MLT Club Member Len Upton
MLT Club MemberForum Replies Created
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Turned right at Greenland…..
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If you raise your head, you can see the future, although not in such detail than if you raise your head, you can see the past. As David noted, the population of this blue planet has doubled since many of us were youngsters. Quirks and Quarks, CBC Radio Canada’s science program, dealt with world population this past week, and the picture is not pretty. Population continues to drive all the other major vectors that we’re familiar with; climate change, geo-political tensions, food insecurity, migration etc. Demographers have forecast, (a dubious skill), that population will level off at around 10 billion. But is that sustainable, simultaneously with the struggle for Peace On Earth? I remain skeptical.
With Songs like Jump Ship, If You Raise Your Head, and WHY?, Mona and Lisa’s new album is inevitably a new phase for them, artistically. For me, it seems somewhat equivalent to when The Beatles stopped touring, but which resulted in a dramatic broadening of their musical palette.
Who knows if the next MonaLisa Twins album of originals is another five years out, but if, by that time, world population is approaching 9 billion, Janitor Joe might have quite a lot to say about this place compared with a few others he’s had a chance to survey.
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Good day Mike, and welcome to the Club House. There are many things in various rooms in the Club House that you’re sure to find interesting. One of my favourites, which was most informative, under the Specials category, was the MonaLisa Twins visit to Hamburg. The MLT Mondays is indeed, a great idea. Now all you have to do is turn on the Jukebox, and there will be a constant stream of MonaLisa Twins tunes. My own intro was via what I believe, and correct me if I’m wrong, the Australian National Anthem, Friday On My Mind. Cheers mate!
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That was a terrific documentary, Tom. Thank you very much.
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With Mona and Lisa working and playing at their craft as long as they have, they are, by now, fully mature musicians. Watching Lisa finger picking Mr. soft on the uke shows she can play anything she wants. That clip reminds me of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, and what a hoot it would be, to be a fly on the wall in the Wagner household, watching, and listening, not unlike Abbey Road Studios, back in the day.
Sometimes, though, just listening is enough. Just yesterday, I had on the MLT Jukebox while doing something else in an adjacent room, and White Room came up. Not the most high profile MLT cover, nonetheless it sounded damn good, and I would suggest, giving Mr. Clapton himself, (once upon a time, (a) god for some), a run for his money.
I’m also so taken by those sweet, simple, electric f(r)ills on Walking In The Air. Lisa just has a way with guitars.
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Hi Juergen: I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who knows of that Funk Brothers documentary. Joan Osborne did us all a great service by “rediscovering” that band and bringing them all together for that concert. Nothing less than a tour de force. Joan has been very judicious and effective in her choice of covers. If you don’t know of it, I would recommend her recording (YouTube) of Slim Harpo’s Hip Shake. Yes, the Rolling Stones did that song also, ‘way back on Exile On Main Street. Joan’s version is right up there with the best.
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Predictably, there are quite a few clips on YouTube. One of the best is the Seekers recording I’ll Never Find Another You at Abbey Road Studios. Yes, one of those fine distinctive voices.
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Hi Alan, and welcome to the MLT Club. If you’ve only just fallen down the MLT rabbit hole, you’ve only just discovered the many doors you might open, and pass through. Lots of clicks of the mouse. It will take you quite awhile. Lots of music – The Cavern Club amongst many others- and the amusing real life adventures, of the charming Wagner sisters. Cheers!
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Upon discovering the MonaLisa Twins, this was (and still is), one of my favourites. The acoustic guitars are almost flamenco, giving a whole new flavour to the song. Then, upon joining the club, I was just as blown away by the Cavern Club electric version. Can Mona and Lisa, with band, rock n’ roll, or what? Still with Rolling Stones covers, The Last Time is just as groovy. Quite a bit faster than the Stones, with Mona driving the band like nobodies business.
Ah yes, the Strolling Bones. You have to admire their longevity. Miss Charlie Watts.
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Bonjour Pascal: I’m sure Mona and Lisa are thanking you for the birthday YouTubes. I am thanking you, also. Merci beaucoup. The YouTube of Laurent Voulzy was particularly interesting, and educational! I have thought for a long time that the Atlantic is quite a cultural barrier between Europe and North America. Of course, there is the language barrier, but that does not seem to have concerned Europeans very much. They are much more inclined to learn English, than Americanadians are to learn other languages. Yes, Quebecois may know about him, but the general result is that Laurent Voulzy is pretty much unknown in North America, which is unfortunate.
My family has had a long friendship with a family in France who live near Bordeaux. Way back in the 1960’s a girl in that family, sent me a 45EP by Johnny Hallyday. I still have that record. The Laurent Voulzy video was a big eye opener. The band is so good. And the stage craft and production were first rate. But it also demonstrated that songs we are familiar with from back in the day, are also well known in France. Again, merci beacoup. A bien to. Len
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Yes, it’s a terrible conundrum, sir. John Sebastian had the same problem, and was assisted in his decision by Papa Rudi. You do say that you have a beautiful wife. Perhaps she could offer some advice. Otherwise you might try listening to a song called HELP. It’s by a band called The Beatles. You just let the sonic energy wash right over you. That should help.
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Is there not some irony in the idea of Siri reading a book? Is it a page turning, nail biter, right to the end? 1984 or A Brief History Of Time, perhaps. Or The 21st. Century In Review: A survivor’s Guide.
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The original MLT Time Of The Season video came out prior to Halloween a few years ago. It was oh so clever, but rather gruesome, so I guess they subsequently thought it had pushed the envelope a bit too far, and decided to take it down. This was, at the time, Lisa’s skill with Photoshop. Mona was “the victim” of quirky, and rather macabre MLT humour. I’ll leave it at that.
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Yes, I too, heard the Great Canada Goose Show on CBC Radio. Too much of a coincidence? Me thinks not. The good, the bad and the ugly. It may be how we’re going to take over the world. One cute gosling at a time.
Ornithologists estimate there are upwards of 80,000 Canada Geese in the U.K. An introduced species? Be careful what you ask for. An invasion of airports, and football (soccer) pitches, not to mention the most sacred of British institutions, the neighbourhood pub. See ” Canada Goose making friends at pub” Vimeo. Mona and Lisa are not the first to succumb to a gosling’s charm!
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This was definitely a sweet find. It’s always good to find inspiring road music. Jung, I’m quite familiar with the Coquihalla, having driven it in both directions on several occasions. Up hill, and down hill, into either Kamloops or Kelowna is too much fun. Of course there was significant flood damage last fall (2021), which is currently under repair. Hopefully it will be back to normal soon.
The MLT Halloween video of Time Of The Season was taken down a couple of years ago. I guess it was just a bit too gruesome, even though it was an amusing example of what you can do with Photo Shop.
The Mike Masse/MLT video of If I Needed Someone is still available on Vimeo, and the Africa video is still available, of course, on the MLT website. It’s too bad that the other songs they did with him at that Liverpool concert are not available. Ah well, I guess you had to be there.