There are a lot of decent basic music theory books, tapes etc. on the market these days, and many of them provide good technical content. However, most of the information in them seems to lack specific details that otherwise, really never get you to the point of playing your instrument.
Playing cover songs is in itself a artistic technique… However, some will argue that playing cover tunes your ‘own way’ is truly a real art form.
Take for instance the Vanilla Fudge band from the 60s… Now these guys really knew how to twist a cover tune. Considered one of the originators of rock covers, Fudge had an uncanny knack of taking a song and making it actually so unique that it became a tune of its own.
I remember not being a big fan of Sonny and Cher… but after hearing their rendition of ‘Bang Bang’ Vanilla Fudge just knocked my socks off with a take on this tune that… well, just made it better!
Anyway… the article below gives credence to which I speak and hopefully will provide you with a great flashback and for the millenniums a new appreciation for twisting cover songs.
Jam On! -Ron
(via credit: post by Mitchell Cohen @ web.musicaficionado.com)
Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore admitted as much to Guitar World: “We loved Vanilla Fudge—they were our heroes. They used to play London’s Speakeasy and all the hippies used to go there to hang out.… They played eight-minute songs, with dynamics… The whole group was ahead of its time. So, initially, we wanted to be a Vanilla Fudge clone.” And Bill Bruford says that on the first Yes album the group “made the whole lot sound like a cross between Vanilla Fudge and the Beach Boys.”
In the year of the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary, the quintessential jam band appears to have greater currency than ever among the indie, the underground, and the generally weird.
Here’s a recap of GD’s July 4th Chicago, Soldier Field gig.
It’s hard to imagine the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia… but, remembering their mainstay as the most respected rock band in the industry is a must, indeed. This article provides a decent insight into their last stand on the music scene… Jam On! -Ron
Not too long ago, the Grateful Dead might have been forbidden territory for this scene. The image surrounding the Dead for much of their later years—a traveling drug-fueled circus of ’60s nostalgia, soundtracked by lengthy, solo-filled jams—was the antithesis of the punk/alternative/indie ethos…
25-time Grammy award winner, Stevie Wonder is scheduled to air on Feb 16, 2015. Whether you’re a Stevie fan or not, you’d have to consider the millage that he has retained over the many years of making music. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) states that the show will feature some of the biggest names in the music industry. Might be worth the viewing when released… Jam On! -Ron
The organizers of the show to be held following the Grammy awards celebration, where Stevie Wonder is honored with an all-star tribute, continues in the same vein as last year’s show, which was held to honor the Beatles. The concerts may become an annual event, as the Beatles: The Night That Changed America , celebrated the 50th anniversary of the appearance of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show…Read more at… https://guardianlv.com/2014/12/stevie-wonder-honored-with-tribute-after-grammy-awards-show/#Cgi044GCkROzumxM.99
South by South West moves forward this year beginning this week. Lots of fanfare and lots of music and music related elements for sure. I found a great way to keep-up with all the doings @ SXSW this year, without dealing with travel, accommodations and the crowds… aka, Surviving SXSW
(by: entrepreneur.com) Entrepreneur is on the ground in Austin for SXSW 2014. Feel as if you’re there with us as we share the latest innovations and give you a sneak peek at the launches and ideas that will change how you connect to your world…
Keep up with all the doings @ SXSW here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/topic/sxsw
Oh my, the reflection of this band brings goosebumps. It’s great to see these cats [Lynryd Skynyrd] in continuance! Some may had departed in their plane crash but a powerful family continues… and, it’s wonderful to see that their lives and music ‘expands’! … -Ron
(by: the Sydney Morning Herald/Martin Boulton)
For some musicians, retirement is not an option. They simply want to play … and play and play. In 1977, just days after the release of their fifth album, Lynyrd Skynyrd had no choice about disbanding following the deaths of singer and founding member Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his older sister and back-up singer, Cassie Gaines, in a South Carolina plane crash…
Located on Tatum and Mayo Boulevards in Phoenix, Arizona, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is the only museum in the world devoted to global musical instruments. MIM opened its doors to the public on April 24, 2010, and immediately became recognized as a fun, family-friendly, worldwide tourist destination. It includes exhibits for every country in the world, along with exhibits that offer an insider’s view of how some instruments are made, how they are played, or the varied contexts in which they are used. -Ron
You’d have to admit that Joan Jett (whether you like her or not) is considered one of the main women Rockers of all time. Here’s a quick recap of her October (’13) tour gigs with pics… Ron-
(By Cassie Carpenter for Online Mail @ dailymail.co.uk) She penned The Runaways’ Cherry Bomb in 1976.
And 37 years later, Joan Jett still looked toned and taut in her red catsuit as she rocked out Santos Party House in New York Wednesday.
The 55-year-old guitarist – born Joan Larkin – finished off her signature slinky look with a silver belt and Converse high-tops…
Often regarded as one of the most important recording engineers in music history, Van Gelder has recorded several thousand jazz sessions, including many widely recognized as classics, in a career spanning more than half a century… per Wiki: Rudy Van Gelder A great interview regarding insights thereof… – Ron
Rudy Van Gelder’s name appears on more jazz albums than any other engineer, producer or musician. In all Rudy has recorded thousands of records for Blue Note, Prestige, Hank-mobley-a-caddy-for-daddy_5024Impulse, Verve, A&M, CTI and other labels—which means he has been personally responsible for a sizable chunk of post-war jazz history… More Here -> https://www.jazzwax.com/2012/02/interview-rudy-van-gelder-part-1.html
