George's lapel pin?


On the cover of the box George is wearing two lapel pins or maybe it's sewed onto the jacket. It looks like some sort of hindi symbol. Does anyone know what it means?

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I forget the name of this symbol, but it means meditation (I believe - but I may be wrong).
It had strong meaning to George. He even used it on his album covers. I don't think I can see the symbol without thinking of George...

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It's an Om symbol, as I remember. That's the symbol for Hinduism, and it means, basically, the divine energy of God in all creation...

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That's it! Thanks for the name of the symbol. I did a quick search on the Internet, and found this http://www.lotussculpture.com/my_articles_om.htm which pretty well verifies your meaning of the symbol (I had thought it had a narrower meaning...) Thanks.

Keep on keeping on George wherever you are... I have seen and heard the Concert for Bangladesh so many times (on screen, on DVD, and on LP, but not live) but I never will tire of it...

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My pleasure! I've followed Hinduism for a decade so I'm pretty familiar with that symbol...:)

And I agree- I never tire of the Concert for Bangladesh- or the Concert for George, for that matter!

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I've only seen Concert for George (on DVD) once so far. By far the highlight for me was Billy Prestons song which bordered on being magical. (Time to watch it again I suppose.)

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I love almost all of it. The love all those people had for George is palpable throughout the entire show...

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Ok, I just watched Concert for George again. The Indian music section was fantastic (I enjoyed it even more this time around), and select western songs were well done, but (it seemed to me that) the bulk of the Georges songs were missing an edge. Some of the singers just didn't seem to reach the 'sweet spot' of the music, and were just 'singing some words to music' (as if they were too tired.)

I would still rate Concert for George as a good concert, but Bangladesh as a great concert.

I recently also watched Paul McCartney's The Space Within Us. While musically, the concert was very charged, the editing was too MTV (rapid fire camera changes), and the breaks to behind the scenes really broke the mood. The concert would be more enjoyable I think as a CD (without the constant camera changes and behind the scene stuff). A quite good concert, but only a mediocre packaging of it (likewise for the other two recent concert DVD's of his) (It would have been neat if Paul chose to do "All You Need Is Love" for his Space Station wakeup song... with the audience singing along.)

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That's sorta funny- I see only people putting their whole hearts into it, not at all just singing some words. Everyone sees things differently....!

I haven't seen The Space Within Us, but then I'm not so big on solo Macca....
But I too am not fond of the MTV thing where you barely have time to focus on one image and suddenly it's something else...Drives me nuts!


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I haven't seen The Space Within Us, but then I'm not so big on solo Macca....
Then safely avoid it's purchase. Borrow it, or watch it when it's on TV next. You're not missing anything wonderful. (I bought McCartney's Red Square, and regreted it when seeing the MTV style editing...)

That's sorta funny- I see only people putting their whole hearts into it, not at all just singing some words. Everyone sees things differently....!
We do don't we! (Which is cool) But we do both enjoy Bangladesh! (Too bad it's not more popular. It's a great movie of a great concert.)

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I think most people of a certain age (myself included) remember and love Concert for Bangladesh quite fondly. But as time goes on, and a younger generation or two comes along, less people know about it. I do really love it- it's a pity that Leon Russell was too ill to attend the Concert for George, since he was such a big part of the Bangladesh concert. (Dont't know what happened to Dylan...) I saw the Bangladesh film in a theater as a teen, and I was totally swept away! It almost felt like being there....:)

On another note, Patti Smith's new album is going to be all covers, including Within You Without You- should be interesting! That's not a song that springs to mind when you think, "Good song to cover"....Patti said:

"Sgt.Pepper is such a famous record, but George Harrison's song is the least famous on it. And it's a beautiful song. It asks us to examine our conscience.
Sgt.Pepper came out right before I moved to New York. It was played on the radio, at midnight, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. To hear A Day In The Life at that time, in THAT MOMENT- the communal excitement of a new record- is something people miss out on now. You can't download that".....

Amen!

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I do really love it- it's a pity that Leon Russell was too ill to attend the Concert for George, since he was such a big part of the Bangladesh concert. (Dont't know what happened to Dylan...) I saw the Bangladesh film in a theater as a teen, and I was totally swept away! It almost felt like being there....:)
I was thinking the same thing about Leon and Bob... I didn't know Leon was too ill to attend, and I don't know why Bob didn't show...

