>I'm still amazed at how many classic rock
>aficianados don't know these guys.  Or they think it's some country band
>fronted by a guy called Barclay James ;-) (LOL)

I am still amazed by the number of people from Oldham who haven't heard of
BJH......

Sadly, touring is an expensive business.
Hiring an orchestra is also out of reach for most purposes.
The last quote I had from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra was £7000 plus VAT
for a performance of Handel's Messiah, which meant no rehearsal necessary.

Add on rehersal time, arrangers fees (the originals may be lost - The Moody
Blues had to have all theirs rewritten) you could easily be into £15,000 for
an evening.
With a 1000 seat theatre that would add £15 to each ticket.
Doing more than one night would bring the cost down.
You could also use a freelance orchestra like Pro Arte (they were on Ring of
Changes) but the costs would be much the same I think.

I can do you a brass band for £50 for the night, but its not quite the same
thing.

I think a tour of up to a dozen smaller venues that theycould be sure of
filling would be a good start.
Playing at festivals would be worth doing as well.  I really don't know why
they haven't done more of that.
Even an appearance at the Edinburgh festival fringe. Why not? Its  easy
publicity and you can fill a small venue for anything during the festival.

BJH are in a difficult position from a marketing point of view at the
moment.
I still think their music in a film sound track could be the push they need
to get a bit of exposure with no financial outlay.

Gordon



http://www.hostroute.co.uk/ 300MB annual hosting plan £89!
http://www.hostroute.com/  Web hosting from $7.95

Hi All,

The other day I went to the new "Szeged Plaza" shopping come cinema type
thing. They have a "Szeged Plaza" radio station blaring out everywhere - and
I was stunned to hear that under one of the bursts of spoken adverts was the
intro to "Pool of Tears" played over and over and over again. I was so
disappointed - I was waiting to hear John sing, but it was just the intro as
a background to adverts.

Later I heard several other songs by a pretty good selection of rock artists
get butchered in the same manner. I hope John got paid for it!

Warm Regards,

Dave

Some very interesting points regarding Touring, Gordon. I would like
to make one observation here though: the concept of the original
Barclay James Harvest Orchestra was to use music students, and if
this was repeated surely it would make it financially more feasible
(and more in keeping with the original spirit of the music)? Mind
you, failing this, your brass band might make an extremely
acceptable alternative! Perhaps John and Woolly should consider
this.

Best wishes,

Graham

I've just been listening to a medley of some of my favourite songs
from 'River Of Dreams', with the volume turned up even higher than
usual, and it really is a crying shame that this album was never
released in the UK. Whilst I don't rate it quite as highly as
'Welcome To The Show' (the overall ambience being spoiled by one or
two flat moments, especially "Do You Believe In Dreams", imo), there
is some fantastic stuff on this album, including some superbly
crafted songs by Les, including "Back In The Game" and "(Took Me) So
Long". On "Back In The Game" John rediscovers how to *rock*, and
overall there is a lot of highly accomplished guitar-work from him
throughout the album. Yeah, the flame is still burning strong.....

Graham

Hi folks... this is a test... think my mail's buggered......

-----Original Message-----
From: Kecskebak [mailto:kecskebak@...]
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 11:51 AM
To: bjh@egroups.com
Subject: [bjh] Ad nauseum?


Hi All,

The other day I went to the new "Szeged Plaza" shopping come cinema type
thing. They have a "Szeged Plaza" radio station blaring out everywhere - and
I was stunned to hear that under one of the bursts of spoken adverts was the
intro to "Pool of Tears" played over and over and over again. I was so
disappointed - I was waiting to hear John sing, but it was just the intro as
a background to adverts.

Later I heard several other songs by a pretty good selection of rock artists
get butchered in the same manner. I hope John got paid for it!

