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Absolute Best of the Best
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I don’t mind Taylor Swift so much. She is a big enough star to do whatever she decides to do. This is a woman who is re-recording her early catalog just because she’s not a fan of how the industry operates and what they did to her. I don’t listen to her, but she can play whatever she wants to play, the music biz can’t tell her what to do any more. More power to her. She’s successful, and she has many millions of fans who love her. I don’t see anything wrong with that.
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Hi Chris,
I have nothing against Taylor. I watched about 10 videos of hers today. She has a very pleasant voice, dances very well, & I like her political views. I do wish she would write some interesting melodies though. I’m hearing a lot of very simple, repetitive melodies in major keys, especially using major pentatonic scales. These can be nice, & repetition CAN be beautiful. But they start sounding the same, & very similar to other current Pop songs out there.
It’s like those Hooks that Jung was talking about. I like to hear Music that makes me want to play or sing that particular song! But when I hear very simple repetitive melodies, (or NO melody,) it turns me off to a lot of the Pop/Rock or Rap Music out there. To me it’s either interesting or it’s not. I listen to a Jazz Radio station a lot. But I frequently turn it off if I hear something that’s just boring. 5 minutes later it’s usually better!
Sometimes I’ve gone all around the radio dial with my eyes rolling at the lack of interesting, & same old, same old new Music. I’ve been known to even go to a Classical station with more interesting Music & interviews!
There’s nothing wrong with having a variety of Music for people to appreciate. I don’t deny anyone their fame, & popularity. I just like to hear Music that’s varied, & has interesting Melodies, Harmonies & Rhythms, along with Feeling, Soul, & Personality, etc.
Here’s a group that captures my interest every time! Thanks for listening! — Bud
If You Raise Your Head – MonaLisa Twins (Original) (youtube.com)
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Hi Bud,
There’s a campus radio station near me that I listen to, although less than I did in my pre-MLT days. It’s on the web, so you could check it out, at wemu.org. From Eastern Michigan University, about 10 miles from me.
It’s the best jazz station near Detroit. It’s listener supported and it has real DJs who know their stuff, at least during the days. It has shows with other genres too, like blues, and roots rock.
The city I live in likes to call itself “Tree City”. 5 times last year the trees came down and took my power out. I missed about a month of power last winter. That’s when I put my solar radio in the window. After the power came back, I decided to leave it there. So when the sun comes out, I get a faint sound of – usually jazz – licks from wemu, getting louder as the clouds part. I think of it as the angels sending me tunes.
Michigan is surrounded by Great Lakes – I tease my Canadian (and Texan) friends that Michiganders know how to build a real moat to keep interlopers out. But those lakes also bring lots of clouds like the Northwest gets, so the angels don’t usually send tunes more than a couple times a day.
A friend of mine that I used to work with, who was a true ’60s hippie, used to say that the only bad music is no music. I think he was right, although sometimes I have to remind myself of it. I am always ready to discover new music, and if it’s popular, I’ll try to figure out why.
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Chris, Lake Effect weather is nothing to sneeze at, I know that from personal experience when travelling and being marooned at O’Hare more than once. Plus what it does to locations on the lee side of the storms. And let us not forget the musical tribute tale our folk hero Gordon Lightfoot told about Lake Superior’s wrath.
I have said often that I hold no grudge to anyone that can “make it big” in the music business, and that includes Taylor Swift. I don’t have to like the content of their success though. And there are several I could name that I detest actually, but that would be just silly. I’m sure that there are many that would require me to string up chicken wire in front of any stage I graced!
