seattlesteve

Jennifer does a mighty good live duet with Eric on Almost Paradise. Billy can play a mean Desperate Fools harmonica, and is up there with Wally covering Lennon's No Reply. I think Jennifer had a little solo on the live I'm a Rocker too that was good.

Way cool Bernie. Always thought more should hear these gems. I've always maintained that Eric has always had a hit album on the shelf just by the unreleased material. Keep in mind guys that EC may cut a demo, and it's typically a vocal piano ballad (love his unplugged!) but even his rockers often start off like that, then he changes his mind and the tempo, and you have a brand new song.. because our musical architect always builds the songs foundation first, around a killer melody, the essence, that works in many disguises. My guess is that EC doesn't mind finally seeing the assembly of a centralized digital warehouse of his complete works. Very cool Mr. H

and an ear for an actual melody, irregrdless of century released

k, sounds crazy, give me a reason, why somebody with a checkbook, doesn't try to release IYCYM in todays music landscape. It's almost country, but should be a theme song for a movie.. thee most underated EC composition ... ever. Keith Urban could take this little collection of chords and lyrics, run like the wind through the industry, but it would not trump the composers version. IYCYM.. home run, better live then studio, What do I know..?

Check out Burton Cummings In the Round.. stories, grand piano, maybe 200 people, EC would be such an a natural at this, and the accounting would work out to a simple web based cd sales. Ring me up EC, Bernie already has the cover and liner notes in his head I'm sure, and I can help find some internet traction.. But I want to have a stool and coaster at the grand.. S

Some artists are a sitting duck for a cover version, Dylan comes to mind, and to be honest, even the Stones, Bette-) hit Beast of Burden out of the park, and even artists as early as the Turtles or Hendrix had a great interpretation of Dylan. Great composers, average vocalists, EC, despite his self-depreciating musings, is arguably one of the best and most versatile rock and roll vocalist of the last half century. IMHO from coffee/software/planes land.. S

I don't know why, but I suspect for some reason that "Let's Pretend" makes EC's melody Mt. Rushmore, along w/ GATW, those two given.. the other two spots, depends, I'm going to guess, Tonight, and as much as I love I Can Remember, my 4th pick is the dark horse, If You Change Your Mind, the melodic simplicity is the brillance, and the vocal performance, should be legendary.. 2 cents from Seattle

Me thinks EC should buy the piano back, as well as a cut a deal to get his white Melody back from Joan Jett. Weren't virtually all hits composed/performed on those two instruments?

Great harvest of some of his best work! Nice choices..

I think EC's picks would be intuitive.. I want to be with 2-4 couples, coasters, bar stools, around the grand, and I particularly would absorb the stories and jokes he would tell, between songs.. and we would collectively supply the "oh yeah" moments back to the composer, other takes on his songs he wasn't first aware of, and perhaps we could make EC laugh.. actually guarantee it. Throw in some shrimp, that's my lost weekend, or lotto, What do I know.. SS

Well said Darlene, "styles" the phrasing, the urgency, and the cerebreal lyrics..

Cool, my all time non-charter, IYCYM, has support. Love acoustic guitar in rock. What I was amazed at, and a little bit nervous if he could pull it off, it was as good, in fact better live. I saw the very first 'berries reunion in Cleveland, and without the benefit of the setlist, I couldn't believe when EC hit those opening chords, tell me who has a better urgent rock scream.. better than Daltrey, Reminds me of two Beatles stories, John recording Twist and Shout, and Paul doing "Oh Darling" Both were very late night takes, and both knew they only had so many takes on their vocal chords, and both preferred the sound of the ragged strained vocals.

It is simply amazing how many succesful rock and roll/musicians were born in 1949. I have a theory that I feel is absolutely no coincidence.. the answer is at the bottom of this post, but the clue is 2.9.64 These 1949 births reads like a Who's Who of Rock, much longer than I even suspected.. Eric Carmen Billy Joel Bruce Springsteen Rick Springfield Steve Perry Paul Rodgers Simon Kirke Gene Simmons Lindsey Buckingham Mark Knopfler John Oates Robert Palmer Lionel Ritchie Ric Ocasek Nick Lowe Eddie Money Robin/Maurice Gibb Roger Taylor 2/3 of ZZ Rick Wakeman David Foster What do they all have in common? My guess is that virtually everyone on this list, as impressionable and aspiring 14/15 year olds, were watching Ed Sullivan on February 9, 1964. Eric, do you concur with my analysis of this "coincidence"? Seattle Steve (this is only 1949, add a couple years to this range it gets scarier, the world will never again see that degree of musical influence by anyone, ever again.. imho)

IYCYM

I would love to hear Kelly Clarkson cover "it hurts too much"( which is one of my favorite EC tunes}...she has that "raspy" sound to her voice...its awesome Nice call.. would work, on one of my all time non-single EC songs, but my all time fave is If You Change Your Mind, and I think that would work well for one Ms. K. Clarkston too, but something inside me doesn't want to give that one up to a cover, EC's screams,one of the best in the last half century. I'm protecting one of my favorite songs, but KC, if she did EC, IHTM and IYCYM is a bunch of gold that young handlers can't seem to see. Pink would be jealous. It would work. But I guess that's why no one is asking my to be an A/R guy or manager... yet

Bernie, I sense angst, you rock man.. very well done...

