Re: [Harp-L] Timeless music

Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Fri, 8 May 2009 23:05:42 +0100

Well one separation between UK and Europe was that British popular  
music was often good, sometimes world beating,  in the 1960s and 70s  
(Beatles anyone), but European popular music generally wasn't, with a  
few honourable exceptions. And Brit bands sometimes played harmonica,  
with varying degrees of success... Was/ is Mick Jagger any good for  
instance? Things are different nowadays.
Skipping gaily ahead past the three day week, Thatcher and other UK  
glories, we now have probably the worst recession in Europe, nearly as  
bad as the USA. We are also fonder of locking people up in jail than  
any other country in Europe, but not nearly as fond of this as the  
USA. And of course the private prisons in the UK require one harmonica  
to be issued for every twenty prisoners, to keep up morale. They are  
all in the key of B-sharp to prevent cacophony.
On the other hand, as a brit who has lived in USA and Canada, I would  
say that the UK is part of Europe really in terms of common history  
and knowledge, a sense of continuity that we take for granted and  
North Americans do not and a more ironic and less romantic world view,  
still shaped by memories of world wars that trashed large parts of our  
homelands. Unable to insert another harmonica relevant comment...
On 8 May 2009, at 01:19, Rick Dempster wrote:
Hey Fish',

                I wouldn't be too sure; they might be in the same  
economic boat now, but the poms have historically considered  
themselves a separate herd, according to my experience. Any one from  
the 'right little, tight little' nation want to comment? Not unless  
you can tie it in with some harmonica content though.

RD
fishmong3r <fishmong3r@xxxxxxxxx> 8/05/2009 4:59 >>>

Sorry for this but I couldn't slide over this...:)
"A lot of the Brit bands (and European bands) from the 70's..."
GB is also Europe.
2009/5/7 <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Am listening to that Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac music - just heard  
Black

Magic Woman. A lot of the Brit bands (and European bands) from the  
70's sure

had a timeless sound. In other words, it sounds fresh today - not  
dated at

all - and doesn't sound like someone trying to sound like an  
authentic band,

the problem with a lot of current releases. (ooh - awesome - Green  
Manalishi

with the Three Pronged Crown is playing. Sounds just as good today  
as it did

30 years ago).
Most growing up in the US weren't exposed to the great music coming  
out of

Europe. I lived in Germany in the early 70's and got to experience  
Gentle

Giant, Curved Air, Osibissa, Family, live Kinks, etc. Most had a  
unique

sound and quite a few are worth seeking out even today for a real  
musical

experience.
Currently I am smitten with Fotheringay - only released a few  
records, and

especially LINDESFARNE, who've released 22 albums and were at one  
time in

the early 70's poised to become the next big thing (according to the

critics). Lindesfarne has a very active harmonica player, as  
mentioned in

earlier posts. Their music is real homespun with a great dose of  
FUN mixed

in. I came across a 17 minute live version of their "We Can Swing  
Together"

that features a very long harmonica solo - most of which the band  
lays out

and the harmonica carries it as a solo instrument. The style is TB  
right

side of mouth, first position, semi old timey folk song style -  
strong

melodic long tones with chording to where it sounds like two  
players. What

is most fun is how the crowd is totally involved in this solo.
My computer skills are slowly improving to where I may be able to  
put this

example up in an area where others can download it easily. Until  
then,

however, I can gather a small list of emails to those interested  
and try

bulk emailing this mp3 file out. Since the song is about 17  
minutes, I don't

know if it is too large a file to email, though. Won't know till I  
try

sending it, but in the meanwhile, if you'd like to be put on that  
cc list,

email me off list.

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Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown