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Topic: John McLaughlin on Tonight Show, 1985 |
Mike Winter
From:
Portland, OR
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 10 Apr 2006 10:51 pm |
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| One of my favorite guitarists. Thanks Mike! |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 10 Apr 2006 11:04 pm
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| Classic example of wasted energy without taste or dynamics. He was using the wrong instrument playing with a big band. He should have been using an electric archtop instead of an acoustic. If you're going balls out with a big band you don't do it on an acoustic guitar. It sounded weak and non arranged. He's lucky George Bensen wasn't there. George would have smoked his a$$. |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 12:07 am
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| Gotta go with Kevin on this one. That was just not a good match up. Maybe he was thinking he'd try something completly different. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. Thanks for posting the clip, I love being able to see so many filmed performances now that Youtube is making it all possible. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 1:15 am
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well..my take..
this is John M..
this is what he does , did, still does, whatever..
If anything the band arangement was overkill for his style..
He is the guest..his style is what it is..
This is JM..this is what he does..and does well...
I saw John a few times and this is actually one of the first times I eer heard him play a COVER tune..
regardless, the man is an amazing musician, especially for the period that he gained recognition...
A man walks out from behind a curtain and just sits down and plays Cherokee...live on camera..
no wires, no amp, no nuthin'...
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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 1:34 am
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| INCREDIBLE!!! John McLaughlin was THE guitar hero when I was a kid, and that acoustic guitar demonstrates his superb technique. Thanks for posting this clip! |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 2:52 am
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I remember seeing it live.
The quality of the video is a bit unclear so I cannot tell if he is playing one of his Abraham Wechter (sp?) guitars or not.
In as much as the negative comment that was made, you have to take under consideration that during this period, JM was using this kind of guitar for his concerts and naturally this is what he would have used. As for his taste, and dynamics, he is sitting in front of a raging big band and you expect him to have some manner of dynamics!! After not having heard this for 20 years, I am rather impressed by what he did play. Classic JM with a nice tinge of Django using the acoustic guitar. I enjoyed watching it. |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 6:47 am
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| He's always been a maverick when it comes to tone - I remember being blown out of my skull by both the first Mahavishnu Orchestra and the first incarnation of Shakti, and nobody had ever played those kinds of licks with those kinds of tones before. It does strike me that that same, exact performance with the flattop would have been better suited to an acoustic quintet or "Hot Club" type of setting - but that's not what the Tonight Show band was. Criticizing anything McLaughlin does is, to me, like criticizing Paganini or Bhattacharya or something - go ahead, when you can go do it better, have a nice time with it, I'll buy your CD for sure. |
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 7:15 am
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I love JM but I got to go with the negative comments on this one. This was a complete mismatch in every sense of the word. Wrong instrument, wrong arrangement, wrong song.
What amazed me was the fact that John couldn't swing. |
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Mark Metdker
From:
North Central Texas, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 7:56 am
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Sorry boys, but I can't badmouth my childhood hero. I remember the first time I heard one of his records. I was in the 8th grade...I think. Anyway, I went home and threw out all my Doobie Brothers and Foghat records. I finally heard what a REAL guitarist sounds like. the guy changed everything for me. Maybe he didn;t do well here, but he plays things that hardly anyone else can duplicate. And has been doing it for over 30 years.
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Zum U-12 w/True Tone pickup thru a Nashville 112
Strats thru a VHT Super 30
http://community.webshots.com/album/176544894AuXSmi
jonchristopherdavis.com
www.lonestarattitude.net
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 12:10 pm
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| It's a shame some of you believe you have to criticize another musician, a legendary one at that, even for not playing the type of guitar you think he should play, the way you think he should have, the way you would have.... if you could, but just like all critics you can't play anywhere near that level yourself, if at all. I guess some people just never figure out that the best musicians play what they feel. Not what Joe Blow thinks they should play. [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 11 April 2006 at 02:27 PM.] |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 12:32 pm
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Did you notice how all the musicians in the Tonight Show band dropped their horns and started applauding McLaughlin too? Ignorant hacks, I guess....  |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 1:29 pm
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Probably just felt sorry for him...  |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 1:44 pm
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| Classy move. He invades their territory. Instead of making them play Inner Mounting Flame and playing a double neck in a white flowing robe through a bunch of Marshall stacks, he plays a jazz standard one acoustic and lets them roar along. THAT is why they applauded--respect for him and his playing. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 2:23 pm
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I guess I am in the scratching head mode of why a musician would diss this musicians performance..
It's not like JM had weekly TV spots or anything...
sure it was an OFF arrangement..He looked squeaky clean dapper...he played UNPLUGGED before it actually became famous to play UNPLUGGED...
He played an arrangement which was probably a quick and dirty from Doc...
