It's pissing down outside, so I thought I'd post something cheerful.
Here's a jolly old tribute to ska! Tally ho!
This is simply a summer favourite of mine. Winston Francis - If You're Heart Be Lonely;
My girl Amy. Even when she slurs she's in tune, bless her. This is a great version of The Specials' - Hey Little Rich Girl;
Keep it up, keep it up... the central heating that is...
Saturday 8 December 2007
Wednesday 17 October 2007
What am I playing at?
Well this week I'm mostly playing at this little ditty. I guess I may as well show my cards straight away, so here's a sample of how I'm trying to fuse rockabilly and reggae elements together. This is just a very short work in progress with no real structure, no vocal, only one chord, guitars are one take each, as with most of my stuff at this point it's just an idea I'm working up.
This will hopefully makes it way in some form or other onto the album I'm writing. Just for the record (sorry), I'm using Logic Express on a Mac with Addictive Drums. This track also has my Tele and a Precision bass. I don't wanna get too anal about recording stuff in as much as I don't want to bore you, but I'm up for any communication from any interested persons.
This will hopefully makes it way in some form or other onto the album I'm writing. Just for the record (sorry), I'm using Logic Express on a Mac with Addictive Drums. This track also has my Tele and a Precision bass. I don't wanna get too anal about recording stuff in as much as I don't want to bore you, but I'm up for any communication from any interested persons.
Monday 15 October 2007
Rhythm kings - Bo, Chuck, and Bill.
It only seems fitting to start at the beginning. As the name 56 Special may imply, most (but not all) my influences are at the roots of where it all began.
For me the rhythm is the thing, most of my songs start with a rhythm and everything else follows.
So here's great footage from way back when from 3 of the best originators of rhythm...
Before Elvis exploded onto America's TV sets in 1956 these boys were bubbling under, taking the blues and giving it a backbeat (you can't lose it).
Bo Diddley a.k.a "The Originator" created a unique 'stomp' that is instantly recognisable. Great lyrics and a full on, shit kicking rhythm.
Don't Let It Go (Hold On to What You Got) is one of my favorite tunes, a jumpin', shufflin', gospel celebration (I'll post it on here later).
Continuing a spate of bad health, he had a heart attack in August 2007. He is recovering in Florida. Hey Bo Diddley!
Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell and Maybelline are firm favorites here. Ain't That Just Like A Women is another beauty, if you don't tap you're feet to Chuck Berry call a doctor, you ain't well.
Solid 4/4 driving drums, 5 star rock 'n' roll gasoline. This one of the coolest cats to duck walk across the stage. Totally laid back and in complete control. Legend has it he turns up alone to gigs with just his guitar and a suitcase, the fee is to be in the suitcase before he plays, or he won't. He plays a short set with any old local backing band and off he goes...
(p.s. Check out the 101ers version of Maybelline - I think Strummer was hoping catch last orders)
Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry got it right first time. Damn right.
Bill Haley took the swing and be-bop from the black shack jive joints and gave it a white-wash. He made rockabilly something acceptable for the masses, and before Elvis he was the King. He doesn't get a lot of credit cos he was overshadowed by the 'Memphis Flash' in 1956, but he was selling millions in his day and he and his Comets had an infectious swinging thang going on baby... As you'll hear, it's probably fair to say his 1952 hit Rock The Joint was the blueprint for the Stray Cat's Rock This Town. He may not have been the greatest but he put rockabilly on the map. He also has the dubious claim of looking a lot like Buzz Lightyear.
And so it was written, and just as Bill Haley stole from the underground black jive joints, and the Stray Cats stole from Bill Haley, so I shall steal from both of them and indeed from Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry in equal measures...
In a while crocodile...
For me the rhythm is the thing, most of my songs start with a rhythm and everything else follows.
So here's great footage from way back when from 3 of the best originators of rhythm...
Before Elvis exploded onto America's TV sets in 1956 these boys were bubbling under, taking the blues and giving it a backbeat (you can't lose it).
Bo Diddley a.k.a "The Originator" created a unique 'stomp' that is instantly recognisable. Great lyrics and a full on, shit kicking rhythm.
Don't Let It Go (Hold On to What You Got) is one of my favorite tunes, a jumpin', shufflin', gospel celebration (I'll post it on here later).
Continuing a spate of bad health, he had a heart attack in August 2007. He is recovering in Florida. Hey Bo Diddley!
Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell and Maybelline are firm favorites here. Ain't That Just Like A Women is another beauty, if you don't tap you're feet to Chuck Berry call a doctor, you ain't well.
Solid 4/4 driving drums, 5 star rock 'n' roll gasoline. This one of the coolest cats to duck walk across the stage. Totally laid back and in complete control. Legend has it he turns up alone to gigs with just his guitar and a suitcase, the fee is to be in the suitcase before he plays, or he won't. He plays a short set with any old local backing band and off he goes...
(p.s. Check out the 101ers version of Maybelline - I think Strummer was hoping catch last orders)
Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry got it right first time. Damn right.
Bill Haley took the swing and be-bop from the black shack jive joints and gave it a white-wash. He made rockabilly something acceptable for the masses, and before Elvis he was the King. He doesn't get a lot of credit cos he was overshadowed by the 'Memphis Flash' in 1956, but he was selling millions in his day and he and his Comets had an infectious swinging thang going on baby... As you'll hear, it's probably fair to say his 1952 hit Rock The Joint was the blueprint for the Stray Cat's Rock This Town. He may not have been the greatest but he put rockabilly on the map. He also has the dubious claim of looking a lot like Buzz Lightyear.
And so it was written, and just as Bill Haley stole from the underground black jive joints, and the Stray Cats stole from Bill Haley, so I shall steal from both of them and indeed from Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry in equal measures...
In a while crocodile...
