A Mark In Time
Previous Albums => Privateering (2012) => Topic started by: Best Brown Baggies on July 11, 2012, 02:34:31 PM
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Hi. Thought you might all be very interested to
hear that the new Drummer magazine has just
interviewed Ian Thomas, and he spoke about many things,
But wait for it......
HE SAID THAT FOR MARKS NEW ALBUM, THEY RECORDED
45 ORIGINAL SONGS!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!
http://drummermagazine.co.uk/index.php/create-article/24-homepage/172-ian-thomas
Cheers. BBB
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Thanks for the news.
That's unbelievable. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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My Mum always says when I pack for my holidays to pack my case, then half the amount of stuff. Seems it's the same when you're making an album! ;D
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:o So they dropped 25 songs??!! That's not amazing... :disbelief
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HE SAID THAT FOR MARKS NEW ALBUM, THEY RECORDED
45 ORIGINAL SONGS!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!
Enough to fill a completly new setlist for next two or three tours.
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[/quote]
Enough to fill a completly new setlist for next two or three tours.
[/quote]
Yeah, that'll be right! ;)
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If Mark cut 55,5% of the original list, how can there not be material for yet another release in a not so distance future?
:D
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He could think it is just not good enough.
Or he could release another double album next time!
LE
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Careful what you wish for...
MK's quality control has always been excellent. Yes, I'm sure some great songs have slipped through the net, but there has also been ropey stuff , like some of the GL bonus tracks - anyone 2want to defend Time in the sun? ;)
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I like the get lucky bonus songs better than half the proper tracks! :P
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Careful what you wish for...
MK's quality control has always been excellent. Yes, I'm sure some great songs have slipped through the net, but there has also been ropey stuff , like some of the GL bonus tracks - anyone 2want to defend Time in the sun? ;)
Dunno about that quality control really.
The GH b-sides are far better than some of the originals, like My claim to fame and Gravy train.
Defending Vic and Ray much? ;)
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On the other hand we should be enormously grateful for that creative phase MK is in right now. Not that many (quality) artists who can bring 45 new songs to the table, two or three years after the predecessor.
Because if or when that phase ends we're gonna have a draught where every crumble of interview, rumour or collaboration will be precious ;D
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Border Reiver, I totally agree,
we should be very grateful for this creative and productive period.
I can still remember the 90s, when I was longing so much for new MK music and when I had to wait years and years without something happening.
That's also why I can't understand the overly critical comments about the GL bonus tracks.
I treasure them very much, because there will come a time, when there will be no more new MK songs and how much will I then be lucky to have them!
Back to the Ian Thomas interview. Ian is very appreciative about how he was looked after during their MK/BD tour last autumn, how serious Mark is following his art and the most beautiful piece of info: that he is writing all the time. How wonderful is that!!
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1. Am I the only one who is not able to read the interview or I am just to stupid to work it out? ::)
2. Vic And Ray is one of the best tracks on Golden Heart!
3. All bonus tracks from GL apart from Early Bird are crap.
4. The impulse for MK to write a song nowadays is smaller than it used to be, it seems to me. One simple idea or pun (redbud tree - judas tree - shelter) let's him go get off with another song, whereas in earlier years this might just not have been enough for him. Simplicity is the new key word. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes I wish a little more complexity would also still be there.
5. When I read about the 45 songs, I was alarmed in the first place to be honest. I am not sure if MK is really happy with Ian to spell the beans about this.
;)
LE
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I can't read it either!
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Neither can I - it's so frustrating!
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I cant read the interview either...
And I want to!!!!
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I can still remember the 90s, when I was longing so much for new MK music and when I had to wait years and years without something happening.
Well, even in de 90s MK did do a lot of stuff. 1996: GH album and tour, 1997: NHB tour, 1998: NHB tour, 1999: Metroland/Wag the Dog + NHB tour, 2000 STP...
As far as concerned 'normal' albums, from that point of view, he was less productive.
But I would rather wait a bit longer for an album that's got stronger songs than an album filled with 14/15 'average' songs.
When I listen to GH of STP and I compare them with SL, KTGC or GL, the first ones are much stronger, containing better songs.