But yesterday I happened on a documentary on someone that I practically idolize for her steadfast dedication to her craft. Many do NOT like her, her music or her fame, but I absolutely love everything about her. She’s incredibly strong, determined, and in my personal opinion a great musician and writer/arranger and producer. Coming from seemingly nowhere doing backup vocals and small time stage gigs, she’s made a mark that is difficult to ignore. This is only a trailer, I cannot find a link to the actual film yet, but it’s out there somewhere and if you have any likes for her story and music (and even if you don’t) it’s a worthy watch. Covers just about her entire life in a scant 95 minutes but sure lets you see the drive she has, as well as the heartaches and trials she has endured. I missed seeing her live at the Sturgis motorcycle rally 22 years ago, and I’ve been sorry for it ever since. Sheryl Crow is one amazing lady…
Sheryl (2022) Official Trailer | SHOWTIME Documentary Film (youtube.com) -
I’ve always liked Sheryl Crow. There’s different levels of “like” and devotion, so I don’t own any of her albums, and I don’t know her beyond her hits. But I don’t change the channel when she comes on, I sing along with her. I remember her being a regular at the Crossroads festivals, smiling and belting out good songs, and if it makes you happy, it’s all good.
https://www.sho.com/titles/3511623/sheryl
sho.com
Sheryl on SHOWTIME - Sheryl Crow’s life and career told in her own words - and on her own terms.
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Thanks Chris, I couldn’t find the actual documentary.
I have several of her albums/CDs. Her music can be a bit of an acquired taste I think. Her vocal style at first seems tad minor/diminished or like Neil Young a part tone down and off. But I like the inflection and feel in her work. She’s a very headstrong and determined individual, but I find her very honest and true to herself. Kind of a rare quality these days of sellouts and corporate puppets. She made mention of her one song to that subject, that her close friends and supporters thought she was going too ‘pop” with it, but I think she pulled it off very well and showed that she still marched to her own drum. -
Chris, I’m like you, I like some of Sheryl Crow’s music but have never bought any of her albums. There’s a lot of artists that I like some of their stuff but not enough to buy a full album. I even liked Taylor Swift’s first big country hit called “Tim McGraw”, though I could not tell you the name of any other song she does. I’m not a musician so I don’t know what is officially good music. I just like music that makes me feel something. If it makes me laugh, cry, tap my feet or bob my head I like it. Most music that I do buy and listen to is old stuff with the exception of MLT and a few others I’ve found on YouTube that have made albums. I’ve shared a few of those on other threads like The Discoveries, Relax Trio and Liliac. The last CD I bought was by a girl named Sadie Johnson. She is a guitar player from Indiana that I have followed for a few years on YouTube. She recently graduated college and teaches music to children and does gigs in her spare time. She plays a mix of Blues and Jazz so you might like her music. She just released her first EP called Natural Distractions with 7 songs, 6 of which she wrote herself. Heck, she not only autographed the CD as well as the packaging, she also signed the little seal on the package, Lol. Here’s one of her songs from that CD called “Done”.
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I guess I’ve been listening to Sadie Johnson more than a few years because this one is about 9 years old. Sadie was just a teenager playing here with her older sister Samantha on bass and Krista Hess on guitar on the right. Not sure the name of the drummer and the sax player’s name, I think is Sam Motter. I really like this jam. They have a lot of music on YouTube, even a family band that now includes two younger sisters.
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Hi Chris,
Thanks for getting back to me! I looked at that Jazz radio station near you, & we have one here in Seattle & Tacoma, Wash called KNKX which is ALSO affiliated with NPR. So that’s what I listen to. They may not have some of the same programs as you do, such as “From Memphis to Motown,” but we get old & new Jazz, Blues, Latin Jazz, news, interviews & other programs. Their interviews tend to be more Pop & Rock, etc. but still interesting! It’s a good station but has its drawbacks. But it’s better than all the other alternatives!
I haven’t been able to replace my broken car CD player yet, so I do listen to YouTube at home a lot, & the radio in my car.
For me it’s a case of too much Music & too little time to listen at it! I looked up your wemu.org, but it suggested using !Tunes or an Android which I don’t use yet, at least!There is a lot of live Jazz in Seattle so no problem there! I tend to NOT go to local Rock clubs, although I used to play in them a lot! If I want to sing with the Beatles or Billy Joel, etc. I just put on a CD at home. But we go to BIG Rock concerts like Paul M, Ringo, Elton, etc. So like your area, this is a good part of the country for Music. I check up on newer POP Music on YouTube, but usually UGGHHH! it’s not a matter of being old fashioned; I just don’t waste my time with boring Music, new OR old! I DO like Cheryl Crow though!