He played his stuff inside the Doc arrangment...
He played LIVE..
it was TV
It was LIVE Tv..
it was JM on Johnny Carson !
Although I would have to submit that this performance does come in a close 2nd to the Great Flyzini 
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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 2:46 pm
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| Quote: |
| I guess I am in the scratching head mode of why a musician would diss this musicians performance.. |
Very simple, Tony. Because there are a lot of people who majored in music at college, or play weekends in a bar band, or have a son who's "almost famous" and they believe that qualifies them to make judgements where they really have no business whatsoever even opening their mouths.
And they wonder why the big guys don't post here. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 3:15 pm
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| The forum exists for people's opinions. Someone put a clip up and we gave opinions. I'll be playing in front of 5000 people a few times this summer along side national acts. I earned it. I think I have a right to a musical opinion. You may not agree. I respect everyone elses here also. I prefer BB King over JM. Technical prowess does not equal tasteful playing. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 11 April 2006 at 04:17 PM.] |
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Michael Haselman
From:
St. Paul
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 5:35 pm
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Well, this is kind of sacred ground for me. I remember the first time I heard "Inner Mounting Flame" like I remember where I was when JFK got shot. When you're talking about JM you've GOT to consider the whole spectrum--from "Jack Johnson," "In A Silent Way," to his compositions. If you can listen to "Dance Of The Maya" and not be blown away just by the composition, let alone the playing...I kinda feel sorry for you.
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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 6:09 pm
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"It's a shame some of you believe you have to criticize another musician"
Right. How dare we have an opinion! |
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Frank Estes
From:
Huntsville, AL
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Posted 11 Apr 2006 7:46 pm
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| Very Impressive. I never heard of the guy before (only 43, grew listening to gospel). The band got on my nerves. Tony has it right--the band overplayed. They forgot that they were not the ones being featured. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 2:44 am
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well I'll be playing in front of probably 25,000 in a few weeks. Maybe more....
Speed Weeks, Downtown Charlotte, the week before the Coca Cola 500...Late Saturday afternoon set...
This is one of 3 or 4 ALL CITY Music Fests here in Charlotte...An entire section of downtown is shut down for a full fledged street festival, and yes..with Beer...
We are on one of the Main stages for a 1 hour set...
Not sure who the headliner is yet but I know it ain't us !
I don't know if I earned this or not..
I'll have to get back to you on that one...
but I sure hope I don't break a 3rd string !
I guess for those that are not familiar with JM he may be over the top...
This little clip was basically a poor attempt to get a TV band to groove with a one of the most genious fusion/jazz..whatever..guitar players on the planet...
I was just happy to see it...
Kinda like when we went to the very first Stones show that they played in the USA, in NYC...
We still have no clue what the first 2 or 3 songs were, but we were sure glad to be there with the screaming mob !
and..
I guess I'll be grateful if those that are quick to jump all over JM..please don't come to see me play...I won't be able to handle the thread that follows...
oh..what the heck..come anyway...I'll buy the Beer...
t
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 12 April 2006 at 04:13 AM.] |
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Rick McDuffie
From:
Benson, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 3:03 am
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Too many notes for my taste, but you can't deny his superb technical and musical ability. But that's JM. If you don't like that, listen to Chet instead. I will.
But what a band. Egad!![This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 12 April 2006 at 04:04 AM.] |
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 6:41 am
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| It was great seeing Johnny Carson, sure miss the show. The Tonight Show band was a great band. You don't get to see many recorded live performances of JM so for me it was a treat. I only use to read about him in Guitar Player mag. |
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Mike Winter
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 7:17 am
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Tony P -- I have arranged for a video crew to tape your every move. Not! Have fun at your gig. 
I posted the clip. I love this Forum because of it's wide array of opinions. Opine on...
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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 9:29 am
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It was great that Johnny got him on there-Johnny was a huge jazz fan, and if memory serves, an amateur jazz drummer.
Doc's boys certainly overplayed on this one-pretty weird when you hear how obvious it is.
I think these Tonight Show type performances have always had to be taken with a grain of salt-as a musician, folks get about 4 minutes to strut their stuff before a national audience, and in this clip, McLaughlin gets to show off his left hand dexterity-which is pretty mind boggling- whether it "swings" or not-is probably immaterial to someone in Des Moines who may not even play an instrument, but likes a little bit of jazz or fusion with their burger.
Sure-some big jazz writer with legitimate knowledge-like Nat Henthoff or Ralph J.Gleason, would have probably hammered this performance as much or more so than some of the folks here-but I looked at it as an opportunity for McLaughlin to show the world that his skills are pretty amazing.
It's difficult enough for musicans to make a living, and jazz is one tough arena-so I can't blame the guy for going all out on the Tonight Show, in a display of showmanship.
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Mark
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