Les Paul is 88

Subject: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 03:38 PM

Les Paul is 88 today. I have never played any L.P. guitars, but I enjoy hearing the mellow tone that it produces.

Does anyone recall watching the Les Paul and Mary Ford show? I do. As I recall, it was produced in their home. I think that show was one of my early musical influences. Does anyone know if she still plays or records?

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 04:47 PM

Yes.
Jimmy Page gets a very mellow sound out of his.

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 05:37 PM

Oops! Does anyone know if HE still plays or records?

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: PoppaGator
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 10:38 PM

I remember seeing Les and Mary on TV back in the '50s. I also rememeber seeing a TV-newsmagzine-type feature on Les a few years back. (Maybe it was for his 80th or 85th birthday.) I think I remember that he was living in Wisconsin and still playing out occasionally at local home-town venues.

Les Paul did not only almost-invent the electric guitar -- he certainly designed many important features of the modern instrument -- but he was a pioneer in multi-track recording. The Les-Paul-and-Mary-Ford "sound," featured on a whole series of hit singles, was the product of Mary singing one harmony on top of another and Les adding guitar tracks and layering the whole thing over and over "by hand," with *none* of the technology that we take for granted today.

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: Margaret V
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 10:55 PM

I saw him back in November at his regular gig--every Monday night at the Iridium Jazz Club in NYC! It was a treat to hear him, to hear and be in the presence of that distinctive sound. Age has put some limits on his playing, but with the other members of the trio to round out the sound, that was okay. Margaret

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: 53
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 01:51 PM

is mary ford living or dead?

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 05:48 PM

Good question. Does anyone know?

Also, did Les ever record an instrument only recording?

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: BanjoRay
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 06:32 PM

Mary Ford is dead - details here. Apparantly after they split up, she married a childhood non-musician sweetheart.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: Bennet Zurofsky
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:23 PM

Les Paul has several instrumental recordings. Mudcatters would probably enjoy the "Chester and Lester" recordings he mad with Chet Atkins.

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:18 AM

I love the one Les Paul jazz trio CD I have. It is pure mellowness. The guy who gave it to me (Jerry Rasmussen) just hated it.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: musicmick
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 01:44 AM

I saw the Les Paul Trio last Monday, the week before his birthday. He is a wonderful performer. He is quick, raunchy and riotous. His hands are slowed by age, accident and arthritis but his melodic concepts are undimmed. His trio (There are four in the group but Les says it's because he's Polish) is a joy. The bassist and the other guitarists are brilliant, yet supportingly subdued. If you are within driving distance of NYC (We drove up from Philadelphia), it is well worth the Hadj.

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: M.Ted
Date: 14 Jun 03 - 04:20 PM

Personally, I found the "raunch" part extremely offensive, and it has soured me on him to a degree--The music is great, though--I wondered how he could possibly do justice to those multi-track recordings, but the band makes it sound fresh--

Subject: RE: Review: Les Paul is 88
From: musicmick
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 04:35 PM

Dear M Ted,

I contend that when someone reaches the age of 88, they can say whatever they want. Les Paul has always been known for his amorous ways. That he still enjoys the joys of sex (if only as a spectator)shows his spirit and drive are as unfettered as his musical soul. It is true that Les's theatrical ogling and raunch are comparable to a dog chasing a car(What would he do if he caught one?). Still, as his diminished playing skills have not silenced his hands, his advanced age has not stilled his libido. And that is a fountain of hope for the rest of us.

Subject: RE: Les Paul is 88
From: Blues=Life
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:04 AM

I was going to say I wish I'll play guitar that well when I'm 88, but upon further reflection, I'll just wish I could play guitar that well right now!
I've seen him on TV, and he could smoke most players right now, even with the burdens of age.
It just doesn't seem fair, but then again, Gibson has never offered to put my name on a guitar, either! *BG*
Blues