A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: boboDS on July 22, 2013, 09:33:53 AM
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Hi y'all,
today 30 years ago was a magical evening when the history was made - THE Alchemy concert.
I wanted to commemorate this special date and thank the universe for making this possible :)
It is my all time favourite piece of music ever recorded. I think it brought out the very best and showed the top form of the band.
Just for the record, the previous night was also recorded and a part of it was used in the released concert too. The ending of Solid Rock was weird and messed up, so they used the ending from the previous night. This is the only part I was able to verify from the bootlegs, and it is really not a big deal at all.
That's why I think the statement which was written on the front cover under the painting is true imho, because really no overdubs or rerecordings were done.
Anyway, I think the most important band members which shaped the sound the most were MK of course, Terry W. and Alan C. Imho the songs were overally brought onto another level by Terry's playing, and also the interaction between these 3 is stellar. Imho Terry's form was superb, the best from his DS era I'd say.
Great rock and roll kinda mixed with bits of prog rock maybe, the interaction, the energy, pure musicgasm. :P
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Nice one!
I was thinking the other day that I liked the voice and manner of the introduction on "aLCHEMY" much more than the yelling of Paul Crockford...
Oh yeah... alchemy... must have heard some of those tracks a bazillion times... maybe it's time to re-visit it again, now that we have the blu-ray! :thumbsup
LE
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aLCHEMY iS a mASTERFUl lIVE oF aLL tIME. aLL tRACKS pLAYED wITH eNERGY aND fEELNG............mY fAVOURITE iS ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.......vERY mLLENSTONE
sTRAITSWAY75
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One more fact, Sultans from this concert has been uploaded officialy to youtube in april 2010 and now has
20 224 796 views, I think this song has the most views from all the DS/MK songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pa9x9fZBtY
Btw, as I was watching it the other day, I noticed this little magical moment:
terry's drum roll after 2:27, as he finishes it at 2:34 the camera immediately switches to MK and he is smiling and kinda shaking his head and I bet he is thinking something like "Woooot, did you all hear those drums??" :)
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ALCHEMY: The Science Of BEING.
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Nice one, happy anniversary to all! I salute Mark.
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It's hard to believe it's been 30 years. :disbelief "aLCHEMY" concert means so much to me in my world of DS/MK. It holds a very special place in my heart !! ;) It's DS at its best ! :thumbsup :clap
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The same for me sweetsurrender.
dmg - Terra looks like a basketball. But those are just Basic Alchemy symbols anyway. Advanced aLCHEMY symbols are:
(http://www.theimer.us/P1/img/DireStraits_AlchemyDireStraitsLive_V002/Insert2_08_09_800.jpg)
:)
It's actually today and yesterday the anniversary, 22nd and 23rd.
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Actually THE ANNIVERSARY IS TODAY
Alchemy was recorded on July 23th, the only part of the 22nd concert that was used was the final part of Solid Rock, as on the 23th Terry did something wrong in the end of the song.
There are audience recordings of both concerts 22nd and 23th, and when you listen the 23th one, its exactly the Alchemy concert note by note, second by second, except the end of Solid Rock.
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aLCHEMY is still my go-to album. Just love it.
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Actually THE ANNIVERSARY IS TODAY
Alchemy was recorded on July 23th, the only part of the 22nd concert that was used was the final part of Solid Rock, as on the 23th Terry did something wrong in the end of the song.
There are audience recordings of both concerts 22nd and 23th, and when you listen the 23th one, its exactly the Alchemy concert note by note, second by second, except the end of Solid Rock.
Where can I get a hold of audience recordings for both nights? I love Alchemy to death do me part. ;D I wish more than anything but to travel through time and be there. Is there anyone from this forum who had attended Alchemy concert or know of anyone who had?
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There were both available at laknopflertk but looks like without seeds right now...
Anyone have them and can reseed them? I have them on cd but not on digital format.
http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=287 (http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=287)
http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=36 (http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=36)
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There were both available at laknopflertk but looks like without seeds right now...
Anyone have them and can reseed them? I have them on cd but not on digital format.
http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=287 (http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=287)
http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=36 (http://tracker.knopflertk.net/torrents-details.php?id=36)
Thanks, :)
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An highlight that album was at its release , and still is.........Alchemy : Dire Straits's philosophers stone of music
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I really love Alchemy, I'm playing the Blu-Ray version now !
Sultans version is the reference one, even if I also like subsequent ones with sax break et more guitar overdrive...
