What are you listening to right now ?

[Grumpy Bob]

There's a new Pere Ubu LP out today - Trouble on Big Beat Street - I bought the CD because it has 17 tracks unlike the LP and download, which both have 10. If you know Pere Ubu, you'll know what to expect. It's not bad, but really my favourite Pere Ubu LP is Dub Housing from 1978. On the other hand, the new LP is graced by a cover of Crazy Horses (The Osmonds).

Robert

[slartibartfast]

Probably nobody's favourite Genesis album. Too prog for late Genesis fans and too pop for early Genesis fans 🤣. Incredibly long for vinyl as well at more than 53 minutes.

[Redrum]

Probably nobody's favourite Genesis album. Too prog for late Genesis fans and too pop for early Genesis fans 🤣. Incredibly long for vinyl as well at more than 53 minutes.

Steve Hackett leaves the band...and then there were three. I have not heard this in years, and don't think I own it (my vinyl collection is a mystery). From what I remember it's a Tony Banks dominated song. I'll play it today on the you tube plug in, thanks for the reminder!

Jim

PS - You going to see the Gabriel tour? We have our tix for late September. Always a fantastic show.

[slartibartfast]

Steve Hackett leaves the band...and then there were three. I have not heard this in years, and don't think I own it (my vinyl collection is a mystery). From what I remember it's a Tony Banks dominated song. I'll play it today on the you tube plug in, thanks for the reminder!

Jim

PS - You going to see the Gabriel tour? We have our tix for late September. Always a fantastic show.

He is playing the O2 arena which is probably my most disliked venue for sound so no 😀. Having said that Earl's Court was pretty bad as well.

[Redrum]

He is playing the O2 arena which is probably my most disliked venue for sound so no 😀. Having said that Earl's Court was pretty bad as well.

such a shame. sound is so essential for his shows. He plays the big arenas here in the states. It's amazing how much the 20K seat places have improved their acoustics. In the old old days you would hear the music in front of you, and on the way back

Jim

[slartibartfast]

such a shame. sound is so essential for his shows. He plays the big arenas here in the states. It's amazing how much the 20K seat places have improved their acoustics. In the old old days you would hear the music in front of you, and on the way back

Jim

A lot depends on your location as well. At Earl's Court I've been fairly central well away from the walls which wasn't too bad but also right at the back which was awful. At O2 I was on the side for The Killers and the sound was bad. They were also late coming on so we had to leave after an hour or so so catch a train. London concerts are great if you actually live on an underground line but not so great if you rely on trains.

[mherger]

PS - You going to see the Gabriel tour? We have our tix for late September. Always a fantastic show.

June 8 in Zürich

[Grumpy Bob]

I've played United States Live by Laurie Anderson a couple of times lately. It's a 5 LP (1984) set recorded from live performances of United States I - IV a mammoth live work by Laurie Anderson usually performed over two nights totalling 8h. Some of this material appeared as studio versions in other albums such as Big Science. Anderson got a recording contract with Warner Bros following the surprise success of O Superman - in the UK largely seen as a 'novelty hit' but actually a very serious work which got widespread Radio 1 airplay. I heard it on the John Peel show. I can remember Anderson played a concert on the night before my first finals exam in 1982 and I didn't go (to my lasting regret) and I eventually picked up United States Live a couple of years later in the Leeds branch of Virgin Records. It's a good recording, but you get the sense there's visual stuff going on to which the audience is responding - in fact the set is just under 4h30m, some way less than the full live performance which I think is because of the visual material Anderson used and which isn't included in an audio recording. The sleeve design, five inner sleeves in a slip case, could have been so much more informative and lavishly illustrated to give a better sense of the performance.
Fun fact: I have danced to O Superman (which, bizarrely, was being played at a club), though it has to be noted I was very, very drunk.

[slartibartfast]

I haven't played this album for years maybe decades 😀

[Grumpy Bob]

I haven't played this album for years maybe decades 😀

I have played this recently, having picked up the latest (of many) remasters on CD a few years ago. It's not an album that marries that well with my taste - but high points on the album for me are Rock and Roll and When the Levee Breaks.