I too saw Bangladesh in the theatre and was blown away by it. After listening to it on LP for years, it was great to see it on the big screen. I was just past the teen years when I saw it on the silver screen... The Indian music was the part that floored us the most. It really opened up that segment.

Patti Smith's new album is going to be all covers, including Within You Without You- should be interesting! It should be... I'll look into that thanks! I have yet to buy one of her records, maybe this will be my first.

"... You can't download that".....
That's the trouble with 'instant gratification'... it has no depth.

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Olivia is often interviewed on our LA-based Breakfast With The Beatles (ditto Paul & Ringo!), and she said that Leon wanted to be there, but was too ill to attend. I believe he's been somewhat disabled for a while...But Bob? Who knows!
He's a prickly one, to say the least....That's cool that you too got to see the Bangladesh concert in a theater! I too enjoyed the Indian music, though my older brother hated it and kept complaining about it!

And Patti's one of my big heroes, and she's made some pretty ballsy choices for covers- can't wait to here it!

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I looked a little into Bob Dylan and The Concert For George, and on November 13 Bob ended the Madison Square Gardens (the Bangladesh venue) show with "Something" as a tribute to George. He said he could not attend the Concert for George.

Bob toured until November 22 ending in Virginia, at which point rehearsals for the Concert had been underway for two weeks... Don't know if he was actually busy doing something on the 29th or not, but I guess his tour got in the way... Too bad.

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And considering how hard it was for George to get Dylan to play Bangladesh up until the last moment, I can only imagine how hard it would have been for someone else to get him to play, memorial for George or not! I'm glad he at least played "Something"....

I remember when they had the VH1 Awards right after George passed. I wondered if they would "mention" him...So I was really blown away when the first thing they had was Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora playing Here Comes The Sun acoustically, with a series of photos of George projected behind them. I totally lost it! I could barely see the tv, my eyes were so teary....And they still get teary whenever I think of it!

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I beleave the reason for Bob's hesitancy was that Bangladesh was Bob's first appearance since 1969. Bob loves performing, but he is also terribly shy. Being his first appearance in so long, he likely was very nervous too. This was also after his fame had gotten too much for him to handle and he tried to sabatoge it by releasing records geared towards alienating his fan base (Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait. (His following record New Morning in 1971 was better recieved by the fans (and it contained his own "If Not For You" version.)

I was trying to think of my favourite song, or moment of the concert... There is just too many to limit to just a handful... Basically the entire concert is a gem. Before seeing it on screen, I would have said that the Indian music was the least favourite part, but now, it remains a favourite part too. I think the Indian music section is the hardest part for western audiences to warm up to because you can't get into it from the first beat, you have to let it wash over you... once you surrender to it (and stop complaining), it's a fantastic journey. I confess, though sometimes I skip it because I'm not patient enough that day...

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I'm no Dylan expert but I remember people really liking Nashville Skyline when it came out- it was the only Dylan album I ever bought, until I got a great Best of cd about 30 years later. And Lay Lady Lay was certainly very popular, so I don't know how well he succeeded, if he was trying to alienate his fan base. Has he said that's what he was trying to do? Artists like him and Neil Young tend to go their own way no matter what, and either fans follow, or don't.....Having seen him once live, I would say his performances might turn fans off more than his records! He rushed through everything so fast, we could barely tell what song he was "singing" at any given moment. We left a few songs into it. And from what I've read, after his recent tour people complained of the same thing.....

Yeah, I often skip the Indian sections of both films, though I do love the music. I often just play whatever songs I REALLY want to see/hear at the moment. As for the Bangladesh concert, I think Youngblood, My Sweet Lord and Awaiting On You All are my favorites, but I may have to rewatch it over the weekend to refresh my memory! :)

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In his autobiography he complains about people trespassing, stealing or searching his garbage, hailing him as some sort of God and stuff. He had moved to avoid his obnoxious fans but once they found him again it all started up again. He figured he would shock his fans into leaving him alone. Nashville Skyline was his first attempt at being non-Dylan. He gave us instrumental, whimsical and even sappy songs. He even gave his fans a new voice to listen to... Trouble is the album was a mild success (even though it was short.)

He missed the mark, and instead created a good country record. (I certainly enjoy it.)

He then tried again and did a double LP of mostly covers (See fans, now I'm doing covers! I can't write no more good songs, I'm a has-been! Leave me alone!) Self-Portrait (sounding much like Nashville) suffered in the stores.

