An Album that altered our Musical direction

[tea for two]

An album that made me realise musical  possibilities,
brought together 250 musicians from various parts of the world :

Laurie Anderson, A Velha Guarda Da Portela, Bagamoyo Players,  The Chieftains,  Johnny Clegg & Savuka, Peter Gabriel,  David Gilmour, Egberto Gismonti,  Eddie Grant, The Gipsy Kings, Chrissie Hynde,  Salif Keita, Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Maria McKee, Native Land & Themba, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Remmy Ongala & The Orchestre Super Matimala, Geoffrey Oryema, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Mari Boine Persen, Courtney Pine, Hossam Ramzy, Lou Reed, Robbie Robertson, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Clara Sandroni, Steve Stevens, Joe Strummer, Suzanne Vega.

Released 1990. Produced by Rupert Hine.


A 4min51sec clip
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KXUp_VFUg ... CF&index=7

If I could bring from the past renowned composers Baroque, Classical, Jazz, Art Rock, I would show them these One World One Voice music videos.
They would be enthralled, inspired.

(I think we are fortunate musically to easily access music from so many parts of the world that previous generations couldn't).

[Arpangel]

An album that made me realise musical  possibilities,
brought together 250 musicians from various parts of the world :

Laurie Anderson, A Velha Guarda Da Portela, Bagamoyo Players,  The Chieftains,  Johnny Clegg & Savuka, Peter Gabriel,  David Gilmour, Egberto Gismonti,  Eddie Grant, The Gipsy Kings, Chrissie Hynde,  Salif Keita, Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, Maria McKee, Native Land & Themba, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Remmy Ongala & The Orchestre Super Matimala, Geoffrey Oryema, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Mari Boine Persen, Courtney Pine, Hossam Ramzy, Lou Reed, Robbie Robertson, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Clara Sandroni, Steve Stevens, Joe Strummer, Suzanne Vega.

Released 1990. Produced by Rupert Hine.


A 4min51sec clip
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KXUp_VFUg ... CF&index=7

If I could bring from the past renowned composers Baroque, Classical, Jazz, Art Rock, I would show them these One World One Voice music videos.
They would be enthralled, inspired.

(I think we are fortunate musically to easily access music from so many parts of the world that previous generations couldn't).

That is indeed, excellent.

[Martin Walker]

That is indeed, excellent.

Agreed - beautifully haunting!

Apart from the wonderful main kalimba performance, I also love that sparse piano part from Ryuichi Sakamoto

Martin

[Arpangel]

That is indeed, excellent.

Agreed - beautifully haunting!

Apart from the wonderful main kalimba performance, I also love that sparse piano part from Ryuichi Sakamoto

Martin

Yes, I noticed that piano, I was thinking, that’s almost exactly what I would have done, then couldn’t work out who would have been insulted by my thoughts.

[Drew Stephenson]

Since we're on multiple suggestions, another art-of-the-possible album for me was Radiohead's The Bends.

[BJG145]

Another +1 in the not-a-beatles-fan camp here.

I'm in. I'm mainly just sick to death of them.

Guitar World, September 2021 - read tons of stuff about The Beatles.



Guitar Player, September 2021 - read tons of stuff about The Beatles.



Etc etc, ad nauseum, every month until you die.

I daresay they were amazing and groundbreaking in their day. So was Apollo 11. It's not still grabbing the headlines every month.

This lot are swallowing an inordinate and disproportionate number of column inches that would be better spent on a thousand other deserving and lesser-known musical acts.

The most overrated musicians in history IMHO. Like, yeah, great. Now, next...

[MOF]

Etc etc, ad nauseum, every month until you die.

I daresay they were amazing and groundbreaking in their day. So was Apollo 11. It's not still grabbing the headlines every month.

This lot are swallowing an inordinate and disproportionate number of column inches that would be better spent on a thousand other deserving and lesser-known musical acts.

The most overrated musicians in history IMHO. Like, yeah, great. Now, next...

