Matt_R's tape RULES!

Subject: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: hesperis
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 10:37 AM

and I've only listened to one side of it so far...

Well, we have another talented singer and guitar player here at Mudcat! (Not a bad tape of songs from someone who actually likes Oasis. *g*)

Matt starts off the tape with 'Seine City', then 'Nancy Whiskey' (which even I recognize), then he plays a Japanese Traditional song called 'Shima Uta'. That one is particularly good.

'What's the Use of Wings' is another great song, and Matt sings it well. He has a nice deep vioce, perfect for folksinging.

He plays 'The Last Thing On My Mind' a lot slower than what I'm used to, but with absolute sincerity. By about a third of the way through I got used to the slower tempo, and I really like it that way.

The other songs on the first side are 'Across the Universe', 'The Bundlin', 'Sunday Morning Call', 'Where the Lilies Used to Spring', and two instrumentals.

The instrumentals are played with his sisters, I presume?
'The Storybooks of Ullapool', and 'Miss Muir'.

I am looking forward to sitting down and listening to the second half.

Way to go Matt!

And to any Mudcatters: Pick up his tape!!! (He said something about putting a few up on the Mudcat auction. If he does, grab it!)

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 10:53 AM

Embarrassing but true: I have not yet played Matt's new tape. Tonight I have the house all to myself and intend to sit down with hot tea and Matt.
For those of you who haven't heard his first tape - grab it too. Matt has talent. His voice at times is painfully plaintive with a deep masculine quality; other times just plain playful and funny. He is a treasure.

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: MMario
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 11:14 AM

He does multi track stuff - on a tape recorder. I am in awe of both his musical and technical skills.

And this now the second tape of incredible music from a guy who claims to only know 3 songs.

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 11:37 AM

Wow...thanks everyone! Hesp...all the instruments are played by me. I put this on some of the tapes:

Matthew Richards: Lead vocals, backup vocals, acoustic guitar,classical guitar, fiddle, recorder, harmonica, Highland pipe chanter, hand claps, whistling, and bizarre background noises.

BTW I'm thinking that maybe I should have included liner notes for each song. If anyone is interested in liner notes, I can type them here.

Thanks again...arrrgg...off to take & develop more photos!

--Matt

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: MMario
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 11:54 AM

okay - next question - on one or two of the songs,- there is a real high harmony part.... is that you, falsetto? Because if I ever sang some of those notes, my throat would rip to shreds....

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 12:36 PM

Isn't he amazing?

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 01:40 PM

Oh, you mean in "Anthem" with "If only I could see YOOOO--OOO--OOO--OOOOUU!" and in "Bonehead's Bank Holiday"? Yep, that's me. Not that hard to do...I sing a funny version of Green Fields of France in falsetto...it's weird, it almost sounds like a woman's voice. BOINK! Notes coming up later tonight!

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: Allan C.
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 04:21 PM

When I heard Matt's first tape I congratulated him on having such great talent and such talented friends. Then I learned that ALL of the voices and instruments on the tape were done by Matt, himself!! Still in awe.

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: Giac
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 07:26 PM

Matt's tape does, indeed, RULE! I've listened to it through several times and PM'd him immediately. He puts a lot of feeling into his voice and instrumentation. Glad MMario asked about the high harmony - was wondering about that. Good stuff, kiddo.

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: campfire
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 08:21 PM

I was impressed the first time I heard Matt in HearMe. He sent Kim (Jolly) a tape, which I heard one side of before she snatched it to take on a trip North. She's due back later this week and I am looking forward to hearing the second side.

campfire

ps for Matt R: I was supposed to tell you "Hi" from Kim and forgot to actually do it. Her cast had to stay on another 10 days, so she stayed in Northern Wisconsin visiting family.

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: Matt_R
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 09:55 PM

:-) Thanks, campfire!

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: Matt_R
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 10:13 PM

Here are the notes for the songs:

--Seine City

This song I got from the Australian Little River Band. It's a great song…unfortunately, I can't reproduce the mandolins and accordion!

--Nancy Whiskey

I learned this one from Barry T's Celtic Midi website about a year ago. I added in my own little bass run thingies.

--Shima Uta

This is an actual folksong from Okinawa, Japan (where I lived for 3 years from '92-'95). To be pedantic, shima uta is the name of the genre for ALL Okinawan folksongs. The name means "island song" in the Okinawan dialect of Japanese. This is the **slightly** rocked-up version by the Japanese rock band The BooM. There are actually 2 versions by The BooM, one sung in straight Japanese, and one sung in the Okinawan dialect. It was the biggest song of 1992 in Japan, winning the Japanese equivalent of a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Translated, it is a love song from a man on the island of Okinawa, asking the wind (kaze) to send his love to the woman he loves who is far away, so that she may hear his 'island song.' The "Okinawa Version" of the song includes a traditional Okinawa form of the samisen, along with the band instruments.

