Sam Leach - KEEP
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Hello to everyone, i'll see you tomorrow.
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Nice comments from David Bowie Pop still mesmerises the callow tastes of the young, but rock seems to have been sidelined into a form that reflects the thought processes and last-gasp ambitions of the middle-aged. "The one positive aspect of all this," David Bowie informed a French journalist this summer, "is that suddenly that hoary old question - how can a person of your advanced age group still be making rock music? - has been made completely obsolete. Because today's conflict of generations isn't played out in music any more but in other areas - like how we might feel about skateboarding [laughs]. Paul McCartney has never sounded better as a live performer as he did when I saw him this year. Same for Lou Reed, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Between you and me, I don't see anyone from this new generation coming up who's capable of giving concert performances of that high a quality."
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mikeskapla:
fab65: Good points. I've read a ton of great reviews of Ram and as mentioned Mojo ranks it as one of the best albums of all time. The album was really funky and different -- I'll see if I can find it but I remembver one critic raving that it stands up to the best Beatle albums. In terms of McCartney that album has grown in stature, too over time -- agree it wasn't panned at the time but a lot of people thought it would be better. I personally like that one, too -- Maybe I am Amazed, Junk, Every Night -- it's another funky and unique sounding record. Other records that have grown in stature overtime is Back to the Egg -- some critics give it 4 stars these days but that one was panned at the time -- London Town has also grown in stature. I think a lot of Macca's solo work will be elevated higher over time. Even his worst work in my view is much better than the average stuff of most pop artists. Cheers! Mike
Wow, Mike I don't think I've read that particular Mojo review of Ram... but it's no surprise and I really don't need a review anyway to tell me what I hear and have always felt about this album... Ram is a mini musical masterpiece IMO. It is a musical treat.. It is unique. It is pure Paul. Nobody else (except possibly someone like Brian Wilson) could have pulled off an album such as that.. The artistic risks he took with Ram and McCartney may have been misunderstood and hurt him somewhat initially.... but there's a silver lining here... both have stood the test of time brilliantly...much like his beatle era work. He deserves respect and recognition for this and is slowly starting to get it.... Records like London Town , Egg, and McCartney II are other's that thankfully are just beginning to see a re-evaluation by critics and fans.... more to follow perhaps????
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Hi Sara, See you tomorrow. Have a good night's rest. Hi Christina how are you doing? Mike youa re welcome. My favorite genre of music would be classic rock,70s pop,oldies,soft rock and 80s music like you say. I would put macca in the soft rock or classic rock cateogry since he isn't too loud or too soft. He is just right.
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mikeskapla:
Sam The operative expression is "at the time". I've read Rolling Stones review of Ram that was released at the time, you can still find it on the web site's archive -- the periodical has never been fond of Macca -- but that isn't the point. The point is as I put in my first post on the subject -- at the time of its release Ram was mostly panned -- being judged against the Beatles best work. Ram was reevaluated later and the critics basically said we were wrong on that one -- it was good work, etc. I said panned at the time praised later. Cheers! Mike
Mike, I really don't know if anyone took their words back on this album, certainly not Rolling Stone. I imagine it is where you go to get your evaluations. The fact of the matter is that he was challenged and his albums got better, much better as he came out of his post Beatles funk. Best, Sam C.
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Hi Sam C Whether Rollingstone took their words back or not wasn't my main point --most periodicals that I read give RAM rave reviews (some of whom I mentioned) and put it along with Band on the Run as being some of his best work. This isn't me just praising the work becuase it's Macca's album -- you mentioned that Red Rose Speedway is better received but having read a ton of reviews on my oberservation it isn't -- many critics were OK and liked Red Rose Speedway but don't put it in the same league as Ram. Later, I'll go look for some of these reviews don't have the time at the moment. Cheers! Mike
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mikeskapla:
fab65: Good points. I've read a ton of great reviews of Ram and as mentioned Mojo ranks it as one of the best albums of all time. The album was really funky and different -- I'll see if I can find it but I remembver one critic raving that it stands up to the best Beatle albums. In terms of McCartney that album has grown in stature, too over time -- agree it wasn't panned at the time but a lot of people thought it would be better. I personally like that one, too -- Maybe I am Amazed, Junk, Every Night -- it's another funky and unique sounding record. Other records that have grown in stature overtime is Back to the Egg -- some critics give it 4 stars these days but that one was panned at the time -- London Town has also grown in stature. I think a lot of Macca's solo work will be elevated higher over time. Even his worst work in my view is much better than the average stuff of most pop artists. Cheers! Mike
Mike, RAM as one of the best albums of all time? I fear we are going to have to agree to disagree. Best, Sam C.