Telegraph version also is a reference, even if it is a bit rough, lack Guy's synth, and that I also like more recent ones;
TOL is great, even if 85 versions were even greater, this one is a great reference too, and features Mel Collins sax intro :)
OUATITW is... phenomenal.
Going Home is great (even if I prefer the faster '85 version with Henk Marvin).
Long live Alchemy !
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I really love Alchemy, I'm playing the Blu-Ray version now !
Sultans version is the reference one, even if I also like subsequent ones with sax break et more guitar overdrive...
Telegraph version also is a reference, even if it is a bit rough, lack Guy's synth, and that I also like more recent ones;
TOL is great, even if 85 versions were even greater, this one is a great reference too, and features Mel Collins sax intro :)
OUATITW is... phenomenal.
Going Home is great (even if I prefer the faster '85 version with Henk Marvin).
Long live Alchemy !
And long life Hank B ;D
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I don't like Alchemy :thumbsdown
IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both 80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...
The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.
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I don't like Alchemy :thumbsdown
IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both 80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...
The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.
I'm suffocating reading this...
Which are the one or two exceptions ?
Sultans and tr are top notch...
TOL is a bit better in 85 but is quite cool in 83 too...
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I don't like Alchemy :thumbsdown
IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both 80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...
The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.
Haha, believed it for a second! Nice try! :wave
LE
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I don't like Alchemy :thumbsdown
IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both 80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...
The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.
I'm suffocating reading this...
Which are the one or two exceptions ?
Sultans and tr are top notch...
TOL is a bit better in 85 but is quite cool in 83 too...
Ok let's go :
1. Once Upon a Time in the West 13:01 -> 79
2. Expresso Love 5:45 -> 85
3. Romeo and Juliet 8:17 -> especially early 91 tour version but all versions with electric ending sounds better than with the accoustic Gibson.
5. Private Investigations 7:34 -> 85
6. Sultans of Swing 10:54 -> best one is OES tour, 85 otherwise but the synth is too much on it.
CD 2
1. Two Young Lovers 4:49 - 85 (Jack is better than Hal)
2. Tunnel of Love 14:12 -> 85
3. Telegraph Road 13:37 ok this is exception but the 96 version...
4. Solid Rock 6:01 -> 85, 91
5. Going Home - Theme from "Local Hero" 6:05 ok this is exception
Haha, believed it for a second! Nice try! :wave
LE
This is not a try, this is a personnal opinion. And I have listened this live album a good zillion times. But the 85 tour recordings blew it away.
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I don't like Alchemy :thumbsdown
IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both 80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...
The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.
I'm suffocating reading this...
Which are the one or two exceptions ?
Sultans and tr are top notch...
TOL is a bit better in 85 but is quite cool in 83 too...
Ok let's go :
1. Once Upon a Time in the West 13:01 -> 79
2. Expresso Love 5:45 -> 85
3. Romeo and Juliet 8:17 -> especially early 91 tour version but all versions with electric ending sounds better than with the accoustic Gibson.
5. Private Investigations 7:34 -> 85
6. Sultans of Swing 10:54 -> best one is OES tour, 85 otherwise but the synth is too much on it.
CD 2
1. Two Young Lovers 4:49 - 85 (Jack is better than Hal)
2. Tunnel of Love 14:12 -> 85
3. Telegraph Road 13:37 ok this is exception but the 96 version...
4. Solid Rock 6:01 -> 85, 91
5. Going Home - Theme from "Local Hero" 6:05 ok this is exception
Haha, believed it for a second! Nice try! :wave
LE
This is not a try, this is a personnal opinion. And I have listened this live album a good zillion times. But the 85 tour recordings blew it away.
I agree with you for R&J, PI, and TR.
For OUATITW: 79 versions are almost identical to the album. Might as well listen to the album :) I love the extended version. True it drags quite a lot but it is still mythical.
For Expresso love: 85 versions are cheesy to my ears: the overdriven to death drums, the backing vocals, the heavy sax...
For Sultans, I love the versions you mention (even the synth in 85) but Alchemy is still special: unique raw power, no sax (for those of us who find it cheesy)
For two young lovers: Hal's solo is incredible... Disagree that Jack is better
For TOL: ok 85 versions are a bit better, smother and swifter, but that does not make Alchemy a bad version. Quite straight to the point and cool... And lovely sax intro by Mel.
For Solid Rock: I prefer on the night but stil the sax in alchemy is cool.
For going home: ironically I disagree with you the other way round, I think Wembley 85 with Hank is better :) but this one is wonderful too.
