Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Grab
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 05:43 AM

Some acts are ok, some are not

Sure. And then you don't buy CDs from the acts who clearly can't hack it in real life. :-)

The point is that bands do get a chance at it, almost regardless of experience and sales. So some obscure electronica folk get a slot and bore our tits off for 3 minutes with tinny bleeps and whistles - but so also does Martin Simpson get his 3 minutes to show the rest of the world what they've been missing. Or Bert Jansch, cleaned up and gig-ready again. Or Rodrigo and Gabriela, rocking out on flamenco guitars.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 06:07 AM

By and large I like to watch Jools Holland because some of the artists are top of their tier. Not always mainstream. Not always the best known - but sometimes very very good.

Sometimes they are truly awful.

But tastes differ. For example I don't "get" Sam Brown, but a lot of people think she is very good.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: dj bass
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 09:29 AM

I frequently watch Later, because it exposes me to music I wouldn't otherwise hear. I was already familiar with Martin Simpson and KT. Indeed, I'd been tipped off a week or so in advance about MS. There were, as usual, acts I want to know more about. However, I will not be revisiting Beirut or the horse band people.

I know someone who has been on Later more than once. The programme is recorded on Wednesday evening and is, as far as possible, done in one take. The changeovers are as you see them. Occasionally someone might make a mistake and start a song again, but in the main, what you see is how it was. I would not like to attempt what Jools Holland does in the programme. I don't know if others might do it better.

DJ

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 10:42 AM

The problem is that folkies like Martin have so few chances to show what they can do on a high profile tv show. I will say again, that if Martin could have been allowed to do "Never Any Good" and show his spectacular - and at one time unique - percussive guitar style ( where he flicks his fingers on the lower strings achieving a dynamic driving sound), then he would have gained at lot of new fans. If Martin chose "Duncan and Brady" over "Broke Down Engine" then he made a mistake. I know I hold great store by Martin's percussive guitar style but it was unique to him back in the 70s and he is still is the best at it. I remember that spectacular fingerpicker Adrian Legg saying that he felt very imtimidated at the thought of following Martin after he (Martin) had let rip with his percussive guitar style. Look at it this way: Nothing Eric Clapton did on the guitar was unique. Martin's percussive style was unique; and "unique" should be treasured because it doesn't come around very often!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:18 PM

' Nothing Eric Clapton did on the guitar was unique.'

I'm not even a Clapton fan, but that's rubbish. You can hear Clapton's uniqueness in any group of musicians. That's why so many people have asked him to guest on their records.

Martin Simpson is great, you don't need to decry anybody else - we all know that.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:28 PM

Nothing Eric did - guitaristically - was new. Many of his solos were directly lifted from Albert King, Otis Rush, B B King etc. He simply reworked older material and then played it louder than the guys who inspired him! Hendrix, on the other hand, was an innovator. Eric is a lovely player but he didn't add anything new. I maintain that Martin did add something new.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:33 PM

I think I partly disagree, WLD. When Cream first broke bigtime, no-one but Clapton was doing what he dubbed "woman-tone", and that was unique.

Before that, say with the Yardbirds, he was pretty much any English electric blues guitarist: no Buddy Guy!

After that, he became pretty much any English soft-rock guitarist, and that is why so many people want him, he can fit in with anything. That, indeed, was a criticism levelled even in the "Cream" years, that he was very much a chameleon.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:54 PM

Richard Bridge: You're right. If Eric did bring something new to the table, it was his so-called "woman tone". Which makes the fact that he went on to abandon Gibson's and, with it, his much admired "woman tone". It's a stange old world.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 03:41 PM

the yardbirds stuff sounds pretty apalling nowadays.

Since then, I think his work pretty much speaks for itself. Obviously not to some people. But if his uniqueness was dependant on a single guitar tone, I don't think he would have enjoyed the career he has.

Clapton is a man of intelligence and imagination, though you wouldn't guess it from the recent autobiography. What the book does do is take you through his various achievements - and they are considerable. More than I had realised.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 04:15 PM

Not many musicians add anything significant to what has gone before. Clapton is a fine guitarist, a resonable singer and a good songwriter. But, while his "woman tone" - which was massively influential, his singing and songwriting didn't break any new ground.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 06:10 PM

Don't really agree tunesmith.

The way he re-imagined the Robert Johnson song crossroads: preserved the poetry; made it relevant for every violent and decadent society; preserved the irregularity of the rythms; made a format that would transport it asa performance piece, from folk clubs to stadiums - its almost as though he discovered a new form.

Probably the finest, most realised piece of folk rock in the world. Not just adding a backing - like the Stones did with Love in Vain.

Like I say, I'm not a fan (give me Robert Johnson any day!), but you must grant that Clapton has great creativity.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 07:08 PM

If I had been in Martin's position, with one song to do to blow away a studio audience and make waves among a TV audience who were unfamiliar with his material, the song wouldn't have been "Duncan and Brady, it wouldn't have been "Never any Good" (great song though it is) it would have been "Highway 61".

His live performance of this Dylan classic is absolutely amazing, the only other performer who even comes close to equalling it is Johnny Winter.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: jonm
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 03:34 AM

If I put myself in the position of a listener to the show who has never heard (of) Martin, if I were impressed by his playing, how would I feel to try to find the same song on disc only to discover it's 15 years old and availability is limited?

In his position, I would have looked at my most recent and readily available recording to choose material from; people can dig back later.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 04:01 AM

the thing is Martin's not actually struggling to make an impact - he doesn't really need to co-ordinate his marketing strategy.

He knows the great masses aren't going to say, bloody hell! the new Robbie Williams! whatever he does.... and if you don't come back for more after seeing Martin, more fool you.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 05:38 PM

I don't think your hypothesis stands up, jonm.

a much more likely scenario is that the listener hearing Martin for the first time sees him play "Highway 61", thinks "holy shit, this guy is phenomenal" and decides to check out his recordings from start to finish, ending up buying one or more.

weelittledrummer is correct that he is not struggling to make an impact, there are enough cognoscenti to ensure pretty much sold -out venues wherever he plays.

however, I know Martin well enough to assert that he is, how shall I put it, not averse to making an extra bob or two whenever the opportunity arises ...

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: jonm
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 05:47 AM

I persuaded a couple of friends to watch the show on internet re-run to see Martin's performance. They are not folkies and had not heard of Martin. They were impressed and would each consider buying a CD, but not a whole collection, and would certainly see him live.

I'm sure Martin (who certainly would look for a bob or two as you say) would appreciate being able to fill larger venues and increase sales outsode the cognoscenti.

As with yourself, when I discover a new artist I do the research and might buy several CDs; others outside the folk genre tend to be different. I also agree that something like Highway 61 or Broke Down Engine would have been a magnificent showcase for his talent.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 07:11 AM

I asked Martin yesterday about his Jools Holland appearance and choice of song - he confirmed what most people thought; my imaginary transcript of his conversation with Jools wasn't far off the mark!