“We’re all standing on the shoulders of giants”, The Beatles with their producer and engineers changed the pop/rock industry, encouraged the blossoming of creativity, especially within the Long Player format, and encouraged the development of technology to facilitate that creativity.
Then there were the social changes that they helped bring about/reflected back on society.
After Elvis went into the army the music scene was bland and safe “guitar groups are on their way out”, who knows, if they hadn’t come along it might still be like that?
There must be a market for The Beatles, lots of youngsters are discovering them; I discovered them properly in 1974 after they’d broken up. No one forced me to like them. Also they don’t fill entire music magazines every single month, all those other artists that stand on their shoulders, old and new, are featured too.
Unfortunately for Apollo 11 it doesn’t really bear repeated viewing or articles about it, whereas listening to and reading about The Beatles does.
There are plenty of science magazines that reflect the growth of space era technology and I did sound recordist work on an item about Apollo 13 for BBC’s The One Show a few years ago, we were at Leicester’s Space Centre interviewing the controller at the time.
As for musicianship, it depends if you’re impressed by ‘too many notes’ Hendrix or if like me you’re impressed by restraint in that regard and total commitment to writing and playing for the song’s sake.

[N i g e l]

“We’re all standing on the shoulders of giants”,

yes, definitely.

I could play "Stairway To Heaven" when I was 12. Jimmy Page didn't actually write it until he was 22. I think that says quite a lot.

I was quite into "Band on the run", I was also impressed how they got famous people to pose for the cover, then I discovered P.McC had previously been in another band

I prefer their stuff on the blue album over the red album.

Their are plenty of Apollo clips that became cliches, like the launch as seen from the top of the tower, chunks of ice falling off the hull or "strolling on the moon one day" and Earth rise from moon [the precious blue marble in the dark void of space]

{EDIT} Ill add that to my list of influential albums [especially 1900 & 85]

[BJG145]

(OK, it was a bit of a rant, the first guitar book I ever picked up was a complete Beatles songbook and I do admire their output. Just get a bit fed up reading about the same small selection of musicians in the media sometimes.)

[ManFromGlass]

Sgt. Peppers
Freak Out
Led Zep 1

[N i g e l]

Sgt. Peppers
Freak Out
Led Zep 1

but I need to listen to freak out.
I like valley girls.

(OK,...

OK,..... best use of NASA free audio .... ?

psb "GO"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHIo6qwJarI

not to be confused with PSB "Go West"

[Dynamic Mike]

“We’re all standing on the shoulders of giants”,

yes, definitely.

Although standing on the shoulders of midgets would still be progress.

Two more seminal albums for me were Seventeen Seconds and Back In The DHSS. Mostly because they showed creative output wasn't dependant upon musical virtuosity which was comforting.

[Arpangel]

“We’re all standing on the shoulders of giants”,

No, I disagree, yes, we can look at these people and see what the standards are, in relation to what we do, that’s useful, but to regard them as superior, or to be "giants" in some way, is devaluing our own work and confidence.
It’s not being delusional, or unreasonable, in any way, but I don’t consider myself any better, or worse than any of these so called "giants" and neither should you. We are who we are, and that’s it, that’s how we should be judged.

[tea for two]

we can look at these people and see what the standards are, in relation to what we do, that’s useful, but to regard them as superior, or to be "giants" in some way, is devaluing our own work and confidence.
We are who we are, and that’s it

Yep.
Accepting, Cherishing who we are musically, our capabilities (limited, stunted upto a certain level no matter how much we try different techniques, courses).

When we do this, Accepting Cherishing our Musical self we feel a sense of inner peace, serenity.
From here onwards we can start being creative in our own way. Thereafter it is easier to find inspiration.

[tea for two]

Two more seminal albums for me were Seventeen Seconds and Back In The DHSS. Mostly because they showed creative output wasn't dependant upon musical virtuosity which was comforting.

As for musicianship, it depends if you’re impressed by ‘too many notes’ Hendrix or if like me you’re impressed by restraint in that regard and total commitment to writing and playing for the song’s sake.