Warm Regards,

Dave

Hi Janet,

So I have something in common with 'The Figment'!!!  I was in a choir as a
boy - we even toured Italy and sang in St Peters!  More recently, my kids
and I won a karaoke contest singing 'Blueberry Hill'!  I'd happily fill in
on any song if there's a band with no singer, but stand in line behind
Geoff.

Regards,
Dominic

PS:  William Byrd's 'Four Part Mass' has just come on the CD player - it's
on random - sublime; this is music, and now its Shania Twain......did
someone say eclectic?


on 10/28/00 10:24 AM, Janet Iles at janetiles@... wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Whilst I respect the view that Travis puts forward, I also agree with
> Kev here about the motives of the fans in wanting to make a Tribute CD.
> Having heard some of Kev's work, I know that he, and many of the other
> fans, are competent musicians in their own right.  They play for the
> love of the music - and in my book that has much to commend it in terms
> of artistic worth.  I do hope that as many as possible will use this as
> an opportunity to explore and show their talents and the admiration they
> feel for the wonderful music which BJH have given us over the years.
> There's a lot of talent out there that never gets to be heard because
> its not judged to be "professional" yet its as good as anything that the
> big names can produce.  So I look forward to hearing what I feel will be
> an extremely interesting and exciting project.  Like Rich Milligan, I
> have no musical ability beyond once playing the triangle in the school
> band, so I will have to step down from this one!  However Geoff (you
> know, the Figment) has a lovely singing voice so if anyone can provide
> the backing, I reckon he might have a go at Child of the Universe.  He
> does a fair rendition of the Animals "House of the Rising Sun" and once
> sang it with a live band in a talent contest on holiday.  He's brilliant
> on the Karaoke too! (just a thought!).  This comes from being a chior
> boy in his young days!
>
> Cheers everyone
>
> Janet
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi everyone,

Geoff and I have just got back from a superb "Evening with Rick
Wakeman"!
Next to BJH Rick is No.2 on our favourites list.  His playing was
fantastic - just Rick and about 6 keyboards and piano on stage, and some
little stories and jokes in between the superb music.  For other
officianados of Rick's music, he played something from "Journey" (both
original and Return), two Beatles numbers (from Tribute), several pieces
from 6th Wives of Henry VIII, Children of Chernobyl, Elgin Mansions,
Merlin and Guinivere, and a couple of pieces from his YES days - And you
and I/ Wondrous Stories.  It was truly an amazing evening.

Aha I hear you saying,  thats *definitely* off topic!  But wait..... my
reason for mentioning all this is that Rick played at the Secombe Centre
- a small intimate little theatre venue in Sutton, Surrey (situated
right next to the Holiday Inn Hotel), and spent time on stage saying
what a nice venue it was and how all the staff were very pleasant, and
the audience was always the best!  In fact, I thought to myself it was
just the right size for John & Woolly et al!!!  I feel it would really
suit them, and is quite accessible from a number of places in the South
East.  So what about it guys?  Why not give it a try!

Janet

>> Rick played at the Secombe Centre
- a small intimate little theatre venue in Sutton, Surrey (situated
right next to the Holiday Inn Hotel), and spent time on stage saying
what a nice venue it was and how all the staff were very pleasant,
and
the audience was always the best!  In fact, I thought to myself it
was
just the right size for John & Woolly et al!!! <<

What, you mean Geoff is offering to get up on stage and do some
backing vocals? ;-)  Sounds like a good gig. Hope you've missed the
flooding. Is there anywhere out there where the sun's still shining?
BJH's "Dark Now My Sky", and Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes The Flood"
spring to mind.....

Graham

Graham - I don't think Geoff's feeling *that* brave!  But I do think the
Secombe Centre really would be the right size place for a gig for the band
(John and Woolly etc) so I hope they give it a thought.  We can but try to
keep the idea of UK dates in their minds!

Janet

Graham Wheelwright wrote:

>  >> Rick played at the Secombe Centre
> - a small intimate little theatre venue in Sutton, Surrey (situated
> right next to the Holiday Inn Hotel), and spent time on stage saying
> what a nice venue it was and how all the staff were very pleasant,
> and
> the audience was always the best!  In fact, I thought to myself it
> was
> just the right size for John & Woolly et al!!! <<
>
> What, you mean Geoff is offering to get up on stage and do some
> backing vocals? ;-)  Sounds like a good gig. Hope you've missed the
> flooding. Is there anywhere out there where the sun's still shining?
> BJH's "Dark Now My Sky", and Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes The Flood"
> spring to mind.....
>
> Graham
>

>> We can but try to keep the idea of UK dates in their minds! <<

Let's hope they get the message Janet! Currently listening to 'The
Best Of Barclay James Harvest Vol. 3' Some rare old gems.....

Best wishes,

Graham

Wow, sounds amazing that you managed to sing in such a prestigious choir
Dominic!  Geoff once auditioned for the solo in "Once in Royal David's City"
at our local Parish Church, but didn't get chosen for the actual
'performance', but he is currently being head-hunted by both the Music Group
and choir at our Church.  Mind you, I think at the moment he prefers the
Karaoke, and possibly the chance to sing a BJH song or two instead!
Talking about eclectic tastes - I too, listen to Shania Twain!  This week I
have had some very different music on the CD player.  Between BJH I have
listened to Glen Campbell (religious songs), Brass Band music (various types
from modern to classic), a singing chorale called "Renaissance" interspersed
with Rick Wakeman, Beverley Craven and  a whole lot of sixties stuff!

Janet

Dominic & Caroline Scott wrote:

> Hi Janet,
>
> So I have something in common with 'The Figment'!!!  I was in a choir as a
> boy - we even toured Italy and sang in St Peters!  More recently, my kids
> and I won a karaoke contest singing 'Blueberry Hill'!  I'd happily fill in
> on any song if there's a band with no singer, but stand in line behind
> Geoff.
>
> Regards,
> Dominic
>
> PS:  William Byrd's 'Four Part Mass' has just come on the CD player - it's
> on random - sublime; this is music, and now its Shania Twain......did
> someone say eclectic?
>
> on 10/28/00 10:24 AM, Janet Iles at janetiles@... wrote:
>
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > Whilst I respect the view that Travis puts forward, I also agree with
> > Kev here about the motives of the fans in wanting to make a Tribute CD.
> > Having heard some of Kev's work, I know that he, and many of the other
> > fans, are competent musicians in their own right.  They play for the
> > love of the music - and in my book that has much to commend it in terms
> > of artistic worth.  I do hope that as many as possible will use this as
> > an opportunity to explore and show their talents and the admiration they
> > feel for the wonderful music which BJH have given us over the years.
> > There's a lot of talent out there that never gets to be heard because
> > its not judged to be "professional" yet its as good as anything that the
> > big names can produce.  So I look forward to hearing what I feel will be
> > an extremely interesting and exciting project.  Like Rich Milligan, I
> > have no musical ability beyond once playing the triangle in the school
> > band, so I will have to step down from this one!  However Geoff (you
> > know, the Figment) has a lovely singing voice so if anyone can provide
> > the backing, I reckon he might have a go at Child of the Universe.  He
> > does a fair rendition of the Animals "House of the Rising Sun" and once
> > sang it with a live band in a talent contest on holiday.  He's brilliant
> > on the Karaoke too! (just a thought!).  This comes from being a chior
> > boy in his young days!
> >
> > Cheers everyone
> >
> > Janet
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Graham - we have this on CD too.  I got it from Keith when we were at the
Millennium party there.  Its a lovely album.  My favourites are "The Poet
and after the Day", also Little Lapwing (your really do see those in
Saddleworth!), and of course Delph Town Morn - having experienced the real
thing!  This is actually one album we have in vinyl as well - probably one
of the first we bought after getting THG on tape.

