RE: What about song writing?

["Allen Stratyner" <astratyner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Steve,

        I think any song no matter how well written will suffer if it's
performance isn't up to snuff. Slavish imitation shouldn't be the criteria,
but certainly if the rhythm section doesn't swing, and it lacks in other
ways, it's gonna suffer from the execution. I've heard poor renditions of
great songs, and it certainly didn't change my mind aboutthe quality of the
song just the performance.

        One thing I've found is that blues harmonica players are also very
much dependent on the quality of their accompaniment. Even great ones can
sound pretty lousy with a poor rhythm section, or a guitar player who
doesn't know how to back up a harp. I remember the "Living Blues" interview
with Little Walter, and Louis Myers, and Louis' comments really brought this
home to me.  Best regards,
                                        Allen




- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Gatorharp@xxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 1:42 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: What about song writing?


i'm finding situations where i thought i really liked a
song, but i'm actually digging the performance.  we do "pawnshop bound", a
song that i know many here think is great.  so did i.  my band does it as
close as a four piece band can get (or as close as ~we~ can get), but when i
listen to us, it's just seriously lacking...the rhythm section doesn't
swing,
we've got no horns, and i surely don't play harp as well as clarke did.  i
still enjoy listening to his version, but i think if it were a stronger
~song~, it would stand up to a certain amount of variation, and it doesn't
for me, right now.