No Listomania clue today, for the simple reason that it's been a crazy week and I didn't have time to get a Listomania together. Rest assured, however, that the List will return next week, in fighting trim.
Also, that intertube radio show appearance I made on Tuesday is now archived over at Area24; when you get there, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Lost at Sea for December 6th. Pretty funny stuff, I think, and some interesting music gets played as well.
And finally, just because I'm that kind of guy, here's something quite gorgeous -- the almost final take of the instrumental track to The Byrds' epochal recording of "Mr. Tambourine Man" from 1965. After this was released, the world became a seriously different place, and that's actually not hyperbole.
Said it before and I'll say it again -- a Rickenbacker electric 12-string guitar, well-played, is the most beautiful sound occurring in nature.
For me it's the bass chording that really sets the tone for the song.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken, Jim(Roger) McGuinn is the only Byrd on the track.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice hearing it this way. Thanks.
And the bass player -- the guy who invented that immortal opening riff -- is the late great Larry Knechtel, who was most famous as a keyboard guy (he's the piano on "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" among countless other great records)...
ReplyDeleteThe Wrecking Crew, I presume.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me I'm getting a little verklempt. There is zero percent hyperbole in you're saying the world became a different place after this single was released. This is the Rosetta stone that translated beach music into folk rock, transitioned pop into hip, and brought the Brit Invasion full circle.
ReplyDeleteYou can barely hear, but you definitely feel in your chest, the bass droning electric piano in the right channel. Whoever's idea that was, was brilliant. Melcher? It was shocked/impressed to hear (very recently) the stereo mix of flip side I Knew I'd Want You with the same electric piano in the background.
The Wrecking Crew documentary includes McGuinn talking about this session vs sessions with the band. You get the impression he preferred working with the studio guys than his own band . . .
AP
I loved the bass mistake at 2:19. It reminded me yet again that actual human beings made these records – not engineers with Pro Tools and AutoTune etc to polish and perfect the music until there's no hint of humanity left. Hooray for humans!
ReplyDeleteLeon Russell on electric piano?
ReplyDeleteHey, Steve: thanks for the mention on your Area 24 "Lost At Sea" radio appearance (at 17:35). Much obliged, O Steve of Steves.
ReplyDelete(If you were talking about someone else, feel free to ignore this comment -- and I'll try not to be so fat-headed from now on.)
By the way, thanks for programming "The Fickle Chicken" by The Atmospheres (at 29:50). It's the first time I'd heard it, and I thought it was great. To me, "The Fickle Chicken" answered the question: "What would the the guitar solo in 'Rock Around The Clock' sound like if it was an entire song?"
Peter-- yup, I was talking about you and your blog. And I'm tickled to death that you heard the show....
ReplyDeleteAw, shucks. It was nothin'. All I had to do was sit in a chair and press "play"...
ReplyDelete