Thinking about home

For whatever reason, I got to thinking about home today. I’ve realised I don’t actually have one since I sold my house. But I count myself as extremely fortunate in that I’ve never NOT had a place to stay. In fact I’m pretty darned fortunate (and grateful, mind you) that everyone I know, has always welcomed me and made me feel at home.

I dug out some old tunes to commemorate this wonderful feeling.

And so, I could actually claim that wherever I lay my hat (and I do indeed wear hats quite often), that’s my home. Paul Young.

I can’t really ask anyone to bring it on home to me just yet, but I will, some day. Paul Carrack featuring B.B King.

I hope this never happens to me, or anyone else for that matter. Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton.

There’s just no feeling like going back home. Dire Straits.

Please, by all means. Boston.

It’s always nice to know someone’s waiting for you to come home. Shawn Colvin.

The journey home is just as enjoyable as finally getting there. Simon & Garfunkel.

I should think most people have a favorite location they call home. For me it’s Durban, South Africa. Lynyrd Skynrd.

Off course, there’s one home many would rather not be, but sometimes have no choice. Pink Floyd.

And yes, almost everyone’s dream. The Cinematic Orchestra.

Sweet dreams…

Do you feel like I do?

I’m not sure at exactly which point in my life I decided that guitars were the most awesome instrument ever. I just know that it was not when I was ten or so, when my neighbour from my former hometown where I grew up, tried to teach me to play.

I was just awful. Talentless! And my fingers fucking hurt like crazy. Baby-ass fingers like mine are just no good.

It was also not after listening to all the greats like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana, Brian May, Mark Knopfler and a host of others far too many to mention.

I’m guessing that it was around the time I first heard Peter Frampton on Frampton Comes Alive, where I thought at the time he could make his guitar talk, on the iconic track Do You Feel Like We Do. It was only much later that I learnt that the effect was created through the use of a device called a Talkbox which allows the guitarist to modify the guitar sound with his mouth. Frampton has been acknowledged for popularizing this effect.

Even if you know that it’s trickery, it still sounds way cool.

I was already into my twenties when I became acquainted with the genius of John McLaughlin, Eric Gale, Jimmy Page, Slash, Ted Nugent and others. It was only later that I would start appreciating the likes off Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and flamenco guitarists such as Vicente Amigo and Paco de Lucia.

At some point in my thirties I got this crazy idea, that maybe the violin could be the kind of string instrument that I could actually learn to play. Six months of lessons later, I was pretty sure my guru thought that he would have more success teaching donkeys synchronized swimming. But he did say that I was superb at applying resin on the bow strings.

And so I was left to listen and play air guitar for the two guitarists who really know how to get me orgasmic with delight – Joe Bonamassa…

… and to my mind the greatest ever, Stevie Ray Vaughan. It’s a matter of personal choice, so I won’t feel aggrieved if you don’t think so.

I’m sure I have neglected to mention some real heavyweights. You will I’m sure, remind me of some…

Hail Cale

J.J. Cale passed away at the age of 74 at the start of this past weekend (26 July 2013), but I wanted to first find a fitting video to post before paying tribute to the songwriting legend.

And here it is, a set from 1979 recorded at Paradise Studios in Los Angeles:

Cale never sang a hit song himself, but wrote some of the most memorable songs which other great artists such as Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia and Lynyrd Skynyrd covered successfully. Who can forget After Midnight and Cocaine? He was an accomplished instrumentalist, the guitar being his weapon of choice.

It’s said that Neil Young once remarked that the two best electric guitarists he’d ever heard were Jimi Hendrix and Cale. Absolutely!

Pluck in peace, Master Cale, we will miss you.

Freshly Played #9: Stevie Ray Vaughan

Another in my series on great guitar riffs…

Little Wing

The original song was written by none other than the legendary Jimi Hendrix. It has been covered by guitar playing greats such as Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers Band, Def Leppard, Santana, John Mayer, and Pearl Jam, among many others. However, my personal favorite cover is the instrumental version by another legend who has sadly also passed on – Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Watch, listen and be moved with this live YouTube version:

 

The Original by Hendrix