I've listened to Redbud Tree a couple of times now, but to me it looks like the song is not finished, something is missing. Same goes for more of his recent work.
regards,
Lars B.
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I bought the digital edition of the July Drummer Magazine via itunes, otherwise I couldn't read the interview, but I was so hooked once I read about the 45 songs recorded, so I had to.
The interview has only one question with MK content reagarding what's next for Ian and he began to tell about the fall US tour with MK/BD and then went on to speak about recording with Mark.
So it's not much.
I don't know if it's legal to copy and paste it here as much as I would like to do it.
Can someone help me here.
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Vic and Ray def one of the best GH tracks. :)
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3. All bonus tracks from GL apart from Early Bird are crap
Home Boy and Pulling Down The Ride are a million times more listenable than Remembrance Day or Gas and TV ! I guess we all have different tastes!
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Careful what you wish for...
MK's quality control has always been excellent. Yes, I'm sure some great songs have slipped through the net, but there has also been ropey stuff , like some of the GL bonus tracks - anyone 2want to defend Time in the sun? ;)
Love Time in the Sun. It puts my hyperactive 2 year old niece to sleep every time!
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3. All bonus tracks from GL apart from Early Bird are crap
Home Boy and Pulling Down The Ride are a million times more listenable than Remembrance Day or Gas and TV ! I guess we all have different tastes!
Come on Fletch, you're kidding - aren't you? ::) Gas & TV is one of the best on the album for me. :)
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I cant read the interview either...
And I want to!!!!
Neither can I. Guess they want you to pay for the privilege (whatever next!!)
How about doing it the old fashioned way? - Go into somewhere like W H Smith, take a copy off the rack, stand in everyones way while you read the article, then put the magazine back on the rack before wandering nonchalantly out of the store ;)
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In my opinion, the best track of GL is the track that Guy Fletcher wouldn't have included : You can't beat the house !
I would love a bluesy album containing songs like this one.
I agree with Vic And Ray, I remember whan I first saw MK liive in Paris exactly 16 years ago, I was blown away with this very powerful version of Vic And Ray.
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Careful what you wish for...
MK's quality control has always been excellent. Yes, I'm sure some great songs have slipped through the net, but there has also been ropey stuff , like some of the GL bonus tracks - anyone 2want to defend Time in the sun? ;)
Love Time in the Sun. It puts my hyperactive 2 year old niece to sleep every time!
Lucky you ! If one day she gets bored, you will have many replacement options : 90% of Shangri-La, ATRR and K2GC can do the job. ;)
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I can't say if the GL bonuses are better or worse as I did not buy this fuckin' deluxe box.
I don't play that tricky game.
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I cant read the interview either...
And I want to!!!!
Neither can I. Guess they want you to pay for the privilege (whatever next!!)
How about doing it the old fashioned way? - Go into somewhere like W H Smith, take a copy off the rack, stand in everyones way while you read the article, then put the magazine back on the rack before wandering nonchalantly out of the store ;)
That's what I did!!! Hehe
Cheers. BBB
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1. Am I the only one who is not able to read the interview or I am just to stupid to work it out? ::)
2. Vic And Ray is one of the best tracks on Golden Heart!
3. All bonus tracks from GL apart from Early Bird are crap.
4. The impulse for MK to write a song nowadays is smaller than it used to be, it seems to me. One simple idea or pun (redbud tree - judas tree - shelter) let's him go get off with another song, whereas in earlier years this might just not have been enough for him. Simplicity is the new key word. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes I wish a little more complexity would also still be there.
5. When I read about the 45 songs, I was alarmed in the first place to be honest. I am not sure if MK is really happy with Ian to spell the beans about this.
;)
LE
EXACTLY - with everything!
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45 songs to me is too much time wasted in songs you know are not going anywhere...
I wish they spent more time recording Redbud Tree than recording useless songs, and after listening the GL bonus tracks, is easy to know which songs doesn't worth the time...
Just with some flute, fiddle, piano, etc Redbud Tree would had sounded more like a song, and not just an apethyser.
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You know I hadn't really thought about it but the reason I maybe liked Redbud so much is perhaps to do with the lack, or minimal involvement of Messrs McCusker and McGoldrick.
