A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => One Deep River / The Boy => Topic started by: cannibals on January 26, 2022, 09:36:17 AM
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Guy has put on the studio diary 2022, coming soon, on his homepage……
https://guyfletcher.co.uk/2022-studio-diary-week-1/
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Something started...
The setup...
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:D You were faster, I was going to write that
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:thumbsup. :)
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https://guyfletcher.co.uk/studio-diary-2022/
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https://guyfletcher.co.uk/studio-diary-2022/
And........off we go!!!!!!! :clap :clap
EXCITED is an understatement!!!! ;D
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Yes! Me too:)
They should start in 4 days. if I understand correctly.
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Yes! Me too:)
They should start in 4 days. if I understand correctly.
In 4 days he would upload a diary.
According to what Guy says in some of his answers, they already started. McCusker and McGoldrick had been there already, for example.
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Right :thumbsup
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Yes! Me too:)
They should start in 4 days. if I understand correctly.
In 4 days he would upload a diary.
According to what Guy says in some of his answers, they already started. McCusker and McGoldrick had been there already, for example.
Roll on Friday......
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This setup picture is more or less what I thought would be happening this first week...or maybe the last week of January.
Setting up everything for the band, so when they are there, they could start recording. In that picture you can see a lot of keyboards, drum kits, mics, sound walls etc. Usually set up everything is time consuming so having all ready before the musicians comes is important, depending on their ideas of what they are gonna do, probably the booths are ready also with an array of amps and mics for every musician. I recall that for the last record, Glenn was in one booth, Danny was also in one, and I think the brass (Tom and Nigel) also had their own booths, I can't remember about Richard, but I think he also had one, so having a list of what they need, you can have ready their booths so when they are there, is ready for a go!
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This setup picture is more or less what I thought would be happening this first week...or maybe the last week of January.
and I think the brass (Tom and Nigel) also had their own booths,
Fingers crossed there won't be any brass on the new record!
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Congas!
(https://guyfletcher.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Neve88RConsole-800x952.jpg)
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Congas!
(https://guyfletcher.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Neve88RConsole-800x952.jpg)
I wonder if this picture is for current recording sessions or from DTRW...
However, when he said FULL BAND, I understood that all the band from the last tour would be there, so, yes, Danny might be back!
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It says also "Loop"...
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Guy published the first diary: https://guyfletcher.co.uk/2022-studio-diary-week-1/ (https://guyfletcher.co.uk/2022-studio-diary-week-1/)
As expected, not a terribly interesting article, but I'm not trying to hate on Guy, it's just, like, my opinion. Still, it's fascinating and refreshing to see them recording again after all that trouble we've all been through, that's truly a miracle. And for a glimpse of that, thanks to Guy as always, he's a legend.
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I like the picture of Mark with some of the band around him. :)
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I like the picture of Mark with some of the band around him. :)
Me too. Great to see them all together again. Pictures of buttons and knobs aren't really doing much for me, although I did like the sideways electricity sockets behind Jim. :P :P
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Greg Leisz as guest musician. Awesome pedal steel / lap steel player. Love his work with Bill Frisell.
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And again my imagination working overtime ;)
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Greg Leisz, so we can expect some nice tracks with pedal, lap steel and dobro too, can’t wait!
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This setup picture is more or less what I thought would be happening this first week...or maybe the last week of January.
and I think the brass (Tom and Nigel) also had their own booths,
Fingers crossed there won't be any brass on the new record!
Fingers crossed! :wave
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And again my imagination working overtime ;)
Mine, too! ;)
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I like the picture of Mark with some of the band around him. :)
Interestingly, Jim is playing ukulele right handed but is writing his chord chart left handed. Hmmm a lefty who plays strings right handed. Who else would do a thing like that?!?
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Lovely to see them together again!
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Four weeks of recording he says. This is titled as week 1 on Guy’s website so we can expect 3 more updates??
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I like the picture of Mark with some of the band around him. :)
Interestingly, Jim is playing ukulele right handed but is writing his chord chart left handed. Hmmm a lefty who plays strings right handed. Who else would do a thing like that?!?
:lol :lol :lol
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I guess Richard's Gretsch is the one he plays on Summer of love
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From McCusker instagram, these are from last friday (Mike and John were in London playing for the Transatlantic Sessions concert)
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Michael McGoldrick.
There is good energy :)
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:thumbsup
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Anyone knows if there have been signs of Tom Walsh or Graeme Blevins being involved ?
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Anyone knows if there have been signs of Tom Walsh or Graeme Blevins being involved ?
I would like. I know I'm in the minority, but I really like Slow Learner and When You Leave.
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Anyone knows if there have been signs of Tom Walsh or Graeme Blevins being involved ?
I would like. I know I'm in the minority, but I really like Slow Learner and When You Leave.
I also like When You Leave, one of my favourites from DTRW, but I would like to see less influence of the brass section on this album.
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Anyone knows if there have been signs of Tom Walsh or Graeme Blevins being involved ?
They might be, but maybe later. Usually is the core band for all songs who goes and record the songs, and then the other musicians come to play their parts.
These days Mike McGoldrick and John McCusker are coming in and out to record their parts when they have free slots as they were touring with the Transatlantic Sessions and fron now to mid of March they are doing their own tour, so, the musicians we saw in Guy's diaries are just the ones recording the main parts of the songs only.
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Anyone knows if McGoldrick and McCusker are ever doing anything not together? I'm so used to them be in pair I almost think they are conjoined twins or something.
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Anyone knows if McGoldrick and McCusker are ever doing anything not together? I'm so used to them be in pair I almost think they are conjoined twins or something.
Actually they are a trio, with John Doyle. They are playing in that trio format for many years ago, recording and touring. And they are very good.
https://twitter.com/universalhall/status/1488121165159804930/photo/1
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Anyone knows if McGoldrick and McCusker are ever doing anything not together? I'm so used to them be in pair I almost think they are conjoined twins or something.
Actually they are a trio, with John Doyle. They are playing in that trio format for many years ago, recording and touring. And they are very good.
https://twitter.com/universalhall/status/1488121165159804930/photo/1
Indeed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUM8mn0_Hk
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They also have their own bands, separately. I have been to see them both.
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They also have their own bands, separately. I have been to see them both.
Yes, and for example, McGoldrick plays in Capercaille!
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They also have their own bands, separately. I have been to see them both.