Yes, Dylan has never done what his fans wanted (going electric, playing only Christian music) but I'm glad he got over his trepidations, and hit the stage at Madison Square Gardens that day back in 1971, on the behest of his friend George Harrison. I am sure glad George thought to film it (not just record it).

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But what I asked is, is there any sort of quote- from Bob, not from various authors giving their views- that he did albums specifically to lose fans? I know he was overwhelmed by his success and the hounding by his fans, but....I find it sorta hard to believe. Maybe he made music that he wanted to do and figured it might lose him some fans, but that's not the same as purposely doing music to do so. So I'm wondering if he actually said that....

And yeah, for George's sake I'm really glad he overcame his hesitation and got on stage for Bangladesh!

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In his own book, he wrote about it:

I think also he mentioned it the interview he did with Ray Bradley (maybe not the two albums by names.)

I always thought the Skyline record was a roots sort of movement (He had tight links to Johnny Cash, and with the duet lent validity to the LP. He did such a good job of the record too...)

I'll track down the bit in Chronicles Volume 1... and will post it.

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I borrowed that book but I guess I somehow missed that part. I would be interested in reading whatever he said along those lines, thanks!

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Ahh... Now you're making me question my own sanity! We read the same book and remember it differently. (I too borrowed it when I read it, but still bought the book, which remains unread on the shelf...)

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Well, don't rely on anything I say, cos my brain tends to leak out my ears these days....:)

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...my brain tends to leak out my ears these days...
Well, there is a mental image...

Seriously, I did find the reference though so I'm not insane, and it's easy to see why someone would miss it: Bob doesn't reference the albums by name(Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait.) So, anyways, on page 122 of the hard copy edition:

In discussing his attempt to distance himself from fame and give his family some breathing room he says:
... I quickly recorded what appeared to be a country-western record and made sure it sounded bridled and housebroken. ... I used a different voice too. ...


He mentions that the critics didn't know what to think of it. Then he started a rumour that he was quiting the music scene and going to school. This filtered to the music pundits who gave him three months before he was missing in action...

He continues:
... I released one album (a double one) where I just threw everything I could think of at the wall and what stuck, released it and then went back and scooped up everything that didn't stick and released that too. ...


He also writes of an album entirely based on short stories by Anton Chekhov which could refer to the 1974 Blood On the Tracks which is thought of as one of his all time best albums, or a better bet is his 1967 LP John Wesley Harding which preceeds his Nashville Skyline record. Released in the era of Sgt. Pepper, the record was stripped bare of colour and electricity. It was also released with no advertisement or single (on Dylan's request.) With it's stripped bare sound plus no advertising, it seems likely that this is the refered to album. (I haven't read Chekhov to verify this...)

Anyway... so your first Dylan LP was geared towards loosing fans. He reined that puppy, and made it as unDylan as he could. Glad you like it too, it is a nice record. My first record of Dylan's was Highway 61 Revisited (I was intriged by "Yer Blues" line where Lennon refers to Dylan's Mr. Jones...) and was hooked ever since (that was back in around '75) (Oddly, I ended up buying two copies of 61! My first LP had labels from side 3 and 4 of Self Portrait on it so I kept that as a rarity, and bought a new one...)

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I don't know- I'm still sorta unconvinced. I'd like to someday read the pages these quotes came from. I didn't notice any different voice on any of his albums, though- do you hear a difference? Just curious....Not sure he has the ability to sound much different than his usual! Isn't Blood On The Tracks about his divorce? That's what I've always read, anyway....When we got off onto this tangent it did make me pull out my double disc The Essential Bob Dylan, and I enjoyed listening to that again!

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Hi there, Bhaktigirl,

To read it yourself (in context) start at page 118 of the hard cover edition. No idea where it is in the softcover edition as I don't have it) then read for about 4 pages or so... (local library should have a copy of the book.)

About Bob's fight to undo some of his fame:

First, lets look at Bobs comment about Nashville being 'bridled and housebroken'. This is an unusual statement about a record to be sure. But, the writing on the record is very tame. There are no barbs, no hooks, no shovels applied to the head... Some very mild songs by Bob's standards. On Self-Portrait, he had only about few new songs, (two versions of Alberta, one about tired horses, Minstrel Boy and another one or two...) the rest were covers, or songs already released. One song repeats over and over: "All the tired horses in the sun, how am I gonna get any riding done" Is this the best he could do? He has some girl chorus singing it as if he is too ashamed to even sing it, and yet it is the first track on the double record! There is also live tracks of two fantastic songs... but they are pretty lousy sounding. These two records are a shadow of the Dylan that once wrote "Ballad of a Thin Man", "Positively 4th Street", "Blowing in The Wind", "The Times They are A-Changing" or "Like a Rolling Stone"...

