WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Boomer Anthems: “The solo is the only reason aliens haven’t destroyed earth yet.”
byVanderleunonAugust 18, 2021
In today’s Open Thread Neo notes – The first time I ever heard Sultans of Swing it was the studio version, but it was one of those songs that immediately made me stop what I was doing, pick up my head, and say, “What? What is that great sound?” I loved the studio version from the moment I heard it, but this live version is even better. Is that possible? Yes. As one YouTube commenter says: “The solo is the only reason aliens haven’t destroyed earth yet.”
She’s right you know. The solo…. the solo…. the guitar solo…. it will engulf you.
One of my first occasions of saying “This is musical magic” was with this Dire Straits track: https://youtu.be/QffRoK61W8U
If the aliens do decide to do away with us, perhaps they’ll at least agree to save the collected works of Mark Knopfler somewhere, for a record of one of the few moments when one of us touched the sky.
David SpenceAugust 18, 2021, 9:08 PM
This will really take you back-https://youtu.be/mjORXDTSBEw
My first time, 1976/77 USN, knew then they were going big. Got most of their music. Had Talking Heads on the big stereo. Instinct changed to Dire Straits “ One Every Street.
Whoever mixed this did an amazing job! The attention to DETAIL is amazing, pushing it thru stacked Klipsch Cornwalls, is pretty awesome.
Thank you.
VI
TerryAugust 18, 2021, 2:30 PM
I have this on an album I just had to have way back. Fantastic recording. Master musicians, all.
ghostsniperAugust 18, 2021, 2:41 PM
Roll them fangers bwah!
That version is flat, couldn’t deal with it.
But I was in the mood so…..
….I dropped the original vinyl and squeezed it through those historical HPM 100’s. dawgeez
The mutt was terrified, looking at me around the corner.
LPAugust 18, 2021, 2:56 PM
We were so beautiful…Yes! the look of pure enjoyment on those guys faces, and the energy they bring to their music is so beautiful to see.
I’ve always loved Dire Straits, and their name is pretty cool too.
Just yanked back a handful of decades…
I got tears.
JWM
SisuAugust 18, 2021, 3:27 PM
JWM, If only because how they looked … We looked. The memories triggered. … Where is everyone with my shared memories ? … And, who is that in the mirror ?
Mike AustinAugust 18, 2021, 3:39 PM
Dare we forget Duane Allman? His solos…for the love of God his solos! “Blue Sky”, “Hot Lanta”, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”.
Knopfler and Allman are proof enough that there is a God. And that He loves the guitar.
pbirdAugust 18, 2021, 4:42 PM
Faint! Swoon! Oy vey!
AnonymousAugust 18, 2021, 7:12 PM
Mike,
Agreed about Duane. Derek Trucks sure seems to have received a double portion from him somehow:
Thank you kindly for those guitar videos. And the solos! The solos!
CrisAugust 18, 2021, 7:13 PM
Oops, Anonymous was me.
Rob MuirAugust 18, 2021, 8:25 PM
Knopfler is such a musical genius. I’ve loved his music for 40-odd years now. In fact, about a month ago I could not stand being without the Alchemy Live DVD and ordered it. It arrived about a week ago and I watched it last Saturday while I was stringing a friend’s 12-string guitar.
Pretty much anything he does is awesome, but the beautiful solo on the closing few minutes of Brothers in Arms always gives me chills and tears. If you haven’t seen the songs from his concert “A Night in London”, I can highly recommend that as well.
I’ve also enjoyed Duane Allman’s music, and especially his solos, may he rest in peace. Blue Sky has always been a solo that moved me.
If you haven’t seen the videos from Jeff Beck’s Ronnie Scott’s dates that is also some outstanding stuff. Both Knopfler and Beck play electric guitar largely without a pick. IMO, that’s what makes their music more expressive than most guitarists. Beck’s beautiful Where Were You is another tune that gives me chills and tears.
Beautiful nostalgia. Great music video. Thanks for posting.
Steve in PAAugust 19, 2021, 4:06 AM
And now Knopfler’s playing, “Cleaning My Gun.” Is there a message there?
Dave JAugust 19, 2021, 6:18 AM
Expert Tone and Touch can truly be amazing. I specifically have preferred what the gifted like Mark K. can get out of a Fender. Strat or Tele – other examples of amazing T&T imho: Jimmy, Stevie, Danny G. One of the best I ever saw and heard in person who also didnt use a pick was Albert Collins. It is difficult to find a show recording with good sound quality of “Honey Hush” but if you have never heard it start here with a studio version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOU3Ysz1Lo0
Univ of Saigon 68August 19, 2021, 6:22 AM
Dire Straits. Somewhat off topic, but there used to be a DJ in Philadelphia – Harvey in the Morning – who did a feature called ‘Misconstrued Lyrics.” Example – Creedence: “There’s a bathroom on the right.”
