| Author | Message | ||
     Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1215 Registered: 03-2006 |
This little Italian guy, Misha, sure loves Grant and writes touchingly about him in his blog: http://misha4music.blogspot.com/ Don't know what he has on his "best of Grant", but I'm curious to find out. Btw, that's my favorite pic of GM - I think it really conveys a lot of the warmth that comes across in his music. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 790 Registered: 03-2005 |
I came to the Go Betweens a little earlier than he did but only by about two or three years tops, so I can really relate to a lot of what he writes about. I can especially relate to what he says about a band being MY band. When Grant died I was a visible wreck for about three weeks. There was no way anyone could understand why I cared so much; I seemed like a person with a mental disorder and I felt like saying to anyone and everyone "because you cannot understand what this band and what this man mean to me you also will never have a clue who I am." I made up my own "best of Grant" during the dark weeks; I figure we will each have our own. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1218 Registered: 03-2006 |
I love that too, Randy. I wasn't mentally deft enough to process it that way, but that's exactly how I feel, too. They are MY band. It really transcends concepts like good, better or best. I looked at Misha's choices and they are pretty close to what I would pick - though he doesn't include "Lamp by Lamp". | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 929 Registered: 05-2005 |
Here's my 'Best of Grant' Trapeze Boy (Jack Frost) Stones For You Broadway Bride Lighting Fires Surround Me If I Should Fall Behind (Springsteen cover, b-side of Surround Me) The Day My Eyes Came Back Simone And Perry Ice In Heaven Open Invitation Dropping You Angela Carter (Jack Frost) In Your Bright Ray One Plus One Sea Breeze Montreal (Far Out Corporation) Shadow Overload (Far Out Corporation) | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1221 Registered: 03-2006 |
Very "fair and balanced" list, Padraig. How is that FOC stuff, in general? Never got around to getting it. Right after Grant's passing, that stuff shot up fairly meteorically - it was just way too expensive on Ebay. I wonder if it's ever going to be reissued... Anyways, since Grant is, er was (ouch) my favorite GB, I can't resist compiling my own list: Simone & Perry What Went Wrong (some might think this is too long and repetitive - I just dig his craaazy, Dylanesque wordsmithing on the verses) Horsebreaker Star All Her Songs Open Invitation Easy Come Easy Go Haven't I Been a Fool Dark Side of Town 1,000,000 Miles Away (okay, it has some iffy lyrics, but the great uplifting chorus totally blows all quibbles away. Actually though, the line, "I had to throw away your dog/It was giving me fleas" makes me laugh every time) In Your Bright Ray Sea Breeze Malibu '69 All Them Pretty Angels Lamp By Lamp | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 954 Registered: 05-2005 |
LK, I like the FOC album. The two songs I've listed above are by far the standouts though. I played the mix that Italian guy posted btw. It all fitted together very well, though he obviously does not like the 2nd album, which I love. | ||
| Charles Coy Member Username: Coy Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2006 |
Easy Come Easy Go Girl in a Beret Surround Me In your Bright Ray Horsebreaker Star Black Mule Keep My Word Simone and Perry Even as we Speak (Jack Frost) Dont you cry for me no more... | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 148 Registered: 08-2006 |
I've always loved "Girl in a Beret," Charles. It's very un-GBs in that it's what I would call a "big" song - big guitars, big production - but it's still very evocative. Think I'll play it now... | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1245 Registered: 03-2006 |
Btw Rob, the YouTube video you allude to on another thread, "Easy Come Easy Go" is just delightful...truly a heavenly pop song and the studiedly wacky beach setting and antics of the characters in it doesn't detract from the poignancy...if you didn't already, it will make ya miss Grant. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 149 Registered: 08-2006 |
No kidding, LK. I'd never seen that video before. It's a lovely Grant song - seeing him sing it, even with the antics, is very moving. Just playing the guitar in front of the moon, wearing a t-shirt and a 49ers cap... Also, after playing "Girl in a Beret," "All Her Songs" came on. I never noticed that little bit in the very beginning about "Need some absinthe/You sure do." Great. How did I miss that? | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1246 Registered: 03-2006 |
Syd Straw was great on that record, wasn't she? I like her voice but think I enjoy it much more when she's relegated to the role of back-up singer. Yeah, they were drinking absinthe before it was fashionable to guzzle it on cruise ships... | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 151 Registered: 08-2006 |