Janet

Graham Wheelwright wrote:

> >> We can but try to keep the idea of UK dates in their minds! <<
>
> Let's hope they get the message Janet! Currently listening to 'The
> Best Of Barclay James Harvest Vol. 3' Some rare old gems.....
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Graham
>

>> Graham - we have this on CD too.  I got it from Keith when we
were at the Millennium party there.  Its a lovely album.  My
favourites are "The Poetand after the Day", also Little Lapwing
(your really do see those in Saddleworth!), and of course Delph Town
Morn - having experienced the real thing! <<

They could hardly put a foot wrong in the Harvest era. (I recently
criticised the two Les Holroyd songs off 'Baby', but these are rare
exceptions). Even "Blue John's Blues", just playing - brilliantly
raucous.

Better sign off now, before I clog up the list!

Graham

What????  "River of Dreams" wasn't even released in the UK?!?!  No wonder
it's such a bitch to find here in North America.  Somebody in the BJH
management deserves a good beating.  Where are their heads at?  I mean it is
a BRITISH band, after all.  So what if they sell better in Germany!

Travis


>From: "Graham Wheelwright" <whiterider@...>
>Reply-To: bjh@egroups.com
>To: <bjh@egroups.com>
>Subject: [bjh] A Crying Shame!
>Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 20:54:46 -0000
>
>I've just been listening to a medley of some of my favourite songs
>from 'River Of Dreams', with the volume turned up even higher than
>usual, and it really is a crying shame that this album was never
>released in the UK. Whilst I don't rate it quite as highly as
>'Welcome To The Show' (the overall ambience being spoiled by one or
>two flat moments, especially "Do You Believe In Dreams", imo), there
>is some fantastic stuff on this album, including some superbly
>crafted songs by Les, including "Back In The Game" and "(Took Me) So
>Long". On "Back In The Game" John rediscovers how to *rock*, and
>overall there is a lot of highly accomplished guitar-work from him
>throughout the album. Yeah, the flame is still burning strong.....
>
>Graham
>
>
>
>
>

_________________________________________________________________________
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---
> . Is there anywhere out there where the sun's still shining?
> BJH's "Dark Now My Sky", and Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes The Flood"
> spring to mind.....
>
> Graham

Well er..yes Graham, Its 27deg here in Brisbane. But BJHTTEOJL wont
be touring anywhere near here. will they...
Cheers
Kev(Oz)

>Graham - I don't think Geoff's feeling *that* brave!  But I do think the
>Secombe Centre really would be the right size place for a gig for the band
>(John and Woolly etc) so I hope they give it a thought.  We can but try to
>keep the idea of UK dates in their minds!
>
>Janet


I have to second Janet on this, Pat and I sure Rick Wakeman a few years back
at the assembly hall in Walthamstow (North East London). It was a very
similar event to the one Janet describes and I understood from what Rick
said during the talking bits that his whole tour was of venues that size. He
said at one point that this hall is about the same size as Jon Anderson's
living room.

So come on boys, Walthamstow awaits.

Paul Leader.

Following on from Travis' dream about all his favourite bands doing a
tribute album to BJH, one person suggested that The Moody Blues could do
'Poor Mans Moody Blues'  which I thought was a suprememly silly idea.  Then
I thought for a while about what would be the silliest BJH tribute album
anyone could compile and I came up with this :

'Songs With No Meaning - vol.1'

1.  Poor Man's Moody Blues - The Moody Blues
2.  The Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden  (bit obvious after track one)
3.  Happy Old World - Leonard Cohen
4.  Galadriel - Marillion (for the Tolkien fans)
5.  Medicine Man - Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show
6.  After The Day - Tomorrow
7.  Hymn - Black Sabbath
8.  Kiev - Chicken Shack
9.  John Lennon's Guitar - Yoko Ono
10.  African - Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Feel free to suggest songs for vol.2 but try and keep it tasteful.  The
first person to suggest Stevie Wonder's version of 'Dark Now My Sky' is in
for it!



oops!

  cheers

Andy Long

A heartfelt plea from list members, especially those in digest mode - please
DON'T repeat an entire posting when replying to it. I know that some software
automatically copies the entire thread when you hit "reply", but it's the work
of a moment to delete everything bar the relevant line or two. If yours is the
latest in a long line of replies to a particular thread, you can end up with a
huge message to which is appended "I agree"! In digest mode this makes the
postings almost impossible to read. Thanks for your cooperation...