One of them was from Money for Nothing – “Money for nothin’ and your ‘checks’ for free”
KlausAugust 19, 2021, 6:52 AM
The epitome of being tight and they always were. I believe that’s his brother playing rhythm.
David SpenceAugust 19, 2021, 10:45 AM
That’s not his brother David, who left prior to that. It’s Hal Lindes on rhythm guitar, John Illsley on bass and Alan Clark on keyboards. The guy tearing up the drums is Terry Williams. Knopfler gets more sounds out of a Strat than anyone alive, IMHO. For those interested, his video on “Guitars” is terrific-https://youtu.be/OG__SwkV3wg.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
One of my first occasions of saying “This is musical magic” was with this Dire Straits track: https://youtu.be/QffRoK61W8U
If the aliens do decide to do away with us, perhaps they’ll at least agree to save the collected works of Mark Knopfler somewhere, for a record of one of the few moments when one of us touched the sky.
This will really take you back-https://youtu.be/mjORXDTSBEw
Even better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkOEXaRsT3s
My first time, 1976/77 USN, knew then they were going big. Got most of their music. Had Talking Heads on the big stereo. Instinct changed to Dire Straits “ One Every Street.
Whoever mixed this did an amazing job! The attention to DETAIL is amazing, pushing it thru stacked Klipsch Cornwalls, is pretty awesome.
Thank you.
VI
I have this on an album I just had to have way back. Fantastic recording. Master musicians, all.
Roll them fangers bwah!
That version is flat, couldn’t deal with it.
But I was in the mood so…..
….I dropped the original vinyl and squeezed it through those historical HPM 100’s. dawgeez
The mutt was terrified, looking at me around the corner.
We were so beautiful…Yes! the look of pure enjoyment on those guys faces, and the energy they bring to their music is so beautiful to see.
I’ve always loved Dire Straits, and their name is pretty cool too.
Just yanked back a handful of decades…
I got tears.
JWM
JWM, If only because how they looked … We looked. The memories triggered. … Where is everyone with my shared memories ? … And, who is that in the mirror ?
Dare we forget Duane Allman? His solos…for the love of God his solos! “Blue Sky”, “Hot Lanta”, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”.
Knopfler and Allman are proof enough that there is a God. And that He loves the guitar.
Faint! Swoon! Oy vey!
Mike,
Agreed about Duane. Derek Trucks sure seems to have received a double portion from him somehow:
Clapton with Allman Brothers in 2013 (Check out Clapton watching Derek at 8:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-NrOFLLMuM
Tedeschi Trucks Band Layla live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCL4o6i5934
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhaMFSep0I (Derek tribute to Duane at ~7:00)
Dear Anonymous:
Thank you kindly for those guitar videos. And the solos! The solos!
Oops, Anonymous was me.
Knopfler is such a musical genius. I’ve loved his music for 40-odd years now. In fact, about a month ago I could not stand being without the Alchemy Live DVD and ordered it. It arrived about a week ago and I watched it last Saturday while I was stringing a friend’s 12-string guitar.
Pretty much anything he does is awesome, but the beautiful solo on the closing few minutes of Brothers in Arms always gives me chills and tears. If you haven’t seen the songs from his concert “A Night in London”, I can highly recommend that as well.
I’ve also enjoyed Duane Allman’s music, and especially his solos, may he rest in peace. Blue Sky has always been a solo that moved me.
If you haven’t seen the videos from Jeff Beck’s Ronnie Scott’s dates that is also some outstanding stuff. Both Knopfler and Beck play electric guitar largely without a pick. IMO, that’s what makes their music more expressive than most guitarists. Beck’s beautiful Where Were You is another tune that gives me chills and tears.
Beautiful nostalgia. Great music video. Thanks for posting.
And now Knopfler’s playing, “Cleaning My Gun.” Is there a message there?
Expert Tone and Touch can truly be amazing. I specifically have preferred what the gifted like Mark K. can get out of a Fender. Strat or Tele – other examples of amazing T&T imho: Jimmy, Stevie, Danny G. One of the best I ever saw and heard in person who also didnt use a pick was Albert Collins. It is difficult to find a show recording with good sound quality of “Honey Hush” but if you have never heard it start here with a studio version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOU3Ysz1Lo0
Dire Straits. Somewhat off topic, but there used to be a DJ in Philadelphia – Harvey in the Morning – who did a feature called ‘Misconstrued Lyrics.” Example – Creedence: “There’s a bathroom on the right.”
One of them was from Money for Nothing – “Money for nothin’ and your ‘checks’ for free”
The epitome of being tight and they always were. I believe that’s his brother playing rhythm.
That’s not his brother David, who left prior to that. It’s Hal Lindes on rhythm guitar, John Illsley on bass and Alan Clark on keyboards. The guy tearing up the drums is Terry Williams. Knopfler gets more sounds out of a Strat than anyone alive, IMHO. For those interested, his video on “Guitars” is terrific-https://youtu.be/OG__SwkV3wg.