Replies – Forums – Dale Harris

Been a while since I spotted anything, but on the MLT Club Wire archive for this month, the first two issues have the same date and the latest one isn’t posted at all. I was saving these in my email but stopped when the archive was created. Just don’t want to lose any…or perhaps there is a standard turnaround for this be updated?

Hope all is well!

Dale Harris

Member

12/01/2020 at 00:37 in reply to: Writing for the drums

That answers my question beautifully, thanks. I had a notion that you had your own method of coming up with the drum parts of your songs because I could not recognize any others’ style in your drumming. None of the “Oh, that sounds like (pick a drummer)”, so I sort of think any influence you might have gotten from other drummers is more in attitude and application of the drum part rather than the actual playing of the drums. Your likening the drums to sculpture reminds me of Jim Gordon on Derek & The Dominos “In Concert” album “Got To Get Better In A Little While”, Jim Capaldi from Traffic’s “The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys” album, the “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” track, or pretty much any of Danny Seraphine’s early Chicago tracks, for instance the first track on the first album “Introduction” from Chicago Transit Authority. Incidentally, all these guys played minimum kits of a bass, snare, 2 piece hanging toms, a floor tom, high hat, ride, and maybe a couple different crash cymbals so I think they share your non-fandom of the flashy drummer!

Enjoy your week, too!

Dale Harris

Member

11/12/2019 at 01:15 in reply to: My Xmas Gift 2 U All On here at MLT Club:

Thanks Jacki, my holiday season is now a little sweeter! Do love those antlers! This song gives me a real warm feeling, no matter who sings it! Have a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Dale Harris

Member

06/11/2019 at 01:46 in reply to: Hello, somebody out there?

Hello Jürgen,

Glad to see you here in the Club, there is so much to check out. I found the MonaLisa Twins by accident on YouTube, also looking for Beatles tunes. Coolest accident ever…Welcome!

Dale Harris

Member

01/11/2019 at 02:08 in reply to: Hello from Upstate NY

Hi Stephen,

Welcome from another Upstater, in Homer between Syracuse & Binghamton…I’ve noticed several of us in the Club here in upstate (which the New Yorkers count as anything north of Westchester County!)

You’ll have a great time here!

Dale Harris

Member

04/09/2019 at 01:33 in reply to: The name "Woolgoose".

Thanks Mona,

I thought there might be some kind of process beyond my imagining you happened upon some poor graylag having a bad feather day and commenting on the “wooly goose”. I am always impressed and envious of anyone fluent in more than one language; it sure comes in handy. Also, the smiley face is a really nice touch.

Dale Harris

Member

03/09/2019 at 01:15 in reply to: Typos and Mistakes

Hello all,

I also found a typo, on the MLT Club home page where the opening of the club is announced, you all wipe your “forheards”.

Nitpickingly yours…

Dale Harris

Member

31/08/2019 at 02:31 in reply to: My first day!

Hello everyone,; Dale in NY here,

I joined the MLT Club a couple of weeks ago, but wasn’t able to post much by way of introduction and pledged more later. Later seems to have arrived, so here it is. It begins with a bit of self-deprecation and humility, so no doubt everyone’s sure to be enthralled! I took some MLT Club advice and addressed a few of the sample prompts:

The story of how I discovered the MonaLisa Twins is rife with embarrassment and shame. I have a bit of a commute, and on the way home every night I listen to an oldies radio station. One evening in June I was driving along and “Can’t Buy Me Love” came on. Pleasant surprise. I memorized the lyrics in the middle 60’s, and they came right back to me. My singing voice is a crime against humanity, so I generally just whisper along. Then it struck me that I hadn’t heard any Beatles for quite some time. It was in fact appalling; so vast was the Beatles void that I’m simply not telling how long it was. I recently joined the MLT Club and think it advantageous to avoid my fellow members’ justifiably pelting me with digital overripe tomatoes and the like. I resolved to play some Beatles the next time I was doing more nothing on the web, and then something else came to mind and I forgot all about it. See? Embarrassing and shameful.

It came back to me a couple of days later and I went to YouTube, searched out “Beatles If I Fell”, a favorite, and there it was, remastered in 2009 no less. I was six when the Beatles landed in New York in 1964, and a couple of days later appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. My older sister was riveted to the television, an oval black and white Zenith console. The boys were introduced and I watched, a little irritated because I couldn’t quite make out the song due to the screaming. Pretty sure it was “All My Loving”. Not long after “Revolver” and “Help” showed up at the house, and I was on my Beatles way.

I played “If I Fell” one more time, and as I whispered along, scanned the recommended videos running down the right side of the screen. There was a black and white photo of two young women. Okay, let’s give it a listen. That was the first I’d ever heard of the MonaLisa Twins, and it was unconditionally stunning. I played it three times, and more recommendations appeared. I spent the next few weeks checking out their videos, and finding myself unable to find one I did not appreciate. However, in the back of my mind (which is pretty far back, take my word) I was wondering why I found this music so appealing. Part of it is how they make a cover their own yet acknowledge the accomplishment of the original. Too many covers seem to say “I paid the royalty so here’s my version!” and so, you know, such a good thing Mona and Lisa found their Dad’s Beatles collection.

As for the original songs, they are so…original. Upbeat, thought-provoking, and making poignant and pointed commentary on the human condition without pointing fingers, which is a 21st century phenomenon for the music industry. And all of it wrapped up in genuinely talented musicianship. My back-of-the-mind wonderment was moving forward, and I think it all gelled together when I saw the post regarding their visit to the outdoor cinema to see “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and thought if they enjoyed that, then we’d have a few cosmic wavelengths in common. Then my copy of “ORANGE” arrived. I was following the lyrics to “Sweet Lorraine”, which by the way is a wonderfully dark and bubbly song, that even has a (subjectively) happy ending. Between this and the Pythons, I concluded that a sort of kindred spirit was on the clock.

With regards to my favorite song, there really isn’t any single one; for starters, “If I Fell”, (see paragraph 4, line 4 above). “June” (jump-cutting Mona onto the hay bale cracks me up), “Nothing Is In Vain”, “I’ll Follow The Sun”. Then there’s “Time of the Season”, just a plain fantastic tune that fifty-plus years haven’t been able to diminish, and we all know why: just great music. And their take on it is absolutely stellar with a clever video thrown in that to my mind reveals a little of how Team MLT views art and artistry, in whatever medium. And how cool that they were able to meet those guys! It’s been said that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but the MonaLisa Twins have managed to do so on several occasions and by all accounts It’s Alright. You see what I did there…

I’m going to stop now as I’m concerned that I’ll overload the Club server. Thanks to all for the truly friendly messages! See you around the Club!

Dale Harris

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