Taylor Swift

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 4 Feb 2010 6:37 am

Franklin wrote:Rick,

I like Black, Reno, etc......Scruggs was chosen because of the impact he made on his instrument and the global music scene....Earl Scruggs forever changed the way the banjo is played. Since his entrance onto the musical stage, Earl has directly or indirectly influenced every living banjo player. That fact is historical. The same is true for Jeff......

Very few musicians reach that level of influence. If you play guitar or banjo in todays music it would be nearly impossible to avoid their influential contributions.

Paul

Paul - I agree with everything you say. Those are facts not opinions. I like Earl's cleaness and accuracy of his picking, much more than his songs. You know Earl learned the three finger roll from Snuffy Jenkins. Earl brought it to Nashville and the publc via the Father Bill Monroe. He relaced Stringbean.

I was born in 59 so I remember the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, I know about Rod Stewart and a few more. Buy the time the 60's were drawing to an end, I was busy learing Folsom Prison Blues and Buck-A-Roo on guitar. I knew Three Dog Night, CCR, etc.... but I didn't know any of the players names. I could play Joy To The World (CCR, not Xmas) pretty well. Good enough to win a talent show, but I was the only one that entered in my age group.

Early 70's got me tuned in on Scruggs, Osborne, Reno, etc... and Kenny Baker, Vassar, Spicher, Joe Meadows on the fiddles. I spent every spare minute studying this music, and I didn't follow rock and roll at all, just heard some of it, but didn't know who I was hearing.

Funny story, a good banjo fanatic friend of mine was invited to Earl's house and he asked me to go with him because he was scared to death. He wanted to talk about different banjos, tone rings, picks, etc.... all the banjo stuff. Early on, he mentioned that we had flown to Nashville in my airplane.... from then on, all Earl wanted to talk was airplanes and flying, and my buddy didn't get to talk very much banjo at all. I felt sorry for him, he was so disappointed.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 4 Feb 2010 7:28 am

Taylor's label defends her performance...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35234176/ns ... ent-music/

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100 ... 01/2030342

As for Stevie always singing in tune...I was working in the same studio complex in Los Angeles when "Behind the Mask" was being made and watched my friend comp reel after reel of 22 Stevie's vocal takes (this was in the 24 track tape days) to get a final take, and then manually tune each word via the Synclavier system (pre autotune...)...just saying....

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 4 Feb 2010 7:34 am

She is actually being talked about in the "MUSIC" section???? $:\$

What a twisted joke!!

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 4 Feb 2010 1:43 pm

Thanks John,
I'm glad Stevie finally got it! Hopefully, Taylor will too! This should be a wake up call to get a good vocal coach......

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 4 Feb 2010 3:37 pm

What cracks me up is that you guys actually *watched* the Grammy Awards. : )

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 4 Feb 2010 4:29 pm

I like all types of music. It's not that funny!

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 4 Feb 2010 4:49 pm

I like most kinds of music, same as Theresa, but I simply can't bring myself to watch any of the awards shows. I suppose it's because what is popular with the masses usually doesn't ring my bell.

I have seen Taylor a few times. She is a cute girl, seems to be a good role model, and is making a lot of money for a lot of people. Great!! From what I have seen of her TV performances she isn't much of a singer and the same can be said of a lot of the other popular folks, today and yesteryear. Cash, Kristofferson, Acuff, etc. Some of them did have a way with a song, though. I can't say the same for most of today's crop. It is just proof that the general public doesn't hear the same way that
musicians do. That's probably a good thing.

It's a darn shame that a lot of people who are truly fine singers and musicians have a hard time making a good living.

Congratulations to Taylor, it could be worse.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 4 Feb 2010 5:04 pm

I think we ought to cut the girl some slack. When I was 20, I was still learning how to play steel, and could barely hit my a$$ with both hands - how about you? If her performance was sub-par, well, nobody here paid to watch it, so just change the channel and move on.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 5 Feb 2010 4:42 pm

Barry, this girl is being given CMA/Grammy Awards and being touted as "phenomanal". Cut her slack nothing. Its a joke. "Big Machine Records" about says it all. CONTROL. Gretchen Wilson sings her $#@$$ off.

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 5 Feb 2010 5:15 pm

Surround yourself with top notch musicians,great songs of a era,alot of Nashville pull,and what do you have -- Roy Acuff. Hearing his singing,I'll say he was off. But we all loved him. He was a country great, sang what we liked. He had CONTROL Joe

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 5 Feb 2010 5:19 pm

Kevin, these days, phenomenal is the new OK. Would you have liked it better if Susan Boyle was up there doing the duet with Nicks instead of Taylor? Also, I agree about Gretchen, but I can't explain to you why she doesn't seem to be getting anywhere.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 5 Feb 2010 6:01 pm

Roy Acuff had style. This one has NOTHING.

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 5 Feb 2010 6:38 pm

Over the past two years I have been asked by several female singers to be part of their projects.

First question I ask; how many Gretchen Wilson songs do you do? If it's more than one, I politely decline. I cannot stand her voice or choice of material.

Give me Patty Loveless or Emmylou Harris anyday!!!!!

So, we're all subject to our personal preferences...Sugarland, NFW; Dawn Sears, YES!

SS

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 5 Feb 2010 7:06 pm

Kevin H, I respectfully disagree. Her songs are fun and contemporary, have great hooks, and are immediately recognizable. That is style, hers.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Feb 2010 2:43 am

Kevin Hatton wrote:Roy Acuff had style. This one has NOTHING.

The only problem with this statement is that it is the opinion of one person.

I didn't particulary care for Roy's style, I respected him and what he did but I was not a fan of his performances.

I guess KH and I cancel each other out !

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Feb 2010 8:44 am

Rick Campbell wrote:

I know about Rod Stewart and a few more.

Rick, great story about Earl and his love of airplanes.

Allow me to fill in some gaps on that Rock music knowledge: A band was formed in England in early 1967 by guitarist Jeff Beck, and he called it The Jeff Beck Group. His lead vocalist? Rod Stewart.

"Joy To the world" was made a hit by three Dog Night, not CCR. I personally can't stand the song, never could. Though it probably made more money for Hoyt Axton than any other song he ever wrote. Sidebar: My favorite Hoyt Axton song is "Evangelina."

And Stephen - Do you have Patty's latest album yet, Mountain Soul II? I received it as a Christmas present. Just killer!

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 6 Feb 2010 9:02 am

Mark, good morning!

I do indeed have Mountain Soul II. I have enjoyed Patty for many many years and Emory Gordy Jr. is one of the best producers in Nashville (as well as a killer arranger......anything that he has done with strings on it is just fantastic!)

I am not totally tuned out to more contemporary country music, though it's like looking through a pile a chaff to find a kernel of wheat sometimes.

Hope you're staying dry up in the north country!!

Best
SS

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 6 Feb 2010 10:40 am

Mark Eaton wrote:
Rick Campbell wrote:

I know about Rod Stewart and a few more.
Rick, great story about Earl and his love of airplanes.

Allow me to fill in some gaps on that Rock music knowledge: A band was formed in England in early 1967 by guitarist Jeff Beck, and he called it The Jeff Beck Group. His lead vocalist? Rod Stewart.

"Joy To the world" was made a hit by three Dog Night, not CCR. I personally can't stand the song, never could. Though it probably made more money for Hoyt Axton than any other song he ever wrote. Sidebar: My favorite Hoyt Axton song is "Evangelina."

And Stephen - Do you have Patty's latest album yet, Mountain Soul II? I received it as a Christmas present. Just killer!

I guess you're right about Joy To The World.

My buddy Ronnie McCoury recorded Hoyt's "Evangelina" bluegrass style.

Stephen,

Before you write Gretchen off completely, check out "When I Think About Cheating" You know how hard I am to please, and I really like this one. It's country. The rest of her stuff is of no interest to me either. I too have Patty's Mountain Soul III and I like it pretty well, not as well as Amber Digby, but better than any top 40.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 6 Feb 2010 12:33 pm

right.....'when i think about cheating'...big goose bumps. best country song i'd heard in years, sung right! i could have sworn it was john hughey on steel but credits say russ pahl. next best song recently...'on your way home'..patty loveless....also with russ pahl.

can taylor yo yo as well as roy acuff?

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 6 Feb 2010 2:26 pm

Not entirely my thoughts on the subject, but here's a blog from the Tennessean.

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010 ... -backlash/

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 6 Feb 2010 3:04 pm

I haven't heard Ronny's take on Evangelina. I will seek that out. I really like the version that was done on the Resocasters CD several years ago with Mike Auldridge and Jimmy Heffernan on dobro, and the late great Hal Rugg on Pedabro. I can't recall off the top of my head who does the vocals on that one.

Barry, thanks for the link to the article. Aside from being a fine singer/songwriter in his own right, I think Peter Cooper is the best music columnist going.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 7 Feb 2010 11:41 am

Taylor Swift Performing Live with Stevie Nicks on 52nd Grammy Awards

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 7 Feb 2010 8:53 pm

John Macy wrote:Taylor's label defends her performance...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35234176/ns ... ent-music/

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100 ... 01/2030342

As for Stevie always singing in tune...I was working in the same studio complex in Los Angeles when "Behind the Mask" was being made and watched my friend comp reel after reel of 22 Stevie's vocal takes (this was in the 24 track tape days) to get a final take, and then manually tune each word via the Synclavier system (pre autotune...)...just saying....

Hi John

That doesn't surprise me at all. Even before all the hard living wrecked what voice she had Nicks was always pitchy, live at least. I didn't think she sounded any better than Swift on the grammies. A great idea on paper that didn't work out in practice.

One thing I've noticed is that most of Swift's problems occur when they have her doing some kind of production stuff-dancing in particular. I saw one country awards show where she opened it sitting across the stage from her band and had to do a complicated dance thing to get over there and she was flat the whole time. As soon as she got in front of her band and had a guitar around her neck her voice got noticeably stronger and more confident and the number ended very strong. I'm astounded her management allows these shows to have her dance at all. Why not just let her stand in front of her band and cut loose? It's what she's good at.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 8 Feb 2010 6:52 am

lol..oh man, I gave in and watched the link ( a short piece ). Thats awful. I realize shes making all the money but someone should be embarassed for her.
Hook

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 8 Feb 2010 7:12 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:Not entirely my thoughts on the subject, but here's a blog from the Tennessean.
http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010 ... -backlash/

The most rational and intelligent thoughts I have seen on the subject.

And really-have you heard Kristofferson sing?

JB