Yes, and for example, McGoldrick plays in Capercaille!
Yes, I've seen them a few times - love Karen Matheson's voice!
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Didn't Karen Matheson sing on some of the Local Hero musical demos at British Grove a while ago?
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Didn't Karen Matheson sing on some of the Local Hero musical demos at British Grove a while ago?
Yes, she did. Maybe we will hear it someday!
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Didn't Karen Matheson sing on some of the Local Hero musical demos at British Grove a while ago?
Yes, she did. Maybe we will hear it someday!
I always wonder which song/s she sung, which role was in the musical...
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Question about "Two Skinny Kids"
GF:
Two Skinny Kids is an old song. It may find it’s way out on a subsequent MK release but we are working on all new material. As ever.
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Question about "Two Skinny Kids"
GF:
Two Skinny Kids is an old song. It may find it’s way out on a subsequent MK release but we are working on all new material. As ever.
Hahahahahaa! Man, gotta love Guy. As if Mark never recorded "old songs". It took him 15 years to record Rüdiger and even more Secondary Waltz, and even more time to record One More Matinee and here goes Guy saying "we're looking forward only". This Guy guy is so full of... Something.
I mean why always this strange attitude? Say just it may or not be recorded on these sessions, not switch on your absurd "looking forward" argument again. Even Mark doesn't overuse it so much.
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Ok, but we know there will be no old titles on the new album ;)
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Question about "Two Skinny Kids"
GF:
Two Skinny Kids is an old song. It may find it’s way out on a subsequent MK release but we are working on all new material. As ever.
Hahahahahaa! Man, gotta love Guy. As if Mark never recorded "old songs". It took him 15 years to record Rüdiger and even more Secondary Waltz, and even more time to record One More Matinee and here goes Guy saying "we're looking forward only". This Guy guy is so full of... Something.
I mean why always this strange attitude? Say just it may or not be recorded on these sessions, not switch on your absurd "looking forward" argument again. Even Mark doesn't overuse it so much.
As you say: Rudiger and SW weren't entirely new. So much for "all new material. As ever." ;D
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Speedway To Nazareth
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From Get Lucky album we only have new material (Remembrance Day is a small exception)
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From Get Lucky album we only have new material (Remembrance Day is a small exception)
Get Lucky was also an old one, previously titled 'you win some'
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From Get Lucky album we only have new material (Remembrance Day is a small exception)
Get Lucky was also an old one, previously titled 'you win some'
Tsssss. Don't tell Guy about it! :lol
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From Get Lucky album we only have new material (Remembrance Day is a small exception)
Get Lucky was also an old one, previously titled 'you win some'
It's true.
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When Guy states new material, I think he is referring to new recordings, not newly written, as he says Mark writes all the time, so it makes sense he can record a song he has been working on for a long time, Rudiger the perfect example. The irony with Two Skinny Kids is that at one time, it was the "New material" That is one song I would love to be released, it doesn't have to be on the main new album, could be on a single B-Side release, Mark has done that several times.
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Greg Leisz as guest musician. Awesome pedal steel / lap steel player. Love his work with Bill Frisell.
This is fantastic news. He is a sensational steel player. Saw him in 2013 with Clapton's band. His presence made some of the increasingly lifeless Clapton songs sound interesting and new again.
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Greg Leisz as guest musician. Awesome pedal steel / lap steel player. Love his work with Bill Frisell.
This is fantastic news. He is a sensational steel player. Saw him in 2013 with Clapton's band. His presence made some of the increasingly lifeless Clapton songs sound interesting and new again.
I just noticed he also recorded on the new John Mayer album, quite a busy guy it seems!
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Looks like something's coming .......
Guy: Yes, I will update the diary now.
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Looks like something's coming .......
Guy: Yes, I will update the diary now.
Now as in 1 week ago…. :smack and still nothing….
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it is running
Part 2
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Only strats, a Tele and many accoustic guitars. No Les Paul? :hmm :o That‘s strange
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Studio Diary 2:
https://guyfletcher.co.uk/2022-studio-diary-2/
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wonder if the National Tricone is Mark's one or belongs to another musician ? :think
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Only strats, a Tele and many accoustic guitars. No Les Paul? :hmm :o That‘s strange
There is a LP in the back
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Too much traffic on Guy’s site. Can’t access it.
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The picture in the lounge is John Bratby "Watching TV". I love it but maybe too much brown for some peoples taste. Possible new album cover?
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I thought about that too. Where are Three Lambrettas...
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Another masterpiece in my eyes. Mark is becoming quite the connoisseur!
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I thought about that too. Where are Three Lambrettas...
I just checked and it seems like the same lounge with Three Lambrettas. Either they have two identical lounges with different paintings (it's two stores anyway), or they hung different paintings in the same lounge. I wonder how much Mark paid for these...
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Exactly. We also see this painting in the documentary Life In Songs.
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I noticed that the picture had changed too. I hope MK still has it somewhere, because it seemed so perfect being on the album cover.
I found this article regarding the sale of another John Bratby painting - "Three Lambrettas" .
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/granada-to-sell-oil-painting-984496
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I noticed that the picture had changed too. I hope MK still has it somewhere, because it seemed so perfect being on the album cover.
I found this article regarding the sale of another John Bratby painting - "Three Lambrettas" .
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/granada-to-sell-oil-painting-984496
Thank you for the article!
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I hope he chooses something else than that grim painting. I didn't notice the painting, but that he wears three layers of clothes while the others wears shirts or t-shirts. I'm glad to see that he smiles at least :-)
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wonder if the National Tricone is Mark's one or belongs to another musician ? :think
Richard has one, he played it live with MK in the past, usually playing it on his lap with a bootleneck.
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Looks like MK has a predilection for that artists.
Maybe both paintings are in the same room, one in each part, maybe he take the Lambrettas one out and have it on his house or in another part of the studio.
That would be something interesting to ask Guy, wouldn't it?
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If I had a 58 Les Paul worth $250k (probably more due to the MK association), I would keep it in a case...
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wonder if the National Tricone is Mark's one or belongs to another musician ? :think
Richard has one, he played it live with MK in the past, usually playing it on his lap with a bootleneck.
Yes I know. and someone noticed that the one on the pic seems to have a square neck, so indeed it's most likely Richard's one
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I noticed that the picture had changed too. I hope MK still has it somewhere, because it seemed so perfect being on the album cover.
I found this article regarding the sale of another John Bratby painting - "Three Lambrettas" .