I hope your new Year is a good one, & I’ll see you in the next MLT chat, whenever that will be!
Adios Amigo! — Bud
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Thanks Bud.
I’ve never tried to access wemu.org on a phone. If you try on a Windows laptop, you can just click on it and go. Sounds like they didn’t pay the bucks to build a phone version.
I’d love to make it to the Northwest some day. I know there’s great music there. Have a good weekend.
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Thanks Chris! — Bud
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Hi Chris
That’s great to hear, more power to Taylor Swift for standing up to the music industry big wigs.
I don’t know enough about Taylor Swift to say she is a good artist or not, her music and most modern pop artists in the last 2 decades have not really been on my radar. She must have merit as a singer and artist to have risen to the top.
I remember waking to Taylor Swifts version of Little Drummer Boy Christmas morning in stark contrast to MLTs, and remembering it was such a pale version that I could not get excited about, as well as a bunch of other current pop artists Christmas renditions, and feeling MLT with their amazing talent should be on the radio instead . The world is missing out big time.
MLT is leaps and bounds better than the current crop of mediocre artists dominating the mainstream and charts, it is an injustice to music.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Jung,
I remember ~40 years ago reading an
article about Madonna, and the writer was saying – she has talent, you
don’t get to where she is without talent.That made some sense to me, even though
I never followed Madonna. And I don’t follow Taylor either. I have
tried to listen to Taylor a few times, just to try to understand the
attraction – I’m always trying to learn things, figure things out – but
I never made much progress.I’m 100% with you in the comparison of
Little Drummer Boy. It’s night and day, to my ears. And you’re
right, way, way too many people in the world are missing out.I had a bad year in 2022. 2023 started
out just as bad – or worse. From Christmas to the end of January I
had to replace the heat in my house and then the electricity went out
twice. No heat or power for almost a month in the dead of winter.Then in February I joined the Club, and
I’ve been a much happier guy. Thanks to Mona, Lisa, Rudi and
Michaela. I owe them a lot. They are the best.I always think the Twins have many,
many millions of fans, but some of them just don’t know it yet. I
feel sorry for them. That was me for way too many years.But their time will come. I’m sure of it.
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Hi guys,
Like Sheryl Crow too, I think about the only artist post 90s I followed a bit. She wrote some nice songs like “If It Makes You Happy”, “Steve McQueen”, “Soak Up The Sun”….
That documentary looks interesting. Will try to check it out.
Another one coming out this year I’m looking forward to is about Bob Marley. A heroic artist who stood for social change and opposition to oppression, in the same vein as John Lennon. Tried to change the world through his music.
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Bob Marley is/was a very unique personality. I found his music hard to get to know at first. But like many things as I got older, I find much of his work so very insightful. Kind of a testament to the power of music in any form.
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Jung,
I think I got off topic a little with the two videos of Sadie Johnson. I just like sharing music, especially some of the young artists that I like. About the original forum topic I do agree on the music Mona and Lisa played at the Christmas livestream. I loved all the songs and have listened to them several times since. I really liked the acoustic version of “Politician”, I wasn’t expecting that and it made me smile. I’d like to hear even more originals as live acoustic numbers, maybe Sweet Lorraine or Count On Me. I liked Summer Rain on the October livestream. I have listened to that October livestream probably 5 times and last years Christmas livestream probably 10 times. The livestream formats just feel so personal and intimate, like I am sitting right in the studio listening. Such a wonderful feeling and they are so good at playing the music.
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Tim,
I specialize in hijacking threads. Not on purpose, of course, but I’m just not good at following directions. But I always like it when people turn me on to good new music I hadn’t heard before. So thanks.
