Re: Kim Wilson

[Gatorharp@xxxxxxx]

rbeltran@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< Oh, I don't have a problem with them making decisions regarding their
 financial situation. It's just that whenever these guys decide to go
 commercial, then they no longer call the shots. Contractual obligations and
 having to "grease the machine" override creative consideration in most
 cases. Having a tune that appeals to a wider audience usually means making
 it part rock, part county, and a little blues. And "Tuff Enuff" certainly
 smacks of that.
 Which begs the question, "What price success?">>
they decided to go commercial when they signed with a record company.  even 
at the beginning, they signed with a label that didn't specialize in the 
roots/blues music that they were performing.  whether or not it happened, someone 
saw some commercial potential...there ~was~ a roots music movement going on at 
that time.  even the art work of those first couple of albums had a retro look 
to them.
true, signing with an even larger company would certainly heighten the 
demands for comercial success.  but that was certainly their decision.
what i would be curious to know is what wilson and the rest of the band 
thought of those recordings.  wilson's music is very conservative in many aspects, 
so it's kind of a stretch, but mightn't he have been interested in 
incorporating more modern textures in his music at that time?  i don't think it's a 
foregone conclusion that all musicians try new things solely to remain (or become) 
commercially successful.  like all the harp players who first heard little 
walter really making use of the amplified harp sound for the first time; i'm sure 
most emulated him, not because they thought they would be famous, but because 
it sounded cool and new.

 
<< > i will agree that the dave edmunds produced stuff isn't their best.  
still,
 > it probably afforded wilson and vaughan some financial stability.
 
 That doesn't mean I have to like it... >>

of course you don't...you don't owe kim wilson (or anybody else) that.  but, 
he doesn't owe you (or anybody else) the album you think he should 
make...although it appears that the kind of music he's most interested in making ~is~ the 
kind most people would want from him...a win/win situation.

steven j gatorman