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/granada-to-sell-oil-painting-984496
That's not the same one on the Crimson cover, but very similar, maybe Bratby painted a series of them.
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(https://guyfletcher.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/InCR-scaled.jpg)
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"Watching TV"
Does this painting tell us something? Message?
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"Watching TV"
Does this painting tell us something? Message?
ah ah ah ah, very good Robson!
I doubt there is any message on that further that MK likes the paintings of that artist, but who knows... maybe he found any inspiration on it for a song, for an album title, or even for a cover!
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Exactly!
...I'd kill to get crimson
on this palette knife...
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My first thought: Punish The Monkey :)
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Danny on FB in the MK group:
Hello Dear Friends,
I thought that I would stop by and say hi.
I know that you probably feel as passionately as I do, about MK’s music.
I think maybe that photo was taken on the last day of recording, though I’m not absolutely sure.
It was one of the most satisfying and enjoyable months of work that I can ever remember. As you can see the mood was light although the work itself was quite serious. Meticulous and intensive though never intense, those guys are pro’s and can take it as it comes. They never panic and the sessions just glide along.
Before you knew it the day was over as time just went by so quickly.
Whole bands recording together live like we did, has become something of a rarity. And therein hides the X factor which to me is the fact that you are capturing not just a piece of music but an even and the spirit of something very palpable, which took place in a room one day and is preserved as a piece of art.
When I listen to old records I always imagine the musicians being there “together”.!
To me, that’s what it’s all about.
We got a lot of work done but it was over all too soon. We all gave each other a hug, kind words were spoken and we each went our separate ways.
An unforgettable month of art, music, humour and a camaraderie. Like no other!
Be safe and well all of you
Love
Danny x
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Beautiful words thank you Danny :)
Thank you Dutchessy :)
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In this lot Watching TV had a sale estimate of £8000 - £12,000 not sure when that was though. I don't think this was the inspiration for Watching TV by Roger Waters though :)
https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/news/article/john-bratby/
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wonder if the National Tricone is Mark's one or belongs to another musician ? :think
Richard has one, he played it live with MK in the past, usually playing it on his lap with a bootleneck.
Yes I know. and someone noticed that the one on the pic seems to have a square neck, so indeed it's most likely Richard's one
I have to say, who plays what and who owns what when it comes to making MK's records absolutely fascinates me. Several times before, Guy has referred to Richard playing something that he owns. So does MK have a list of all of Richard's instruments? Are the songs established enough before the band get "sent for" to the point where MK can ask Richard to bring this or that instrument with him? Does MK own all those percussion instruments?
And what about the lap steels in the rack? If they weren't MK's, would they be housed in the rack of guitars? and where is everything kept? I'm guessing MK has a fair amount of guitars (probably acoustics) with him at his home but are all the rest of the guitars kept there?
And when they go on tour, how do they decide which Mc plays which instrument? Who made the decision for Mike to play tenor guitar in StP and John to play whistle?
My goodness, I badly need that Henrik H documentary.
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Questions, questions... Good questions. It is also very fascinating for me.
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Yes, it's always fascinating to see all the great songs from Mark's junkyard ;D come to life.
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Mark has a warehouse where he keeps his stuff, Chris Evans said he was jealous of it when he interviewed him around Tracker time.
I assume he keeps fancy cars in there (hence the jealousy from Chris), but guitars too I guess.
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Interesting to read that Robbie Mcs son Rowan is an engineer at BG...
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If they featured some lap steel that would make me quite happy. As for that DX1 that they again hauled up from the basement just because they can - I couldn't care less. But presumably it makes somebody happy and that's always a good thing then. I guess.
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GF about Greg Leisz:
Mark had an eye on Greg for a long while and has always wanted to include him in the band recording line-up. It was a great addition and it seemed like Greg had always been here. He played a mixture of instruments, Steel, Lap, acoustics etc.
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Greg is a musician's musician.
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GF about Greg Leisz:
Mark had an eye on Greg for a long while and has always wanted to include him in the band recording line-up. It was a great addition and it seemed like Greg had always been here. He played a mixture of instruments, Steel, Lap, acoustics etc.
A pity is only for a studio recording, it would had been nice to finally have a proper steel player in the touring band.
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GF about Greg Leisz:
Mark had an eye on Greg for a long while and has always wanted to include him in the band recording line-up. It was a great addition and it seemed like Greg had always been here. He played a mixture of instruments, Steel, Lap, acoustics etc.
Steel, Lap, Acoustics! Wow, sounds great! Hopefully no brass section this time.
Can't wait to hear the new album. I hope the release won't take too long.
Thanks, Robson!
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GF about Greg Leisz:
Mark had an eye on Greg for a long while and has always wanted to include him in the band recording line-up. It was a great addition and it seemed like Greg had always been here. He played a mixture of instruments, Steel, Lap, acoustics etc.
Steel, Lap, Acoustics! Wow, sounds great! Hopefully no brass section this time.
Can't wait to hear the new album. I hope the release won't take too long.
Thanks, Robson!
Me too. Maybe January? :)
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Hahahahaha i think it will be april may 2023
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Hahahahaha i think it will be april may 2023
Yes, between march-april 2023.
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Ok:) Probably only one album (small) was released in January. ExtendeDancEPlay.
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I wonder why Guy didn't add the week 3 of the recording diary.
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I wonder why Guy didn't add the week 3 of the recording diary.
He used to add the third and last page when the record is done and sent to mastering in Portland, or they have it back ready, and he said in his forum that other projects are eaten their time and they didn't finished working on the new Mk album yet.
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Greg is a very interesting player, he likes a bit of dirt in his slide tones. Should be fun.
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GF:
"We are on a break from Mark’s album. I am working at home on various things and we will soon be involved in the Local Hero Rehearsals for the Chichester show"
I can't believe I believed new album would be released in 2022 :) I am so naive :disbelief
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GF:
"We are on a break from Mark’s album. I am working at home on various things and we will soon be involved in the Local Hero Rehearsals for the Chichester show"
I can't believe I believed new album would be released in 2022 :) I am so naive :disbelief
But it was already stated somewhere it's a 2023 project. I'm not waiting for the 2022 MK album.