I was never going to be able to play guitar as John Williams (Sky), Eddie, Randy, Yngwie.

Hendrix I liked because of his inventiveness. I consider Hendrix the most inventive guitarist we have had. (I wouldn't say Hendrix was too many notes).

The first Guitar parts I put my self into learning
For a Few Dollars More from 1min47
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mLXQltR7vUQ
Apache Hank's lead
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgbcyfJgfQ

The first Guitar solo I put my heart into learning
Brothers In Arms
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdFe3evXpk

The Guitar album made me realise there's different ways to play Guitar.
Ali Farka Toure Ry Cooder released 1994
I discovered it in the 2000's.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=htllEwWHJfc

Nowadays I have a Diddley Bow I'm rather taken with.

[Arpangel]

Yes, while we’re at it, the Blues, tends to be a yardstick among many musicians, how well you can play it, I can appreciate it big time, when played by those that have something to say in that department, and those are very few.
I never have played the Blues, I don’t want to, besides, what have I got to be Blue about in relation to those guys on porch's with guitars? nothing, I can appreciate that music, but it’s not my music, it wasn’t made for me, that’s why it still makes me cringe, when I hear people in clubs, studios, jams etc, resort to a Blues riff, it’s not your music, it’s not clever, and it’s not entertaining.
Someone should have said that to Clapton, and all the other English white boys that made money from someone else’s misfortune.
That’s the facts, as I see them, no excuses, we should build our own band wagons, not jump aboard someone else’s for a free ride.

[Dynamic Mike]

Without the intervention of Keef and Eric the 3 Kings et al would never have got the recognition that they deserved in their own country. I've seen white guys playing the blues in BB Kings club in Beale Street. He didn't seem to have a problem with it.

[MOF]

I don’t consider myself any better, or worse than any of these so called "giants" and neither should you. We are who we are, and that’s it, that’s how we should be judged.

It’s not a matter of you or anyone else being ‘better or worse’, it’s an acceptance that they raised the bar and pushed boundaries.
Listen to their first and final recorded albums, you wouldn’t think it was the same group.
They absorbed musical styles, techniques and technologies to further their art form and became ‘giants’ and we now stand on their shoulders.
Hopefully when you are composing and recording you’re thinking this is as good or better, or completely different from what has gone before.
Art is always personal, others will judge what is ‘better’ with their wallets or journalistic criticisms, that’s why I’ve never bought any Hendrix tracks and think he’s all style over substance, although I will admit to liking Sting’s version of Little Wing.
In summary, you shouldn’t be in awe, to the point of self defeating, when you hear that an artist(s) is a ‘giant’, you should be inspired to take up the baton.

[tea for two]

My musical direction seems to have lurched from misguided through erratic to out of control, but, sadly, I can't find anyone else to blame for it.
Regards, John

John, I would have to agree lol.
Although I haven't quite yet got to out of control.

[Drew Stephenson]

Yes, while we’re at it, the Blues, tends to be a yardstick among many musicians, how well you can play it, I can appreciate it big time, when played by those that have something to say in that department, and those are very few.
I never have played the Blues, I don’t want to, besides, what have I got to be Blue about in relation to those guys on porch's with guitars? nothing, I can appreciate that music, but it’s not my music, it wasn’t made for me, that’s why it still makes me cringe, when I hear people in clubs, studios, jams etc, resort to a Blues riff, it’s not your music, it’s not clever, and it’s not entertaining.
Someone should have said that to Clapton, and all the other English white boys that made money from someone else’s misfortune.
That’s the facts, as I see them, no excuses, we should build our own band wagons, not jump aboard someone else’s for a free ride.

Disagree with this entirely, music is music and some of it resonates with us and some doesn't. No person or culture owns a particular style or genre. Play what you want, be influenced by what you want, copy what you want.

But also, Go by PSB is an excellent track. Probably their best album for me.

[tea for two]

With the Blues, any person that's had loss of dear ones, has felt the Blues.

Eric started out copying, playing the Blues, yet after what happened to his dear son, Eric felt the Blues (I would say).

