Thanks for your comments Richard;
Now I wonder
if you could comment on global warming, contextualised harmonica-lly
of course!
Cheers,
RD
Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 9/05/2009 8:05 >>>
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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_______________________________________________
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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