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GF:
"We are on a break from Mark’s album. I am working at home on various things and we will soon be involved in the Local Hero Rehearsals for the Chichester show"
I can't believe I believed new album would be released in 2022 :) I am so naive :disbelief
Ha! Maybe overly optimistic but not naïve. It is becoming astonishing the time at which this is taking and considering the pace they are going that they actually need a break! Tiring business choosing microphones and drinking tea obviously. ::)
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GF:
"We are on a break from Mark’s album. I am working at home on various things and we will soon be involved in the Local Hero Rehearsals for the Chichester show"
I can't believe I believed new album would be released in 2022 :) I am so naive :disbelief
But it was already stated somewhere it's a 2023 project. I'm not waiting for the 2022 MK album.
Yes, I know. But two or three months ago, I still believed in 22.
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"Maybe overly optimistic but not naïve"
I like it:)
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Of course they take a break now in summer.
MK will go out for holidays until maybe after his birthday on August 12th.
Then the rehearsals, album continues, First LH show, album continues... Christmas
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That's true. There is a chance that new album will be released in the same month as Golden Heart :)
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That's true. There is a chance that new album will be released in the same month as Golden Heart :)
Let's see, according to Guy, they are very busy with things he can't tell, he says that days hadn't enough hours etc so depending on what they are on...
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That's true. There is a chance that new album will be released in the same month as Golden Heart :)
Let's see, according to Guy, they are very busy with things he can't tell, he says that days hadn't enough hours etc so depending on what they are on...
With all this waiting Mark certainly raises the bar of anticipation. Knowing that he's a prolific songwriter who writes so much to justify double/triple albums, and after 2 years of covid and now practically World War 3 going on, and Mark rapidly aging, I only anticipate a masterpiece from him. Like Shangri-La.
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GF:
"We are on a break from Mark’s album. I am working at home on various things and we will soon be involved in the Local Hero Rehearsals for the Chichester show"
I can't believe I believed new album would be released in 2022 :) I am so naive :disbelief
Ha! Maybe overly optimistic but not naïve. It is becoming astonishing the time at which this is taking and considering the pace they are going that they actually need a break! Tiring business choosing microphones and drinking tea obviously. ::)
And yet when Guy was asked if Mark would go on Top Gear he said he’s probably been asked but wouldn’t have time……
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.
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Hmm, i´m trying to be patient and having a cup of tea. The new album will come, definitely. 8)
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Richard Bennett said in an interview with Andy Ellis (The Guitar Show Episode 107 on Spotify) that during last February's recording session at BG around 25 songs were recorded.
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Good news! 25! Thank you skydiver :)
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And I bet you can add another 10 or so from the week in November. Sounds like a lot of songs - some of which might never hit the air waves which will be a shame!
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It will be a quadruple album.
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Privateering part two. Five songs as b-sides. Why not? A little more joy and optimism in the new year. Please ;)
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It is possible, that the record-company will release Marks new album in multiple variations again. CD-Album, Special CD-Album with Bonus-CD, 2-LP-Vinyl-Set (i hope so), as limited Deluxe BOX-Edition with Vinyls, CDs, DVDs and some nice additional stuff, like posters, lyric-sheets, pictures, or other gimmix.
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Sounds like a lot of songs - some of which might never hit the air waves which will be a shame!
Well I am sure at some point they will all see the light...
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They always record much more than they need. I seems to recall that Ianto said they recorded close to 45 tracks for Privateering...
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I know it's too early but I wonder when the first information about the new album will be. I remember seeing the cover of the Down The Road Wherever album long before the official announcement of the release.
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Robson
Sacks & Co https://sacksco.com/clients.html
Since 2006 this PR agency from US always was first https://web.archive.org/web/20060513090528fw_/http://www.sacksco.com/news.html
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Robson
Sacks & Co https://sacksco.com/clients.html
Since 2006 this PR agency from US always was first https://web.archive.org/web/20060513090528fw_/http://www.sacksco.com/news.html
That’s great info to know. Impressive sleuthing!
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New album mixing soon according Guy.
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New album mixing soon according Guy.
YES ! :)
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So mixing will begin shortly = album release in September 2023, small tour in spring 2024 ;D
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New album mixing soon according Guy.
And a new diary entry...
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So mixing will begin shortly = album release in September 2023, small tour in spring 2024 ;D
I would go for album release september 2023 and 4/5 weeks on the road oktober/november 2023 :-\
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Small tour? Are these dreams?
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I'm happy there's still a record to look forward to, but I can't imagine any show after a 4-5 year hiatus, given the MK we saw in 2019.
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I think it's possible. There will be no big, small tour, but we will definitely see MK on stage.
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I'm happy there's still a record to look forward to, but I can't imagine any show after a 4-5 year hiatus, given the MK we saw in 2019.
I share the same opinion. A 69 year-old Mark was in terrible shape. Don't want to think what would be a 74 year-old Mark doing a 2 hour show.
That being said, bring on the new album! :)
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I think it's possible. There will be no big, small tour, but we will definitely see MK on stage.
To be honest. I have no idea. He could also release the album. Do some interviews at British Groove, play a few songs for BBC radio and move on to the next project.... Always looking forward...........
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Does anyone know how long it takes to mix an album? Is an April 2023 release still possible?
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Does anyone know how long it takes to mix an album? Is an April 2023 release still possible?
I thought and hoped for spring, but I don't think it's possible. Mixing, mastering, graphics. And vinyl albums that delay everything.
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Does anyone know how long it takes to mix an album? Is an April 2023 release still possible?
He said that in a few week he will be mixing the TCT project so I guess MK album would be already mixed in a few weeks, or they would pause the MK album mixes to do the another ones. But Guy says THEY ARE ALMOST AT THE MIXING STAGE, so they are not mixing yet...
However, mixing is not the problem. Looks like producing LP's takes between four and five months of queue and manufacturing, so I would bet for September as release date, as sooner.
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I wonder how many physical copies MK sells these days.
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I reckon he still has pulling power of three or four hundred thousand or so but not sure if this would include downloads also. As good as his music is, not sure that with the passage of time et al, he is a million selling artist anymore. . . . .
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I wonder how many physical copies MK sells these days.
Surely the question should be:I wonder how many album streams MK gets these days? ;D
As for the vinyl if it hasn't already been booked the waiting list for the better pressing plants is 6 months.
Quite a few artists are now releasing vinyl later than cds/downloads/streaming and as sales for the new MK are likely to be low having a coordinated release won't really matter.
He said no more touring so any show(s)would be a nice surprise.