With where Rock, Rhythm n Blues went from late 1960s to now, we can only imagine the amount of people Worldwide that got through tough times, depths of despair, because of songs made by these musicians.

(This could be another thread, however I don't want to remind anyone of their times. It happened. Chin up and all that).

[Arpangel]

With the Blues, any person that's had loss of dear ones, has felt the Blues.

Eric started out copying, playing the Blues, yet after what happened to his dear son, Eric felt the Blues (I would say).

With where Rock, Rhythm n Blues went from late 1960s to now, we can only imagine the amount of people Worldwide that got through tough times, depths of despair, because of songs made by these musicians.

(This could be another thread, however I don't want to remind anyone of their times. It happened. Chin up and all that).

Yes, we all have our traumas in life, I choose to express mine through "my music" it’s a particular vibe that I can identify with, and maybe, a few others, as I said, some music speaks directly to those who "experience it"
I don’t know what it’s like to live in downtown LA, I can’t listen to a lot of that Hip-Hop, I might like some of it, but it doesn’t speak to me, primarily, the Blues was the same at the time, back then.
I can just imagine the reaction of some of those guys in Compton, seeing me on YouTube, giving it that vibe, they’d laugh their f*****g heads off.

[tea for two]

I can just imagine the reaction of some of those guys in Compton, seeing me on YouTube, giving it that vibe, they’d laugh their f*****g heads off.

Gosh they could do with that, and you could become an Internet sensation. Lol.

Anyways.

::::

This brings me nicely onto the importance of humor in my music. I try to include one humurous track in an album.
Else I find it can get a bit too serious.

Probably the track that influenced me to include humour

Madness House of Fun.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ2X9SANsME

Or it could've been Strangler's Waltzinblack.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9ynd2A91cXA

[BillB]

Some great choices there, including stuff I didn’t know existed, and will follow up (Rupert Hine and Ali Farka Toure + Ry Cooder).

The Beatles were the soundtrack to my 60’s childhood, two older brothers made sure of that. I hear that twanging opening note of ‘I feel fine’ like it’s one of my oldest memories.

But if any album changed my ‘musical direction’ (not that I really have one, more of an aimless ramble really) it would be Tomita’s ‘Snowflakes are dancing’. The sonic landscapes, spaces and textures he created, even on his first ‘classical’ album, have rarely been surpassed. 1974 Synthesizer technology, taken to the max. I have loved the sonic potential of synthesizers ever since.

I like to think that composers like Debussy and Ravel would have enjoyed and approved of what he did with their sonic landscapes, even if Gustav Holst’s daughter didn’t!

[tea for two]

the Blues... I can appreciate that music, but it’s not my music, it wasn’t made for me, that’s why it still makes me cringe, when I hear people in clubs, studios, jams etc, resort to a Blues riff, it’s not your music, it’s not clever, and it’s not entertaining.

Someone should have said that to Clapton, and all the other English white boys that made money from someone else’s misfortune.

Man that's such a bellend way of looking at music.
It is also spiritually numpty way of understanding music.

If we don't feel it, we don't feel it. Colour culture has nothing to do with it (for some it does, eg. 1979 disco demolition night).

A person should their heart desire (regardless of their colour culture) can learn from a native Bedouin, Berber, Druze, Inuit.

Tanya Wells from England singing a Ghazal to a Pakistani audience.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3EXrDJxJ3VY

Josh from Wales playing African Kora.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BK04DGmnTvo

Playing for Change one of the most diverse culturally inclusive music channels.
https://m.youtube.com/c/playingchange/videos

::::

Rhythm & Blues is a gift to the World from Sahara to Nepal.
How it transferred hands we can look upon as :

The Source of music selects the persons that will offer the most impact upon Earth through certain types of music.
If it would have been the Chinese then they would have been selected to carry Rhythm & Blues Rock baton.
It's not about appropriation, borrowing, theft, "making money from someone else's misfortune."
It's about who can have the most beneficial impact upon humanity Worldwide.