This brings me nicely to something I was tossing over in my mind last night. Whilst listening to two of the new songs played on the 2011 tour - Haul Away and Privateering - it struck me that every version was identical. Now even a master arranger such as MK cannot find anything in them live on the next solo tour and to make matters worse the songs were being carried by "the folkies" anyway with MK taking very much a back seat. So the quicker these songs were over with and MK was taking centre stage again the happier I'd be anyway. Next please! I must admit Haul Away is growing on me, but I really don't want these songs to be performed live; when I go to a MK concert I want to listen to MK!
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...apart from the few lines vocal perfomance, you mean... :lol
I was thinking about this Leo Blokhuis tweet that celtic music makes him feel titanic-itchy... And then I too, realized, that at least Redbud Tree is a sign for some music on the album without them... And that maybe Haul Away and Privateering were the reason for Leos itchiness... I used to love their contributions but since Restless Farewell at the latest they started going on my nerves... I am happy that Redbud Tree is spared by them. And I hope that their is some cool fiddling and whistling on some songs where it really fits.
LE
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When Alan Clark is interviewed on the Israel documentary he states that for BIA MK wrote a huge number of songs. So this is probably standard procedure for him to record a load of songs for a record. And Love Over Gold was originally intended to be a double album, so maybe this is a concept MK has had in his mind for a while. The fact that the whole thing fits into two LP records leads me to believe we may be looking at around the 45 min mark for each disc of the album....otherwise things just start to sound poor on vinyl.
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I can't say if the GL bonuses are better or worse as I did not buy this fuckin' deluxe box.
I don't play that tricky game.
Neither did I! Still got the tracks though. :)
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Hi all,
Surprisingly, no one talks here about Mark's new drummer, as it's about an interview about Ian Thomas
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Ian Thomas is the BEST drummer MK had ever... probably even better than Chad Cromwell.
The problem with here is that we compare his drumming with the previous drummers, many of us know how Chad or Danny played all the songs and when Ian play them his way, some dont like it, and its understable, because we expect something else.
I saw Ian Thomas playing drums in the Strat Pack dvd, as the drummer in the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood dvd, he also plays in the Music for Monserrat concert (together with Phil Collins in many tracks) and his playing is EXCELLENT.
When in Glasgow concert last year, I liked him a lot because of all the new things he add to the old songs, the way he played the new ones, but I was a bit dissapointed because he changed many little things we were used with Danny, but every drummer has his beat. Actually, my impression was that probably MK music nowadays is not so demanding, concerning to drums, like it used to be, or to what Ian is used to play.
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You know I hadn't really thought about it but the reason I maybe liked Redbud so much is perhaps to do with the lack, or minimal involvement of Messrs McCusker and McGoldrick.
This brings me nicely to something I was tossing over in my mind last night. Whilst listening to two of the new songs played on the 2011 tour - Haul Away and Privateering - it struck me that every version was identical. Now even a master arranger such as MK cannot find anything in them live on the next solo tour and to make matters worse the songs were being carried by "the folkies" anyway with MK taking very much a back seat. So the quicker these songs were over with and MK was taking centre stage again the happier I'd be anyway. Next please! I must admit Haul Away is growing on me, but I really don't want these songs to be performed live; when I go to a MK concert I want to listen to MK!
I agree with you, the folkies are carrying too much weight in many many songs, but thats MK
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Hi, I've been lurking for awhile. Ian Thomas is fantastic! Danny Cummings was a good, solid drummer but not really good enough for an artist of MK's stature. Danny's a wonderful percussionist and average kit player IMHO.
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Sometimes even an excellent musician does not fit well with some artists - this is really an alchemy.
I must admit that Ian playing last year did not impress me.
What I recall is Privateering sounding just awful.
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Ian Thomas is the BEST drummer MK had ever... probably even better than Chad Cromwell.
The problem with here is that we compare his drumming with the previous drummers, many of us know how Chad or Danny played all the songs and when Ian play them his way, some dont like it, and its understable, because we expect something else.
I saw Ian Thomas playing drums in the Strat Pack dvd, as the drummer in the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood dvd, he also plays in the Music for Monserrat concert (together with Phil Collins in many tracks) and his playing is EXCELLENT.