And yes the voice is largely different. These two albums have a deeper register then other albums. Often attributed to Dylan quiting smoking (don't know if he really did or not), the deeper voice works well for Nashville Skyline though.

Blood on the Tracks includes his divorce and all the pain that it involved. His son Jacob said something like "Why would I like that record? It's like hearing my parent scream at each other" The sound though is beautiful on that record, but the lyrics can be cutting... ouch!

If you wanna have some fun, check out www.bobdylan.com, you can hear sound samples from each of his songs, plus get the lyrics too.

I watched Bangladesh over the on the weekend. I noticed George does NOT have a lapel pin, but the OM symbol is embroidered right on the lapels (and on his pants too). Cool stuff!

Oh! While I was watching Bangladesh, I remembered another concert film where magic happens. If you haven't seen it already, check out Roy Orbison Black and White. The CD is great, but on the DVD you really see that kd lang, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and others are having so much fun on stage with Roy. I'm not a big Roy fan, but it's one of my favourite concerts on film (I wish it was longer!)

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Thanks, I'll take a look. It will be interesting to read. Obviously, you are far more knowledgeable about the man! :) If his voice is deeper on NS, that may be why it's the one I liked enough to buy, as I never cared for his voice. (Jacob's quite the nice young specimen, isn't he?....)

Yeah, now that you mention it, I remember George did talk about having the Om symbol stitched into his suit! I forget where I read that- maybe in the memorial book Rolling Stone put out, I'm not sure...I know I hadn't noticed it when I saw it. As for Roy, I loved his voice, but I got so sick of Pretty Woman I could still puke when it comes on....figuratively, of course! :) I do know he was one of Johnny Cash's best friends, which for me gives Roy (or anyone!) some added magic! Thanks for the tip on the dvd, I'll see about checking it out....

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Well, being a fan of the Bob, for over 30 years will make one knowledgeable!

Dylans voice IS the detractor for most people. Nashville is much less nasel, and that could likely be why you bought it (besides Johnny that is.)

Bob's voice used to get referred to as "a dog caught in a barbed wire fence"...

Regarding Jacob being a nice young specimen... ummm. if you say so...

(re: Roy) I've always liked Pretty Woman...(basic rock love song, but only Roy can do it!) Sorry, but it's the encore of Black and White (and the longest song at something like 7 minutes) but don't let that deture you. Blue Bayou, Leah, Crying, Ooby Dooby and others are fantastic, ranging from haunting to rocking...

On Johnny and Bobby: Mr. Cash gave his guitar to the young Bobby Dylan (to keep). Dylan was confused about why a hero just gave him a guitar, until someone informed Dylan that it was gift denoting that Johnny was impressed with Dylan. (I don't recall where I read that...)

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Yeah, I always say I love COVERS of Dylan songs! I love a lot of artists that don't necessarily have great singing voices- Neil Young, our George, Bryan Ferry, many others. But I just can't stand a lot of Dylan's vocals....

And yeah, a lot of women find Jacob attractive! He's not a big hearthrob of mine, but he's not hard to watch, either...:)

There's a funny story about how Dylan met Cash, in one or two of Cash's biographies. Johnny loved the stuff he'd heard by Dylan, on the radio, but apparently hadn't seen him yet. And Dylan was big fan of Cash. Cash was recording in NY, and one day a guy got into the studio that everyone took for a transient. He kinda circled Cash and eyed him closely for a minute and then said, "You're beautiful, man"....Cash was wondering how to take that when someone there recognized him as Bob Dylan, and said so. Cash was thrilled, they became friends, and Cash even got him to do his variety show a few years later.....

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Some Bob Dylan covers are really really nice, but some just miss the mark... I remember listening to a Joan Baez LP, and hearing her do a Bobby song with a feel of disenchantment in the lyrics, but with the sound of joy in her voice!?! Only Bob sings Bob, like Bob sings Bob... Sadly... ;) If Dylan had Elvis' voice... wow!

