mike f

Watching, and listening intently to, Joni Mitchell -Shadows and Light. Good Lord, I'd forgotten how good this was.

Jane's Addiction at the Brixton Academy in 2003. It was bloody awful. THE only gig I've ever walked out of and I can remember security telling me that I wouldn't be able to re-enter once Id stepped out the door, to which I replied, "I really don't want to". I'd seem them before in 1991 on the Ritual de lo Habitual tour, at the Manchester Academy with Primus in support. The whole night had been amazing and I was really looking forward to seeing them again. 2003 and the energy, danger and excitement which was so evident 12 years earlier had gone from the both their sound and performance. Even the crowd was dull, dutifully singing along to all their songs. I was glad to get out of there. Also Chili Peppers at the O2 in 2011. A tired performance with no Frusciante. Kiedis hid behind the drums for a good portion of the gig. Flea's whackiness grated. And Josh. Absolutely fantastic in 1990, 1992, 1996 (with Dave Navarro) and 1999 when I'd seen them but this was a real clunker. Also Prince in 1990 on the Nude Tour at the NEC. I kind of blamed it on the NEC at the time but really it was at the start of the period I stopped listening to him so much. I was gutted on the coach home. I'd seen him before, twice in 1988, and I saw him twice since, in 2002 in Hammersmith and 2007 at the O2 and consider all four of those concerts as all-time favourites, but like the Peppers one above, this one was very poor.

Madness - Embarrassment “Thought she had a head on her shoulder, ’cause I’m feeling twice as older”

This happened once before...

Good point

Going back to the OP, I think Macca’s fame eclipsed any of the skills he had, be it as a songwriter or bassist so they tend to be forgotten about or not dwelled upon. He was “just” a Beatle. In a similar way Prince was never rated as a guitarist or bassist, he was just Prince. There must be more out there, anybody think of anyone else? Sting? Eric Clapton?

@Woodinblack that’s the UK sales, The top 5 positions were in the US Billboard top 100 (where they had the top two for that year). To have the top 5 Billboard chart positions at the same time was a remarkable feat.

So it took a while for the feat to be repeated then? And there must’ve been other poor years between 64 and when either Drake or 50 Cent matched the record? Oh come on, it’s a bit like saying a team only wins the league when the other teams are rubbish. You’ve still got to beat everyone! 😁 And as Happy Jack alluded, this was at a time when people had to get off their bottoms, go to a record store, and purchase 7” of lovely vinyl!

Ah yes but..., it was the top 5 at the same time (April 1964), during a run of 4 number ones, with a week off when Louis Armstrong was the toppermost, and then another number one. The flukey gits! and oh yeah (yeah, yeah), Macca is fab.

Gary Byrd & The GB Experience- The Crown Nine Inch Nails - Hurt

The Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gum

John Lennon - Gimme the Tooth

Frank Zappa - Montana

@Doddy that’s the one. Yes, a good read. Shame it’s not still up. I recommend the book, Zappa: Electric Don Quixote by Neil Steven and of course The Real Frank Zappa book by the good man himself.

Mike Kineally wrote about all somewhere on the internet. Because I’m a big fan on Tom I’d like to believe it wasn’t Walt and/or Bruce Fowler complaining but I fear I may be wrong! It’s been awhile. A Zappa highlight for me was at the Albert Hall seeing Dweezil duetting with a video of his dad from the 80 tour. Grown men in tears. Met Dweezil a few years later at the Roundhouse and told him, “thank you”.

“Oh No” is a beautiful tune, and lyrically a nice dig at The Beatles. Did I imagine Ruth “on Ruth!” Underwood playing it on piano? I watched the film and could’ve watched another few hours of it. I really enjoyed it, particularly the Zappa family home movies. His swift decline in health was sad to see. There are numerous entry points into Frank’s music. For me it was via Channel 4 putting on “Does Humor Belong in Music” late one night in the latter half of the 80s. Instant Scott Thunes fan. And Scott was liked by Zappa, I think some of the other band members complaints about him have been retracted over the years. Anyway, I digress..., particular favourites include - We’re Only In It For the Money Uncle Meat The Grand Wazoo Apostrophe Roxy & Elsewhere Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore (vols 1 to 6) I’ve over 40 of his albums and there are favourites I’ll have missed in the above list. Never saw him live, thank goodness for Dweezil and Zappa Plays Zappa. Arf.

ABBA - Knowing Me Knowing You bassline is sublime

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories They’ve decided to call it a day, and this news has inspired me to once again listen to what has become one of my favourite albums.

I was in the mosh pit in Fishbone’s Fight the Youth video recorded at the London Astoria in 1991. It was absolutely frantic in there and I’ve yet to see myself in the video but there was a Fishbone flag (seen in the video) over part of the crowd and, when I wasn’t crowd surfing, I was under that.

@Cat Burrito you mentioned The Cure. I wore out my VHS of The Cure In Orange.

“I, have been in you, and you, have been in me....”

@MB1 ah yes. The CD version of course! Baby Snakes (live), Zappa in New York, Does Humor Belong in Music...? Arf!

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - Roxy & Elsewhere Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Winterland AC/DC - If You Want Blood...

Billy Joel’s guitarist’s from the 2007 tour, and Billy’s set list. And a glow in the dark whistle thingy from one of the original members of P-Funk (about 1991).

And don’t forget that once you’ve got the strap on there’s nothing left to do but plug it in.