Old Man Riva

Inspired by the 80s thread been listening to this this morning... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKmW0nj9xls"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKmW0nj9xls[/url] This afternoon it'll be this on shuffle... [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Funky-Soul-Grooves-1967-1977/dp/B000GIWS4W"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Funky-Soul-Grooves-1967-1977/dp/B000GIWS4W[/url]

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1437169138' post='2824267'] Crazy Horses was never, never ever cool to like. Lieutenant Pidgeon was a geat novelty song. Dont knock novelty songs, they have a place in the rich tapestry, and tbh the charts could do with a few now. [/quote] I'm going to stand my ground with Crazy Horses. Along with Run Run Run by Jo Jo Gunne is was as heavy as anything in the charts that year - and yes, I suppose you could argue that it was rendered null and void by Little Jimmy Osmond's effort that year, but, yeah, I'm standing by Crazy Horses!!

[quote name='pjb13.bass' timestamp='1437167761' post='2824246'] w TOTP, The Old Grey Whistle Test & Radio 1, (particularly late at night and at weekends ) comstituted my musical education. That said I should mention Nicky Horn on Capital Radio. [/quote] I was never allowed to stay up and watch the OGWT - that was another thing entirely! Looking back Radio 1 was a crazy mix of Johnnie Walker and Emperor Rosko vs.Jimmy Young and his "JY Prog" (with recipes!?!) and Tony Blackburn. I can remember the charts being on a Tuesday lunchtime (with the number one being announced at 1pm) and kids being late back to school from going home for dinner as they'd stayed to listen to the charts!

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1437166776' post='2824222'] You forgot Mott the Hoople doing all the Young Dudes, The move doin California Man, not to mention Lindisfarne. Twas a great summer when everything in music seemed to change, and also when I started playing Bass. [/quote] I was moving around the years earlier but 1972 was indeed a great year for TOTP - T Rex and Metal Guru, Slade and Gudbuy T'Jane, Argent and Hold Your Head Up (Russ Ballard cool as anything), Mott the Hoople and All The Young Dudes and even the Osmonds confused us with Crazy Horses (the Osmond song it was okay to like). Hawkwind and Silver Machine was the first time I can recall film of a band being shown rather than they being in the studio - I think the Jackson 5 did something similar with one of their early 70s songs, though can't recall which. On a personal note, as a Coventry City fan, seeing Lieutenant Pigeon on TOTP with one of the band wearing a (green and black stripes) City away top was a great moment... but what an awful song!

[quote name='pjb13.bass' timestamp='1437159218' post='2824163'] I can remember it as if it were yesterday although I was only 12 years old....6th June 1972, TOTP, David Bowie doing Starman. My whole world changed until...24th August 1972, TOTP, Roxy Music doing Virginia Plain. That just took it to a whole new level. [/quote] Similar here. For most kids of a certain age back then TOTP was the only access we had to actually seeing what the bands looked like - Radio 1 was where we heard them, TOTP was where we saw them. Bowie doing Starman, Roxy Music doing Virginia Plain, Thin Lizzy doing Whiskey in the Jar, The Faces doing Maggie May, Alice Cooper doing School's Out, Slade doing Coz I Luv You... all great moments.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQSZR3NSqm8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQSZR3NSqm8[/url] The whole Aladdin Sane album, really. Gatefold sleeve, really thick vinyl (as was mostly the case back then) and the lyrics on the inner sleeve (with the exception of the Stones' 'Let's Spend the Night Together'). I got the album in 1973 for my eleventh birthday and became obsessed with it, and all played on a mono record player. It was from another world completely (still is). The music had everything - big guitars, manic piano, do-wop vocals, ballads the lot. But the lyrics were absolutely insane for a young kid back then, none more so than Time.. If I could only ever have one album for the rest of days it would be Aladdin Sane.