His health is the reason why I was hoping LH Musical would be canned.I'd much rather have new songs/albums from him than so much time wasted/spent on LH(even though I really enjoyed seeing it.)
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Maybe also with the number of songs that the gang having been recorded in February and November last year the 'next album' is already in the bag so to speak and might be released a short time after what's coming this year? Didn't Springsteen in fact release two albums on the same day once back in the 90's?? Who knows what the pathway is.
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Maybe also with the number of songs that the gang having been recorded in February and November last year the 'next album' is already in the bag so to speak and might be released a short time after what's coming this year? Didn't Springsteen in fact release two albums on the same day once back in the 90's?? Who knows what the pathway is.
Yes, Human Touch and Lucky Town.
Guns and Roses did the same a year earlier, in fact they knocked DS off the number one slot here in the UK when they did so.
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PS, according to streaming services his latest release is Cinematic Knopfler, a compilation of film music.
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I really hope he doesn't go for a double release. To me, Mark has become a bit of songwriting "machine", and he has released a number of very ordinary, almost mediocre, tracks.
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I wonder how many physical copies MK sells these days.
Surely the question should be:I wonder how many album streams MK gets these days? ;D
As for the vinyl if it hasn't already been booked the waiting list for the better pressing plants is 6 months.
Quite a few artists are now releasing vinyl later than cds/downloads/streaming and as sales for the new MK are likely to be low having a coordinated release won't really matter.
He said no more touring so any show(s)would be a nice surprise.
His health is the reason why I was hoping LH Musical would be canned.I'd much rather have new songs/albums from him than so much time wasted/spent on LH(even though I really enjoyed seeing it.)
Has he definitely said no more tours?
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Does anyone know how long it takes to mix an album? Is an April 2023 release still possible?
He said that in a few week he will be mixing the TCT project so I guess MK album would be already mixed in a few weeks, or they would pause the MK album mixes to do the another ones. But Guy says THEY ARE ALMOST AT THE MIXING STAGE, so they are not mixing yet...
However, mixing is not the problem. Looks like producing LP's takes between four and five months of queue and manufacturing, so I would bet for September as release date, as sooner.
Did Guy not say about a year ago that album already was delayed because of pressing LP. Later they decided to record more songs. So i hope this not means they have a new date again for pressing the LP meaning it will be later again.......
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I wonder how many physical copies MK sells these days.
Surely the question should be:I wonder how many album streams MK gets these days? ;D
As for the vinyl if it hasn't already been booked the waiting list for the better pressing plants is 6 months.
Quite a few artists are now releasing vinyl later than cds/downloads/streaming and as sales for the new MK are likely to be low having a coordinated release won't really matter.
He said no more touring so any show(s)would be a nice surprise.
His health is the reason why I was hoping LH Musical would be canned.I'd much rather have new songs/albums from him than so much time wasted/spent on LH(even though I really enjoyed seeing it.)
The Local Hero Musical features MK songs, some of them very beautiful that could be easily on any of his records.
Also, he recorded enough songs to release one album per year for sure, and all of them would be of quality, think that for some of his previous records, some of the bonus tracks were very very good, if he had saved them, he could had released all of them in a cd and it would had been top quality too.
I don't know where I read they already recorded 25 songs for this new record, so they are not really wasting time in Local Hero or other stuff, it´s just that Mk is slow, as he sings himself.
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Part 3
https://www.guyfletcher.co.uk/2023-studio-diary-3/?fbclid=IwAR20EG_kr9bsPKu5NafP0ZQjHKNwcYnkagZuEYs1yGq1q5u2QCelJekgZxs
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Wow! Beautiful harp :)
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Wow, Mark is wearing shorts in one of the pictures!
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Did anyone get anything out of this? They are lost in a toyshop, trying out all there is, and I am happy for them, but.. *need a bit more time to find words*
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Did anyone get anything out of this? They are lost in a toyshop, trying out all there is, and I am happy for them, but.. *need a bit more time to find words*
I read it in a more positive way. It's great that they can afford to record an album for 2 years. Can you imagine, for instance, a movie that takes 2 years to shoot?
The long recording doesn't automatically mean good quality, but it's also hard to imagine them releasing something unfinished.
A long-awaited record is only long-awaited until it releases, but a bad record is bad forever.
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"with myriad projects happening simultaneously"
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Interesting to see a 12 string ovation.
Can't wait to hear the results.....
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Mark seems to play with a pick on the 335
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Mark seems to play with a pick on the 335
well not sure finally
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"with myriad projects happening simultaneously"
don't forget it's said by Guy :lol ;D
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Wow, Mark is wearing shorts in one of the pictures!
That looks pretty interesting :lol
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
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One section is puzzeling:
"But all was not lost, we’ve got a remote session lined up with him, so he’ll feature on the whole shebang."
Could this mean that Greg's remote session for the November tracks is still to come, so not all of the recording work is finished?
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
There are no pics of John and Mike in the diaries, but i remember some instagram posts of John Mccusker that they took part in the recordings, right?
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One section is puzzeling:
"But all was not lost, we’ve got a remote session lined up with him, so he’ll feature on the whole shebang."
this means that Greg's remote session for the November tracks is still to come, so not all of the recording work is finished.
Fixed it for ya :)
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
There are no pics of John and Mike in the diaries, but i remember some instagram posts of John Mccusker that they took part in the recordings, right?
Yes. I remember that photo too :)
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They didn't play on Golden Heart either, and that is the style I would like to hear from Mark again.
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They didn't play on Golden Heart either, and that is the style I would like to hear from Mark again.
No, but they had their equivalent in the form of the Irish guys.
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
Exactly my hope, also! And no brass please. ;)
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
Exactly my hope, also! And no brass please. ;)
:thumbsup :)
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Songs like Slow Learner, When You Leave will make me very happy :)
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
No, please, no. The Celtic thing has been done to death.
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
No, please, no. The Celtic thing has been done to death.
It most certainly has.
But we can never say MK is stuck in his ways :lol
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
No, please, no. The Celtic thing has been done to death.
It most certainly has.
But we can never say MK is stuck in his ways :lol
But if not for Celtic, then what? Blues — we've already got plenty of bluesy MK. Country? Jazz? I always want more jazz, but it's because I'm a huge jazz aficionado.
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With the mentioned instruments, I am hoping for a return to a more Celtic/Country/Folk thing.
No, please, no. The Celtic thing has been done to death.
It most certainly has.
