Hidden Treasures - Talk about Acoustic songs!

[Scott]

Kind of a favorite topic for me from time to time. I am a sucker for an acoustic guitar, especially a 12-string. Something so cool and atmospheric about them that just make a well written song sound off the charts. So this week thats what this playlist is about, but its not just songs with acoustic guitars in them, its more of a purists take on acoustic songs.


Better to listen than to try to explain.


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/a1um6jnp

	Genesis A Trick of the Tail 1976 1 - Entangled After Peter Gabriel departed for a solo career, Genesis embarked on a long journey to find a replacement, only to wind back around to their drummer, Phil Collins, as a replacement. With Collins as their new frontman, the band decided not to pursue the stylish, jagged postmodernism of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway -- a move that Gabriel would do in his solo career -- and instead returned to the English eccentricity of Selling England by the Pound for its next effort, A Trick of the Tail. In almost every respect, this feels like a truer sequel to Selling England by the Pound than Lamb; after all, that double album was obsessed with modernity and nightmare, whereas this album returns the group to the fanciful fairy tale nature of its earlier records.
	Elton John Blue Moves 1976 2 - Cage the Songbird Although initially Blue Moves (1976) was summarily dismissed by both critics as well as longtime enthusiasts, the double LP has since gained considerable stature within John's voluminous catalog. While comparisons were inevitable to the landmark two-disc Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) song cycle, most similarities in musical style and content end there. Instead, the album purposefully focuses on moodier and more introspective sides -- such as the single "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (the effort's sole hit), the achingly poignant "Tonight," and "Cage the Songbird," the latter of which is particularly noteworthy as it recalls the life of Edith Piaf in much the same way that "Candle in the Wind" had immortalized Marilyn Monroe.
	Eric Clapton Eric Clapton 1970 3 - Easy Now Eric Clapton's eponymous solo debut was recorded after he completed a tour with Delaney & Bonnie. Clapton used the core of the duo's backing band and co-wrote the majority of the songs with Delaney Bramlett -- accordingly, Eric Clapton sounds more laid-back and straightforward than any of the guitarist's previous recordings. There are still elements of blues and rock & roll, but they're hidden beneath layers of gospel, R&B, country, and pop flourishes. And the pop element of the record is the strongest of the album's many elements -- "Blues Power" isn't a blues song and only "Let It Rain," the album's closer, features extended solos. Throughout the album, Clapton turns out concise solos that de-emphasize his status as guitar god, even when they display astonishing musicality and technique.
	Led Zeppelin III 1970 4 - That's the Way Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote this in Wales on a retreat to the Bron-y-Aur cottage, where they wrote many of the songs on the album. They took a long walk with a guitar and tape recorder (yes, they carried a tape recorder on their hikes), sat down in a ravine, and wrote this. According to Robert Plant, this was written 30 minutes before Page's daughter Scarlet was conceived.

[Niels (Mod)]

GENESIS - A track I have posted before, but the version from Steve Hackett's "Genesis Revisited 2". I kind of prefer that version, because it was the first time I heard it, and I was totally blown away by that album, which made me a fan of Gabriel-era Genesis. A very good song.

ELTON - I like this album. It is the last of the classic Elton John-albums, and I do like double-albums. It's probably half a year ago since I heard it the last time. Maybe it's time again. Elton John is another one, I can scratch off as "seen live". A very good song.

CLAPTON - I've heard this album recently, but I can't remember this song at all. I would like to like Clapton, but he should play more heavy guitar, than he has done, more solo's and not all that Blues-stuff. This tune is a nice little tune. sounds a  bit like George Harrison.

ZEPPELIN - I think we've all heard this one a million times, but it's still great. I didn't know the fact about Page's daughter. Thanks for that information. I love the way, the songs end "backwards".

I tell you, Scott: You would had LOVED seen/hearing Morse playing his "Jailbreak"-song alone on stage with accustic guitar. It was awesome!! What amazing talent!!

[Scott]

I listened to Hacketts version of Entangled and it is definitely better than the original.  The guitar on it is stunning.  Blue Moves is an album I've heard a hundred times but haven't checked in on for a long long time.  Glad I did to, its really very good.  I like Clapton, 70's to very early 80's and then I get lost in the blues stuff too.  Know exactly what youre saying here.  But the debut album and Slowhand are simply must haves IMO.

