Jerry Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 I broke out my Moby Grape album, but unfortunately my turntable is broke. So I went to Amazon and listened to it's audio samples. Can't say that I've changed my mind regarding the vocals, though in my first post I should have included that they wrote some great songs. For me, they were like The Band- critically acclaimed, but I just can't sit through a whole album. As far as the vocals go, it's like Tom Petty, Neil Young, Joe Walsh, Bob Dylan, etc. Great acts, great bands, great songs, great artists, great stylists, great musicians, great performers. Great singers? Great vocalists? I don't know... Admittedly, some great singers are not very interesting. Even though they may be technically note-for-note, on-key, pitch-perfect, there is something generically boring about them. I once read an article about a woman who said she took so many singing lessons that she "lost her voice", meaning her vocal character lost it's distinctiveness. The Everly Brothers, Paul McCartney, Elvis, Graham Nash, JD Souther, Linda Ronstadt, Richey Furay, Timothy B. Schmidt, Vince Gill, Neil Finn- these are all singers who make me think to myself, "I wish I could sing like that." Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Ray Davies, Todd Rundgren, Neil, Petty—I like them all, have bought their music, but would not categorize any of them as great singers/vocalists. Same for Moby Grape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Jerry - As I said above, different strokes....the Grape songs I referred to above are all group efforts, with 3,4, or 5 part harmonies. Their two best lead vocalists, Bob Mosley, who's basically a white soul singer, and Don Stevenson, who can uncannily sound like Stevie Winwood, sound nothing like those you list whose singing you admire....and to let you know where I'm personally coming from, I can't listen to a full album nowadays of hardly any of the singers you list, except for maybe Elvis. My admiration for the band's vocals have mostly to do with their group harmonies and vocal arrangements. Their group harmonies are usually listed in reviews right up there with their playing and songwriting as a major strength. And these guys still sing well together, on the rare occasion they actually go out and play. But, once again.....different strokes/your mileage may vary...and I have no problem with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosi Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Thanks for the correction.The band I was thinking of was Dynamite,which had Dave in it but not Wally. I think Kevin Raleigh was also in it who went on to join Michael Stanley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 that is way cool..wally looks like jim morrison playing guitar!!! and the outfits and dos!! took me back!! lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 by the way,i'd rather listen to wally play than any other guitar player at this point..tasty,slassy,and rocking!!! i mean that..yet alone his voice!!! lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 i meant classy!! lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted July 26, 2007 Author Share Posted July 26, 2007 Oh don't get me started on Wally and his ass-ets lmao. I could talk for freaking days about him as a musician and back in the days extreme eye candy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 please do get started marvin!! lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted July 27, 2007 Author Share Posted July 27, 2007 I'm NOT Marvin LMAO! I'm MJ! Ok now I'm going to change my avitar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted July 27, 2007 Author Share Posted July 27, 2007 I have now become MRS PEEL lol! However, I will get started about Wally. Since I was never in the Ohio area growing up (damn my family living in NJ)I only have the viewing pleasures from old dvd and You Tube.....after careful study of the dvd's and video, I can see from the 1981 footage with The Secret, his guitar playing just kept getting more incredible (if that's possible lol). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 A good friend of mine is Eric Robertson's brother in law so I've seen him play a ton of times...he has an excellent voice...but he is no Eric Carmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austinberries Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 wow, this is really cool, half the raspberries in action - thx for pointing us in the direction.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 Debates over the merits of Moby Grape aside, Connie & Bob Mosley (the Grape's bassist and his wife) just emailed me, thanking me for turning them on to the "cool video" of Wally & co. doing Bob's "Truck Driving Man", and asked if the band (The Secret) is still playing. I sent them a lengthy response about The Raspberries' live CD coming out next week. Hopefully, some Grape fans will pick it up now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don_Krider Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 I'm not sure if this one has been posted about here yet --- it's The Secret performing "Please Mr. Postman" (Dave Smalley on bass, singing lead, on the left side of the stage, and Wally Bryson with his dual-necked lead guitar on the right side of the stage) from 1981. Don Krider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted August 20, 2007 Author Share Posted August 20, 2007 Don it's always a pleasure to watch Dave and Wally on stage - I wonder if there are more Secret songs out there we haven't seen yet with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 2 questions, did Robinson (or anyone in the Secret) pen many original tunes that were fan favorites, but just didn't break through out of Mentor, or were they basically covers?2, I seem to remember seeing a picture of Eric on stage with the Secret wearing a hat, playing a guitar. Any clips of that floating around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 This is spectacular! I never saw The Secret either. These are way too cool!!!! Thanks for the link! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy the Nick Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Very awesome vintage stuff. They rocked.Rider for Wally Bryson- Bottled Water, GUM, Cotton Towels, GUM, Melba Toast, GUM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted August 22, 2007 Author Share Posted August 22, 2007 You forgot his cigarettes and MORE GUM lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don_Krider Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Seattle Steve said: 2 questions, did Robinson (or anyone in the Secret) pen many original tunes that were fan favorites, but just didn't break through out of Mentor, or were they basically covers? 2, I seem to remember seeing a picture of Eric on stage with the Secret wearing a hat, playing a guitar. Any clips of that floating around? I believe The Secret did mostly covers on stage. There is audio and video from their shows floating around (I was fortunate enough to see the professionally shot music video for their cover of Raspberries "Hard To Get Over A Heartbreak" years ago). Jim Bonfanti often sat in with the group, too. That photo of Eric joining Wally and Dave in The Secret on stage is on page 329 of Ken Sharp's "Overnight Sensation" book. Apparently they did a 45-minute set doing Beatles covers and Raspberries tunes ("Should I Wait," "Tonight"). I've never seen any video footage of that, if it exists. Don Krider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny309 Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Hi Y'all ! I am not sure if anyone posted this Youtube Video, but it appear to be another of Wally & Dave doing a Bruce Sprinsteen song. Wally and Dave are wonderful when they sing together. This Eric Robertson guy sings very well too. I never saw Raspberries at the Agora, but after watching this video I get a feeling for what it must have been like. bye, jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted September 6, 2007 Author Share Posted September 6, 2007 No this is new Jenny Many thanks!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Actually a medley of songs first popularized by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Bruce brought it back to life in concert in the 1970's and 1980's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny309 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Thank You! I was not sure if someone posted this clip or not. I wasnt about to sift through 3 pages of postings. I wonder if that whole Secret show from 81 is somewhere out there floating around. Wally & Dave are very good. They nailed all their parts including vocals. No Overdubs that nite, ha ha. Im a big Fan of BRUCE, but I have to say it's amazing what Wally & Dave are able to do LIVE without a Keyboard player that night. I dont think that Max Weinberg could have played drums any better than the Secret's drummer. This is really great to watch because these guys are so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 I agree Jenny they are just so talented. I loved that Dave's bass strap broke and the roadie had to come out and fix it lol.Jenny is your user name part of the 867-5309? LMAO? It just occurred to me when I looked at this post.What I want to know though is who has film footage of "The Choir"??? I'd love to see that even if it is soundless. I love Dave singing Wally's songs - I listen to that CD in the car back and forth to work all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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