Cheers,
Keith & Monika

Travis  wrote:
>What????  "River of Dreams" wasn't even released in the UK?!?!  No wonder
>it's such a bitch to find here in North America.  Somebody in the BJH
>management deserves a good beating.  Where are their heads at?

I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding here about the role of management.
BJH were dropped by Polydor UK, so BJH's managers had to try to get them a new
deal. This they did, with Polydor Germany, where the band's sales have
traditionally been much higher - Polydor also own most of the back catalogue, so
it made sense to sign to them. The understanding was that Polydor UK would
automatically pick up the option to release the CD in the UK, given that it
would cost them nothing to do so. In the event, not only did Polydor UK decide
not to release it here, but Polydor Germany refused to let the band's management
have the rights for the UK to offer it to another company!

For John and Woolly's albums, not surprisingly, the management went to a
different company, Eagle, who have released them in Britain.

Cheers,
Keith & Monika

Hi All
I'm selling off some of my BJH record collection which i've amassed
over 20 odd years. If anyone would like a list of what i've got for
sale please email me at:
hitachif@...

Thanks in advance.
Ian

Don't think for a minute that Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden couldn't pull
this off!  There is superb musicianship in both those groups.  If Maiden can
pull off a cover of "Cross Eyed Mary", I reckon they could do BJH.  And Tony
Iommi once cited the Moody Blues as his fave group.  He's a great musician
so, Black Sabbath could handle "Hymn", but I don't think I'd want to hear
Ozzy sing it.  Maybe Glenn Hughes..............

;-)

Travis

P.S.  "Poor Man's Moody Blues" by the Moody Blues was just to rub their
noses in it!!!


>From: "Andy Long" <third.bass@...>
>Reply-To: bjh@egroups.com
>To: BJH list <bjh@egroups.com>
>Subject: [bjh] another comp idea
>Date: Thu, 02 Nov 2000 09:37:47 +0000
>
>Following on from Travis' dream about all his favourite bands doing a
>tribute album to BJH, one person suggested that The Moody Blues could do
>'Poor Mans Moody Blues'  which I thought was a suprememly silly idea.  Then
>I thought for a while about what would be the silliest BJH tribute album
>anyone could compile and I came up with this :
>
>'Songs With No Meaning - vol.1'
>
>1.  Poor Man's Moody Blues - The Moody Blues
>2.  The Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden  (bit obvious after track one)
>3.  Happy Old World - Leonard Cohen
>4.  Galadriel - Marillion (for the Tolkien fans)
>5.  Medicine Man - Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show
>6.  After The Day - Tomorrow
>7.  Hymn - Black Sabbath
>8.  Kiev - Chicken Shack
>9.  John Lennon's Guitar - Yoko Ono
>10.  African - Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
>
>Feel free to suggest songs for vol.2 but try and keep it tasteful.  The
>first person to suggest Stevie Wonder's version of 'Dark Now My Sky' is in
>for it!
>
>
>
>oops!
>
>  cheers
>
>Andy Long
>

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.

Well folks,

I finally got finished that cross-stitch picture of the Gone to Earth
owl .  I'm quite pleased with the end result :-) - it's only taken me
since July!!  I've taken the liberty of forwarding copies of the pattern
to those who requested the butterfly pattern previously.  It's a bit
more complicated than the butterfly, but if there's anyone else out
there who does cross stitch who'd also like a copy, just send me
privately a note of your snail-mail addy, and I'll get one in the post
to you...