When in Glasgow concert last year, I liked him a lot because of all the new things he add to the old songs, the way he played the new ones, but I was a bit dissapointed because he changed many little things we were used with Danny, but every drummer has his beat. Actually, my impression was that probably MK music nowadays is not so demanding, concerning to drums, like it used to be, or to what Ian is used to play.
+1
I think he's add something more energic and powerfull stuff with one exception: SAN. Danny was the best option for this song. I really want to hear SOS and TR from Ian.
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Sometimes even an excellent musician does not fit well with some artists - this is really an alchemy.
I must admit that Ian playing last year did not impress me.
What I recall is Privateering sounding just awful.
Agree with you DS
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Sometimes even an excellent musician does not fit well with some artists - this is really an alchemy.
I must admit that Ian playing last year did not impress me.
What I recall is Privateering sounding just awful.
+1
And the alchemy worked with Danny.
Can't understand Mark's choice on this one. At least I'm happy to read I'm not the only one to think this way.
What Danny used to do, Ian did the same during the last tour… but with less energy.
What it is was just ok, Why aye man was average (no energy), Privateering was… err… not good at all, Speedway, I'll pass on this one (and won't comment either on Jim Cox's solo at the end of the song).
Sonny Liston was interesting but nothing Danny couldn't have done.
It's not that I'm against changes but skipping Danny was the worst choice MK has ever made.
From what I heard, I'll pass on the next album and tour. Period.
I hope MK's gonna change his mind but I seriously doubt it. :-/
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I wasn't impressed by Ian Thomas either, especially on SAN, but even worse was Jim Cox on STP and also that horrendous end solo on SAN! :o
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Jim Cox is a different story, Mark's choice since 96. And SOS solo put apart I had no complaint about him.
That said Matt did a fantastic job and I miss him.
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I didnt liked Jim Cox either... Matt Rollings played far better and with more energy... From Glasgow show I dont have any memory of him being on stage, but I have many from Matt... Excellent player.
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Remember that Jim Cox would have been the first pick ever since 1996, had he not suffered from his inner ear illness.
First there was Geraint Watkins (who I only miss because of how funny he looked while playing the accordion, if he didn't seem to fall off from his podium, he'd be fainting due to loss of air). And then MK picked Matt as a second stand-in for Jim.
But I have to agree that Matt is still the best one in comparison.
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I used to call him Jim "cling clong cling clong" Cox by his piano playing...
Matt played with a feeling and a power that I didnt see in the MK band since Alan Clark.
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I fell in love with Matt's beautiful piano playing some years ago on Mary Chapin Carpenter's albums, of whom I am also a fan. I agree, he plays with much feeling and is quite poetic, unlike plinky-plonk Jim.
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Personally, I think its a shame that MK chooses to change his personnel so often - it's always fun to play with new people but there doesn't seem to be any sense of loyalty to drummers in particular. Looking back as far as OES, I think it was a very bad choice to use Chris Whitten over Terry Williams. Chris seemed to be a more kind of stop start drummer, flick a switch and off he goes. And whilst Danny is undoubtedly a world class percussionist, the set up on that tour was simply over the top.
I'm not familiar with Ian Thomas or his playing, since I havent seen MK live since 2005. However, it does look to me like drums will be taking a back seat on this album. I think if you are going to water drums down it may be best not to have them at all.
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There are a lot of videos of the Strat Pack concert in youtube where you can see how good drummer is Ian Thomas.
Also some videos from Steve Winwood and Clapton... Amazing.
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But maybe MK doesn't choose to change his personnel so often, it could be that they were simply not available - involved in other stuff, not wanting to do a long tour - who knows?
Anyway - are you going to do a concert Visitor? - hi by the way
:D
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Hello Sak4, thanks for the reply
Yes, you are probably right there is something to do with availability too which has something to do with changing band members.
When I next do a concert I will let you know. For real, I play bass!
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I do agree with you, there was a great feeling with Danny playing drums. It had a feel which I missed when Ian played.
Sometimes even an excellent musician does not fit well with some artists - this is really an alchemy.
I must admit that Ian playing last year did not impress me.
What I recall is Privateering sounding just awful.
+1
And the alchemy worked with Danny.