But we can never say MK is stuck in his ways :lol
But if not for Celtic, then what? Blues — we've already got plenty of bluesy MK. Country? Jazz? I always want more jazz, but it's because I'm a huge jazz aficionado.
GUITAR, LONG GUITAR SOLO'S IS WHAT WE WANT ;D
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:lol I want more MK doing his thing :) Country would be nice. Not blues as in "back in the day", but maybe as in "I think I love you too much". The brass section worked live, but I prefer to not have them on the album. I am not sure about the girls doing backing vocals. I have admired Mark for mostly steering away from it, and not least to not having female backing vocals on concerts. The only one that works for me is EmmyLou, but it depends on the song.
Reading your thoughts have lifted my spirit a bit. It is good to have some news from the studio :) The GF forum is filled with tech questions, I feel that is a good thing and they will more likely be answered. His answer to tinkered songs, that could be both "when to stop", and the type of song, like an untouched one compared to "Back on the dancefloor" ?
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GF:
"There are a few songs in this batch that were essentially one take but the majority are ‘tinkered with’. I would say we’ve played with sounds, effects and reverbs more on this album"
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GUITAR, LONG GUITAR SOLO'S IS WHAT WE WANT ;D
Unfortunately it has become the impossible dream :disbelief
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GUITAR, LONG GUITAR SOLO'S IS WHAT WE WANT ;D
Unfortunately it has become the impossible dream :disbelief
He can take his time and do as many overdubs and edits as he likes. There is no pressure to perform them in a live situation either, so play Mark, play! 🎸🎸
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I wonder that is more a question of he doesnt want to play long solos anymore, lol
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I don't blame him, he's been there and done that, it's better and more interesting to try different things, than doing the same old stuff like some other artists seem to do.
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I don't blame him, he's been there and done that, it's better and more interesting to try different things, than doing the same old stuff like some other artists seem to do.
Yes of course it is but is he really trying different things?
As Cash and Diamond showed it's never too late but being the curmudgeon he is MK is relatively stuck in his ways and,of course,we love him for it.
I'd like him to try different producers but that ship has sailed so it'll be something similar which means some quality songs played rather well.
It's almost impossible to criticise that so I look forward to the new album with the documentary and perhaps a showcase or two.
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I feel like he hasn't really tried new things. You could make a random mix of songs from RPD all the way through to DTRW and none of them would sound out of place next to each other IMO...
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I feel like he hasn't really tried new things. You could make a random mix of songs from RPD all the way through to DTRW and none of them would sound out of place next to each other IMO...
fully agree
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I feel like he hasn't really tried new things. You could make a random mix of songs from RPD all the way through to DTRW and none of them would sound out of place next to each other IMO...
fully agree
I think mark is unique in that he goes into recordings with a relatively fully formed idea as to what he wants. Unlike us mere mortals who bumble along and see what comes out the other side. ;D
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I had all his records in a mp3 cd that i put random and what Dusty says is true, all the songs fit with the others very well.
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Good on you son was a bit different, and when you leave, heavy up...
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Good on you son was a bit different, and when you leave, heavy up...
Every record has one or two different songs so when you play it random it fits well.
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I feel like he hasn't really tried new things. You could make a random mix of songs from RPD all the way through to DTRW and none of them would sound out of place next to each other IMO...
Absolutely, it's just HIS style and I LOVE it.
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Good on you son was a bit different, and when you leave, heavy up...
Every record has one or two different songs so when you play it random it fits well.
Yeah, Punish the Monkey was a bit different. Even when things are "different", it's only a little bit though!
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I was mainly talking about the different genres he writes and plays in compared to, for example Eric Clapton.
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I think Mark is at his best when the songs are little dark, thematically and musically. I'm listening to the Altamira soundtrack, and some of the pieces there give me goosebumps. I'd love for him to go into that direction.
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He is definately stronger in writing ballads, darker songs.
One of my all time faves are: BIA, Basil, STP, RATR, Nobody's Child
What did not work that well imho: Blues and stuff like Heavy up, Ticket to Heaven.
It is somehow not his style. I like it, but it is not MK. Like Chet Atkins said: "Pretty good, but you're not Mark Knopfler"
Of course the old Straits stuff "Rockers" are excellent too: Tunnel,TR, SOS,MFN, Industrial Disease
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Despite I am npt fond of the orchestral thing, I find Ticket to Heaven being very good stuff.
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I think Mark is at his best when the songs are little dark, thematically and musically. I'm listening to the Altamira soundtrack, and some of the pieces there give me goosebumps. I'd love for him to go into that direction.
I agree with you. I've always thought about Mark to be a very profound and insightful person who spends a lot of time thinking deeply about certain things,
so I think ballads or darker songs suit him better. So to speak it's more his thing.
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I think Mark is at his best when the songs are little dark, thematically and musically. I'm listening to the Altamira soundtrack, and some of the pieces there give me goosebumps. I'd love for him to go into that direction.
I agree with you. I've always thought about Mark to be a very profound and insightful person who spends a lot of time thinking deeply about certain things,
so I think ballads or darker songs suit him better. So to speak it's more his thing.
Definitely best when his music is dark. I love Dream of The Drowned Submariner. Their is a live version which is astonishing.
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I think Mark is at his best when the songs are little dark, thematically and musically. I'm listening to the Altamira soundtrack, and some of the pieces there give me goosebumps. I'd love for him to go into that direction.
I agree with you. I've always thought about Mark to be a very profound and insightful person who spends a lot of time thinking deeply about certain things,
so I think ballads or darker songs suit him better. So to speak it's more his thing.
Definitely best when his music is dark. I love Dream of The Drowned Submariner. Their is a live version which is astonishing.
Dresden and also Bad Mergentheim 2013.
I also like his darker songs - "Back to Tupelo" is one of my favourites, but the list is very long. I don't think songs such as "Heavy Up" suit him at all.
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Heavy Up is just a stupid song in every way.
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Heavy Up is just a stupid song in every way.
Probably just like the person it was written about.
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Heavy Up is just a stupid song in every way.
Agreed.
Half of the songs recorded for DTRW says nothing to me.
The worst MK album ever.
Would be a shame if DTRW was the last MK album.
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I find that each album has something distinct from the others unlike the general opinion it seems.
I don't think any of the song from KTGC would fit in TRD for example, obviously you could make a frankenstein album by putting random song together, they are from the same mind, but each album has its own flavour that a collection of random songs would lack.
