Robben Ford Discussion

Michael

Tonight I was pleased to get to see Robben and Larry at The Crest Theatre in Sacramento - Daved (in my opinion) you were missed.

For the most part it was a great show ... a bit of mud in the mix ... especially on Robben's guitar and initial vocals ... great drums, great bass, etc. - and some jet lag forgiveness.

I plan to see the Ford Brothers in Grass Valley coming up!

Is it just me? Or is the Riley B. King dedication song a bit cheesy? I brought the younger generation to hear these guys and that song was a little much for my taste ...

Great show as always anyway ... but Daved ... I for one missed the consistency of your contributions to Robben's game. It simply was not the same.

charliebrown · Member Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 26

Michael · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:16 am Post subject:

Last time I saw Larry play was at the Granite Bay Golf Club on the driving range with a band called Four Play.

Prior to that ... it was a few feet in front of him at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach many moons ago.

I especially enjoyed last night ... just guitar, bass, and drums. Larry's song with his son was exceptional. Robben, by himself, fantastic as well. I was sitting of the angle of Larry's setup which sounded great to me. The bass and Larry were pointing my direction. I was having trouble picking up the detail of Robben's playing ... and in most cases that's never been a problem Perhaps there were a few directional issues or something. It just did not have that clean sharp effect.

charliebrown · Member Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 26

telefunk1 · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

Michael - it is not just you. Totally agree on your Riley B. comment.

Michael · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject:

I just bought the "Truth" cd today ... I'm going to give the Riley B. King song another listen ... the studio version. But I would have preferred a concert tribute to BB King ... by just turning a BB King song and putting the Robben touch on it. Just my opinion ... but it was hard to explain the song to the 19 year old guys I brought ... yes, they are new Robben fans ... expecially live, but their fanism wandered a bit with that song.

edpesco · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:27 am Post subject:

Well.... to me this song is unlistenable. Still I am the world's 2nd best RF fan, so don't crucify me please Crying or Very sad

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PierreL · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:07 am Post subject:

Haven't listened to this song yet. Why is it so bad ?

JohnnyZ · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:58 am Post subject:

Ron S · Senior Member Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 116 Location: UK

'What were they thinking' file!

There are some cds I have to instantly burn another copy, leaving certain tracks off. This is one of them.

I admit I didn't get past the first minute but why should I have to?

What I've heard of the rest of the CD so far I love so no worries.

BlueRunner · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

OK JohnnyZ, RonS, edpesco, telefunk, michael, and the rest of you: I DON'T agree. "Riley B. King" may not be a great song (although a couple of others on the "Truth" CD are, e.g., "Peace on My Mind," a wonderful Robben-penned follow-up to Robben's recording some years ago of Willie Dixon's "It Don't Make Sense (That You Can't Make Peace)"), but it's a darn good one. And after enjoying Keb' Mo's version, on which Robben and Robert Cray trade teasingly-short solos, I had really been looking forward to Robben taking off on his own with the tune. And I actually like that Robben's voice on the tune has a bit of that James Taylor mellow-tenor sound. Hey, not every one of Robben's tunes is required to be a hard-hitting, jazz-tinged, note-bending jazzy blues number. "Truth" is a wonderful no-pigeonhole collection in which Robben stretches toward R&B and soul here, and pop there, but comes out in the end centered on the blues. And hey, don't you like to be reminded about "the way you feel, watchin' him with Lucille"?.
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JohnnyZ · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:40 am Post subject:

>> Hey, not every one of Robben's tunes is required to be a hard-hitting, jazz-tinged, note-bending jazzy blues number.

This is true. But, if I were introducing a bunch of friends to Robben's music, this song would not be in the mix... Wink

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telefunk1 · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

Blue- no one is saying all of RFs tunes have to be "hard hitting..." I think we are all a pretty opened minded bunch of listeners and fans on this board. I just think this is not a very good song - regardless of who wrote it or performed it. If I heard it on the radio and did not know who it was I would not be impressed either. I don't care of RF dabbles in pop (or whatever genre you might consider this song), or fusion or whatever - I respect him enough as an artist not to quibble with his muse! A good song is a good song, and a mediocre song is a mediocre song, which is where I would place Riley B. Just my 2 cents which is worth even less than that considering the exchange rate and the stock market these days.

LongIslandRod · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:50 am Post subject:

I hear James Taylor when I listen to Riley B King. It sounds like James Taylor's vocal phrasing and melody.
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JohnnyZ · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:59 am Post subject: