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"Famous Blue Raincoat"..

...what's all the praise about?

I have a mint US Cypress copy, (I'm trying to remember if this one or the Canadian issue was praised the most). I listened to some of it today. While it is "clean & clear", it has that digital, uninvolving edge that kind of turns me off.

Being Thanksgiving and all, and since I always pull out Suzanne Vega's "Solitude Standing" this time of year, ("Fancy Poultry Parts"), I thought I'd make a comparison. They are both from the digital recording age. (SV from 87' - JW from 86').

Playing the JW, I was thinking, very critically, not really enjoying the listen, the experience, the music.

SV, now, this is a totally different listening experience! It sounds great! Nothing edgy, nothing sterile, nothing out of the ordinary. It is in fact an lp I hold in the highest regard, still.

The SV should really be the lp commanding the high prices. Thankfully it is available to us, the ones who love music, for a reasonable price.
slaw
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Frogman, I'm listening to Elaine Elias ,the Brazilian pianist, who is about the most lyrical jazz keyboardist I've heard.
Her bass backup, Eddie Gomez , supports her beautifully with a very soft and melodic sound, to me a great reminder you don't have to play loud to play good. So soft I'll wager
you'd never even hear him on average system. Yet, the conversation is there !
I am guessing it must be very hard to do this ? Makes me wonder if he's improvising or its a chart.
frogman
7,497 posts
 
The art of a great improviser! Complete believability in how the improvised lines fit with and compliment the soloist; a type of improvised counterpoint and a true conversation. Yes, hard to do and used to be rare from the bass player who, traditionally, had a supportive role; not as much the case any more. Scott LaFaro broke it wide open with his work with Bill Evans. Gomez followed with the same pianist. He is a brilliant musician. Another that comes to mind immediately is Greorge Mraz. I'm sure that there was a chart while the "head" (melody) was being played ; but, after that, totally improvised.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Thanks so much Frogman.
One could live a hundred lives and never explore all there is to explore in jazz and classical serious music .
Thank you, Jesus !
dayglow
2,018 posts
 
Frogman great post(6-14)! Analog vs. digital is NOT as simple as good vs. evil. I really enjoy many early digital recordings made on the 32-track 3M system. The Nightfly and Swing of Delight(Carlos Santana) are perfect examples. Are these perfect recordings... NO! IMO the weakness with early digital recordings is in the frequency extremes. The bass is soft(restricting dynamics) and the treble is sharp, but the midrange can have a real(human)texture even if it's a bit "glassy". FWIW most early digital recording are near awful but there are many exceptions with FBR being one of them.
sonictonics
4 posts
 
I hate to burst you bubble laddies but Famous Blue Raincoat was recorded in analogue.
You should have your golden ears checked.
http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/cover1.html
I'm anxious to "hear" your comebacks.
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