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Post by jk on Jun 27, 2020 10:37:56 GMT
High time I contributed a new thread in this section, so here we go. The title speaks for itself, which saves me waffling on.  This topic came to me last night after watching (on TV) Brian's performance of "Surfin' U.S.A." at Glastonbury fifteen years ago. So here it is to start things off. It's a truly remarkable solo (certainly when heard in mid 1963!), with that powerhouse organ chord announcing it three beats in advance: Maybe there should be a thread for favourite BB intros as well.  |
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Post by jk on Jun 27, 2020 11:09:48 GMT
Another thing re "SUSA":
Was this the first time in a pop song that a single instrumental break was shared between two instruments? There are earlier examples of two instruments soloing but then each had its own slot in the song...
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 27, 2020 12:39:28 GMT
Another thing re "SUSA": Was this the first time in a pop song that a single instrumental break was shared between two instruments? There are earlier examples of two instruments soloing but then each had its own slot in the song... Good question. It seems like it's going into a common jazz practice of "trading [x]s" (e.g., trading eights being each soloist takes eight bars, and they go back and forth; trading fours and trading eights are the most common).
But the organ takes eight, the guitar takes four, and that's it.
As to whether or where that had been done before in pop? No idea. Good question though.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 27, 2020 12:57:09 GMT
One of my favorite BB tracks is "Amusement Parks U.S.A.", and I especially like the rollicking bridge. Right after Brian's out-of-control laugh, he goes into this organ-driven riff (which he lifts from "Palisades Park") and it really sounds like you're driving to the amusement park (Let's take your car and mess around at the park all day!). Then the organ makes you feel like the rides are spinning, with the carnival barker (Hal Blaine) yelling, and the girlfriend emoting. So much is happening. There's also a percussion instrument in there (not the drums) which is perfectly placed, kind of a slashing sound. It rocks, and there's barely a guitar in sight!
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Post by jk on Jun 27, 2020 13:58:28 GMT
The ultimate less-is-more instrumental break on a BB record comes in "Don't Worry Baby". If anything is deserving of the g-word, it's this!  |
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 27, 2020 15:10:40 GMT
I wonder whether it might have initially been conceived of as a background over which a solo would go, but was left alone because, simple as it is, it just sounds so cool.
No insights at all, don’t know what the tracks situation was (eg did they have room to build). But it seems odd for the decision ahead of time to be to have a “solo” of staccato stabs of guitar, two to a measure, changing notes every two measures.
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Post by kds on Jun 27, 2020 16:26:47 GMT
I was going to say DWB, simple yet remarkable.
Wendy - Organ solo
Please Let Me Wonder - the interplay between the guitar and organ
Child Is the Father of the Man - the haunting piano at the end.
Little Bird - The Beatlesque strings after the second verse
Steamboat - guitar solo
Leaving This Town - Moog solo
Maybe I Dont Know - Gary Moore's guitar work
Ram Raj (ML) - Guitar solo
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 27, 2020 17:02:28 GMT
Probably my favorite BBs instrumental break is the pedal steel solo in "Hold On, Dear Brother."
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Post by jk on Jun 27, 2020 17:45:51 GMT
I was going to say DWB, simple yet remarkable. Wendy - Organ solo Please Let Me Wonder - the interplay between the guitar and organ Child Is the Father of the Man - the haunting piano at the end. Little Bird - The Beatlesque strings after the second verse Steamboat - guitar solo Leaving This Town - Moog solo Maybe I Dont Know - Gary Moore's guitar work Ram Raj (ML) - Guitar solo Good choices in there, kds, partlcularly "Leaving The Town"! Add drums to the interplay in "PLMW". And I believe Brian live added tambourine as a fourth element to this wonderful imitative effect.
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Post by jk on Jun 30, 2020 21:28:02 GMT
"Feel Flows" is one of only two BB songs (the other being "Leaving This Town") to feature an extended instrumental workout -- Carl on guitar, Charles Lloyd on flute and sax -- over a repeating pattern not heard anywhere else in the song. Sheer magic.
"Feel Flows" was my late friend's deep-breath-count-to-ten song -- there were enough times in her life when the situation called for a "feel flows moment". This is for her:
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Post by jk on Jul 8, 2020 19:44:31 GMT
"Feel Flows" is one of only two BB songs (the other being "Leaving This Town") to feature an extended instrumental workout. And here is the other one. Ricky's solo builds magnificently!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 9, 2020 0:26:12 GMT
It's muddy as heck and I wish the instrumental bridge to "Do You Wanna Dance" was much, much clearer, but the drums pound and the guitars rock!
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Post by jk on Jul 9, 2020 9:13:49 GMT
It's muddy as heck and I wish the instrumental bridge to "Do You Wanna Dance" was much, much clearer, but the drums pound and the guitars rock!
Great picture! They do indeed. Maybe one day Joshilyn will give us the full instrumental picture of "DYWD". One can dream, I suppose.
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