I really like Sweet Lorraine and Count on Me as Duo Sessions too. Two of my faves.
https://youtu.be/HydHPStpQg4 Sweet Lorraine
https://youtu.be/U5V5rfyRy0s Count on Me
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Hi Chris,
maybe you hadn’t heard that music? 🙂
German Jazz/gypsy jazz guitarist Joscho Stephan. He is deep into jazz but named The Beatles as one of his roots. https://youtu.be/8TBIj1P2kcY?si=bxmTDx1jB4lvVyjM
Or how about multi instrumentalist from Sweden – Gunhild Carling? (Dixie jazz)
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While My Guitar Gently Weeps…naked
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Thanks Thorsten,
You’re right, I never heard of Joscho Stephan. When you mentioned gypsy jazz, I thought of Django Rheinhart, and then I see he covers Django on his YouTube channel.
I really like him, thanks for mentioning him.
Someone on his channel mentioned that he’s not playing too complicated, he gets the right balance in his music.
I remember telling students, put in what needs to be put in, and leave out what needs to be left out. Easier to say than do, but Mona and Lisa are masters at that. That’s a big reason why I can listen to their music every day and never get tired of it. They’re never too busy.
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Hi Tim
No worries Tim, enjoyed those 2 videos by Sade, she is a great musician, especially in the second video.
The MLT Livestream are priceless. I also loved their first live performance of Song Bird on one of their earlier livestreams, so beautiful. Looking forward to Sunday.
Hi Daryl
Yeah, Bob Marley is credited for popularizing Reggae and bringing it into the mainstream. Bob Marley is really the only reggae music I follow.
This one reminds me of MLT whenever I hear it, the 3 of them with little gosling Neve, such a beautiful and charming song.
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Jung,
I’m a fan of Bob Marley too! I saw the group “Junior Marvin & the Wailers” in Honolulu last September, & they were wonderful! I’ve sometimes taught the song “Three Little Birds” in my younger music classes. You might enjoy this video I’ve showed them by Connie Talbot. I think it was recorder in 2007 when she was about 7 years old. It’s a cute version! — Bud
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Hi Bud
That is such a delightful version, and I think so fitting, sung by a child. This song I think pulls at the inner child inside, when the world can be harsh, it reminds you are a wonderful and beautiful creation, and nothing can change that. I always feel that when I hear this.
Another one in the same realm sung by a child that give the song a special magic is this one, by Atlantic Canada’s Aselin Debison.
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Hi Jung,
I couldn’t find your post again with the Chicago song, “Does Anybody….”, but you might enjoy this version of “25 or 6 to 4″ in concert with Chicago AND Earth Wind & Fire.” This version is a killer! — Bud
Chicago Earth, Wind And Fire 25 Or 6 To 4 Live In Concert WIDESCREEN 1080p HD1 (youtube.com)
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Hi Bud
Wow!!! “25 or 6 to 4” never sounded so amazing! That is one killer performance indeed, just layers upon layers of brilliant improvisation on the guitars and brass instruments. I can’t remember seeing guitar work and brass instruments on stage together in such a dynamic performance before.
Here is a nice performance by Chicago of their other big great hits, “Saturday In The Park”, and “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is”. Chicago had some great guitar work and brass instrumentation. I really enjoyed listening to my brothers Chicago IX Greatest Hits album. Every single song on it is awesome.
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The ability of Chicago to play these songs live and sound so much like the studio versions is amazing! I tend to assume that with so many instruments involved, they would carefully record each one separately and then mix the best takes together. But no, they’re a real orchestra!
I’ve said this before, but incorporating traditional band instruments into pop music just delights me, to the extent that many of my favorite songs have acquired that status specifically because of the use of those instruments.
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Yeah Chicago in their later music in the 80s showed us they can sing great too. The vocals in songs like “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” are superb. They are an amazing all around supergroup. I recall back in the 70s/early 80s based on their record sales and popularity were in the top 5 of the greatest bands in the world. Beatles, Beach Boys, The Who, Rolling Stones, Chicago. Others like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd etc have since eclipsed them, but they are a super group to have been up there with the best of them in their hey day.
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Hi David,
Just as Mona & Lisa demonstrated today, it IS possible to play live & sound great, even if more instruments are involved. I’m glad that they have so many live Cavern performances too for documentation!
You probably already know what I’m going to say, but the Beatles recorded ALL of their first album in just 12 hours! Which is pretty darn good for a Rock group doing 12 songs! It’s because they were so well-rehearsed. Later with Sgt. Pepper, it took something like 4 months, because they wanted to add studio effects and Symphony players & were experimenting as they went along.
