' that are played by many singers and changed a bit by each one. It's perhaps not as common, but I do think it's still done. Cranky- I’m not sure that’s true. You do have groups like Cry, Cry, Cry, doing albums of what they take to be the best recent folk music, and in the liner notes for their album they imply that several of the songs have become ‘folk standards’ that are played by many singers and changed a bit by each one. It’s perhaps not as common, but I do think it’s still done.

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182250 harry b Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:44:21 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182250 Well, tom, I guess the GF song most suited to RT's delivery is probably When I'm Cleaning Windows. My elder daughter's favourites are Our Sergeant Major and The Lancashire Toreador. My favourite of all is, in fact, Leaning on a Lampost. I'm glad you're a fan (unless you're teasing me). There's a treat in store ina subsequent post for all GF fans.... Well, tom, I guess the GF song most suited to RT’s delivery is probably When I’m Cleaning Windows. My elder daughter’s favourites are Our Sergeant Major and The Lancashire Toreador. My favourite of all is, in fact, Leaning on a Lampost. I’m glad you’re a fan (unless you’re teasing me). There’s a treat in store ina subsequent post for all GF fans….

]]> By: LowLife http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182249 LowLife Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:39:51 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182249 Rubber Soul might be The Beatles best but I like the album immediately before (called Beatles '65 here is the States) and the one immediately after (Revolver) just as much. They were still touring during this time and I wonder if that didn't yeild a bit of freshness that the all-studio all-the-time are missing. For folkies that like compilations Philo So Far is a real treat. Rubber Soul might be The Beatles best but I like the album immediately before (called Beatles ‘65 here is the States) and the one immediately after (Revolver) just as much. They were still touring during this time and I wonder if that didn’t yeild a bit of freshness that the all-studio all-the-time are missing.

For folkies that like compilations Philo So Far is a real treat.

]]> By: Cranky Observer http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182248 Cranky Observer Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:08:14 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182248 One thing that strikes me as strange is that for the first time in human history there is essentially no tradition of 3rd parties performing, extending, and therefore preserving the current set of folk tunes (which at the moment is 1950s/60s/70s pop and rock). So unlike folk music of earlier eras, which had the potential to last for hundreds and even thousands of years, today's folk music will disappear as soon as young people stop buying recordings of it - probably 30-40 years from now. Cranky One thing that strikes me as strange is that for the first time in human history there is essentially no tradition of 3rd parties performing, extending, and therefore preserving the current set of folk tunes (which at the moment is 1950s/60s/70s pop and rock). So unlike folk music of earlier eras, which had the potential to last for hundreds and even thousands of years, today’s folk music will disappear as soon as young people stop buying recordings of it – probably 30-40 years from now.

Cranky

]]> By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182247 nick s Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:47:01 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182247 <i>Rubber Soul</i> was one of the two Beatles long-players my parents owned, and although you had the silly critical praise of <i>Sgt. Pepper</i> and the more reasonable (though Oasis-driven) adulation for <i>Revolver</i>, nothing will convince me that it's not the best Beatles album, and one of the best albums of all time. It doesn't flag; it has George Harrison's best song on it; and even the Contractual Obligation Ringo Track isn't bad. <i>You’ve heard Oops, and you know it’s a great song, but you don’t know just how great it is – a folk song, not a pop song – until you’ve heard Thompson do it.</i> It's not so much a folk song as a <i>Richard Thompson song</i> when he covers it, with all the <a href="http://www.salon.com/bc/1999/03/16bc.html" rel="nofollow">jagged edges</a> you'd expect, especially around 'I'm dreaming away, wishing that heroes truly exist'. On Thompson in general, it's nice that you get covers of his stuff from both directions: purer, folkier takes and all-out rock. Sleater-Kinney used 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight' as an occasional encore track during the last couple of years, and nailed it. Yo La Tengo the same. Anyway, I've taken to playing Thompson's 'Sumer Is Icumen In' very loudly at the first hint of spring. And there's an <a href="http://www.free-reed.co.uk/frcd59" rel="nofollow">entire disc of covers</a> on the recent 'RT' box set, including the version of 'I Ain't Marching Anymore' that he added to his band set during the run up to the invasion of Iraq. Last but not least, if you can't grin at the Del McCoury Band's bluegrass cover of '1952 Vincent Black Lightning', then you have no soul. Rubber Soul was one of the two Beatles long-players my parents owned, and although you had the silly critical praise of Sgt. Pepper and the more reasonable (though Oasis-driven) adulation for Revolver, nothing will convince me that it’s not the best Beatles album, and one of the best albums of all time. It doesn’t flag; it has George Harrison’s best song on it; and even the Contractual Obligation Ringo Track isn’t bad.

