pierson

Depending on what Sony & BMG really want to do (and if there's any visionary grasp involved)-- it's far more complex than just "getting some concerts"-- it also involves looking to the future and embracing technology and understanding what the youth culture habits are... Corporatations lack street smarts and always fail to comprehend the value of reading the pulse of kids and the younger consumers... these days they need to think outside the box and grasp the new paradigms that are key to getting people exposed to music and what it takes to get an artist noticed... old concepts like selling CDs are already difficult ways of turning profits, whereas dowloading & online availability of music of artists is the NEW avenue of choice... money can be made, but they need to do it with a new way of thinking (i.e. merchandise) and they need to respect artistic integrity (which will probably never happen-- Mo Ostin ain't gonna be called in for a pow wow anytime soon)... bah

It's too complex to come up with one... although i'll try to list just a few, starting w/ the most important... 1. Sui Generis... one of a kind... it's the magic in a bottle theory... the VERY rare occasion where time, place & people make for this amazing thing... the MUSIC that is... the elements which made someone like you, Eric Carmen write the songs you did between 1970-1974 are what truly makes the bond that much more special... even with bands like Badfinger, Big Star, Dwight Twilley, Artful Dodger doing similar things, it's not the same as the Raspberries... vice versa: nor do the Raspberries take the place of those acts... everyone has their own unique stamp & spin... the other thing is that (imho) no other artist or band has ever reached the heights scaled on songs like "Go All The Way," "Tonight," "Ecstasy," & "Overnight Sensation"... in the mix of what became modern power pop and pop/rock it's a very high water mark... to hear that stuff played live was just as impressive as hearing Brian Wilson's band do "SMiLE"...

The fires will all be lit... beelzebub, lucifer, damian, judas et al. around the campfire roasting marshmallows... for my part, I'm on the radio that nutty day, so it's "radio boy vs. satan"-- the theme song will be played backwards and Iron Maiden gets included....

it was.... I'm sorry... i just hope that he does throw away the dye... there's a way to look your age without looking "old"-- i think Ringo does a great job with what he's got...

Well, there's not much to really "care" about as much as there's stuff to enjoy... it's good junk TV and a decent place to hear how good & awful people sing... and Simon is worth watching just to hear what comes out of his mouth...

definitely true about Kat... she almost always comes across like a Broadway singer (i.e. Betty Buckley, maybe, but quite a bit younger, and a bit more sultry)... i missed Mandissa because i shut it off in disgust after the 3rd or 4th hamjob nuked Burt's stuff-- good for her--- she really was the best singer...

of all the times i watched it this season (which was about 75%), i never sensed a big "Whitney" angle with her... although, the show does throw them into that kind of set up from time to time... I think of her more like Sade sans the jazz stuff... her personality is less glitzy than someone like Faith Hill... she's more urban/ metropolitan.... If there was a current country-esque female role model I might choose, I'd go with Shelby Lynne or Mandy Barnett... there's more depth to them...

as far as songs that are difficult to sing, I notice that on a lot of songs on American Idol, some of those songs with very slow low verses where the vocals have to be soft and full of nuance get botched more so than the big belters...

EC, i actually think Simon was honest when he said he thought Taylor "won"... i think he based it on the vocal performances that night... after Kat did "Over The Rainbow" he said they were tied... but I think he thought Taylor's last song was stronger... although i agree with you about Simon probably siding w/ Kat as the artist he would prefer to sign-- it doesn't mean she had what it took to win that night w/ the voters; Simon knows there's a lot of mid-western & southern voters... i think he knew the reality check... Taylor is proving the old non-rule, that it isn't so OBVIOUS as to who has what it takes to be a pop star... or at least make a hit record or be a successful singer/performer.... you were absolutely spot-on to point out Michael McDonald & Joe Cocker... Kat is a wee bit more difficult to turn into pop star, only insofar as she's more sophisticated and adult... in a day and age where there ain't singers like Dusty Springfield or Dionne Warwick, or even Linda Ronstadt it's a tough deal. (Faith Hill is a much more slick country-crossover pop thing whereas Linda was pop/rock with a tinge of country a la The Eagles. Trying to make Kat do such a thing feels forced. I see her more as a torch singer.) By the way, the Bacharach medley on Idol was absolutely dreadful-- proves how hard it is to sing those songs... almost everyone flattened the nuances... ugh... i felt Burt's pain....

Well, Macca's jowls & shoe polished hair don't win him any awards in the fine looking dept, either-- i think they were even steven in that deal...

Exactly.... the strength and/or test of the other half is how comfortable they are with you... and how real the essence of the connection is... the EXTRAS, like fame, money and Beatle stature can only be a disservice to a natural bond... and in Paul's case, it's probably impossible to get a clear read on anyone who shows interest in you... no matter how sincere they come across... in this case, he really should've listened to his kids, who sensed something awry from the gitgo... but luv is blind... in a perfect world a judge would only give her chump change for the split... but in reality, she'll get a mega settlement... which in the end will eat at her conscience... and make her look like Anna Nicole McCartney... Paul's next album may have some good material on it-- reworkings of John's "How Do You Sleep?" and "You Never Give Me Your Money" & "Can't Buy Me Love"???

tony... we're sending out specialists asap to find which chromosome is missing if "Amazing Glow" "Red Desert" "Weakest Shade Of Blue" & "One Foot In The Grave" don't knock your socks off, than there's nothing we can do for you...

i read something about a "Crumb" connection, so i'll have to double check what it was (producer or writer, maybe?)