All in all, a great recording, even though the versions may not be all the absolute bests of all times
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All in all, a great recording, even though the versions may not be all the absolute bests of all times
Exactly.
This is reason why I am dying to get the existing recordings from the others tour to be put on the market in top notch quality.
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All in all, a great recording, even though the versions may not be all the absolute bests of all times
Exactly.
This is reason why I am dying to get the existing recordings from the others tour to be put on the market in top notch quality.
In this case I'll die with you........... ;D
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I am watching aLCHEMY concert as I'm typing this for the 100th times. Is the blueray version worth a buy? I am watching it on my big screen, but the video I have is a VHS converted into DVD. The quality is quite a disgrace to watch to say the least. I've read different comments regarding the Blueray. Some not too favorable. So, should I part with my hard earned money and go order one ???
Thanks,
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The sound is great, particularly if you have a 5.1 set up.
The picture could be better, but I'm sure would be better than your vhs version. :)
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The sound is great, particularly if you have a 5.1 set up.
The picture could be better, but I'm sure would be better than your vhs version. :)
Thanks, dusty. I have 7.2 set up I believe. I could go for a great sound. :) Now, I understand that from Amazon UK, I can get both blueray and the double cds. Is that true?
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IMHO :
One of best tours in DS/MK history. after all discussions about setlists and imporvisation, how ironic is it to notice that this legendary tour had:
1) same setlist during all the tour apart from it never rain/going home
2) almost exactly same solos by Mark
the best song for this tour was Portobello Belle, especially Paris 23/06/1983
Once upon a time from Alchemy is a masterpiece
I like 78-79 versions too, especially the tone (the FS-1 neck PU), but it lacks some epic developpement
Expresso Love : agree with Herlock
I like also 80-81 versions, with different ending (to "jump" into waterline)
Romeo : agree with DS1984, I far prefer electric ending solo (91-96-06), BUT this version makes it special, linked to LOG
Sultans : THE version.
I don't like live aid. if I had to choose a version with sax, I'd go for Mandela.
Just after Alchemy, my favs are 96 and chorus78
PI : I like Hal's slinding with his pick. But I also like early 91 (with different sax intro).
TYL : agree with Herlock. I don't like Jack's playing. Hal's solo is so cool, and the cultissime Mak's line at the end "Hald lindes on guitar and Mel collins on saxophooooone "
and Mark playing a SG ! the only time in his career !
TOL : one of THE versionS. ok 85 versions are great, but they lack the intro (in fact the link from Portobello Belle)
Telegraph Road : THE version. Even if I like very much 96, mark never sung this song again like he did in 83.
81 versions are cool too.
Solid rock : I love it. 91-92 sounds a bit too much "hard-rock-fm"
going home : THE version. I don't like 85 with Hank. Just after Alchemy, my favs are 96 on Les Paul
And last but not least, I was thinking, if someone asks you what is the first track of Alchemy, what would be your answer ?
..........................................................................
--> on the album it is once upon a time in the west
--> on the concert, it is Stargazer
--> on the video it is saturday night at the movies
:smack ;D :lol
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JF, agree with everything you said except one thing: I don't like Mandela SOS, Eric Clayton's guitar is too strong, I prefer 85 versions, the synth is a bit cheesy but I love it, live aid is a bit less good than Wembley but at least it is official on DVD ! :)
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JF, agree with everything you said except one thing: I don't like Mandela SOS, Eric Clayton's guitar is too strong, I prefer 85 versions, the synth is a bit cheesy but I love it, live aid is a bit less good than Wembley but at least it is official on DVD ! :)
that Eric 's lick during the quiet part makes it so special !
and a "wrong" (but not really bad) note at the end during the twiddy bits, with Mark's face seems to think "huh ?"
And Mak walking on thstage, not staying static.
Well I admit that musically it's not perfect, but I love it.
and you forgot : I don't like very much going home with Hank.... ;)
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Oh yeah, why don't you like GH with henk ? Is it the faster pace ? I love it...:)
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Oh yeah, why don't you like GH with henk ? Is it the faster pace ? I love it...:)
Hank and Mark are playing the same line, and its doesn't bring anything to the song.
I don't like the way Hank plays it. Cant explain..
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JF, what is Mark playing SG, first time in his career.
What is SG ?
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JF, what is Mark playing SG, first time in his career.