That's a cool story on Johnny and Bobby meeting. Dylan was quite scruffy looking at NY. He was a transient at that point too, not sleeping in doorways, but having no fixed address. He would go wherever the music led him... He was a knowledge sponge, soaking up music wherever he went.

I've always wanted to see that bit with Dylan and Cash together (the show where Dylan guested). I'm not a big fan of Cash, but I think he's had a great voice and guitar style. Doo-dle o doo doo-dle o doo... (Oh great! now Johnny's playing guitar in my head!)

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I never cared much for Joan Baez's voice, no matter what she sang....

There's a dvd out of Cash's variety show, with Dylan and many other singers who rarely appeared on tv. I saw it at Tower recently, but it got snapped up when they had their liquidation sale, so I'll have to get it elsewhere. I snooozed, I loozed!

Speaking of Cash's guitar sound, his guitar player had a great line. People would ask him why he always played the same basic notes with little variation, when other guitarists varied their playing more. He said, "Everyone else is looking for it. I found it"......

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I never cared much for Joan Baez's voice, no matter what she sang....
Yeah, same here. She can sing well, but it's not even close to a cup of tea for me. More like Grannies Burnt Cookies, something to look at, maybe sample and then hide away before someone hurts themselves... (Ok, it's not that bad...)

There's a dvd out of Cash's variety show, with Dylan and many other singers who rarely appeared on tv. I saw it at Tower recently, but it got snapped up when they had their liquidation sale, so I'll have to get it elsewhere. I snooozed, I loozed
I didn't know that! Woo-hoo! I'll keep an eye out for it... Yeah, I've missed out on lots of cool movies, just because "I'll get it later." I wait the for the price to fall, or to find it somewhere else cheaper, and next thing I know it's gone [oops]. Or else, I buy it, and then it's all over the place at cheaper prices...

"Everyone else is looking for it. I found it"......
He sure did. Maybe by tomorrow it will stop echoing through the chambers of my mind...

I tried to think of another great concert DVD, but I don't have any others that compare to the energy appearant in Bangladesh. The Last Waltz, is pretty decent (and it's now discounted) and it has some great moments in it. Muddy Waters, The Band, Emmy Lou Harris... Lots of good stuff. Dylan was so-so. Better as history, largely hampered by the editing (adding interviews into the film destroys the flow.)

There is also David Bowies Serious Moonlight tour which is again decent, but not fantastic. The show is good, the music is good, but it comes across as just another night. Sadly the footage does not include the opening acts from the tour! I wish the Tubes and Peter Gabriel sets were included. Oi that would then be one to own! (Peter had just released Security and The Tubes had just released The Completion Backward Princple: both good records.) I caught the show (in Edmonton, Alberta) mainly for the Peter Gabriel set. So David's DVD of the show is nice, and I can still remember parts, but I really wish the other sets were included... Sigh... you can't win them all...

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Yeah, usually Joan's one song per benefit concert is enough for me!

I'm sure you can find that Cash show dvd on Amazon, where I will probably end up having to get it as well....

I saw Bowie in the Diamond Dogs days, that was amazing! But have never seen him since....I have The Last Waltz, which I think is worth it, for me anyway, just to watch the supremely sexy Robbie Robertson! A friend and I walked behind him once and he had the sexiest walk we'd ever seen. He stopped suddenly and we almost spilled our ice blended mochas down the back of his jacket! He never knew......

I have to go newer when it comes to most live concert dvd's- The Roxy Music one is just absurdly great, as is the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Slane Castle... I know there's more, my brain just isn't working great this morning. I'll have to sift through my dvds....

And don't even get me started on Peter Gabriel! I've seen every one of his shows (in LA) since his Shock The Monkey tour, and have all his dvds. There's also a dvd series on Genesis, and you can just get the one on Peter's phase of the band, which I did. VERY, very cool, with lots of very rare footage of Peter with shaved head and whatnot....His video collection includes an old one of "Modern Love", which no Gabriel fan should miss!

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[urg] Johnny Cash TV show isn't on Amazon.ca any more... might be more on the way though...

Not a fan of Roxy Music (sorry to say that, but it's that tea thing again...)

I've seen Gabriels Secret World DVD. Nice. Great to see Shankar on stage (I've got some of his LP's. I had a CD of his which he tried rock genre and it fell flat... Don't recall the name) I have yet to see his Growing Up Live DVD, or his daughters documentary on it (sigh).

Ever since Security I've enjoyed Gabriel. His german LP's as a counterpoint to the english are fantastic. Schock den Affen im Schlaf... since I have not upgraded my LP collection into CD (except for Mr. D.), I keep hoping his early albums would be released on double cd set, english and german... would be great! Have yet to see his german versions in any store yet (except for once about 10 years ago when I didn't have any cash on me...) His reverse mohawk cut never did catch on... (sigh)

Gabriel's Play DVD gets routine play around here... Great visual treats, and great to play in the background during housework too.

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Darn! I guess I have to slap my own hand for not buying it sooner! :(

What's "that tea thing"? I'm surprised you don't at least like early Roxy, just cos everyone I know who is a Gabriel fan seems to like them, too....

Secret World is my favorite Gabriel dvd. Really wonderful, and it actually makes it easier to see than it was live. We were on one end, so when they went to the other end of the stage they were farther away, though never TOO far....

I don't think I've ever heard any of Shankar's albums, but I do love his playing with PG. Did you know PG's friend and backup singer Youssou N'dour is in the current film "Amazing Grace" as an ex-slave? He's very good...

And yeah, the reverse-mohawk and whatnot is on display in that Genesis dvd. I always get a kick out of how freaked out the others say they were when PG showed up onstage with a fox mask and wearing his wife Jill's red dress. He was imitating a figure on the Foxtrot album cover, but his bandmates weren't quite ready for it!

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What's "that tea thing"? I'm surprised you don't at least like early Roxy, just cos everyone I know who is a Gabriel fan seems to like them, too....
As in 'not my cup of tea'... Well, I came to enjoy Peter Gabriel just from the Security album release. It was a very cool LP cover, and got it... Ya hoo! Cool stuff. Then quickly snapped up all the others that I could. Previously, used to play Frontiers on the juke box, but never had an LP. As for Genisis and Roxy Music... Just never got into them... Still don't have any Genisis with Gabriel! Yup, true!...

Shankar is a wonderful musician. That violin he plays on Secret World is one he made. I forget the name of it, but it's really neat. The first I heard of him was a song he did called "Himalayas" (or something) on some charity LP. Blew me away. I don't know what he's done lately, but his first few LP's are sort of like Indian music on violin. Not that accessible, but very enjoyable if you let it take you away...

And yeah, the reverse-mohawk and whatnot is on display in that Genesis dvd. I always get a kick out of how freaked out the others say they were when PG showed up onstage with a fox mask and wearing his wife Jill's red dress. He was imitating a figure on the Foxtrot album cover, but his bandmates weren't quite ready for it!
Must have been a shocker! Creative differences? I have a bootleg LP (shhh) of Peter Gabriel modifying his voice (live in some club) to sound like Mickey Mouse (sort of the reverse of Laurie Anderson?) really cool, but not something that begs to be heard often. Wearing a red dress is quite bold!

I haven't been to a concert in 15 years or so... Just so expensive, and ... so easy to forget. Unlike buying a DVD of the concert and getting to play it over and over... (and cheaper too).

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I don't have any Genesis w/Gabriel either! I was never big on them, but one day I will pick up "Lamb", cos I love "Carpet Crawlers"....

There are Indian versions of the violin, too- things that sound very similiar. I should check out Shankar's stuff- I don't know why I haven't, especially given my fondness of world music!

And yeah, that red dress was a long slinky number, and he was slender enough at the time to fit into it quite nicely! He walked off stage for one of his usual costume changes and walked out in THAT, and the band freaked out! When they talk about it now, they STILL seem freaked out...I guess Pete was always one step ahead!

I don't go to concerts as much as I used to, but I go now and then... With clubs I just can't stand standing all evening, and with bigger venues there's the price, distance, etc....so it takes a lot for me to go! I think the last shows I saw were 2 Finn Brothers gigs a couple years ago and.... Tinariwen at the pier near me, speaking of world music! But that's about it...

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I saw the Split Enz live once... The Six Months In A Leaky Boat tour. Great band. The concert was not overly packed so getting close to the stage was very easy. The band played well, and the energy was thick... On the records, the early jazz stuff is great, as is the later pop stuff. I was very sad to hear they split, though their later albums didn't appeal to me as much.

