Paulguitar

Eric, I have read this "discussion" for years on this board. Same old story. I implore you to let it go, at least publicly. I don't want to hear /read about this anymore. Take the high road. Let me remember the music, the first reunion show (I was in the front row), etc. Happy Easter, Passover, Paul

I graduated from the University of Miami in their fabulous, forward thinking music school. They have started a Songwriting curriculum with input from Bruce Hornsby, who attended UM.

Billy, Robert Hazard was big in Philly in the early 80's new wave days. He had a hit in the area called "The Escalator of Life". Local radio played local artists in rotation with more established artists. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" was a huge cultural success spawning a movie of that title, etc. Here's a link to his history. http://www.phillyrockers.com/robert_hazard_and_the_heroes/history.htm

http://www.myspace.com/roberthazardmusic

The good thing about the internet today is that bands can get their songs out all over the world. And with home and project studios today, music can be produced relatively cheaply. The whole downside is getting your songs on the radio and having a shot, and just a shot, to make really big money. The whole economics of recoupment have already been discussed so you know how the big boys operate. But you can control all your music and make some money without getting caught in the big labels web. It's almost like the 50's and 60's, in a way, before the corporations found a way to make all the money and take the soul out of the whole business. I grew up in the 60's a mile from Philly and remember hearing Philly bands in rotation on WFIL, the big AM station. Some went national (Delfonics), some didn't (Brenda and the Tabulations) but each area's radio had a regional flavor to it. That ain't happenin' now (read Clear Channel) except for the internet...

I agree that newer well written songs aren't as prevalent on the radio but there are still great songwriters out there steeped in the tradition. Many have gone to Nashville or are independent artists. (Much of today's country has heavy 70's pop leanings). We have to search them out since rock is no longer the pop music of today. My current fave "under the radar" is David Mead. His CD "Indiana" is awesome. What a tenor voice and great songwriting. I was born in 1956 and can remember seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. That must have inspired me because I've been a full time musician all my life. What's gonna inspire a 7 year old today? Children of Bodom? Maybe. That's too bad...

Everybody's a bit hard on Todd here. As much as I love Eric and his music, I have to give Todd kudos for never taking any time off and touring every year. He's essentially been a fulltime performing musician all his life. Being a fulltime musician all my life, too, (I'm 49), I give him all the respect in the world keeping it going. Although I obviously don't exist on that level, I know how hard it is to survive as a musician at any level... And Todd says he didn't steal from Eric (according to Eric). Todd was always about assimilating different styles of music so maybe he heard some of "I Can Remember" and didn't consciously nick it. He used that harmony (moving triads against diatonic bass notes) back with The Nazz. Listen to "Beautiful Song" from "The Nazz Anthology", "Believe In Me" from his first solo album "Runt" (1970), etc... Also, his new project is "The New Cars" with Greg Hawkes, Elliott Easton (from The Cars), Kasim Sulton (Utopia) and Prairie Prince (Tubes). Look for them on tour this summer. Paul

Me and my wife's brother (while my wife plays slots - she went to Cleveland and NY with me). My bro' in law will be turned on to Raspberries. Can't wait...

Eric, Thanks so much for the great music over the years and being an inspiration to me in own my musical life/career. Also, thanks for rockin' again. Best wishes always! Paul Colombo Honey Brook, PA

Thanks for all the responses!!! Paul

I remember reading a post about a barbecue place near BBK's but I can't seem to find it. Can anyone recall that or are there any other places nearby to eat on Sat. afternoon? Thanks, Paul

Jon Brion has produced one of my favorite all time albums - Aimee Mann's "Whatever". He was also in a cool band in the 90's called "The Grays" - worth checking out...

Looks fantastic, Bernie! Paul

I saw Little Richard and Chuck Berry together a year or so ago at a concert in Trenton, NJ and they were both great...

Todd Rundgren - Side 1 - Something/Anything Eric Clapton - Side 1 - 461 Ocean Blvd. off the top of my head... The Yellow Brick Road pick was a good one...

I think he was suspended for the final three regular season games. He's eligible to coach for the playoffs, I believe...

Get a Behringer B-1 large diaphragm condenser mic. You can get it at musiciansfriend.com for $100. I got one and it's really worth the money. The SM58 is used mostly as a live vocal microphone. Any large diaphragm condenser mic will do great on vocals. You need phantom power to use this mic but most mixers have that availability today. Good luck! Paul

It seems like they want to "resurface" nationally at a certain level. Can't blame them for that. They know they have something good and want to make sure it's presented in the right way so everyone can benefit...

The Who - Live At Leeds Rolling Stones - Get Yer Ya-Yas Out!

Check out the Led Zeppelin DVD released in the past year or so to refute the fact that Page is/was a sloppy guitarist. He definitely had his bad moments ("The Song Remains The Same" didn't do anything for Zep's live reputation, in my opinion) but check out the Knebworth show on the second DVD. Awesome! One of the tightest shows I've ever seen. I often credited Page's sloppiness with the fact that he was "going for it" and not just playing rote parts. I'm sure the drugs, etc., at the time added to his inconsistency. As far as JPJ, simply one of the greatest funk/rock bassplayers of all time. The bassline to "The Lemon Song" is fanatstic - great groove and lines. His arranging and keyboard skills added alot to the band also... Paul

Here's one - how about Jon Brion? He's done some great work with Aimee Mann. Check out Aimee's "Whatever", one of my favorite albums of all time. Great songs, really cool instrumentation and definitely Beatle-like in places. He's known more as a producer but has a few albums out on his own. He contributed to the "Magnolia" soundtrack and, most recently, "I Heart Huckabees". A couple more - Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Lanois produced the best Neville Brothers album, in my opinion, "Yellow Moon". Lanois has some cool records out and is an interesting guitar player. Eno is known for his ambient-type recordings as well as well as producing U2 (as did Lanois). Maybe my writings here should be under the category of "producers who are also artists". Sorry guys... As far as Todd, I grew up in the same town as him so I've been following him since The Nazz days (late 60's). At one time in the 70's, he was the highest paid producer. As an artist, it's been a difficult ride to follow all his stuff but, to me, he is one of the true artists in rock along with Frank Zappa (RIP), Van Morrison and Neil Young. He follows his muse and, if you are to follow him, expect the unexpected. It's been said he could've been big along the lines of an Elton John but, for whatever reasons, chose to pursue more artistic and less commercial interests. His latest CD from 2004 "Liars" is pretty amazing considering he wrote, performed, arranged and recorded all the music himself (he's done this many times). There are not many artists in rock that can do even one of those things as well as him. One last thing, it's interesting to note the Eric-Todd connection. Bernie's book has some good info on this - Todd supposedly stealing from "I Can Remember" for "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" and also writing his "I Saw The Light" after hearing the 'Berries version. They were two of rock's brightest post-Beatles guys at the time... Paul

Only the video knows... Paul

Was it "If You Can Change Your Mind" or "Let's Pretend" that Eric forgot the words? I seem to remember it being "Let's Pretend" but I could be wrong... Paul

I think the other night had to be a celebration of the Raspberries music. Who knows where all this will lead musically? It looks like it will be a fun ride.

My wife Lisa and I took a 2 hour ride around Cleveland on "Lolly the Trolley" Friday afternoon. It was fun. I got to see many things I otherwise wouldn't have on such a short stay. The R&R Hall of Fame was somewhat dissapointing but that has nothing to do with Cleveland (They need more stuff. Two floors of Mary Wilson's dresses? Come on...) After all, it's the city that gave us the 'Berries. How can it be bad?...