What is SG ?
it's a gibson guitar, the white one he uses on TYL.
to my knowledge, its the only time Mark playing on a SG
http://ds.mk-guitar.com/other-gibson.htm (http://ds.mk-guitar.com/other-gibson.htm)
https://www.google.fr/search?hl=fr&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=924&q=gison+sg+white&oq=gison+sg+white&gs_l=img.3...1321.4781.0.5381.14.9.0.5.0.0.66.455.9.9.0....0...1ac.1.23.img..6.8.405.5iYoBi2mHoM (https://www.google.fr/search?hl=fr&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=924&q=gison+sg+white&oq=gison+sg+white&gs_l=img.3...1321.4781.0.5381.14.9.0.5.0.0.66.455.9.9.0....0...1ac.1.23.img..6.8.405.5iYoBi2mHoM)
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I don't like Mandela SOS, Eric Clayton's guitar is too strong
Herlock, I just realized this morning while listening to "just one night", that if you find Eric's guitar too "strong" on mandela concert, it's maybe because you have the soundboard recording coming from "solid rock" silver bootleg (or the same master) ?
I never liked this mix, because indeed Eric's guitar is louder than Mark's one, Mark's guitar sounds dry, without reverb on this mix. It seems to be an "aux soundboard" mix, not the FOH mix. (a little bit like "american tour 85, if you see what I mean)
I far prefer the mix coming from the video that was broadcasted: here you have a more "overall" sound, with Mark's guitar at the front, and Eric's guitar more in the background.
the strange thing is that the sax on the slow pace of Sultans is barely audible, but all the other mix for all songs is far far better than the soundboard one circulating on the webn and which ended on "solid rock"
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I don't like Mandela SOS, Eric Clayton's guitar is too strong
Herlock, I just realized this morning while listening to "just one night", that if you find Eric's guitar too "strong" on mandela concert, it's maybe because you have the soundboard recording coming from "solid rock" silver bootleg (or the same master) ?
I never liked this mix, because indeed Eric's guitar is louder than Mark's one, Mark's guitar sounds dry, without reverb on this mix. It seems to be an "aux soundboard" mix, not the FOH mix. (a little bit like "american tour 85, if you see what I mean)
I far prefer the mix coming from the video that was broadcasted: here you have a more "overall" sound, with Mark's guitar at the front, and Eric's guitar more in the background.
the strange thing is that the sax on the slow pace of Sultans is barely audible, but all the other mix for all songs is far far better than the soundboard one circulating on the webn and which ended on "solid rock"
Solid Rock CD is taken from a vinyl source with quite bad mix, one key is hardly audible on WOL, Eric is totally buried when soloing on Solid Rock whereas the TV broadcast mix is better balanced.
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Very interesting, thanks for the info !
I also have Mandela on DVD, it sounds better than the bootleg but I still prefer Alchemy and Live Aid for SOS :)
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Solid Rock CD is taken from a vinyl source with quite bad mix, one key is hardly audible on WOL, Eric is totally buried when soloing on Solid Rock whereas the TV broadcast mix is better balanced.
Yes exactly
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Very interesting, thanks for the info !
I also have Mandela on DVD, it sounds better than the bootleg but I still prefer Alchemy and Live Aid for SOS :)
Absolutely agreed. There's something quite magical about aLchemy concert altogether. :)
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Fantastic live album-- perfect. I listen to it often.
:D
alabhaois
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Fantastic live album-- perfect. I listen to it often.
:D
alabhaois
When I want to hear DS, this is exclusively the only album I listen to. :)
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Alchemy is an album with completely different sound from the previous albums, mainly due to Terry's drums. I don't think he would be ideal for the studio albums but on this one he might be perfect.
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Just read an interesting comment on youtube (Sultans alchemy Vevo) by Charles J.:
A degree of exuberance which only the most hypermanic air guitarist could emulate. I was at this concert 31 years ago & afterwards got the band's autographs at the stage door. Mr Tommy Mandel - the dancing keyboardist - gave my chum a fiver to get home, the latter's wallet mislaid through the freaking. TM said he learned the necessary repertoire in the short space of a month and, in answer to a recent comment on this site that they might have been coked up, the musicians were as sober as judges in conversation; and Mr Illsley quietly got into his modest car and departed the Odeon. True pros both on and off the stage. Great nite for fan & strait alike.?
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welcome back Wolfgang :)
it's great to see/hear/read you again :thumbsup :wave
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LE! Welcome back Dear Old Thing! I'm so pleased that you have returned to us again. I'm really looking forward to reading your wonderful posts again! Things just haven't been the same since you left. :wave
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A large hole has just been filled on AMIT. Welcome back DOT. :wave
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Welcome back LE! I was away most of the time as well, but good to know you are back. ;)
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Welcome back DOT
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:wave
I must say my Guitar George status fits perfectly well with the Sultans-single-avatar, never thought about that. What comes next, after Guitar George?