I can't really listen to tracker as an album for instance, apart from the two openers and the closing song the rest are skippers and KTGC too (I do love Madame Geneva) while I regularly play the whole of Get Lucky or Privateering and even Down the road. A question of atmosphere I think.
The songs are less varied than between the 4 first albums that's for sure.
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Heavy Up is just a stupid song in every way.
Probably just like the person it was written about.
Did we ever find out who that was?
In my view, Ticket To Heaven is one of Mark's greatest songs.
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Heavy Up is just a stupid song in every way.
Agreed.
Half of the songs recorded for DTRW says nothing to me.
The worst MK album ever.
Would be a shame if DTRW was the last MK album.
Also agree and seldom listen to most tracks now.
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GF:
These days Mark is very much ‘all about the song’. Having said that, the impressive assemblage of guitars adorning the walls here in Studio 2 never fails to arouse the creative juices, bestowing upon us a veritable cornucopia of tonal colours and musical textures that invariably make their way onto our meticulously crafted recordings.
I liked these words very much.
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Guy Fletcher is such a joker. He's the master of using thousands of words to say pretty much nothing.
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Guy Fletcher is such a joker. He's the master of using thousands of words to say pretty much nothing.
AHAHHAA!
Absolutely true!
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Guy Fletcher is such a joker. He's the master of using thousands of words to say pretty much nothing.
+1000
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[rant]
I don't trust Guy on that matter since the Shangri-La release.
At least we have not the same definition for some words.
This is probably my bitter thing about Mark on records, all these guitars but the guitar hero from the early days in solo is just gone.
This 'all about the song’ bad joke makes me truly mad.
[/rant]
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[rant]
I don't trust Guy on that matter since the Shangri-La release.
At least we have not the same definition for some words.
This is probably my bitter thing about Mark on records, all these guitars but the guitar hero from the early days in solo is just gone.
This 'all about the song’ bad joke makes me truly mad.
[/rant]
Well, the songwriter from the early days is also gone, but that was actually a different person. Other MK wrote "Brothers In Arms" and "Sultans Of Swing", someone even Mark himself probably wants to return to, but can't. I think 'all about the song’ is not indeed a joke, but the truth, is that if Mark writes songs nowadays that don't call for lots of solos, he won't play them. And I think not every Dire Straits song called for lots of solos either, so we just should get on with it.
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I fully agree with ds1984 on that 'all about the song’ thing
or that 'song is king' thing
it's a nonsense. If you write/compose a song, you can do what you want with it
I never understood : why for example you don't know you're born "needs" an outro with a long solo, and Hill farmer's blues doesn't need it ? .... oh wait, when played it live, it needs one !
so, all songs can have long instrumental section if the composer wants to, and all songs can have no solo if the composer wants to.
I can't see why a sepcial song would "need" a solo more than another
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I remember he said something about Hill Farmer blues when the record was released, he said something like he didn't want another boring guitar solo for it, just leaving like that.
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[rant]
I don't trust Guy on that matter since the Shangri-La release.
At least we have not the same definition for some words.
This is probably my bitter thing about Mark on records, all these guitars but the guitar hero from the early days in solo is just gone.
This 'all about the song’ bad joke makes me truly mad.
[/rant]
+1000 :clap
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I remember he said something about Hill Farmer blues when the record was released, he said something like he didn't want another boring guitar solo for it, just leaving like that.
ok but why a solo would be boring in this song, and not in You don't know you're born ? :think :hmm
he has to be honest : it's not the song that is king, it's just that he wants or he does'nt want. that's all
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I remember he said something about Hill Farmer blues when the record was released, he said something like he didn't want another boring guitar solo for it, just leaving like that.
ok but why a solo would be boring in this song, and not in You don't know you're born ? :think :hmm
he has to be honest : it's not the song that is king, it's just that he wants or he does'nt want. that's all
Hate to be Mark's advocate here, but I probably understand where he's coming from. Imagine you're recording a couple of dozen of songs or whatever, composing solos and stuff. Also, Chuck "Mr Digital" Ainlay said in a recent interview Mark records his solos over the complete song, so it's a conscious decision from MK. I mean he heard that there was silence after the climax in Hill Farmer's, it's not like he forgot to finish it or something.
And so you get to this big crescendo in Hill Farmer Blues, and what you can play over that? Yes, you can fill it with a couple of minutes of guitar noodling, but to me, it works both ways, with a "karaoke" solo or with a real solo in the live situation. I even think this part being unresolved it even adds a little bit of enjoyment to the whole thing. Not every song should end with a big solo and power chord in the end.
"You Don't Know You're Born" is a bad example since it's a clear nod to Hank Marvin's sound and more like a riff than a solo.
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I really like the solo in You Don't Know You're Born.
In any case, these examples aren't really relevant anymore as they were 20 years ago...
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I don't have an issue with the song is king remark, I think Mark has always thought that, at the start of his career he had to get noticed, and Sultans of Swing was a big way to get noticed, but a song like Wild West End is a different thing, but from the same album and writer. He has made no secret of the fact that Bob Dylan is his song writing hero, and the kind of writer Mark aspires to be. As for guitar playing, the fact is he has been there and done that, he spent decades being the guitar hero, and since his solo career started his focus has changed, he wants to be known as a song writer who plays guitar, not a guitar hero, and I think we have to accept that is his decision and move on.
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I don't have an issue with the song is king remark, I think Mark has always thought that, at the start of his career he had to get noticed, and Sultans of Swing was a big way to get noticed, but a song like Wild West End is a different thing, but from the same album and writer. He has made no secret of the fact that Bob Dylan is his song writing hero, and the kind of writer Mark aspires to be. As for guitar playing, the fact is he has been there and done that, he spent decades being the guitar hero, and since his solo career started his focus has changed, he wants to be known as a song writer who plays guitar, not a guitar hero, and I think we have to accept that is his decision and move on.
Agreed! :thumbsup
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I think you misunderstood me.
I am not saying that I want him return as a guitar hero playing ultra long solos etc...
of course I understand he changed his songwriting and the way he wants to play songs. No problem with that
it's just that I find his "song is king" argument not "vaild" and a little bit"demagogic" so to say
he uses it when he wants, but not all the time.
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We don't need another Bob Dylan.
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I think you misunderstood me.