You know, something funny happened when I started replacing my LZ with the new remasters, and that's the fact the III gets most of my listening attention - don't get me wrong, I love Houses of the Holy best - but III is so much better than I remember... 

I will be wish listing ONE until I can justify another round of purchases to my wife    Thanks for writing!

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, a funny thing happend here as well: I've been listening mostly to HOTH, even though it's my least favorite of the first 6 albums :-)

Just so you know: "Jailbreak" is not from "One".
"Slowhand" is the only album I've ever owned by Clapton.
But he also did some incredible versions of some of George Harissons songs on the DVD "Concert For George".

[RJhog (Admin)]

I dig acoustic stuff.  You can't hide behind the electric guitar and distortion there.  

Genesis - Truthfully, I have never had a real interest in listening to any pre-pop Genesis.  At one time, I contemplated picking up the box sets of their pre-pop stuff, but just didn't do it.  And now they are pretty much out of print and priced out of any range I would consider.  But I think Collins is a terrific vocalist, and he sounds even better on the prog styled recordings than he does on the pop recordings.  I've never heard Hackett's version, but I really like this one.  So much so that I listened to it twice.  I must get some post-Gabriel pre-pop Genesis.  Maybe even some Gabriel stuff.

Elton - Well, it's definitely no surprise for Elton to do a song this good.  But I have never heard it or the album that it's from so it's a definite hidden treasure for me.  Nice.

Clapton - I don't find this bad, but out of these four tracks, it is the least interesting.

Zeppelin - Funny, I have this album but I have never even noticed this song.  This has always been my least favorite album of the first four.  But now you have my attention.  The sound that is attained from the production is a bit haunting.  I love the way Page is playing the electric guitar softly underneath the rest of the song.  That style is terrific and I totally dig this song, another hidden treasure for me.

So, great post bro.  I would rank these:

1.  That's The Way

2. Entangled

3. Cage The Songbird

4. Easy Now

...with those first two actually being interchangeable.  

[Scott]

I think this site also tuned me into pre-pop Genesis at least the albums that were made before "And Then There Were Three".  My first Genesis experience was their video of Turn It On Again from Duke, and if memory serves correctly (and it usually does) it was the Midnight Special that played it.  Went out and bought it the next day and hated it.  Tried to take it back but the record store would only let me return it for another copy of Duke, so I forced myself to listen, and the came 3 Side Live and Abacab and I loved it.  And then they got poppy... SO i checked out And Then There Were Three and thats where I've been stuck until you guys came along.  What the point?  No idea...  just a story I felt like sharing.

Blue Moves is cool! 

No one likes the Clapton debut...  weird!

Now that we have your attention, hopefully you have the new remasters from Page because III is totally new to me because of it.  

[RJhog (Admin)]

I didn't pick up any of 'em because I've already bought each album at least twice.  Maybe I'll pick up III though just to see what you are talkin' bout.

[RJhog (Admin)]

And I forgot to tell you that even with the absence of collusion, my choice for AOTW should mesh quite nicely with the acoustic theme.

[Jon]

This is a nice set if you're in a mellow mood.

I like that Genesis song but have never bothered to pick up that album. Have every album after this one (except for "Invisible Touch" because it sucks).

I like that Elton John album but have never bothered to pick up that album. Have many albums before and after this one.

This is an ok Clapton song, really doesn't sound like him and have never bothered to pick up that album. I have a few Clapton albums, they would be the ones that came after this one, of course.

I have this Zeppelin album. One of my favorite albums from them, it's MUCH better than the two that came out before it. Is it my favorite? I don't know, but if it's not, it's very close to the top. 

Kinda surprised you picked these acoustic songs and not those other ones. Maybe next time you'll play those.

[Scott]

Funny thing about this playlist.... it didn't come together in a mellow mood and I never thought it was, but I can see your point, now.

Im staying away from Invisible Touch at your recommendation!

Did the remastered III push it up on the list like it did for me?

Those songs made my short list, maybe next time I get in an acoustic mood, I'll use them!

[Jon]

No, I liked III even before the remastered remasters.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'm pretty sure you've always said it was your favorite or very near it.

[Jon]

It also spawned the best Zeppelin video EVER: