Jimmy Webb

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 13 Nov 2012 7:38 am

Good article: www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/art ... ading-away

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2012 8:28 am

Sadly, I agree with him. But what can you do? We just continue to do what it is that we love, only free from the worries of trying to make money from it--that ship done sailed. So we create art for art's sake and hope that someone will notice it, but expect that they won't.

I read Jimmy's book, Tunesmith, quite a few years ago. Excellent read, highly recommended.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 13 Nov 2012 8:46 am

Good indeed! Thanks, b0b.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 13 Nov 2012 9:47 am

I'm not sure if Jimmy Webb is really up to date, (neither am I, but I still read Music magazines now and then).
I've just checked out this young man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsUpFEyN ... re=related

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2012 10:28 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:I'm not sure if Jimmy Webb is really up to date, (neither am I, but I still read Music magazines now and then).
I've just checked out this young man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsUpFEyN ... re=related

This kind of songwriting is miles away from Jimmy is talking about. The song you posted, in my opinion, has very little craftsmanship--while it may be catchy, it is also trite:

"In my heart don't make a sound
Don't let me frown, don't fall apart
From my heart."

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 13 Nov 2012 11:37 am

I'm no expert on him, but I really like him, especially the track "Class Clown" from Twilight Of The Renegades.
I'm only trying to proof with this young guy, that it's not as hopeless as he makes it seem to be.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 13 Nov 2012 1:24 pm

I recently learned Wichita Lineman for a band I play with. Incredible lyrics aside, the chord progression is unlike anything I've ever encountered. I'm still not sure which key it's in, and it never sounds like it's modulating. More than craftsmanship, I think that the song is pure genius.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 13 Nov 2012 4:15 pm

Amen, b0b! You nailed the description.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 13 Nov 2012 5:56 pm

Yeah, b0b, BE's playing on 'Wichita" on the Suite Steel album is what made me buy a steel. I got Buddy to show me his version at Scotty's convention in '77. I've always thought of it as two parallel progressions in F and D. Many of Jimmy's compositions are incredibly beautiful, interesting, and, well, intelligent to me. What a writer!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2012 6:06 pm

Everyone should read Jimmy's book,
Tunesmith--Inside the Art of Songwriting. It is not an autobiography, but more of a masterclass on songwriting as complete as several years of college. Really a wonderful book.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 13 Nov 2012 6:18 pm

b0b wrote:I recently learned Wichita Lineman for a band I play with. Incredible lyrics aside, the chord progression is unlike anything I've ever encountered. I'm still not sure which key it's in, and it never sounds like it's modulating. More than craftsmanship, I think that the song is pure genius.

I have declared on multiple occasions that Wichita Lineman is one of my 20 favorite songs of all time.

In light of Mike's comments regarding the link to the song as posted by Joachim and not caring for it and even writing that he thinks it's trite - Jimmy Webb was also responsible for MacArthur Park, which I have declared on occasion as one of my 20 most disliked songs of all time!

Both of these from the same guy.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2012 6:21 pm

Mark Eaton wrote: In light of Mike's comments regarding the link to the song as posted by Joachim and not caring for it and even writing that he thinks it's trite - Jimmy Webb was also responsible for MacArthur Park, which I have also declared on occasion as one of my 20 most disliked songs of all time!

Both of these from the same guy.

I have listened in disbelief to MacArthur Park more than a few times. I keep wondering if there's something I'm missing.... However, you have to admit that the grandiosity of it alone is breathtaking.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2012 7:04 pm

Waylon totally salvaged MacArthur Park with this version, some really pretty steel by Moon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il1H1E6HpME

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 13 Nov 2012 7:53 pm

Still my favorite, the Grammy winner..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQz-Sdcj ... ults_video

Kevin Lichtsinn · Post by **Kevin Lichtsinn** » 13 Nov 2012 8:26 pm

Jimmy Webb, Wichita Lineman, MacAurthur Park, Glen, Waylon, all great!!!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 13 Nov 2012 11:42 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GigzjefN ... ure=fvwrel

One of my favorite versions of one of my favorite Jimmy Webb songs.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 14 Nov 2012 8:20 am

I think the guy's pretty much a genius at songwriting. I had to good fortune to play with him once. I play with Johnny Rivers, and he and Rivers are friends.
Webb did a couple songs with us at a show, and I shifted from the piano to a keyboard so I could do the strings and horns on his tunes, including MacArthur Park...the chart was 12 pages, and all the parts were written out note for note.
Not sure what kept me busier...playing the parts or turning the pages.

One day at rehearsal he started to show us a song that he was writing, and it was pretty cool to hear it in it's unfinished stage...it had all the markings and trademarks of a Jimmy Webb tune. Don't know what tune it was, or if it was ever finished.

My vote for personal fave JW tune is "Still Within the Sound of My Voice".

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 14 Nov 2012 8:29 am

Skip, I saw an interview with JW where he talked about Johnny Rivers. Check it out, some very funny stories here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJqSTXf74wI

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 14 Nov 2012 9:49 am

Alvin Blaine wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GigzjefN ... ure=fvwrel

One of my favorite versions of one of my favorite Jimmy Webb songs.

Great version. Just saw Mark Knopfler for about the 10th time a few weeks ago in Berkeley with Dylan. I'm a giant Knopfler guy. From that same CD which came out in 2010 a fine version of Wichita Lineman with Billy Joel on vox with Jimmy. Classic Paul Franklin steel work weaving around the singers - textbook stuff. Jerry Douglas plays exquisitely on the instrumental break and the outro. Side note: At Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park last month, after Jerry Douglas finished his set and The Time Jumpers were setting up, my brother said "check it out - Jerry's up there giving Paul a hug." Maybe their paths don't cross very often anymore since Jerry gave up on doing so much session work. Wish I were quicker with the camera - would have loved to have gotten a photo of two of my favorite musicians in the world together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nFYK5IGDUY

Mike, I'm going to check out that video later for the stories. Skip, I lived in Carmel for a number of years in the 80's and 90's, and a friend of mine lived next door to Johnny Rivers in Big Sur back in the day. This was not long after Johnny had all the big hits and was raking in the dough. My friend Bob said that there were some wild parties at Johnny's place, did you ever get to any of those?

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 14 Nov 2012 12:26 pm

Hey Mike...
Thanks, I enjoyed that. Cool to hear him talking about people and places I know - or knew. I knew Larry Knechtel... even got to share the stage with him once on a Rivers gig at the Whisky when he sat in with us. He was, and still is, a huge hero of mine.
Yeah, JR dug Sgt Pepper. Not long after it came out he came out with his Realization LP, which was his take on the whole thing...

Mark, JR still has his place in Big Sur. Nice digs... I never went to any of his wild parties there back in the day. I've been to a few at his place here in LA (been working with him almost 40 years), but they were all pretty tame.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 14 Nov 2012 3:16 pm

My favorite quote from Jimmy Webb, in Uncut magazine, 2005:
" I saw Oklahoma the other day and I was thinking: Was it really 3 hours long?
Nobody in this day and age would sit through anything for 3 hours unless it was a public execution"

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 14 Nov 2012 6:15 pm

...he's right,you know...

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 16 Nov 2012 9:57 am

"Still Within the Sound of My Voice" also my favorite Jimmy Webb song. Worth posting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFLZQbe91XE

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 16 Nov 2012 10:43 am

Another good one, this time from the band Unicorn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMjlVc3eqS0

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 16 Nov 2012 12:54 pm

macarthur park...waylon's biggest mistake!

worst song ever (sung by anyone), next to a sonny throckmorton album i had.

wichita lineman...one of the best songs.