veloman

Was lucky enough to see the great JB with both Graham Bond and Cream. He was loud , particularly with Cream, but nothing like Bootsy and I have spent a good part of my life sitting in front of 200watt (modest by todays standards) Marshalls . Oh , and one Peavy with a Black Widow. Bruce was a master wasn't he and before the days of "slapping".

Indeed ! May have developed that playing with James Brown - not sure. But Larry Graham also had a lot to say about that ! Saw Bootsy Collins at The Odean in Brum; think he was on with RAYDIO (Ray Parker Jnr). Have to say it was the loudest bass I have ever heard ; but then I've never seen Motorhead !!!

Just my opinion but I found it "interesting" the number of guitarists who thought they could play bass; up to the standard of their 6 string playing.Most players would know that , especially these days, it's not what you play (on bass ) but what you leave out . (from a drummers perspective anyway !)

Bass playes !! Now I would find it EVEN harder to distinguish bass playres ! Possible exceptions : Victor Wooten and probably Chuck Rainey ; eg On "Forget-me-not - Patrice Rushen.

Didn't know him but found him - some player !! Did it say he played on the music to Donnie Darko? That film had a Steely Dan connection IIRC.

Agreed . Watching it again, you would ALMOST think Maggie was confrontational !!!!!!

I've deleted it now but think it was on channel 5 - simpliy called Miners Strike 1984 or summat like that. Had to delete it as soon as I had watched it; wife's Dad was involved - North Staffs Coalfield, and it is still a little raw ; even now.

Not sure if this counts as "A good TV show" but did anyone watch the programe about the 1984 miners strike. If so , what thoughts - with hindsight ?

Now I've no idea if this is true or just aprocryphal but my Grandfather, born in Lozells and lifelong Villa supporter, told me that the Villa's colours of claret and blue were chosen 'cos they were the colour of the tiles in the "Bartons".

Possibly "Botham's Ashes " at Headingly ??

Is it true that Josh Cobb is going to Worcs ? I thought he could have job for Warks who are surely a bigger club; no disrespect to Worcs. I fear for Warks this Season.

What on Earth are you on about ! "NEED" doesn't come into it I didn't need the Gretsch snare drum I recently puchased but it was such a bargain .....

Christ , you've dug some good ones up there. Mac Gayden - Morning Glory ; Roy Buchanan - Sweet Dreams. Yep, to a certain extemt , Mark Knopfler, but possibly 'cos didn't he have a fairly distinguishable Fender sound ?

Which musician can you spot on a record because of their unique style or sound ? Not vocalists obviously . For instance ; could you spot the differnce between the styles of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton , Jeff Beck etc. The only guitarists I might guess would be Wes Montgomery 'cos, AFAIK, he played with his thumb and possibly Larry Carlton. Drummers ; one stands out , which is Steve Gadd, possibly because of his incredible "chops" or the unique sound of his Yamaha drums.

I certainly wouldn't have wished the bloke dead but if I had been responsible for those two, I think I would have kept quiet about it.

Marlena Shaw ! This is the number I remember her best for .

Not quite as bad as @chrisp65 but similar. I took my then girlfriend to see "Cream" at the Adelphi in West Bromwich (long since demolished). They didn't turn up until 1.00am , fortunately ,the support band (can't remember name) were ace and played on; bringing on Dave Pegg , who you all might know. Cream, however , were brilliant and she really got into it, although worried about what her parents might think about late night. To cap it all, my scooter wouldn't start !! Gives you some idea of how ancient I am .

Alright then, computer aided. Voice autotune; click tracks etc. A number of books I have read recently indicate this ; mostly drummiing oriented I admit. A bloke I played with was involved with a Robbie Williams production and he said that he certainly used it. A bass player I played with worked for BRMB; he had equipment which could detect a click track and a significant number of records used them. Don't think Keith Moon or Ginger Baker would have !

Of course there was some terrible stuff produced in the 60's but you really had to be there, listening to the radio to appreciate the huge difference when "beat groups" came along, In the early 60's we were fed a diet of (mainly) Italian/American crooners. Even the Beach Boys first came to notice with a Chuck Berry knock off ( Surfin' USA). In fact there was a widely held belief that the music industry was controlled by the Mafia, hence the Italian connection, and there was a concsious effort to exclude Black 'pop' music.. The likes of The Beatles and The Hollies played their own arrangements of Black American numbers. The same could be said of the 70's which spawned some truly awful stuff - Marc Bolan, Bay Sity Rollers et al and then the likes of Weather Report and Chicago (and Steely Dan !!). Don't have that situation today - it's nearly all computer enhanced garbage.

Was that amateur team called 'North Midlands or something like that ? Did't Sam doble play ; but my knowledge of Rugby is very limited.

Didn't he play for Coventry ?

JPR Williams ! I know nothing about Rugby; the nearest I have been to watching a live Rugby match was 1981 againt The Albion at VP, but even I could see what a great athlete this bloke was. RIP

Did anyone see that Documentary about bassist Ron Carter on PBS ? Only really knew of him from playing with Miles Davis but realised he was something of a legend. Programme included pieces by:- Stanley Clarke (who I saw at B/ham Odeon with George Duke), Victor Wooten, Herbie Hancock, Lennie White and Pat Metheny. He played one of his favourite numbers which was 'My Funny Valentine' ; coincidentally Herbie Hancock opened with that (Colla Voce) again at the Odeon, before launching into his "Head Hunters" material. If you like that sort of jazz it's well worth a watch. Not much coverage of drummers though !!

David Soul; probably best known for Starsky and Hutch. Also made a couple of 'catchy pop numbers.

Did anyone see the piece on BBC today about Coventry wanting to put up a statue (or something ) in honour of Management the team that won the F.A. Cup ? George Curtis was there, so is anybody else old enough to remember when he came to Villa ? We were in the Third Div IIRC and a very poor team. George made a huge contribtion to the defence, just as ,argueably , John Terry did. If you got past George once, you probably wouldn't do it again