I think the main thing about 80s music for me is the high proportion of things that haven't aged well at all compared to other eras - possibly down to the advent/(over)usage of digital technology at the time (Yamaha DX7, Simmons drums, Fairlight etc) Can remember being really impressed by this track (and the back story) back in the day when it appeared on The Tube (excellent programme) but hearing it now I wonder what on earth my ears were up to.. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgYSqqsrBA0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgYSqqsrBA0[/url]

But if you're depping for your dad, and you dad's Pino Palladino.. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_14kCyK-o8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_14kCyK-o8[/url]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1436893190' post='2821821'] Only one of the two male members of the band appeared in the live line up, so the sound was heavily augmented by backing tapes. The vocals were either inaudible or shouty and tuneless. The (session) guitarist spent most of the gig gurning inappropriately. It was possibly one of the worst gigs by a major band that I have ever been to. IIRC a review of the London gig in the NME singled out the guitarist for (justifiable) ridicule due to his on-stage performance. The following week he had a letter published complaining about his review. The week after one of Propaganda wrote in supporting the NME's description of his antics... [/quote] Ace. Was it Kevin Armstrong? He was the go-to guitarist for that type of act around that time - he played with Bowie at Live Aid and Iggy Pop around the time of Blah Blah Blah. If you're looking for duff gigs of that era then I'll see your Propaganda and raise you Furniture (of Brilliant Mind 'fame')... "We're Furniture, what's your excuse?" was the singer's opening line to the crowd at Leicester Poly. Delivered with the appropriate level of contempt towards the audience, obviously. They absolutely bombed..

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1436827462' post='2821289'] I saw Propaganda on that tour too. They were rubbish - a pale imitation of their wonderful debut album. Not even DF on bass could rescue the ill-conceived turgid mess of that performance. [/quote] I remember quite enjoying it, though I'm not sure Claudia Brucken was best suited to the live arena. The mighty Derek Forbes played a Vigier, as I recall... or was it a Wal?. Was really impressed by him playing the riff to Murder of Love with his thumb..

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1436798796' post='2820849'] Oooooh a scandal! Do tell Kev. Saw Slade back in 74.....feck me they were loud!! Utterly brilliant too. Also saw Dave 'n' Don last year, still bashing out the good stuff I would have loved to meet [b]Jim Lea too, was my earliest Bass hero[/b], especially when I try to play Slade songs now and find out some of those bass lines weren't as simple as I thought! [/quote] Same here. First musical heroes were Slade. As a kid it was quite reassuring to know that pop stars couldn't spell either..

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1436824478' post='2821240'] Propaganda. There was absolutely loads of great stuff.[/quote] Saw Propaganda in the 80s with the mighty Derek Forbes on bass. Simple Minds up to New Gold Dream were good. Scritti Politti and the Blue Nile. The Comsat Angels, as mentioned above. Screaming Blue Messiahs. Prince through to 1988 was right up there. Big Audio Dynamite. Chakk and Fashion. 808 State's Pacific State is still one of my favourite tracks from that (or any other) era. Much preferred the Mondays over the Stone Roses - favourite album from the 80s is probably Bummed. Bowie's Never Let Me Down album / Glass Spider Tour a particular low point. Best musical moment of the 80s? 'Go For It' by Coventry City.. Worst part of the 80s, from a musical point of view, was being in a band with a drummer who played a Simmons kit..

Aye, not sure I was ever the same after seeing Emma Peel in a leather catsuit in the 60s Avengers as a kid. By the early 70s I'd just about gotten over it and along came Suzi Quatro.. As a kid I (and my mates) scrutinised every single little thing on a single. Every word on the label was picked over. 'Chinni Chap' has stayed with me to this day.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1436622722' post='2819616'] For me the pinnacle of bass playing had been reached by 1973.[/quote] 1973, eh? I don't suppose it's any coincidence that Suzi Quatro first appeared on Top of the Pops in that year doing Can the Can..

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1436468322' post='2818449'] But it's so boring! What is this obsession with the honky bridge sound? [/quote] It's an age thing. The older you get the closer to the neck you play. It's the law. I'm currently plucking over the seventeenth fret..

