Mykesbass

Difficult to judge from a forum post, and I know from your usual contributions on here that you come across well, but it looks like there may have been some lack of prior communication with this first band. You have worked with them before so may have thought you don't need to go through their expectations. When I went in with my last band we worked with the studio owner/producer to work out what we hoped to achieve on a modest budget. We took his advice and it worked brilliantly. Our guitarist even had time to do a couple of fabulous, unplanned overdubs. As for the OK/cool thing, I can see how that could be misinterpreted. I know it sounds daft, but how about coming up with a slightly more formal, neutral phrase to indicate the end of the recording? But yes, from my music shop experience, there are some clowns out there!

No, I remembered on the dog walk, it was another CCR track, Bad Moon Rising - plenty of bad weather in that one.

Simon & Garfunkel Live in Central Park did the same for me. Bridge Over Troubled Water must be on the great song list.

That Purple Chilli rig looks great. Big fan of my two 112 cabs.

Sticking very much to the 'eye of the beholder' comment, a track that I'm no big fan of, but surprised it hasn't shown up yet, George Michael Careless Whisper. An incredible pop song, and written when he was still a teenager. No idea what makes it great, but I would argue strongly that it is.

We used to do three rain songs - Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Who Will Stop The Rain, and I'm struggling to think what the third one was.

More Pr1cks Than Kicks - Name me a street and I'll name you a bar, and I'll walk right through hell just to buy you a jar. (Lyric from memory - sorry to any Pogues fans if I got it wrong).

Whitney's finest moment was her debut, Saving All My Love For You. A great performance in my opinion, and far better than IWALY. Don't get me started on Alexandra Burke. You Don't Really Care For Music - didn't Simon Cowell spot the irony in that lyric?

Good call.

And murder:

Songs to play backwards for a happy ending 😎

Along with Disco and songs about dancing.

Used to be an FA cup song on a very regular basis. Had some fun working on the 1991 Spurs one with Chas & Dave.

So @eloisa has shown what a bunch of romantics we all are 🤔 but what are the other popular subjects for lyrics? Cities and US states get a good look in - I Love Paris, April in Paris, London Calling, A Foggy Day In London Town, Georgia on my Mind, Rainy Night in Georgia, New York New York and many, many more. What other subjects provide greatest inspiration to lyricists?

A classic from my South London record shop days -Lou Rawls, You'll Never Find...

There is that, although the pedant in me needs to point out it is a guitar duet 😎

Do check out their early 2000 releases, High Anxiety and Never Apologise, Never Explain. Not huge commercial success, but critically acclaimed when they came out.

I had the pleasure of working very briefly with James Last. His management/legal team were also involved with Rieu. It looks like he has taken over that little niche. As with Last, he has a phenomenally devoted fanbase.

How are you judging greatness? Hotel California must be up there if popularity has anything to do with it. Loved on a truly global basis. Nice enough song, but why is it just so huge?

They were so much better when they were the National Radiator Company.

Dads Dads Dads Dads Dads Dads Dads.

Ah, Ella and Louis - what a combination!

Shane McGowan singing Fairytale with his mum!

Everyone should have a veto. No point getting someone to play something they hate. Singer should have a slightly stronger say on material they are happy singing. But as with everything, there should be a bit of give and take.