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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Sun, 20 Jan 2013 2:09 am

Brah wrote:Interesting, not what I know of him (which isn't much) - good band.
JR8 wrote:Jan Akkerman - Streetwalker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBGxYfQ7Gy0
--------------------------

What do you know of him; Sylvia and Hocus Pocus by Focus?* Those are great tracks, kinda legendary prog-rock anthems, but he's far more cerebral now he has his own band. Plus his fellow band-mates really are top-notch as well.

He composes and performs what he wants now, rather than what some record lable demands. So, as he's technically brilliant and not at the whim of profit and the market, the result is some far more complex and interesting tunes.



* Please don't think I'm being snarky, I'm not!. It's just that IME even a very well-versed muso might be challenged to say they know more than those two Focus tracks.

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Post by JR8 » Sun, 20 Jan 2013 4:50 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D67kmFzSh_o
David Bowie- Space Oddity Original Video (1969)

Out there - deeply moving - cutting edge.

As I've aged from a youth, my response to this song seems to have evolved in parallel as much as I have personally...

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Post by JR8 » Sun, 20 Jan 2013 5:22 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4c9ffs8Huo
David Bowie - Oh, You Pretty Things


Wow, just wow. What fantastic composition.

(I also get side references to George Harrison's style. This could also be subtitled 'A tribute to The Beatles')



ps. At points in this he looks like Linda McCartney 'with a haircut'.... bit shpooky.

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Post by JR8 » Sun, 20 Jan 2013 6:18 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfHhz2_hGag
Jan Akkerman - Central station - live acoustic


If you're learning gittar.... this is your final lesson, if you can do this, you have nothing more to prove in the rest of your life.

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Post by Brah » Sun, 20 Jan 2013 9:23 am

JR8 wrote:
Brah wrote:Interesting, not what I know of him (which isn't much) - good band.
What do you know of him; Sylvia and Hocus Pocus by Focus?* Those are great tracks, kinda legendary prog-rock anthems, but he's far more cerebral now he has his own band. Plus his fellow band-mates really are top-notch as well.

He composes and performs what he wants now, rather than what some record lable demands. So, as he's technically brilliant and not at the whim of profit and the market, the result is some far more complex and interesting tunes.

* Please don't think I'm being snarky, I'm not!. It's just that IME even a very well-versed muso might be challenged to say they know more than those two Focus tracks.
While I don't know them / him except the hits, which were the only things that got airplay where I lived, what I like best from them / him, partly out of nostalgia, turns out is not from him at all - My Sweetheart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I-ZN1JiZ6E - I had always thought it was from Focus.

I would say that he was mostly overlooked in the States. And he wouldn't be the first whose name I knew but didn't get around to checking out, mostly from lack of access. Back then, it was all about borrowing records and recording them to cassette, and I had more than any of my friends.

So he / they are one of those many go-back-and-listen-to acts, which is an ever-growning list, and your clips help.

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Post by JR8 » Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:56 pm

Brah wrote: While I don't know them / him except the hits, which were the only things that got airplay where I lived, what I like best from them / him, partly out of nostalgia, turns out is not from him at all - My Sweetheart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I-ZN1JiZ6E - I had always thought it was from Focus.
Gosh I haven't heard that in a long time! What struck me though is that it seems to be composed to highlight Thijs van Leer's parts on flute and keys. The lead guitar seems to be restricted to repeating the same three note riff. Hmmm... it seems unusual for lead guitar to have such a bit-part.
Brah wrote:I would say that he was mostly overlooked in the States. And he wouldn't be the first whose name I knew but didn't get around to checking out, mostly from lack of access. Back then, it was all about borrowing records and recording them to cassette, and I had more than any of my friends.
Taping of friend's albums, oh yes, we all did that :) I took it a step further and had the complete monopoly on selling blank tapes at school! It was a highly lucrative sideline that one! Oh and button-badges too :-D
Brah wrote:So he / they are one of those many go-back-and-listen-to acts, which is an ever-growning list, and your clips help.
Good stuff!

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Post by Brah » Mon, 21 Jan 2013 6:22 pm

JR8 wrote:
Brah wrote:My Sweetheart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I-ZN1JiZ6E - I had always thought it was from Focus.
Gosh I haven't heard that in a long time! What struck me though is that it seems to be composed to highlight Thijs van Leer's parts on flute and keys. The lead guitar seems to be restricted to repeating the same three note riff. Hmmm... it seems unusual for lead guitar to have such a bit-part.
I just listened to it again, and unhid the notes, I had no idea he had such a strong band behind him, including a guy I really like, Eric Gales. Plus Anthony Jackson, and Steve Kahn, who played on a lot of Steely Dan albums.

NYers know this song as the call song for one of the top radio stations there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jHQZQbWAok

But...Jan A. is not on the song.

And if that doesn't date me, this will, but from a totally different era: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE4ZcYvcioo

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:43 am

Brah wrote:I just listened to it again, and unhid the notes, I had no idea he had such a strong band behind him, including a guy I really like, Eric Gales. Plus Anthony Jackson, and Steve Kahn, who played on a lot of Steely Dan albums. NYers know this song as the call song for one of the top radio stations there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jHQZQbWAok

I've heard of Eric Gale, though can' really recall why. Curious that that NY DJ chose a TvL track as her theme, I don't see the latter as even matching up to Focus (refer back to three note chords).

In any case what you will notice is everyone of note left Focus, and left it to TvL. You get what I won't write I imagine [Nodding earnestly].


But...Jan A. is not on the song.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
JR8>> No kidding. He'd lead the track rather than sit back on a repeating three note riff.

[Brah] And if that doesn't date me, this will, but from a totally different era: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE4ZcYvcioo

>> OMG! You must have a year or two on me, I've never seen that before :)
[/quote]


Image
>> The 'step-pyramid' can from the mid-80s. This was when they were in the midst of the disastrous 'New' vs 'Classic' Coke saga...

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 3:27 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIPcXPzUnxQ

Night Of The Guitars - Jan Akkerman

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 3:43 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4ouPGGLI6Q
Focus - Hocus Pocus Live '73

evolved to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBZtHAVvslQ
NIKE FOOTBALL WRITE THE FUTURE - FULL LENGTH VERSION

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 4:18 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9esWG6A6g-k
BUDDY RICH IMPOSSIBLE DRUM SOLO *HQ*

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 4:21 am

FRANK ZAPPA - muffin man - Live 1977
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jh6wnmRbvQ


Frank doin the plastic-fantastic...

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 4:31 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzRv9k_JoYs
Jan Akkerman-Rosenberg Trio

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 4:37 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKT1PScntxU
AHA STAY ON THESE ROADS


Like the way this song retains 'the tension' and never really resolves itself right through to the end...

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Post by JR8 » Tue, 22 Jan 2013 4:44 am

The Doors - Riders On The Storm (ORIGINAL!) - driving with Jim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS-af9Q-zvQ


[someone tell me if it's flashbacks yah]

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