Friday 5 November 2010

IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, TOM RUSH, NO REGRETS.

9 comments:

the noblest prospect said...

Cheers, Mr Ishmael.

We all have at least one great song in us...

call me ishmael said...

Yes, I think we do, all of us, although this scores more in the writing than in the performance. I couldn't find a decent clip of Scott Walker's version, the one with the strings amd the hot Strat, the one for which Mr Rush should be grateful, amd not just for the royalties but for the vision. I am not decrying his own styling but there's only so much one can do with an open-tuned Epiphone and there is such space in this plangent love song for more.

Miss Lillith, at Lillith stuff, blogspot, - you can also link to her, I believe it's termed, from her comments in these pages - is running a thread on the Grateful Dead, not my cup of meat but a phenomenon, a juggernaut really, whose admirers are both legion and loyal.

Dick the Prick said...

That was a bit beautiful.

call me ishmael said...

Yes, mr dtp, as you say, a bit beautiful; the singer-songwriter thing is one of Consumerism's most banal contrivances but now and again there be gems.

Anonymous said...

Midge Ure did a version, as I recall?

call me ishmael said...

Yes, he did, mr rwg, it's a much covered song, never charting but a standard, now, in its own way, a hymn to loss.

Dick the Prick said...

There's a couple of rather large folky things round here that I seem to have fallen into a few times - the Marsden Folk Festival - plenty bands once a year and Hebden Bridge Trades club which me last girlfriend loved and a chum from 6th form lived right near.

I'm not gonna diss this but would welcome your take on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXVMCHG-Nk

There was one time in Marsden where I was fucked on E's i think and plenty of liquor and was pretty much fit for fuck all; we all were, no probs, 9 o'clockish Saturday night - fair do's. When I went to nightclubs on E's i used to could chill in the corner (balcony much better) and respect the quality of the sounds system and the tune...however, I digress. So I plonked myself down at the back of the room (mechanics hall - think functional room - huge but not fancy, plastic chairs are fine) tapping my feet and smoking probably in them days...and then a girl came on stage. Unfortunately can't remember her name - but that is the day I found brilliance.

A hurricane could have gone through that room and left less damage. I'm almost sure I fell back in my chair and spilt beer all over me. You can't beat the voice. It was devastating; just music from the heart. I do remember she was from Rotherham and quite famous so I didn't feel obliged to go nurdy. But the power; pheeeewwweeee...

This Youtube thingy makes things quite easy really.

All the best Mr Ish. Hope you & yours are well and Mr Buster is comfy.

call me ishmael said...

I didn't know this, mr dtp, The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice. It's quite nice and was hugely popular, bit of a David Gray vibe, I suppose, a bit delayed adolescence but expertly done, sort of androgynous, falsettoing and octave sweeping, a bit technique over passion but lovely enough for all that, sometimes, listening to younger players, well, you know, either I'm too sensitive or else I'm getting soft.

Hebden Bridge is nice, I never notice the lesbians as I pass through, maybe I always go at the wrong time.

Dick the Prick said...

Lezzies stay indoors, usually. It is quite an odd town.