I will have to post a lot to find out...
This thread remembers me of my Alchemy Blu-ray which I haven't watched for ages...
DOT
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Hurrah!
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DOT huh..
:-)
ok, clean slate for all.
alchemy, now that was a recording!!
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huh..?
(I am not 100% sure this morning if it was a that good idea btw... dot I mean, not the returning... hope you and me will get used to it! :) )
Dear Old Thing
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huh..?
(I am not 100% sure this morning if it was a that good idea btw... dot I mean, not the returning... hope you and me will get used to it! :) )
Dear Old Thing
Reminds me of a scene in North by Northwest when Roger Thornhill used "O" for his middle name on his matchbox (which read ROT), Eve asked him what it stood for and he said "nothing!"
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Thanks very much for returning. You and your posts were missed very much!
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I know that scene perfectly well as it is one of my all time favourite movies... not sure what you want to imply with that "O"... ;D ;D
I am still at the identification stage it seems... :)
back to that movie, it was very interesting to hear the original sound track on DVD for the first time... the German translation was very much changed to "disarm" that hot dialogue with Mrs. Kendall...
but now back to Alchemy... ::)
Dear Old Thing
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Welcome back!!!! ;D :D
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aaaahh...the MM sleeve ....now you're really back :thumbsup :)
even if my fav Hitch movie is Psychose, I love north by northwest too, and talking about hot dialogue with Eva, I always will remember when a teacher at cinema University told me that the last scene was the most famous s e x u al allusion in a movie (the train going through the tunnel...) ;D :D :o
"Hicth loved to film crime scenes as love scenes, and love scenes as crime scenes"
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;D JF, it took me exactly one day to realize I LOVE this picture...
Hitch was a little old pervert. At times..
LE
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Great to see the red avatar back! Can we call you LE again now? DOT doesn't sound quite right somehow! ;)
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I
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Well, today you all give me the feeling that my new name is totally bolllocks.. ;D
But I can't go back, can I?
Not sure about technical stuff here, but my account is called Dear Old Thing (I'm 42 after all), but if I would THINK about change back again to LE, would would I have to to? :hmm
Val, it is very important to me that you feel well, so if you cannot live with DOT, I won't use it! :D
Dear Old Thing
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You can change your 'displayed' name in the account settings above.... (click on Profile then account settings!)
Incidentally I believe your 'Dear Old Thing' is surely named after Henry Blofeld of BBC Cricket fame as that is one of his favourite sayings?!
(See under 'test match special')
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Blofeld
Prefer 'LE' though!!
and again good you are back.. Now no one wind each other up as it's just not cricket!!
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Wahay you've already done it!! Welcome back LE!!
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Dear Old Thing was in fact taken from the lyrics from one of my favourite MK songs, One MORE Matinee, :disbelief
"Here's something nice for you a dear old thing came to a show, last time here we did an interview for local radio "
But the response was somehow NOT what I expected from any MK lyric-expert like AMIT-members should be ;D ;D, so if YOU all feel not happy with my
new name, well, I do not feel happy also. I found out how to change the name on the forum profile, but still my name "officially" is Dear Old Thing at the profile settings... but I am on the case.. .
LE
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Oh very good LE, :smack (Not personally keen on 'One more Matinee' - so always gets skipped...)
Oh and leave the account as it is because all we can see is 'Love Expresso' and that is so cool!!
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Thank you, LE! Now everything's perfect! :)
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:D :D :D :D :D
Soooooo happy you are back LE!!! And while I missed seeing your non-MM avatar, I honestly don't think I could have handled anything BUT your MM avatar!!! (So it is good that I missed several days!) :think !!!
:D :D :D :D :D
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http://www.its.caltech.edu/~gbelford/Mark%20Knopfler-Interviews.html
http://ds.mk-guitar.com/
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So glad that you're back! ;D
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Agree, glad you are back LE :D
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Thanks, Ingrid, it's your fault! :lol
LE
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Wait a minute, I'm confused. So DOT was LE all along? :hmm
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Thanks, Ingrid, it's your fault! :lol
LE
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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;)
You asked so many times, is what I meant... but it's great to be back! :wave
LE
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Ingrid can be very convincing... thank you, Ingrid!!! :D
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Sorry guys, wrong emoticons used, so modified my reaction to LE. Always a challenge to use your iphone on internet, easy to type wrong.
Welcome back LE :-*