--
Kate R

Kate,

This is a real work of art. I would love to have a club sweatshirt or a
T-shirt with this motif on it. Mel wore a sweatshirt once on a photocall
with this owl on it, and it looked wonderful.

Warm Regards,

Dave

----- Original Message -----
From: Kate R <siodach@...>

> I finally got finished that cross-stitch picture of the Gone to Earth
> owl.

hi there

i found a link to three pictures of ancient bjh: one of them with the
orchestra in 1971

http://www.waltonnaze.demon.co.uk/pics/pics.htm

enjoy!

greetings


matthias oe.




To learn about ambient pop visit www.eatingblackmilk.com
Buy their new CD online!

>>Is there anywhere out there where the sun's still shining?

probably not want you want to hear but.... we are having a beautiful
spring - 30 degrees c the other day and the least rainfall since records
began (here come the water restrictions!!)

all the best

Lin - SUNNY Hawke's Bay, NZGraham Wheelwright wrote:
>
>  >> Rick played at the Secombe Centre
> - a small intimate little theatre venue in Sutton, Surrey (situated
> right next to the Holiday Inn Hotel), and spent time on stage saying
> what a nice venue it was and how all the staff were very pleasant,
> and
> the audience was always the best!  In fact, I thought to myself it
> was
> just the right size for John & Woolly et al!!! <<
>
> What, you mean Geoff is offering to get up on stage and do some
> backing vocals? ;-)  Sounds like a good gig. Hope you've missed the
> flooding. Is there anywhere out there where the sun's still shining?
> BJH's "Dark Now My Sky", and Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes The Flood"
> spring to mind.....
>
> Graham
>

In message <002601c045b1$81e0dfa0$620ae4c3@kecskebak>, Kecskebak
<kecskebak@...> writes
>Kate,
>
>This is a real work of art.

Why thank you, kind sir ;-).  Twas the work of a moment - a mere 17,273
stitches..... (my 'puter program told me so!)  I became very familiar
with River of Dreams while making this - sitting in my comfy chair of an
evening, stitching away with the headphones clamped on tight!  I think
the two will be forever linked in my mind now <g>.

>I would love to have a club sweatshirt or a
>T-shirt with this motif on it. Mel wore a sweatshirt once on a photocall
>with this owl on it, and it looked wonderful.

This sounds very striking, but how to get the butterfly motif in there
somewhere too?   A swooping owl clutching a butterfly in it's talons
would be a bit TOO gruesome, methinks... <g>
--
Kate R

I,ve been listening to these two songs and I dont think OE compares
in any way to NL.
OE seems to me to be a kind of easy listening muzak thing that makes
me fall asleep (it doesnt take much these days!)
NL has that unearthly quality so common in 70's BJH (Woolly ?)
But surely the biggest difference is the recording.
OE = Keyboards, keyboards and more keyboards.
No "real" sounds, no real drums (who needs Mel..?)
very sequenced "made with machines" sorry guys, just cant listen to
machines!  Who the hell invented sequencers?  I mean when I buy a
band album I expect to hear Bass guitar, Drums, Guitars and yes some
tastefull keyboard work, other sounds are a bonus eg sitar , flute etc
I dont expect everything to be sequenced sounds from a  variety of
keys. Even the harmony's sound fake (Harmonizer used ?)
Maybe if OE had been recorded using the band (with Woolly) it would
have become a work of art instead of a sloppy boring slice of Radio
2 "elevator" slush.
Anyone sympathize ?
Kev(Oz)
PS Hope I dont drive anyone from the list!

