Philadelphia Freedom

[Moonpatrol]

Most respect to all opinions, particularly "favorite" lists which is a matter of personal preference, and you've listed some excellent players here...However, I question why anyone would place Walter Becker on such a list, when after hearing Chuck Rainey, Becker decided that his playing days with Steely Dan were virtually over, and used Rainey, Anthony Jackson, and others to play on his own bands tracks???...Not criticizing...just wondering?

Yes the studio musicians were arguably better able to pull off those complicated songs with grace. I liked Becker after listening to his solo album '15 tracks of Whack' and his work in 'Everything Must go', the later being a Steely Dan album. He also played on Deacon Blues and Hey Nineteen, with a sound and style that is very economic and relevant. I think he has a great tone and sound too which really works good to cut through a large group of instruments. I could concede that he is not a real pioneer or marathon player, but sense his passion and sincerity for his bass efforts.

 

[ahc]

But where do you guys get all this information?

Back in the Stoned, err, ahhh, Stone Age, vinyl LP's used to have these things called "Liner Notes" that that gave a wealth of information about the album. The players, writers, producers, where it was recorded, where it was mixed, who the engineer was, etc, etc. And usually there was other interesting info and album cover artwork too.

Another great Elton album is "11/17/70". A live album with him, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson recorded at a NY radio station (WNEW or WPLJ,,, don't remember which). Excellent stuff.

 

[Skokiaan]

Back in the Stoned, err, ahhh, Stone Age, vinyl LP's used to have these things called "Liner Notes" that that gave a wealth of information about the album. The players, writers, producers, where it was recorded, where it was mixed, who the engineer was, etc, etc. And usually there was other interesting info and album cover artwork too.

Another great Elton album is "11/17/70". A live album with him, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson recorded at a NY radio station (WNEW or WPLJ,,, don't remember which). Excellent stuff.

WABC-FM, which became WPLJ.

 

[Guiseppe]

I always thought that Elton's core band was one of the major strengths of his 70s material. He resisted any temptation to go to Hollywood or London and work with the hottest studio cats and mostly used his road band. Considering that he released six successful albums, a live album and the soundtrack to the movie "Friends" from 1970 to 1973 alone- all while touring incessantly-that was a very tight band.

That band was so tight, very musical. Also, Elton was using Paul Buckmaster for his string arrangements, and had Bernie Taupin writing his lyrics. I have to say from the first album through, say, Caribou Elton John was a MONSTER. VERY few dud songs on any of those albums.

 

[bassbrad]

Just listened to Captain Fantastic last night, wonderful album and Dee and all the rest of the band are in top form.

 

[BadExample]

###Back in the Stoned, err, ahhh, Stone Age, vinyl LP's used to have these things called "Liner Notes" that that gave a wealth of information about the album###

Bwahahahaha Good 'un sir! Remember the liner notes in the jacket, and the joy of unfolding an unexpected poster of your favorite band when you first opened up an LP? Sadly, so many will never experience opening up a new LP they had to save up for to find a poster or a sheet full of info about the group and the recording process they endured to record that particular LP. Dunno how many times I sat there playing my new LP over and over trying to comprehend whatever the LP's insert said

In the 90's I inherited a huge LP collection. A few months ago I became obsessed with them, as they were a gift from a dear friend who has gone to the great studio in the sky, where records never skip or pop. Soon after I inherited this awesome collection, I made shelving for them in my dungeon. Sadly, the decades of storage in poor, high humidity, stinky basement has resulted in new life forms growing on the jackets Every so often, I go down in the dungeon, grab a big stack and bring them up to a safer floor in my house. I actually put on a mask (ie respirator) while cleaning the funk off the poor old jackets. Anyway, like clockwork, when I man-up enough to pull a disk out of the jacket, I see the most beautiful array of multicolor life form colonies all over the disc. After a brief acid flashback, I run water gently across the grooves and gently wipe away what I can with a micro-fiber towel. I am always amazed that the process reveals a disc that looks like it was never ever played. No scratches, warping or anything. I thank God for this record collection that I have no right to be custodian over every time I man-up enough to clean one up and get it on my turn-table. And OMG, remember the liner notes that came with LPs back then? Oh my, each one I open up and clean to play is like getting to the bottom of a box of cracker jacks. Remember the liner notes? And the free posters of the band? OMG, what a feeling to open up one of the ancient relics and finding a poster of the group in near perfect condition! If I could afford it, I would never buy another CD. I'm not even a CD hater... just a lucky fella with tons of 60's and 70's LP's that came my way.

To you young fellas, I respectfully urge you to buy LP's when you are at a music store and happen across an LP from someone you dig. The LP experience is a great high. No drugs required. It's like eating a box of cracker jacks... you never know what you'll find at the bottom of the box. Sadly, you will never experience this with CD's. Nothing against CD's... they are a great and durable media that will out survive me for sure.