Robben Ford Discussion

jonhanks · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 7:41 am Post subject: favourite robben track

Whats everyones favourite robben ford track? For me its got to be 'misdirected blues'. The end guitar solo in it just kills me everytime I listen to it - especially when he sticks in that unsuspecting Db7 chord. Wouldnt it be great if robben started playing this track live again?

I'm so excited at the moment - I've got tickets to see Robben in manchester, sheffield, and the clinic he's doing at the academy of sound! How lucky am I! Does anyone know what the clinic will involve? Do we bring instruments? I'm not sure what to suspect as it only cost £10!! Perhaps this is just to meet him!

jon.

diatonicdude · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 1:07 pm Post subject: Fav track

Hi Jon,

I am certaintly turning into the green eyed monster after reading your up coming schedule Twisted Evil

I hope to be going on the 18th to the Jazz Cafe, if my eldest son recovers from his illness (very bad case of flu) and that my other family members (and of course myself!) do not succumb to the dammed virus! Work commitments have put pay to other events such as the clinic (i'm gutted:cry:)

Anyway, I think I have mentioned before that the instrumental "Life Song" is my favourite, if it is at all possible to actually name one of Robben's masterpieces as an outright favourite. I too think "misdirected blues" is also up there (handfull of blues is probably still my favourite album) and the great "freedom" from tigerwalk as another contender. Finally (sorry to go on, but i'm off on one now), right up to date from "keep on running" are "hand in hand with the blues", "me and my women" & "badge" (yes badge; I think his vocals on this complement this versions harmony and feel very nicely).

Enjoy!

Cheers,

DD Smile

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Music is the universal language; speak it with emotion, listen with a passion.

Aeolian · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:43 pm Post subject:

With all the talk about Keep on Running, my favorite cut never gets mentioned, Lifetime thing. This never pretends to be anything but roadhouse blues. The production has that old funky feel and the processing on the vocal mike sounds like a smoky club down in the delta. The groove is deep and the lyrics have that old done me wrong feel. After 3 seconds of it a friend said "organic" which just about sums it up. My other favorite here is Cannonball Shuffle. I think I agree with some other postings that Robben is tired of being a guitar players player and is looking for a voice that works. There is always Jing Chi and such for the sophisticates. I saw on one of Daved's posts that they were opening for Robert Cray. I'm still not sure about the KFOG show out here who has top billing, but after all these years and putting so much soul into the music, shouldn't Robben receive top billing as a bluesman? I wouldn't blame him for toning down the sophistication in order so that purists don't miss the point of how soulful his blues are. Every time I hear Dan Ackroyd go on about some hot young kid, I cringe. Doesn't he know that there is music out there with real feeling (not frenticisim masquerading as passion and sloppy technique masquerading as soul). I've heard "Monster" Mike Welch, and Frost, and Yates and all these next big things. Hell, I even had the curent hot shot Freddie King wannabe open for me a couple of years ago. But he pounded through Hideaway while I played Fredom and Mercy Mercy, so he's a real bluesman and another next big thing. While the guy who was the top bill that night slugs it out in a local cover band because he can burn though Smooth in a way that Carlos couldn't envision in his wildest dreams. And John Q. Public can't appreciate that. So if Robben want to show how he can play down and dirty blues as good as anyone else, more power to him. We have all the other records to enjoy the other sides of him with.

Given all that ranting, I'd toss in Revelation as a favorite. It has it all, interesting song, sophisticated notes, passionate playing, great tone. And they even left in the clam at the end on the intervalic arpeggio that Robben has played a million times. You can just see the look on his face as having just played his heart out on a wonderful take, his hands fail him putting the passion into a lick that his hands know by heart. So what! I'm sure they left it in there as the push you hear as he forces though it is real. It says "I loved this take! Damn, I wished I could have gotten out of it clean".

Also, I've heard Cut Me to the Bone used as demo material at several Stereophile shows. Just think, high end audiophiles grooving along to Robben. Although if you go back 8-9 years ago almost every Stereophile reviewer was disecting various $25K CD players ability to bring out the nuances in Robben's nylon work on Pop Pop.
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My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

elizabeth

Robben's Golden Slumbers wakes me up every morning...Revelation is on there, as is Life Song...I love Real Man, Start it Up, Good to Love...aw hell, I like them all. Lately, I find myself listening to Lifetime Thing, Over My Head, Homework, and Cannonball Shuffle over, and over, and over. It's a good thing!!!!!!!

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CoolAxeMan · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:11 am Post subject:

It has to be 'Prison of Love' for me. It was the first Robben song I heard - it was very influencial in making me change from a function band to forming my own blues band - and now I play it every gig. Just cannot get enough of it. I have just heard for the first time the 'Jung Chi' album (Amazon audio clips) and I ordered it immediately!!! Judging purely by the clips, it sounds out of the world!!! I am sure there will be a fav track on this. Will be seeing Robben at The Brook in Southampton, UK soon - cannot wait for this - what a treat to see my hero in my home town!!!
David

Bluelobster · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:20 am Post subject: Jing Chi

Hi, it is really dificult to tell which one . may be it's like Blues or Raga
it fits just within a peculiar moment ????
But thanks to put things on perspective : if you talk Jing CHI i wil answer
AURORA.
If you say the first song you've heard : i don't remember... Very Happy

But : i think Revelation makes me shiver everytime i hear it,
along with life song, there is no one else, .......................................

Blob

Leftbender · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:13 pm Post subject:

Not easy to say:

1: Life Song
2: Live The Life I Love (with brother Mark)
3: I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues
4: Moonchild Blues
5: Me And My Woman

But hé, I agree Lobsterman, this only goes for tonight Laughing

robgault · Newbie Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 1

Lots of great tunes mentioned here, but one of my favorites is "nothin to nobody". I usually don't even listen to the words when Robben is playing the guitar, but I love the words to that one. I can relate.
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Rob Gault

McHenk · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 3:34 am Post subject:

You cut me to the bone and Something for the pain are my favourites.
However, Badge becomes a strong runner-up now I play it over and over again.

Cheers

McHenk

PierreL · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:06 am Post subject:

That's quite difficult to choose only one from so many great songs.
I would have to say "Top of the Hill" or "Ain't got nothing with the blues". I also love the Ray Charles cover on the Authorized Bootleg a lot.
"Life Song" is great too, it reminds me a lot of Eric Johnson by the way.

Leftbender · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 12:12 pm Post subject:

I wonder what Daved's favourites are...................... Question

gitarz*r*us · Member Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 33 Location: Bay Area

I've bought just about everything of his I can lay my hands on. Interestingly, my favorite Ford work is the pretty, lyrical stuff. Nobody can tap into exitential beauty like Ford does. My favorites are: "Sun Lake" (from Kazu Matsui Project circa 1984), "For The One I Love" and "There's No One Else" (from Inside Story circa 1979), and "Golden Slumbers" from the Beatles tribute c.d. circa 1995.

CoolAxeMan · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 2:34 pm Post subject: Hey Gitarz'r'us

You mentioned "Golden Slumbers" from the Beatles tribute - what was that album and who released it?
Cheers
David

gitarz*r*us · Member Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 33 Location: Bay Area

I believe "Golden Slumbers" was on a c.d. called "Come Together," but my c.d.'s are in storage and I don't have more info. Perhaps Elizabeth, Robben's #1 fan who also mentioned "Golden Slumbers" in a post above, can shed more light. Happy hunting!

PierreL · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:26 am Post subject:

Golden Slumbers was actually featured on a CD named "Guitar Tribute To the Beatles vol.2", which was produced by Mike Mainieri of Steps Ahead on his own NYC label.