This is off topic and is basically a question for Travis, I've been
thinking of updating my MB's CD's , however I dont want to buy any
sequenced stuff (as must be painfully evident from my last posting)
and I fear from some of your comments regarding 80's albums that this
may be the case with:
Keys to the Kingdom
Surle Mur
The Other Side of Life
Could you please tell me I'm wrong.
The last MB's CD I purchased was The Present, (I like it very much)
What do you think of these 3 Album's
Did the MB's "go" like BJH ? (please notice ,on topic)and decide
there's really no need for boring old things like Bass guitars and
Drums (and things like Mike Pinder) when you can just plug something
in.
Any other MB's ites care to comment on this ?
Bye
Kev(Oz)

Gotta agree with you there Kev, OE does nothing for me either...I LOVE
the album, just those two "African nights" and "Origin earth"... too
limp for my liking.



kgwalker20@... wrote:
>
> I,ve been listening to these two songs and I dont think OE compares
> in any way to NL.
> OE seems to me to be a kind of easy listening muzak thing that makes
> me fall asleep (it doesnt take much these days!)
> NL has that unearthly quality so common in 70's BJH (Woolly ?)
> But surely the biggest difference is the recording.
> OE = Keyboards, keyboards and more keyboards.
> No "real" sounds, no real drums (who needs Mel..?)
> very sequenced "made with machines" sorry guys, just cant listen to
> machines!  Who the hell invented sequencers?  I mean when I buy a
> band album I expect to hear Bass guitar, Drums, Guitars and yes some
> tastefull keyboard work, other sounds are a bonus eg sitar , flute etc
> I dont expect everything to be sequenced sounds from a  variety of
> keys. Even the harmony's sound fake (Harmonizer used ?)
> Maybe if OE had been recorded using the band (with Woolly) it would
> have become a work of art instead of a sloppy boring slice of Radio
> 2 "elevator" slush.
> Anyone sympathize ?
> Kev(Oz)
> PS Hope I dont drive anyone from the list!
>

Despite the HUGE presence of synths, and a tendency to sound like Depeche
Mode and others, those MB albums are usually saved by a track or two.  "Keys
to the Kingdom" is probably my fave of the 3.  Saw them on that tour, so
nostalgia.  "Sur La Mer"  (I call it "sure lamer") is IMO quite bad. Perhaps
the worst they ever did.  "The Other Side of Life" is pretty Duran
Duran/Depeche Mode and oversynthed.  Smack me for saying that I used to like
the hooky title track!!!  Talk about a cheesy video, though!!!!

But don't take Travis as the gospel here.  If you like Justin's voice and
songs like "In Your Wildest Dreams" or "I Know You're Out There Somewhere",
you may enjoy those albums a lot.  It just really pales to the magnificent
seven of 1967-72.  REALLY pales!!!!  Can you say "sellout"!!!!

To get a BJH angle in this post, I think BJH 1972-80 TOTALLY outstripped any
MB work of that period.  And BJH's 80's albums are artistically superior
too.  Plus they don't sound like Duran Duran.  There's a little Depeche
there though.  I call it "pandering".  I don't think the MBs "went" like
BJH.  I think BJH "went" like the MBs.  They held on to their integrity a
bit longer, though.

Travis


>From: kgwalker20@...
>Reply-To: bjh@egroups.com
>To: bjh@egroups.com
>Subject: [bjh] Man v Machines
>Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2000 02:12:32 -0000
>
>This is off topic and is basically a question for Travis, I've been
>thinking of updating my MB's CD's , however I dont want to buy any
>sequenced stuff (as must be painfully evident from my last posting)
>and I fear from some of your comments regarding 80's albums that this
>may be the case with:
>Keys to the Kingdom
>Surle Mur
>The Other Side of Life
>Could you please tell me I'm wrong.
>The last MB's CD I purchased was The Present, (I like it very much)
>What do you think of these 3 Album's
>Did the MB's "go" like BJH ? (please notice ,on topic)and decide
>there's really no need for boring old things like Bass guitars and
>Drums (and things like Mike Pinder) when you can just plug something
>in.
>Any other MB's ites care to comment on this ?
>Bye
>Kev(Oz)
>

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