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From: "Jonathan Ross"
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 22:11:15 -0500
Subject: Re: Xerox machines

sheer genius." I have a
> tape of Doug and the critics couldn't be more right. With my band, I
cover
> note-for-note that dynamically-perfect well-defined 2:30 of rock-n-roll
> harmonica known as "Whammer Jammer" and while the non-harmonica-playing
> contingent thoroughly enjoys the show and orders another round, a few
harp
> players walk out without finishing their beer mumbling something about
> mimicry.

What I, and others might argue is that the Blues and it's stepchild
Rock&Roll is an inherently improvisational medium. That having been said,
there is also a history in Rock of playing things note for note--started
with the desire to cover old blues by British bands and extended by such
70s bands as the Eagles (IMO). Thus, you are choosing to follow this
tradition, which some might argue is not a healthy one for making creative
music, but, to each his own:)


JRR
CANNIS COCKER MAXIMUS SNUFFY
HRMNCAE BSILEUS BSLEI NSTRMNTATI

- ----------
> From: Coolrays
> To: Pat Missin ; harp~arply.com
> Subject: Re: Xerox machines
> Date: Saturday, January 17, 1998 3:51 PM
>
> At 6:26 PM -0600 1/16/98, Pat Missin wrote:
> >I once saw a really well known blues band with a very good harp player
> >do "Juke" almost note-for-note and it bored me to tears.
> >
> >
> >
> >I respect Rocket's post on this thread and I agree that if you change
too
> >may notes, it is no longer "Juke" or whatever, but just another 12-bar
> >instrumental. I also see the logic behind Rocket's analogies, but as a
> >counter analogy, imagine someone standing up and delivering Martin
Luther
> >King's "I have a dream..." speech, word for word. Would they be
respected
> >for their philosophical and humanitarian insight (except by those who
had
> >never heard MLK)? Even if they got MLK's voice and mannerisms exactly
> >right, they would be unlikely to be respected as anything other than a
> >skilled mimic.
>
> I understand what Pat is getting at but I can't buy this one. MLK's
speech
> changed parts of the world. "Whammer Jammer" hasn't. These items are on
> different levels and will remain so until the post office and banks close
> on Magic Dick's birthday. :)
>
> Let's put this under a different light. The illustrious and flamboyant
Doug
> Tate performs a well-defined classical piece with the London Philharmonic
> and the critics in the Times call it "brilliant,
>
> What's the difference? This is a serious inquiry. I'd like to know why
one
> is considered legitimate and the other taboo. Do we have to wait until LW
> has been dead 100 years before an excellent cover of "Juke" doesn't bring
> on tears of boredom. Is it OK for harmonica trios to cover "Peg o' My
> Heart" note-for-note?
>
> On a related front, I've heard the Nighthawks' cover of WJ and
> Musselwhite's "Juke." In both of these examples they sound like
completely
> different songs to me(although they are in the same key :-). IMO it's
akin
> to changing the lyrics. When is it not the same song? If I take the music
> to "House of the Rising Sun" and sing the lyric from "Amazing Grace" what
> song am I singing? [BTW, this works amazingly well which I once
discovered
> when that exact request came written on a $50 bill.] On the morning of
his
> debut with the Boston Symphony, the esteemed Mr. Tate, who is to to be
the
> featured soloist in a Mozart concerto, comes up with an improvised melody
> line in the shower which he decides to play that evening rather than the
> original. Doug's a very creative musician and only comes up with the
> hippest of melody lines but are the critics and the audience going to let
> him get away with it? Is it still Mozart?
>
> BTW, although melodies and lyrics are copyrightable, song titles are not
so
> feel free to write your own "Juke." Just change the melody.
>
> I'd like to point out that it's called the 'entertainment industry' and
not
> the 'art and music emporium.' It's business and entertainment, period.
> Whether one is playing Carnegie Hall or the neighborhood blues bar, it's
> about pulling rabbits out of hats and hearing the cash register ring.
> You'll never see WJ on an album of mine but you can see me play it most
> nights because it helps me entertain my audience and keeps club owners
> asking me back.
>
> r
>
> PS Hi Doug :)
>