It's true; Syd's voice is so rich it's best in limited quantities. I love "Think Too Hard," but wade in too deep and you get indigestion. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1014 Registered: 04-2005 |
I can totally believe Grant was an absinthe drinker! You're right about Syd Straw, I bought that first solo album of hers way back when--it started with a bang (great opening track) and then went steadily downhill. She did some great vocals on Golden Palominos' "Visions of Excess," but yeah, she probably shouldn't sing a whole album's worth of songs. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 808 Registered: 03-2005 |
Interesting comments. I've never had a problem with Syd's vocals but she DOES have a definite style. I was blown away when I first put on "Horsebreaker" and her voice came on. "Wtf?" I hadn't looked at the credits on the sleeve. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 182 Registered: 04-2005 |
Alexis Petridis of the Guardian writing about music events in 2006 "The Go-Betweens' Grant McLennan passed away, the first artist I knew personally to die. Last year, we were supposed to have dinner. I cancelled, believing there would be other opportunities, that there was plenty of time. But there weren't other opportunities and there wasn't plenty of time." http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0 ,,1967542,00.html He left a nice tribute on this very board too. | ||
| peter ward Member Username: Peter_ward Post Number: 11 Registered: 06-2005 |
On the day of Grant's funeral my wife and I threw a Celebartion of the Music of Grant McLennan and The Go-Betweens Night..a front porch thing..cool peroni beer and chilli all round yeah(in spirit only, we live in a semi-D!)All guests went home with a copy of "Baby, You Won't Find It Again - A Grant McLennan Collection" He made a few new fans that night despite the poorly thrashed out versions of Streets, Love goes on and Quiet Heart at the end of the night.. tracklisting was as follows: Haven't I been a fool Haunted House Stones for you Easy come,easy go Lighting fires Things will change Signs of life The day my eyes came back Riddle in the rain What went wrong Open invitation Hot water keep my word All her songs I'll call you wild Cave in One plus one Room for skin Down Here (79:51secs) The cover was a nice warm photo of Grant, beaming smile playing an acoustic guitar on stage at The Mean Fiddler, Dublin, June 4th,1997... should've gone that second night too. | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 92 Registered: 05-2005 |
I went both nights back in 1997. It was unreal that the go-betweens (who at the time had been assumed dead and buried for the previous seven years) choose to play two consecqutive nights in Dublin, out of something like a seven date tour. It was startling and heartening to see them again. Who played support? I think it was A house! | ||
| Martin Schori Member Username: Martin_s Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2006 |
I also did a collection of Grant's solo albums some years ago. He told me he gave the copy I've sent him to his mother. Tracklisting is: Stones for you Comet scar Coming up for air Haven't I been a fool Easy come, easy go Room for skin Can’t you cry for me no more Just get that straight Late afternoon in early August The dark side of the town Fingers Lamp by lamp Hot water Making it right for her Cave in All them pretty angels Simon and Perry Lighting fires Signs of life Keep my word If I should fall behind From my lips One plus one | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1093 Registered: 05-2005 |
Check it: http://www.myspace.com/jaimecristobal | ||
| Peter Collins Member Username: Tyroneshoelaces Post Number: 122 Registered: 05-2005 |
Taking just one song of his, Open Invitation - I think that would be up there in a list of all-time songs by anyone. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1068 Registered: 05-2005 |
Welcome back Peter. | ||
| peter ward Member Username: Peter_ward Post Number: 14 Registered: 06-2005 |
Hi fsh, I missed the support act that night I remember seeing Dave Couse there that night and certainly would have gotten there early to see A House. Myself and a few friends were having our photo taken with Robert Foster (cue: I shot you with my camera..not the first time he's heard that but he did laugh politely!)in his canary yellow suit at a solo show in the mean fiddler when Dave Couse passed by, I took a good photo of him and my mate who wanted his picture taken with "yer man from Something Happens!" That '97 show was incredible... one of the best. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1125 Registered: 05-2005 |
Does anyone know the members of Robert's touring band around '98 / '99, he had an interesting looking bunch o blokes, one, the keyboard/guitarist I saw at the Fleadh looked like James Spader!! |