--What's The Use of Wings?

I first heard this on the Thistle & Shamrock, performed by the John Wright Band, who also do a killer version of Si Kahn's "Whay You Do With What You Got." There's a heartbreaking fiddle solo in this one…but I alas am not THAT good!

--The Last Thing On My Mind

This version of "The Last Thing On My Mind" is based on the classic 7-minute epic by the late 60's British band The Move, from their 1968 album "Shazaam". I love it played slow, especially with all the major 7ths. The real emotion doesn't come out when it's played faster, it seems more like a jolly little tune instead of a pouring-out of sorrow and regret.

--Across the Universe

Ah…the Beatles! What more can I say?

--The Bundlin

This is another favorite of mine, written & recorded by Sean Keane, whom you might know as Dolores Keane's younger brother. The album version has a digeridoo in it.

--Sunday Morning Call

This is the latest single from Oasis, off their new album "Standing On The Shoulder of Giants." A really majestic song…one of Noel's greatest triumphs.

--Where the Lilies Used to Spring

This was a poem I put music to, by a young Scot named David Gray. He died when he was only 23, from a lifelong battle with tuberculosis. In the last days of his short life, he described nature that he saw through his bedroom window. This is one of my family's favorite songs of mine.

--The Storybooks of Ullapool

This is from a musical tour of Scotland by the AWESOME Breton guitar player Dan Ar Braz. The original has a Great Highland Bagpipe, I replaced it with the recorder. Imagine sunset along the Scottish coast….

--Miss Muir

This is a traditional Scottish fiddle tune that Robert Burns used for his song "Lovely Davies". Last year, I went on this kick digging up old Scottish fiddle tunes are setting them to new and interesting chords.

--Anthem

This haunting song comes from the 1968 album "The Book of Taliesin" by Deep Purple. I replaced the organ/string quartet candenza found in the original, and replaced them with my own arrangement of a little Renaissance-sounding tune used as background music in NPR's production of The Lord of The Rings. Thanks to the Renaissance band Piffaro, I actually got to play the tune on a period vilhuela.

--Summer of My Dreams

What can I say? I just love this song. It's been recorded by everyone from Jean Ritchie to Kathy Mattea. Of course, my favorite version is by Dolores Keane.

--For What It's Worth

This is an original song I wrote for a now ex-girlfriend…though she wasn't "ex" at the time. Little did I know when I wrote these words how soon it would be before they would become meaningless.

--Bonehead's Bank Holiday

If any Oasis song ever achieved folk status in the future, I think this song would be a prime contender. A classic pub singalong type chorus. Bonehead, but the way, was the nickname of Oasis' old rhythm guitar played (so named from childhood because of his short hair). It's also a hard to find song…released only on vinyl versions of "What's The Story Morning Glory?"

--Goin Downhill!

This is one awesome song by country singer John Anderson, a top 10 hit for him in 1984. Love the wacky descending harmonies!

--Little Willow

Beautiful lullaby from Paul McCartney's album "Flaming Pie." Originally written as a consolation to George Harrison's children when their mother died. A very meaningful song for me these days.

--All My Life

One of my favorite songs EVER, this one is originally by folk-rock band America. This song carried a lot of meaning for me as well. Not so much now.

--Three Verses

How can you listen to this song without getting goosebumps? This was written by one of the best Nashville songwriters (in my opinion) Fred Knobloch. I got it from country band Confederate Railroad's album "Notorious."

--I Live Not Where I Love

Great song….first heard it by Mary Black off her latest album. I wanted to sing it, but didn't because it was a woman's perspective. But Alan Francis introduced me to the original version on HearMe, which was from a male perspective. I knew then I MUST learn it.

--Nothing Else Matters

As far as my family goes, this is one of my 'signature songs'. Along with "One" and "Enter Sandman", this is one of the most recognizable songs by Metallica. The acoustic solos are gorgeous…this one is also fun to fool folkies with!

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 11:55 PM

Well, Matt, it's refreshing to run into someone with tastes even more eclectic than mine.

where may I get a copy of this tape, kind sir?

ww

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: Callie
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 01:48 AM

Hi Matt

I'm still enjoying the first tape! Congrats on getting another one out so quickly. I especially like your version of "Fields of Athenry" - I think you sing it really well.

Callie

Subject: RE: Matt_R's tape RULES!
From: hesperis
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 12:23 PM

You played ALL those instruments?!!! Cool!
You play as many instruments as I do!

Thanks for the tape, again, and thanks for the liner notes.

Big :thumbs up: to you!