obviously Daniel Johnston is FAR from the greatest songwriter on earth... What he IS (and was) is a classic cult artist (or as David Bowie refers to it as) OUTSIDER ART... In DJ's case his songs are best at their most basic and honest, whether or not they're deeply tormented by his twisted brain... I deeply dislike the "celebrity" of the insane or schizophrenic musician where the work is paraded as a Bailey & Barnum spectacle-- or those who are drawn to it just because THAT'S the only reason it deserves attention (obviously, the artist's instability DOES give it a deep resonance and specific stamp, but it has to hold up to basic musical values... and like you stated, the tribute CD does prove the songs have legs...) A Lot of DJ's supporters are guilty of the "spectacle"-- At least Cobain sincerely liked Johnston's songs for what they were: Quirky offbeat & warped snapshots, usually captured on a home tape recorder, but nonetheless untainted by any GRUBBY fingers or outsiders (no pun intended)... I can't wait to see the documentary... it does look like a good film-- (done by the guy who did the "Crumb" documentary)

don't forget he was also in The Motors (for their first 2 albums, I think)... His 1st solo album is definitely the strongest... the title cut ("Strange Man Changed Man") and the single of course... but, for me, his greatest moment was the b-side to "Girl Of My Dreams" called "Sarah Smiles" (no relation to the H&O song)-- it's a classic... & is one of those b-sides that outdistances the a-side-- or at least holds its own...

Great news Eric.... sounds very interesting & exciting

THAT'S AMAZING!!!! It's SO NOT Jim Bonfanti-- looks a little like the drummer from Stories... Could be that '70s Malaysian pop sensation Jimrique Bonfantsia who was a male version of Shiela E-- played drums & sang his pants off... literally-- which is why he was banned from US ports...

Before Rod Stewart & Barry Manilow gave covering standards a bad name, there was "As Time Goes By" by Bryan Ferry & "A Little Touch Of Schmillson In The Night" by Nilsson... also, Susanna Hoffs was part of a great 1983 tribute album titled Rainy Day which featured LA artists like Dave Roback (Rain Parade, Mazzy Star), Kendra Smith (Dream Syndicate), Michael Quercio (Three O'Clcok) doing cool covers of Big Star, Neil Young, Beach Boys, Dylan and more... also: Nilsson Sings Newman Elvis Costello- Kojak Variety & Almost Blue Church- Box Of Birds Coulson, Dean, McGuiness, Flint- Lo & Behold (old obscure Dylan songs)

not to make it less painful, but the reality is that it's still not as much per gallon (if you take into consideration the inflation) as it was during the '70s crisis when it more than doubled in price in a short time... BUT, we are very close to it...

I consider that song uncoverable excpet by Eric Carmen & his forces... sui generis, for sure, but also tough to translate in other shape or form (different voice)... the power is almost totally owned by the record (despite some people poo pooing the production)-- there's some beautifully strange magic going on there... as far as covering Neil Young-- well, we could do w/ less covers of "Cinamon Girl" that's for sure... but Susannah's first tribute project (w/ Dave Roback & other paisley underground vets from LA) was called Rainy Day (in '83) where she sang lead on 2 songs (the Velvet Undergound's "I'll Be Your Mirror" & Dylan's "I'll Keep It With Mine")-- she was definitely working on the Nico concept that Roback was obsessed with. On the Rainy Day album there were two Neil covers too: "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong" and "On The Way Home." Susannah adds some gorgeous backups on "Flying..."

Does it mention how Capitol "F'ed up" the pressing of "Rubber Soul"??? Instead of using the real mono master for the mono mix they used the stereo master & made it mono- thusly leaving out the real mono mixes which included "I'm Looking Through You" WITHOUT the false start & the cough on "Norwegian Wood" small things BUT just the stuff purists who buy such things are looking for... & it's a blatant oversight...

Tony... u need to get over this "dated" bias-- yes some recordings before 1972 aren't as sonically "wow" as those after.... BUT a lot of recordings made after 1975 LOSE charm & magic from sterile technology... if anything, ROCK reached it's height of studio greatness (i.e. BEST sonic impact) from 1971-1974.... after that rock bands never sounded as sharp & fresh... Buckley's records cover the late 66 to late 74 era-- a classic time for music & usually a time when most artists were allowed to create w/ a lot of freedom, as Buckley did.. absolutely prime real estate: the same era that gave us the greatest work of the Beatles, & songwriters like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Tom Rush, Nick Drake, Van Morrison, Todd Rundgren etc

the story is probably false considering the fact that Badfinger's "No Dice" was released in November of 1970 while both "Without You" & the LP "Nilsson Schmilsson" came out in January 1972... even if Badfinger's version was released as a single (which it wasn't) it probably would've not done as well as Harry's since he took it up another notch in the chorus & his lead vocal was more passionate... he also took out the lumbering guitar solo, i think

yep.... and in many ways covers make up a good chunk of what makes pop music go round... it can either show u how visonary someone is or how much a hack they are... just a few that matter: Nilsson: "Without You," "Everybody's Talkin'," "She's Leaving Home" Ed Harcourt: "Atlantic City" & "Still I Believe In It" Stories: "Brother Louie" Hollies: "Jesus Was A Crossmaker" Led Zeppelin: "When The Levee Breaks" Pretty Things: "Don't Bring Me Down" Yardbirds: "I'm A Man" Herman's Hermits: "Wings Of Love" Morrissey: "East West" Wonder Stuff & Generation X: "Give Me Some Truth" Ramones: "Indian Giver" & "California Sun" Flashcubes: "Hello Suzie" Posies: "Song Of A Baker" Alex Chilton: "Motel Blues" Flo & Eddie: "Afterglow" Roxy Music: "Jealous Guy" 3 Dog Night: "Out In The Country" Clash: "Police On My Back"