I never even knew they had reunited in '06! That would have been good. Crowded House was good, but just didn't have the same... I don't know... feel? As Split Enz. I guess I liked the off-beat stranger than fiction type music. Again, all the LP's, but only one CD... I have a hard time buying a new CD for music I already bought...(even though right now I can't transfer it!) I heard about the two Finns touring, but... I don't think they came up here (to Ontario Canada.) I should look into them again. Get some more CD's.

I think I'll take a serious look at Brian Ferry and Roxy Music too. We seem to enjoy much the same stuff (Beatles, Enz, Gabriel...) so I should at least sample it better...

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I saw Split Enz twice- for the True Colors tour, and Wiatta, which I believe is the one you saw. I like all their stuff, though I do tend to like their more pop-y ones the best. I have a collection of their videos, and their earlier ones were pretty trippy! They did some reunion shows a long while ago and then recently. The Finn Brothers shows I saw were about 10 years ago and then about 2 years ago, when each Finn Brothers disc came out. First time just them, no band. Second time with a band. They were amazing! I never cared for CH either, except for Woodface, the one album they did with Tim. It's in my top 3 albums, actually! (Well, top 3 apart from the Beatles...) And on that 2nd tour they did How Will You Go? off Woodface, which is my favorite Finn song EVER, which is really, really saying something! I think I actually levitated.... :) Neil recently regrouped CH, but without Tim, who's got his own new solo record and tour going....

And yes, do take another look at Roxy, especially their early stuff. It's really stunning....

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Hi Bhakti,

No, the concert tour was in '82 (according to the web): Time and Tide. (I don't think I have the t-shirt anymore, I think I gave it away some 20 years ago as it didn't fit.)

Their pop tunes are easy to listen to, but sometimes I like 'difficult music' and tunes from their first three LP's fit the bill... (this weekend I got into some real difficult music. Yoko Ono! Enjoyed her Walking On Thin Ice CD (compilation), and watched the Stones Rock and Roll Circus (repeated the John and Yoko segment several times). Sadly I don't have her full catalog... (not that it would get much play though.))

I had a friend who really dug Crowded House. I tried to swing him over to Split Enz, but he wouldn't go for a defunct band... Oh well... My first Enz LP was the True Colours LP. I actually bought due to the marketing scheme of lazer etching on the record. Rather cool idea. The bins of different covers colours was an extra mile too. I suppose some folks would have bought one of each cover... I just bought one.

Here is another record you might like. It was released in the 80's and is now out of print, but you may find a copy. Carmina Burana by Ray Manzarek http://www.amazon.com/Carmina-Burana-Ray-Manzarek/dp/B00017LVLO
Ray was the keyboardist for the Doors. Carmina Burana is a classical piece by Carl Orff which brings some old renegade monks poems to the stage, and Ray successfuly melds classical and rock and roll into a great piece. He still retains the feel of classical music, but infuses rock instruments into the mix to great effect. The lyrics are still in the original language (mostly latin I think). This is one my my top albums. The only downside of this masterpiece, is that is misses out about three tunes from the Carl Orff original (besides it being out of print that is!).

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I'm thinking maybe I saw them 3 times....I think I saw Time & Tide, too! So many concerts so long ago, sometimes they bleed into each other. I had a really big crush on Eddie, their keyboardist, so I always got sorta between him and Tim, if possible....

Not big on Yoko's music, I must admit...

I got that lazer-etched True Colors too- one piece of vinyl I will never part with! The Finns did a signing on that first Finn tour a decade ago, and I got my Best of Split Enz signed by them. One of my most prized possessions! And I was really glad I was where I was in line, cos Tim "had" to leave before Neil did, and some people only got their stuff signed by Neil...

And I love Ray! I've seen him speak several times, and he is nothing short of riveting. Very sharp, very funny, very interesting, very spiritual. Great guy!
I haven't heard of the disc you mention here, but I will have to look for it..

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Not big on Yoko's music, I must admit...
Don't know if anybody really is. Yoko's music has less cringe response now than before though, so I can generally listen to it now... (Maybe because I'm getting older?)

Interesting note on IMDb here that John originally accepted to play Bangladesh, but declined when it was made positive that Yoko would not be performing. Interesting to think what would have happened if Yoko was welcomed on stage... Not sad that Yoko didn't sing, but glad that John stood up for what was right and declined.

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Yeah, I can definitely understand both sides on that one- whether she should play or not. But I am glad she didn't perform!

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I have a buddy who is a Yoko sympathizer.

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