Can't understand Mark's choice on this one. At least I'm happy to read I'm not the only one to think this way.
What Danny used to do, Ian did the same during the last tour
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Hello Sak4, thanks for the reply
Yes, you are probably right there is something to do with availability too which has something to do with changing band members.
When I next do a concert I will let you know. For real, I play bass!
Hi Vis
mmm - sounds cool
Sally :)
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I welcome the return of plinky plonk Jim, Matts was too cheesy for me as I prefer a bit of boogy woogy Jools Holland style of playing. Danny seemed like a nice chap and its a shame he's not around MK anymore. I even got to talk to him at a very early Blues Club gig years ago. Although I cant remember the conversation as the bloody barman sold me too many beers.
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MK has always said that he likes to make changes so that he doesn't get bored with his songs. Can you imagine just how many times he's played Sultans or R&J over the years? Perhaps that's part of the reason for the changes in line-up? I also get the impression that he likes to help his friends out, too. The music industry can be a cruel business when you're not in the limelight, and playing on a major artists album, or touring with them, can be quite lucrative.
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I was not very impressed with Ian on last tour, but we'll see. I'm sure he has a lot to give if properly unleashed.
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Maybe Jim reminds mark of his uncle Kingsley? The boogie woodie playing uncle?
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Woow, strange, I think that Ian Thomas is great drummer...listen to Song for sonny liston with him for example...so creative! And he does absolutelly no mistakes, or I haven
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Ian Thomas is the BEST drummer MK had ever... probably even better than Chad Cromwell.
The problem with here is that we compare his drumming with the previous drummers, many of us know how Chad or Danny played all the songs and when Ian play them his way, some dont like it, and its understable, because we expect something else.
I saw Ian Thomas playing drums in the Strat Pack dvd, as the drummer in the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood dvd, he also plays in the Music for Monserrat concert (together with Phil Collins in many tracks) and his playing is EXCELLENT.
When in Glasgow concert last year, I liked him a lot because of all the new things he add to the old songs, the way he played the new ones, but I was a bit dissapointed because he changed many little things we were used with Danny, but every drummer has his beat. Actually, my impression was that probably MK music nowadays is not so demanding, concerning to drums, like it used to be, or to what Ian is used to play.
If there is such a thing as best drummer then in my humble opinion the best drummer(s) MK had were on the album On Every Street. Jeff Porcaro and Manu Kath
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Hi, I've been lurking for awhile. Ian Thomas is fantastic! Danny Cummings was a good, solid drummer but not really good enough for an artist of MK's stature. Danny's a wonderful percussionist and average kit player IMHO.
Just looking back through a few threads on Danny Cummings
Oh how a laughed at this one ...
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Funny how people see Jim's playing as plinky plonky when the first memory of his playing I have is the middle section in sultans in 1996 where he played marvellous jazzy things akin to little stories inside the song. These passages were different at every date. Listen to Caen recording if you caen. ;D
When he was given that space in marbletown in 2015 where he just went where his mind told him to, his playing was heavenly at times.
And he sure can boogie like hell! How he can keep that insane rhythm at times while playing a thousand notes is beyond me.
As for the subject of Ian vs Danny, I couldn't tell, I loved Chad ;)
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Any drummer who has played with Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton and Mike Oldfield has to be good. ;)
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There are a lot of videos of the Strat Pack concert in youtube where you can see how good drummer is Ian Thomas.
Also some videos from Steve Winwood and Clapton... Amazing.
same goes for his performance with David Gilmour on the Fender thing.
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Hi, I've been lurking for awhile. Ian Thomas is fantastic! Danny Cummings was a good, solid drummer but not really good enough for an artist of MK's stature. Danny's a wonderful percussionist and average kit player IMHO.
Just looking back through a few threads on Danny Cummings
Oh how a laughed at this one ...
pls elaborate
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I welcome the return of plinky plonk Jim, Matts was too cheesy for me as I prefer a bit of boogy woogy Jools Holland style of playing. Danny seemed like a nice chap and its a shame he's not around MK anymore. I even got to talk to him at a very early Blues Club gig years ago. Although I cant remember the conversation as the bloody barman sold me too many beers.
the reason i hate barmen