Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube

Subject: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 08:12 PM

Hi there

After a lot of huffing and puffing I finally managed to upload some songs onto Youtube.

Quite an experience for most of us. I kept wondering what conclusions other people had come to. Its not all common sense - its quite a learning curve.

I videoed myself four times in all. The first time I didn't amplify the guitar and the acoustic guitar was too quiet for the camcorder microphone to pick up.

The second time was at a gig. A mate of mine was shooting the camera - pointing it up at the stage. The picture was SO distorted. My bollocks were in the centre of the frame and they looked as wide as my guitar. Plus you could hear the camera man laughing at the jokes - even though he'd heard them all before!

The third time, just in my back room, but with a small acoustic AER amplifier on the guitar. Good result. But I did it all in one take, and it was the devils own job to use the editing tools to cut the take into individual songs. So in the end - we did it all in separate little takes. You can see it here:-
http://uk.youtube.com/user/bigalwhittle

The other thing was what to put. Even my worst enemies would say I'm not a bad guitarist, but Youtube is full of shit hot guitarists - you can't really compete with greatest in world. However nobody else write songs like the five I've put on there :George Joseph Smith; Trish; The Big Red Sausage; Aunty Nelly's Boogie and Buster the Line Dancing Dog. So sorry if the guitar playing seems a bit nothing.

I hope some of you give them a try, and hopefully like one or two of the songs, and that I make some old friends smile, and mett some new friends with Youtube.

All the best

Big Al Whittle

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Beer
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 08:19 PM

That was great. Very enjoyable.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Emma B
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 08:22 PM

I got the 4th hit!
Nice one Al

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Apr 08 - 10:25 PM

I've heard Buster before and I love it!! On to listen to the others now. Thanks, Al, for sharing with us!!

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 12:01 AM

Wow-Al-Wow! On my second listening and you are too modest about your pickin'! HOW are you doing all that on Trish? If you don't mind my asking. Great stuff. Thanks, again! got a great smile outta of my Rog when he listened to the sausage song, too!

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:54 AM

Brilliant! Pure dead brilliant!

Ross

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:06 AM

Great stuff Al

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:09 AM

You're too kind kat.

I was chatting to a jazz bass player the night before last and he said to me at one point, jazz is okay - but its just like the same eight chords - all the time!
I thought to myself - well that's five more chords than I generally use mate. What I mean is, I usually tart the the three chords up a bit more than I get the opportunity to do in these songs.

But that's what I mean about the Youtube experience - it really is a case of best foot forwards - and really the whole point is doing something no one else is doing, it seems to me. I wondered what other people had thought.

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 10:19 AM

amn, Al, I am having difficulty getting Youtube to load. I will watch it when I can get to a friend's computer. Looking forward to it because I love your work.

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:27 PM

aha.you remind me of Derek Brimstone.

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: gnu
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:23 PM

Juuuuust lovely! Thanks!

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Leadbelly
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:21 PM

It's really great!

Manfred from Germany

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:14 PM

I can run one vid - but I can't switch to the others. Guitar sounds very - well- amplified (but you did say that it was)

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:15 PM

PS, next time put the rest of the guitar in shot so I can see the left hand work too.

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 04:38 AM

Thanks for the messages Richard - much appreciated knowing the qualifications you have in regard to my approach to the music.

I'm not sure how this thing works Richard. Sometimes the vids play -sometimes they really you have to let it play through once , stopping every four seconds or so, to play it through a second time properly - I really need to find out about it. I don't know anybody who knows. Those who DO know can be a little confusing to a dim bugger like me.

the thing about the guitar playing is that I'm no Eddie Van Halen - proper guitarists invariably point out that I do sod all with my left hand.

Trish has two chords - Aminor and E. (I always thought that was really cool - two chord songs like Manchester Rambler, Step It Out Mary, Singing in the Rain, Jambalaya). The other songs are three chord tricks C, F and G7. or whatever. Aunty Nelly is in Open G. I can't do long stretches cos I have short fat fingers.

One of the great moments of revelation was when Stefan Grossman published a book with photographs of all his fancy fingering. I looked at the pictures, and the clouds parted and a voice from the heavens intoned, 'Sod that for a game of soldiers, my short fat fingered friend........'

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 05:43 AM

Oh, I've always said that you do it well.

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Mr Happy
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 10:32 AM

Big Red Sausage - hilarious!

[can I pinch it for me repertoire?]

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 11:06 AM

I have just watched George Joseph Smith, which is a hoot. I'll watch the others for sure later, when I have more time. That's a great face for comedy too.

Subject: RE: Big Al Whittle WLD on Youtube
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 11:07 AM

Naturrelephant monsieur! As they say on the coke adverts, take it! drink it! live it! Mr Happy.

Well spotted Captain - the Brimstone influence. Del was one of my most important influences - musically. I can't do what he does presentation wise, and humour wise he's a lot gentler than I am.

By and large Derek does or did serious songs - presented in a light hearted way. Always on the acoustic guitar.

Whereas I'm very much a writer. Usually trying to take the song format into places its not altogether comfortable. Always trying different effects and different guitars and amps, although I also love the acoustic guitar. I'm as at home in the studio, and the tough city pub, or more latterly in the retirement home - as Del was in the folk clubs.

Del always worked the folk clubs. The folk clubs never offered me a living or income, I had to look further.

Folkmusic and its re-definition (until it resembles something that people I made a living singing to, could relate to) is my passion. For Derek - folkmusic and the folkclubs were his bread and butter.