So, what have you been listening to lately?

[Pilgrim]

I hadn't noticed it, but I could easily have mistaken that performance for Don Henley.  Go figure.  (American for "huh.")

[Basvarken]

Is he still married with Frau Krauss, has he forgiven her that shameless flirt with "squeeze me til the juice runs down my legs"-Robert Plant? They (John and her!) always looked like a nice couple.

On John Waite's website:

"The upside of Downtown was dueting with Alison (Krauss) on "Missing You". She was working on Raising Sand at the time with Robert Plant so I got to know Robert quite well. Nice guy. We were always on the verge of going for a pint. I wanted to pick his brains on Sandy Denny and the Incredible String Band. I regret not getting to know him better. Friendly guy."

[uwe]

Rob, you're a gifted bass player and builder, but the world's lousiest yellow press source, I have to say!  All we now know is that John was more interested meeting Robert Plant than his wife!

Sigh, Dutchmen, a useless lot. 

Chrysalis only gave up on The Babys after believing for years that they would be their Foreigner. And telling every other act on their roster that they should be more like them. Which both Phil Mogg and Ian Anderson would have found hard going I believe. 

[slinkp]

Krauss was never married to Waite if that's what you are asking...

[westen44]

Since John Waite's name keeps coming up, I'm just going to post this on this thread.  If anyone asked me why I liked Golden Earring, I would show them this John Waite interview.  It's the best analysis of what makes Golden Earring tick that I've ever seen. 

[Basvarken]

Yeah Rinus is very cool.
John Waite being a bass player himself, obviously recognises that.

[westen44]

I liked how he noted Golden Earring took American music as raw material and made it into their own.  Whether this was intentional, I don't know.  But it worked out well.

[Dave W]

Emmylou with an all-star cast, 1977

[Dave W]

One of my favorite Merle singles. Big hit in 1978, almost forgotten today.

[Pilgrim]

That reminded me a a favorite of mine which I hadn't heard in a while. This is a very pleasing tune for the bass player - the bass line adds a beautiful  bottom to this tune. A simple tune to play, but a rich, full bass makes a huge difference.

[Dave W]

[uwe]

Like everything he does - lovely!

"Do you remember Rick Astley? He was ghastly."



And his lovingly done BCR pastiche:



Speaking of ... I always dug them even though as a guy you weren't supposed to. But when I read that Joey Ramone liked them too, I could let my inhibitions go. Underneath all that tartan lurked a decent band with good hamony vocals and a certain swing, they were less heavy-handed than, say, Sweet.



"Exploding jeans" and all that, yeah. Where was stretch denim when we really needed it?

[Dave W]

Shades of Lubbock influence.

[uwe]

So I got his new solo album now and what can I say ... I like it. I'm fully aware it's sugary corny retro soul kitsch, but I still like it, must be an age thing. I've always had a soft spot for Motown, Phillysound and Disco. And it's nice to hear Paul croon (mostly), rather than scream his balls off.



He always had a white soul touch in his writing ... and that bass line is to die for. It's one of my favorite Kiss songs.

[Dave W]

Listening to some early Jerry Lee, a couple of my favorites even though lesser known.





The former written by a then-unknown Charlie Rich, the latter written by the late Jack Clement, born 90 years ago today.