So, what have you been listening to lately?

[westen44]

I remember my college roommate (who was a guitarist) telling me one day that Prince was the greatest guitarist in America.  This surprised me.  He had never even mentioned Prince before.  My friend spent most of his time playing Beatles songs and his own songs.  But I remember my impression being that I knew Prince was good, but I didn't realize he was that good.  Because I had known this guitarist for years even before college, and respected his opinion, I began to pay closer attention to Prince after that.  Although I never really became a great fan, I did obviously observe through the years that many people considered Prince brilliant. 

[uwe]

Uli in his prime ...





Poor Rudolf has to play all those Uli licks in harmony lead - something he hated doing!

[Dave W]

[uwe]

Göran does a nicely intricate job in his interpretation (one instrument and one take!), but what he doesn't capture is that uplifting feel even minor key Macca compositions have:



I think it might also have to do something with a more classical player interpreting it or someone with a genuine pop feel. Mind you, Hawkes' version is of course an overdub orgy (once a multi-layerer, always a multi-layerer!). BTW, you might remember the nerdy little uke player from some other instrument ... (when he wasn't stealing women's underwear that is), first appearance at 0:41, close-up at 2:58, deplorable garment fetish theft at 3:02:



My gosh, Elliot Easton was what I consider "artful" in his lead guitar solos, each one a little music piece. And Hawkes' synth lines were of course the icing chrome on The Cars' cake grille, they too were music in themselves.

[uwe]

Rudolf playing lead!



That new album is actually quite a cracker, their best work in decades.

[uwe]

Glam Kiss in full splendor and Michael Bolton mode, OTT and larger than life as that song is, I always found it catchy.



And while we're at it, yet more Über-ballads:



I really liked Eric Carr's drumming, little guy was lively.


Together with Beth their strongest ballad, you hear Ezrin's hand in this:



Nuff of this sissy stuff, time to rock (with some debt owed to Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues)!



Paul, always an avid listener of what other people do, must have liked Rober Palmer's Addicted To Love ... 

[westen44]

I started getting hooked on this cover of "Roxanne" a few days ago.  The CD it's on is hard to find, but I was finally able to get it yesterday after much effort.

[uwe]

That's a great version, introspective, dynamic, daringly different.

Hughes' version is sung in a stellar way, but not as radical an alternative approach.

[westen44]

That's a great version, introspective, dynamic, daringly different.

Hughes' version is sung in a stellar way, but not as radical an alternative approach.

I think both covers are outstanding.  A pleasure listening to them both.  Lacey Sturm also has an original song against human trafficking.  If I can find a good live version to post, I will.  I just don't much like the official video of the studio recording.  It doesn't really make much sense to me. 

[gearHed289]

Rudolf playing lead!



That new album is actually quite a cracker, their best work in decades.

Scorps are all grown up! Seriously, it's nice to see them in a more mature phase of their career. Much respect. And they still rock.

[Basvarken]

On a trip back to memory lane
Been listening to Sweet d'Buster last few days.
I used to have this on cassette back in the eighties. Played it a zillion times.

Herman Deinum is a force of nature on bass.
Who says you can't groove with a pick should give Sweet d'Buster a spin

[uwe]

Those guys are good! Never heard of them before.

[Basvarken]

There is not a lot of live video footage of these guys. But here's a reasonably good one:

[uwe]

He plays like Wolfgang Schmid (once the bass player of German fusioneers Passport) - probably the way you develop as a pick player if you lean towards that type of music.





John Gustafson, another pick player with jazz funk leanings, had a similar style too:



Horst Stachelhaus of Birth Control - though not a pick player - is another one.

[Basvarken]

John Gustafson, another pick player with jazz funk leanings, had a similar style too:

Never heard Ian Gillan sound so much like Glenn Hughes!