Tools of the trade;
As I'm hoping to diarise the actual process of recording the 56 Special album (as well as all the influences and inspirations etc, etc...) it seems to make sense to start with a brief introduction to my beloved collection of wood and steel and hi tech gizmos. i.e here's a list of me gear;
GEETARS;
Squier Telecaster in 'TV special' yellow (with Bareknuckle pickups)
Gretsch 6120 in green flame maple (2003 Brian Setzer model)
Martin J1 (6 string acoustic)
Simon & Patrick S&P12 (12 string acoustic)
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (1974 - Sunburst)
Squier Precision Bass
Vintage Les Paul Special (single P90 pickup)
AMP;
Fender Blues Junior (15W valve. Limited edition tweed)
(although I don't use it for recording at the moment)
HiTECH STUFF;
Apple Intel iMac
Focusrite Saffire (audio interface)
Logic Express
BFD (drum software)
Addictive Drums (drum software - currently the drums of choice)
Line 6 UX2 (for amp sounds and vocal pre amps)
Rode NT1 Condenser mic (for vocals and acoustic)
A quick note about 'my drummer';
I programme every last drum beat and cymbal splash, I don't use Apple loops or the like. That's not say I'm against it, just that so far I've preferred to start from scratch. I started out using BFD but recently moved over to Addictive Drums cos I found a nice vintage sounding kit on there.
For no real reason other than to show off, I thought I'd stick a pic of me Gretsch on here. I'm finally getting it to sound ok in the recordings, so it's getting a lot more play lately... This one's a top of the range Brian Setzer 6120 model in green flame maple.
As much as I luv my Tele, when it comes to country or rockabilly there's nothing like a Gretsch to get 'that twang'.
This tune (another work in progress) shows the Gretsch in action.
Actually it is also a blatent example of reggae and rockabilly influences combining. It has a reggae intro and goes into a rockabilly verse/chorus. The guitars are pure rockabilly, however the bass part is reggae throughout, you can hear how they combine at 1:12 in this MP3 when the drums revert to a reggae pattern whilst everything else goes on as it was.
GEETARS;
Squier Telecaster in 'TV special' yellow (with Bareknuckle pickups)
Gretsch 6120 in green flame maple (2003 Brian Setzer model)
Martin J1 (6 string acoustic)
Simon & Patrick S&P12 (12 string acoustic)
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (1974 - Sunburst)
Squier Precision Bass
Vintage Les Paul Special (single P90 pickup)
AMP;
Fender Blues Junior (15W valve. Limited edition tweed)
(although I don't use it for recording at the moment)
HiTECH STUFF;
Apple Intel iMac
Focusrite Saffire (audio interface)
Logic Express
BFD (drum software)
Addictive Drums (drum software - currently the drums of choice)
Line 6 UX2 (for amp sounds and vocal pre amps)
Rode NT1 Condenser mic (for vocals and acoustic)
A quick note about 'my drummer';
I programme every last drum beat and cymbal splash, I don't use Apple loops or the like. That's not say I'm against it, just that so far I've preferred to start from scratch. I started out using BFD but recently moved over to Addictive Drums cos I found a nice vintage sounding kit on there.
For no real reason other than to show off, I thought I'd stick a pic of me Gretsch on here. I'm finally getting it to sound ok in the recordings, so it's getting a lot more play lately... This one's a top of the range Brian Setzer 6120 model in green flame maple.
As much as I luv my Tele, when it comes to country or rockabilly there's nothing like a Gretsch to get 'that twang'.
This tune (another work in progress) shows the Gretsch in action.
Actually it is also a blatent example of reggae and rockabilly influences combining. It has a reggae intro and goes into a rockabilly verse/chorus. The guitars are pure rockabilly, however the bass part is reggae throughout, you can hear how they combine at 1:12 in this MP3 when the drums revert to a reggae pattern whilst everything else goes on as it was.
Thursday 11 October 2007
Hey there!
Welcome to the 56 Special blog.
This space will be used for info about anything and everything to do with 56 Special.
Til its up and running, here's a link to my MySpace site where you can hear some early recordings. I've just posted my version of Chuck Berry's 'You Never Can Tell' on there.
It starts with a reggae feel and builds up into a bit of a rockin' swingin' kinda thang. Should give you a feel of what it's all about anyway.
www.myspace.com/the56special
Future blog plans;
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll and Reggae.
Glam Rockabilly
Recording of the 56 Special album
Lyrics
Influences (music, visual, attitude...)
Retro vs Stuck in the past?
Favorite Geetars and Amps...
The Loveless (1984 biker B movie with Robert Gordon)
Unknown Hero - Earnest Ranglin
Singers - Joe Strummer, Rod Stewart, Amy Winehouse
Songwriters - Phil Lynott, Mick Jones/Joe Strummer...
Once I've worked how to do it I'm gonna post MP3s on here of my works in progress.
This space will be used for info about anything and everything to do with 56 Special.
Til its up and running, here's a link to my MySpace site where you can hear some early recordings. I've just posted my version of Chuck Berry's 'You Never Can Tell' on there.
It starts with a reggae feel and builds up into a bit of a rockin' swingin' kinda thang. Should give you a feel of what it's all about anyway.
www.myspace.com/the56special
Future blog plans;
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll and Reggae.
Glam Rockabilly
Recording of the 56 Special album
Lyrics
Influences (music, visual, attitude...)
Retro vs Stuck in the past?
Favorite Geetars and Amps...
The Loveless (1984 biker B movie with Robert Gordon)
Unknown Hero - Earnest Ranglin
Singers - Joe Strummer, Rod Stewart, Amy Winehouse
Songwriters - Phil Lynott, Mick Jones/Joe Strummer...
Once I've worked how to do it I'm gonna post MP3s on here of my works in progress.
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