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mikeskapla:
Hi Sam Whether Rollingstone took their words back or not wasn't my main point --most periodicals that I read give RAM rave reviews (some of whom I mentioned) and put it along with Band on the Run as being some of his best work. This isn't me just praising the work becuase it's Macca's album -- you mentioned that Red Rose Speedway is better received but having read a ton of reviews on my oberservation it isn't -- many critics were OK and liked Red Rose Speedway but don't put it in the same league as Ram. Later, I'll go look for some of these reviews don't have the time at the moment. Cheers! Mike
Hello Mike, I do remember the pans given to both of those albums, and those albums not being highly reguarded at the time or even now. I am sure I could find sites to support that, but why go that way? No need to bring up the painful past. It did inspire Paul to make better albums and he did. Red Rose Speedway was a step up in the Billboard review at the time. You also have to remember that McCartney was coming on the heels of Abbey Road (although Let It Be) was released later, and that RAM came out about the time of All Things Must Pass and Imagine (which was a little later) and those are the albums it was undoubtedly compared to. Band On The Run seems to be what most people look as Paul's best album, and Venus And Mars probably one of the best albums which had a great lineup. Best, Sam C.
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Hi Sam C At the time, Ram was panned by many (including by Ringo and Lennon) and Speedway was considered an improvement. I know its strange and things generally don't happen this way but in the 80s RAM made a comeback in the eyes of critics and being one who reads everything I can published about Macca -- I am not somewhat certain or am pretty sure about this subject -- I am absolutely convinced becuase I've seen it over and over again that Ram is highly regarded and considered to be one of Macca's best (and now yes better than Speedway and better regarded than Venus and Mars) -- I've seen it been characterized as a masterpiece, as good as any Beatle album, REM members praised that one as one of their influences, etc -- it's usually given 4 to 5 star status. Later, I'll look for some of these reviews -- never thought I'd need them to back up RAM becuase again RAM usually doesn't need defending. Macca does have albums that do sometimes need some defense -- RAM isn't one of them. Cheers! Mike
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mikeskapla:
Hi Sam At the time, Ram was panned by many (including by Ringo and Lennon) and Speedway was considered an improvement. I know its strange and things generally don't happen this way but in the 80s RAM made a comeback in the eyes of critics and being one who reads everything I can published about Macca -- I am not somewhat certain or am pretty sure about this subject -- I am absolutely convinced becuase I've seen it over and over again that Ram is highly regarded and considered to be one of Macca's best (and now yes better than Speedway and better regarded than Venus and Mars) -- I've seen it been characterized as a masterpiece, as good as any Beatle album, REM members praised that one as one of their influences, etc -- it's usually given 4 to 5 star status. Later, I'll look for some of these reviews -- never thought I'd need them to back up RAM becuase again RAM usually doesn't need defending. Macca does have albums that do sometimes need some defense -- RAM isn't one of them. Cheers! Mike
Hello Mike, That is your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it. Best, Sam C.
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Hi Mike and Samcat. It's always been the case with many Beatle and solo Beatle albums. They are understood and liked the more they're played. Magical Mystery Tour was slagged when it first came out. Not long afterwards people were raving over it. And Mike Sam #3 isn't going to change his opinion no matter what. 99% of us agree with you so lets agree to differ with Sam C on this one. Cheers. Sam.
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Sam Leach:
Hi Mike and Samcat. It's always been the case with many Beatle and solo Beatle albums. They are understood and liked the more they're played. Magical Mystery Tour was slagged when it first came out. Not long afterwards people were raving over it. And Mike Sam #3 isn't going to change his opinion no matter what. 99% of us agree with you so lets agree to differ with Sam C on this one. Cheers. Sam.
Sam, Actually I remember Magical Mystery Tour (having seen it when I was in England)being slagged, but the main problem with the film is that we saw it in black and white instead of colour as it was intended to be. I loved the movie though. The album too. Cheers, Sam C.
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Hi again Sam #3 Yes and I'll bet those critics gave themselves a severe kick up the butt eventually. Which is the deserved fate for any critic of The Beatles.... ....or McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr. Cheers. Sam.
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ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Our favourite Sam is down by two votes! We must get him back to first place! Please go and vote! Vote often and legally! Best, Sam C.
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Sam Leach:
Hi again Sam #3 Yes and I'll bet those critics gave themselves a severe kick up the butt eventually. Which is the deserved fate for any critic of The Beatles.... ....or McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr. Cheers. Sam.
Sam, The film itself was actually used in college film classes. I actually liked it when it first came out. But you must remember about opinions....every one has got one...just like John said in I am the Walrus... Cheers, Sam C.
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Hi Sam C Differing opinions is the spice of life and is usually healthy. Except when it's given by a Decca A & R man !! Cheers Sam.
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I have grown to love all of Macca's work, with the Beatles and solo. Yes, some of it had to grow on me, but usually only a couple of songs on an album. Off to vote for Sam.
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Thanks Linda (Maccascruff). Yes that's what I meant. We'd all grow to love ALL the album. Thanks for the votes. Love and hugs Sam.
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Sam Leach:
Hi Sam C Differing opinions is the spice of life and is usually healthy. Except when it's given by a Decca A & R man !! Cheers Sam.
Hello Sam, Yeah, I remember the story well! LOL! Cheers! Sam C.
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Good morning Hi Sam, I wasn't able to visit the site over the weekend but I was wondering-did anyone guess the Chuck Berry song you were thinking about? To be honest, I was never a big fan of his so that's probably why I didn't have a clue. Love and Hugs, ~Tashi