Re: [Harp-L] Timeless music

"Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 12 May 2009 16:28:34 +1000

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