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1436198404' post='2815869'] Outstanding. The once-majestic NME becomes a college give-away pamphlet, possibly with a cover-mounted free sachet of shampoo. No matter, I preferred Sounds (until the gobsh*te fathead Bushell turned up). Did anyone know that these days there are actually college courses in 'music journalism'? No, really. That ship already sailed, I'da thought. [/quote] Same here, always thought Garry Bushell was a massive chancer and, funnily enough, seemed to show up around the beginning of the decline of Sounds. It didn't help that in the same publication (around the same era) you'd have a writer like Pete Makowski, who actually knew a thing or two about the music/bands he was writing about and did it with a bit of style. Sounds in the time of Bushell was great if you wanted to know what/who the Cockney Rejects had for breakfast, aside from that... not a lot else to see.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1436092862' post='2814817'] Sorry to hear that Bert;( My first ' big ' headlining gig I saw, was front row at hammy o ,highway to hell tour. I remember me and my friend bashing angus's leg with the tour programmes. I grabbed hold of Angus satchel( I was very young), dry ice coming out of it..then a roadie punched me in the face . I almost delayed Angus being carried around the venue on the roadies back. Saw them a couple of times after that; fly on the wall tour Wembley arena. Boring. You could see a cannon and a bell. Them days Wembley arena was grubby. Sound awful etc. saw them at donington . Metallica should've headlined , but insisted av/doc did . A DVD came out , but we thought they were rubbish. I think that,they should've stopped playing a few years ago tbh. Angus 's bum must be very wrinkly .[/quote] Saw them for the first time on the tour before (If You Want Blood) at Coventry Theatre in 1978. Still have the programme and ticket stub somewhere (I used to stick the tickets into the programmes) and witnessed all from the front row. Still one of the best gig memories I have. Probably at their peak for me (possibly into Highway to Hell). [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1436096628' post='2814866'] don't buy the tickets, simple, I wouldn't go and see any band in a massive venue or festival for that matter, seen AC/DC a couple of times in the past once with Bon and once with Brian, [b]have to say Brian's screeching vocals put me off going again[/b], I did see a superb tribute a few years ago, enjoyed it immensely small venue and they had a Bon and a Brian and cannons, brilliant[/quote] Have to agree with you. Saw them twice with Bon Scott (If You Want Blood and Highway to Hell tours) and once with Brian Johnson (Back in Black tour). For me, they were never the same after Bon died. Nothing against Brian Johnson but AC/DC with him is not my cup of tea at all..

Foxton played on a couple of tracks on the Wake Up The Nation album - Fast Car/Slow Traffic is very Foxton/Jam. Went to see the Return of the Rude Boy exhibition at the same venue (Somerset House) last year and it's a really interesting place to visit.. so really looking forward to seeing About the Young Idea.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1435691925' post='2811573'] See all the funs gone out of it already and we haven't even started...anyway we all know it's either Jaco or Mick Karn.. [/quote] Jaco, Khan... Is it the beginning of I Feel For You?

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1435529777' post='2809811'] I'm watching it at the moment and through my sound bar and sub,he's sound good. Needs to be a bit more up in the mix though. I saw a link a couple of months ago that he had a thunderbird pickup fitted to his bass. I can't remember if it was at the Gallery or Bass direct.,[/quote] It's a Fender Custom Shop P-bass with two Thunderbird p/ups fitted. He then had a third p/up fitted at The Gallery. [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1435530180' post='2809818'] As it has been since Pino joined. This is the first time I've actually been able to hear a bass presence of note. True to form though, he's just buggered the My Generation bass solo completely. I've got nothing against Pino, but I still maintain he was a completely inappropriate choice for the job. [/quote] His playing on this tour is more Entwistle-esque than previously, it has to be said. The only thing I'm not convinced with is his sound - as bit more grit could be added. His My Generation solo was fine, playing wise, but he had an octave pedal on to boost the sound where a bit more bite and grit would probably be in order. I think he does an excellent job for The Who in the same way Zak Starkey does - sounds sympathetic to the songs whilst not being too sterile/safe...

Went to see Fleetwood Mac last night at the O2 and it really brought it home what a good player John McVie is. Solid, understated and not flashy in any way but always perfectly supporting the song. My kind of player. Him and Mick Fleetwood are a top rhythm section. Really impressed..

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1435167209' post='2806185'] Title track Hissing of summer lawns [/quote] The great Max Bennett. Wilton Felder on Don't Interrupt the Sorrow from the same album. As good as it gets..

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1435147540' post='2805909'] If I've taken away anything from that review, it's the phrase "arpeggiated arsehole". Worth putting up with the exclamation marks for that alone... [/quote] It's a fair point you make, though I can't help thinking what Mr Tourette the master signwriter from Modern Toss would make of it.. He would never have used an exclamation mark.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1435160513' post='2806094'] Most things by Norman Watt Roy. [/quote] I still find the bass line to My Old Man (and whole track actually) as life affirming today as I did when I first heard it. Definitely a beautiful bass line..

Would work better if he left out the exclamation marks! (and suggested that it be read in the voice of Mark E Smith)..