Loomis, I loved Disraeli Gears at the time of it's release (Fresh Cream as well), and played songs off both albums in my High School garage band. But you have just pointed out Ginger's tendency to play for his own benefit, not the song's or the band's. As I said earlier, he played every song the same, which is not a compliment ;-). Did you read how Atlantic Records President Ahmet Ertegun characterized Disraeli Gears when it was submitted? "Psychedelic horses**t" !
My eyes were opened, and my teenage brain blown, when my band opened for The New Buffalo (only drummer Dewey Martin remaining from Buffalo Springfield) at a San Jose High School in 1969. Bobby's brother Randy Fuller was playing bass, and I became perplexed and uncomfortable when I could not for the life of me figure out why, in spite of the fact that that rhythm section appearing to be playing nothing special (unlike Ginger and Jack), TNB sounded and felt SO good. All of a sudden, in an epiphany, what I had heard and read about The Band hit home. Oh, NOW I get it! THE transformative moment of my musical life. That, and hearing J.S. Bach!
shadorne, yup, Ferrone is a fine player, and Petty likes how he comes up with parts he says would never have occurred to him. Chad Smith is okay, but I really dislike the sound of piccolo snare drums (all they do is make a one-dimensional "popping" sound---no depth, no resonance), which is his sound. His snare drum sound ruined the Dixie Chicks album he played on (Taking The Long Way) for me. But that's just a matter of sonic taste, not style or quality.