Think Elton, Funeral for a Friend.. Sunrise is another example of a roller coaster of an EC song that is absolutely incredible live, and an obvious consideration for a live show opener.. lots of room for the possee to jam at the end.

Eric and covers are a one way street.. EC can cover anything, but due to the uniqueness of his vocals, he is extremely difficult for anyone else to cover succesfully, IMHO

My guess (DISCLAIMER: Pure speculation, no inside knowedge on this matter) I doubt you'll ever see the Raspberries live again. They proven every thing they can, and the legacy has been digitally captured forever. Only economics, or an incredible jones for applause, would have them tour and that doesn't necessarily work, unless they get a sweetheart joint gig (ala Styx/REO) or a special appearence request (ala HOF). Me thinks EC has reorganized priorities, however... the only missing puzzle piece is the overlooked solo legacy. He and his buds have proven that the Raspberries were underrated, but what about EC solo. I sat a few rows away (thanks June) and saw MMLC and Boats live, and holy crap! once again the solo challenge wouldn't be what songs to include but rather what not to play.. soft my ass, EC live, which many songs I believe have never been done live, would be a rock and roll roller coaster ride not to forgotten.. align the stars, promoter, venue, and I believe there is a sliver of hope that EC would like to complete his legacy, and digitally preserve it, for his kids.. One hell of a show.. Boats live.. had to be there.. PURE speculation, my 2 uninformed cents. Steve

Me thinks he likes the Roxy S

The song fade was primarily advanced during the jukebox era, as indeed it left the listener wanting more and they listened and spent more. Also 45 singles were mastered louder and louder competitively so they would jump out more among the song selections.. Even today, when a band goes out on the road to promote a new album, one of the first orders of business is to compose a live ending for a faded recorded song.

After last night, I'm convinced it should be Adam and Allison.. Kris did not look like a happy camper..

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD. WELL.....YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE: MY NAME IS ALICE, AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPILOMA ON THE WALL, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME. SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH CLASS SOME 30-ODD YEARS AGO. COULD HE BE THIS SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN? UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT.. THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE. AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL. "YES, YES I DID. I'M A MUSTANG." HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE. "WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED. HE ANSWERED, "IN 1965. WHY DO YOU ASK?" "YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!" I EXCLAIMED. HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY THEN THAT UGLY OLD, BALD, WRINKLED-FACED, FAT-ASSED, GRAY-HAIRED, DECREPIT SON-OF-A-BITCH ASKED, "WHAT DID YOU TEACH???????????????

Watch for Adam to slaughter everybody in the votes next week, during the "rock and roll" segment. Voters have begun to be lackadasial voting for Adam since he's such a shoe in, and our try to save their second favorite, or he is splitting the vote. They will rally next week. Just the drama Idol wants. Adam leads all by a mile in I-Tune downloads. Here's the tricky way Simon influences the voting, for drama. Allison, who I think is great but has been in the bottom 3 more than once, with many contestants, I think Simon now wants her to go further, Idol would love a boy-girl finals, so he tells her "I think you may be in trouble tonight" sooo, everyone that likes her, plus the people on the fence all vote to save her, Adam doesn't need it. Those multiple voters now lay it on Alison. It's always been a race for second, and it will be a a good one. Next three, all a little different, I can't pick em anymore, dead heat for second. Rock and Roll genre next week.. favors Adam and Alison (Black leather, cover Joan Jett "I Hate Myself") the bluesy Danny, not so sure, Chris rearrangements he may be able to pull off something .. As an aside, I think there is far too much emphasis on who gave the LAST best best performance, without taking into consideration more of their performances.

Wow, like Paulie's list Huey and Rick were way better live than anyone would have known, saw them both in bars, saw David Cassidy too in a 300 seat bar in Seattle, he;s closer to Hendrix than pretty boy. Gotta go, despite all the flaws, at the time, Wing's Over America, 1976 broke indoor concert records at the new Seattle KingDome.. on the stage.. this young kid was impressed.. Stones, Aerosmith, Fleetwood, etc all delivered when I saw them. Personally faves, not necessarily best, but maybe most surprised, Queen 1976 with Thin Lizzy opening, anytime I saw Billy, Kenny Loggins, Huey, Fogelburg, Kalapana, Heart, The Heats, Bruce always, Eagles, and Brian Setzer will make you throw your guitar away..