I am not saying that I want him return as a guitar hero playing ultra long solos etc...
of course I understand he changed his songwriting and the way he wants to play songs. No problem with that
it's just that I find his "song is king" argument not "vaild" and a little bit"demagogic" so to say
he uses it when he wants, but not all the time.
I think he uses the song is king all the time and apply to it more or less consequently.
I say more or less because maybe he might feel the song needs a guitar solo but if he doesn't feel like playing it, he might try other different things like fiddles, sax, flute and sometimes in the end he might end playing a guitar solo, but not as creative as he used in the past that just fit with the song and doesn't require too much effort. Lately is guitar solos are just repeating the main melody of the song and not going further than that.
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This song is king makes me think how much the royalty has changed since the start of Dire Straits, when most of the royal family demanded guitar solos, usually twice per song, and nowadays looks like the royal family is not so demanding and asks just for whatever sounds that are not guitar solos.
Monarchy is a quite curious thing.
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The song has always been the most important for MK, the words, the content, the message. He only used the guitar for composing. And in that sense: "song is king" makes sense.
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sorry to insist, but I don't understand "the song NEEDS a solo"
to me it just the style the composer wants to play his song. You can re-arrange all songs in the way you want
we all know famous covers of songs
Do you think that Jimi Hendrix thought that Dylan's "All along the wtachower" NEEDED several solos ? No, it's just that he wanted to play this song like this
I can't see why Hill farmer's blues NEEDS a solo on stage, but not in studio, and why Love over gold NEEDS an outro in studio, but not on stage...
it's just a pure CHOICE decided by Mark, not an obscure force coming from the song telling him what to do... come on
I think he doesn't assume his choices by quoting this argument
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sorry to insist, but I don't understand "the song NEEDS a solo"
to me it just the style the composer wants to play his song. You can re-arrange all songs in the way you want
we all know famous covers of songs
Do you think that Jimi Hendrix thought that Dylan's "All along the wtachower" NEEDED several solos ? No, it's just that he wanted to play this song like this
I can't see why Hill farmer's blues NEEDS a solo on stage, but not in studio, and why Love over gold NEEDS an outro in studio, but not on stage...
it's just a pure CHOICE decided by Mark, not an obscure force coming from the song telling him what to do... come on
I think he doesn't assume his choices by quoting this argument
Respect the monarchy!
Lol
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sorry to insist, but I don't understand "the song NEEDS a solo"
to me it just the style the composer wants to play his song. You can re-arrange all songs in the way you want
we all know famous covers of songs
Do you think that Jimi Hendrix thought that Dylan's "All along the wtachower" NEEDED several solos ? No, it's just that he wanted to play this song like this
I can't see why Hill farmer's blues NEEDS a solo on stage, but not in studio, and why Love over gold NEEDS an outro in studio, but not on stage...
it's just a pure CHOICE decided by Mark, not an obscure force coming from the song telling him what to do... come on
I think he doesn't assume his choices by quoting this argument
Respect the monarchy!
Lol
;D :lol
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sorry to insist, but I don't understand "the song NEEDS a solo"
to me it just the style the composer wants to play his song. You can re-arrange all songs in the way you want
we all know famous covers of songs
Do you think that Jimi Hendrix thought that Dylan's "All along the wtachower" NEEDED several solos ? No, it's just that he wanted to play this song like this
I can't see why Hill farmer's blues NEEDS a solo on stage, but not in studio, and why Love over gold NEEDS an outro in studio, but not on stage...
it's just a pure CHOICE decided by Mark, not an obscure force coming from the song telling him what to do... come on
I think he doesn't assume his choices by quoting this argument
Respect the monarchy!
Lol
;D :lol
It's an interesting psychological conundrum. The creative process is never predictable and logical, sometimes you do something only to realise 10 years later that you did everything right, wish you could change something, or wish you never did it in the first place.
Maybe Mark can agree today, that the studio version of Hill Farmer's Blues would benefit from having a solo, maybe he can't. But the artistic decision was made at the time of recording, probably and most certainly for a reason. Maybe he wasn't able to come up with a good solo, maybe he was out of time or budget, or simply not in the mood, or he felt what they did was enough for the song.
That's what I think means "song is king". You do everything you possibly could for the song at the time while you are in the same room together, while you can affect it somehow. If you only have one instrument, make the arrangement interesting and full. If you have a band or an orchestra, do not overdo it. If you feel it doesn't need a solo, don't play it.
Considering Mark played the solo live, after all, I bet he wishes he would play it in the studio as well, but for that, he will need a time machine.
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Considering Mark played the solo live, after all, I bet he wishes he would play it in the studio as well, but for that, he will need a time machine.
Mark decided to develop the song specially for the stage.
Nothing is known about his view regarding back his decision for the studio version.
What is known is that he was balancing between The Man's Too Strong and Hill Farmer's Blues, and the later was chosen.
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I think we also need to think about the opposite of said mantra. It could be argued that Marks whole creative journey since DS fame has really been about putting the genie back in the bottle, getting back to the simplicity of a storyteller and his guitar, and really seeking the freedom of anonymity.
How many artists can you think of who actually managed to lower their profile while still selling millions. MK is uniquely successful in this...
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I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.
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I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.
I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!
Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....
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I'm not sure MK sells that much nowadays, but however he sold already so much records and still getting paid for his writer rights that he doesn't have to worry about it, further than having his record company happy so he can still record and release his stuff without having to worry doing it himself.
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I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.
I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!
Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....
I agree, I'm sure a lot of MK's peers are envious of what he managed to do - drop the hits and still fill arena. By 2015 most of the DS songs were gone and he was still packing them in. I know more came back in 2019 but it seems that was through choice rather than obligtion.
Kate Bush would still sell out a week at the RAH because she still has an extremely loyal fanbase, the others not so much.
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I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.
I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!
Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....
But, I was mainly referring to the freedom of anonymity they have. They might be recognized in the street, but they keep a very low profile between albums, more so than even Mark.
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I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.
I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!
Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....
But, I was mainly referring to the freedom of anonymity they have. They might be recognized in the street, but they keep a very low profile between albums, more so than even Mark.
I think what I'm getting at is that Marks anonymity allows him to be a part of the crowd, to be the observer, something thats key to his best songs. I cant think of anyone else who is able to do this. Certainly not KB.
I also think those examples withdrew from public life for other reasons as well not necessarily creative ones, more self preservation.....
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https://www.guyfletcher.co.uk/2023-studio-diary-3/