You’ve heard Oops, and you know it’s a great song, but you don’t know just how great it is – a folk song, not a pop song – until you’ve heard Thompson do it.

It’s not so much a folk song as a Richard Thompson song when he covers it, with all the jagged edges you’d expect, especially around ‘I’m dreaming away, wishing that heroes truly exist’.

On Thompson in general, it’s nice that you get covers of his stuff from both directions: purer, folkier takes and all-out rock. Sleater-Kinney used ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’ as an occasional encore track during the last couple of years, and nailed it. Yo La Tengo the same.

Anyway, I’ve taken to playing Thompson’s ‘Sumer Is Icumen In’ very loudly at the first hint of spring. And there’s an entire disc of covers on the recent ‘RT’ box set, including the version of ‘I Ain’t Marching Anymore’ that he added to his band set during the run up to the invasion of Iraq.

Last but not least, if you can’t grin at the Del McCoury Band’s bluegrass cover of ‘1952 Vincent Black Lightning’, then you have no soul.

]]> By: bad Jim http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182242 bad Jim Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:03:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182242 Parts of "Tomorrow Never Knows" remained obscure for me until Brian Eno made everything clear on a live recording with 801. I've seen some problematic transcriptions of lyrics, on Japanese editions of Hot Tuna albums, for example, and even fellow aficionados were prone to producing <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/mondegreens.shtml" rel="nofollow">Mondegreens</a>. I'd love to see Thompson have some fun with "Rocky Raccoon," but I prefer his original material. I've seen him three times down here in SoCal, and the "1000 Years" show, while great, was not the equal of the other two. Parts of “Tomorrow Never Knows” remained obscure for me until Brian Eno made everything clear on a live recording with 801. I’ve seen some problematic transcriptions of lyrics, on Japanese editions of Hot Tuna albums, for example, and even fellow aficionados were prone to producing Mondegreens.

I’d love to see Thompson have some fun with “Rocky Raccoon,” but I prefer his original material. I’ve seen him three times down here in SoCal, and the “1000 Years” show, while great, was not the equal of the other two.

]]> By: ben wolfson http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182239 ben wolfson Mon, 18 Dec 2006 06:04:14 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182239 And, despite being on only one CD, it had more songs (23 instead of 22). Maybe the ones here are longer renditions? And, despite being on only one CD, it had more songs (23 instead of 22). Maybe the ones here are longer renditions?

]]> By: ben wolfson http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182238 ben wolfson Mon, 18 Dec 2006 06:02:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182238 The earlier no-dvd one-cd <em>1000 Years</em> had both "Money Money Money" and a Lennon/McCartney song ("It Won't Be Long"). The earlier no-dvd one-cd 1000 Years had both “Money Money Money” and a Lennon/McCartney song (“It Won’t Be Long”).

]]> By: Matt http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182237 Matt Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:48:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182237 Speaking of David Byrne covers, he has a great one of Thompson's "Just the motion" on the Richard Thompson tribute album. Speaking of David Byrne covers, he has a great one of Thompson’s “Just the motion” on the Richard Thompson tribute album.

]]> By: Richard http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/comment-page-1/#comment-182236 Richard Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:39:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2006/12/17/40-years-and-1000-years/#comment-182236 I always found the Stones' "Sympathy for the devil" pretentious and juvenile, and Crystal Waters' "She's homeless" (la de dee, la de daa) convinced me pop had sunk to new depths of stupidity... ...until I heard David Byrne do covers of both songs at the end of his shows. I really want him to release an album just of covers. His "I wanna dance with somebody" isn't as surprising as the other two, but it's still fabulous. I always found the Stones’ “Sympathy for the devil” pretentious and juvenile, and Crystal Waters’ “She’s homeless” (la de dee, la de daa) convinced me pop had sunk to new depths of stupidity…

…until I heard David Byrne do covers of both songs at the end of his shows. I really want him to release an album just of covers. His “I wanna dance with somebody” isn’t as surprising as the other two, but it’s still fabulous.

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