Led Zeppelin don't score highly for originality with me - too many appropriations from other artists.

Robert

[slartibartfast]

I have played this recently, having picked up the latest (of many) remasters on CD a few years ago. It's not an album that marries that well with my taste - but high points on the album for me are Rock and Roll and When the Levee Breaks.

Led Zeppelin don't score highly for originality with me - too many appropriations from other artists.

Robert

When I did the needledrop, side 2 was noticeably quieter than side 1. Rather than just amplify side 2 by a couple of dBs in Audacity I stupidly rerecorded side 2 with a higher level and had to actually lower the level in Audacity to match side 1 🤦♂️

[Redrum]

I haven't played this album for years maybe decades 😀

You don't have to, all you have to do is turn on any classic rock internet radio station

I have played this recently, having picked up the latest (of many) remasters on CD a few years ago. It's not an album that marries that well with my taste - but high points on the album for me are Rock and Roll and When the Levee Breaks.

Led Zeppelin don't score highly for originality with me - too many appropriations from other artists.

Robert

Interesting take. I was wondering why I still adore much of the music from this era, but Zep is kind of meh for me. Maybe it's saturation. I found your comment on appropriations interesting, because isn't that what blues rock is? Zepplin, Savoy Brown, Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones, etc all takes from Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, etc? Maybe you mean in regard to composition? I'm interested in what you mean, maybe it will explain my "meh" that has remained a mystery to me.

BTW, have you heard Buckwheal Zydeco's "When the Levee Breaks"? Its allot of fun. All of his stuff is IMO

Jim

[slartibartfast]

You don't have to, all you have to do is turn on any classic rock internet radio station



Interesting take. I was wondering why I still adore much of the music from this era, but Zep is kind of meh for me. Maybe it's saturation. I found your comment on appropriations interesting, because isn't that what blues rock is? Zepplin, Savoy Brown, Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones, etc all takes from Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, etc? Maybe you mean in regard to composition? I'm interested in what you mean, maybe it will explain my "meh" that has remained a mystery to me.

BTW, have you heard Buckwheal Zydeco's "When the Levee Breaks"? Its allot of fun. All of his stuff is IMO

Jim

I think I feel the same way about Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. I like other bands from the era much more but Led Zep II and IV and Made in Japan are worth listening to, although I also haven't listened to Made in Japan for a very long time and probably won't bother doing a needledrop.

[Redrum]

I think I feel the same way about Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. I like other bands from the era much more but Led Zep II and IV and Made in Japan are worth listening to, although I also haven't listened to Made in Japan for a very long time and probably won't bother doing a needledrop.

Zep II +1 - my fav. For me it's Zep and the Doors that I have lost interest in (although when LA Woman comes on, I usually turn it up ). At the same time, some bands/songs I have heard a million times I still enjoy. Maybe it's the old "absence makes the heart grow fonder" thing. I have tired of Tull's Aqualung, but still listen to Stand Up, Benefit, Thick as a brick, etc. I don't seem to tire of Genesis, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Yes, Zappa, Beatles, ABB, etc...

Jim

[Grumpy Bob]

You don't have to, all you have to do is turn on any classic rock internet radio station



Interesting take. I was wondering why I still adore much of the music from this era, but Zep is kind of meh for me. Maybe it's saturation. I found your comment on appropriations interesting, because isn't that what blues rock is? Zepplin, Savoy Brown, Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones, etc all takes from Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, etc? Maybe you mean in regard to composition? I'm interested in what you mean, maybe it will explain my "meh" that has remained a mystery to me.

BTW, have you heard Buckwheal Zydeco's "When the Levee Breaks"? Its allot of fun. All of his stuff is IMO

Jim

I was referring to all those songs which failed to credit the original writers and arrangers.

I think at the moment I prefer Physical Graffiti, with Zep 3 coming in second place.

R