Symphonies used to record their pieces with just one or two mics for everyone! There had to be little to no mistakes with everyone together, with something like 60 or more musicians! Amazing, but standard practice.
I’m attaching a 1937 recording of Benny Goodman’s Jazz Big Band. They didn’t record separate sections or people. And solos were improvised & different every time. (I apologize If you’re a Jazz fan & know all of this already!) This is one of the pieces that we play in the Band I’m in. It’s still popular after all these years! I hope you enjoy it! — Bud
Ages of soloists in 1937: Benny Goodman, Band leader on clarinet — 28 years/ Harry James, trumpet — 21/ Gene Krupa, drums — 28.
Benny Goodman Orchestra – Sing, Sing, Sing (youtube.com)
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This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Bud Jackson. Reason: Words popped up that I didn't type, after I'd posted
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This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by
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I have no idea why all of this “font, color” turns up in the middle of this post, and in other members I’ve seen too! Weird!
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Bud,
That “font, color” stuff is html code, which isn’t normally shown – it’s for telling the browser how the text should be formatted on the page – how things should look. Instead it’s being treated as if it was part of the message to be displayed. That could be fixed, there’s probably an error somewhere that throws that process off, like a missing or misnamed piece.
You can edit your post and delete those parts out if you want.
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Hi Chris,
I didn’t notice it until After I posted it. Do you mean I can edit a message after I post it?
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Yes, Bud. Go to the upper right corner of your message block, click on the three vertical dots, and click on “edit”.
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David & Chris,
I just went back & edited out all the words that I didn’t type. Thank you both for that very good piece of information! — Bud
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Jung,
I’m glad you liked that! That was from their concert at the GREEK THEATRE in LA, I believe in 2005. And both groups are STILL touring! The good news is that both groups will be at Climate Pledge Arena on Sept. 3 of this year! I just saw the announcement yesterday! I will most likely be going with my wife.
They’re also playing on the East Coast & the South, starting in July, but not in Vancouver BC this time unfortunately!
I gotta go! Can’t wait ’til the Livestream at 1:00 pm Pacific Time! — Bud
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Speaking of absolute best of the best, at the public livestream on Sunday, wow, Mona and Lisa were a well tuned mean machine, cranking out those 9 songs with joyful perfection. The harmonies, guitar work, they played it all with amazing beauty and finesse. I was so impressed, top of their form, best of the best bar none!
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Jung,
I’m right there with ya brotha! Mona and Lisa were at the top of their form on Sunday! (But I’m sure that will change, when they keep getting better and better and topping themselves!)
— Bud
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We are right there with you. The livestream was so kool. We listened live on our way back from visiting our son. It’s about a four hour ride. Our schedule meant we would be in the car at 4:00 The rest area timed out perfect at 3:55, so I pulled over to be sure we were logged on. I told Marlo I timed the trip that way, as she gets nervous when I fiddle with my phone in the car. She did not believe that malarkey. We both knew it was that MLT vibe/coincidence. Listening to everything going on without watching was kool. We were anticipating listening in the car without watching. Man, these two ladies just keep raising the bar. It was like listening to a call-in radio show where Lisa and Mona are the hosts and the guest. WMLT Groovy Radio🎶
It was very entertaining hearing everyone’s names as Lisa and Mona read your questions. It felt like everyone was there. Our hosts are very entertaining. They really have knack for for making everyone feel welcome with their down to earth charm, and they are hilarious. It seems like great musicians have a great sense of humor. It’s very heartwarming how they are so attentive to our questions and comments and concerned about missing one.
They sounded spectacular. We really like the acoustic Politician. Hazy Shade is awesome too. They were all so brilliant. This club is the koolest.
JP
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Hi JP
You are an MLT trooper to dial in like that even on the road, so as not to miss the livestream. Your presence will always be felt when I watch the livestream recording. A live performance of their songs to their fans like that clearly across the globe was brilliant, leveraging technology to stay close to their fans.
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