Classic Rock Bottom

You know, I could’ve swore I had a 12 string guitar playlist on here at least once before, but nope! Don’t see one, anywhere actually. So here we are several years into this and yet another first…


The 12 string guitar is an instrument of beauty, whether it be electric or acoustic, it makes little difference to me. The sound of the instrument alone is mesmerizing but add it in the mix of well written and well played song and the results can be stunning. Here’s 4 maybe-sorta-kinda hidden treasures that utilize a 12 string guitar.


Enjoy!


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/sgabbert/a19qtyee

John Denver
Rocky Mountain High
1972

1 - Rocky Mountain High

Propelled by the title track, Rocky Mountain High became John Denver's first Top Ten album. Though Denver still couldn't figure out how to fill out an entire album without covering his betters (in this case, old favorites the Beatles and John Prine), he and his steady backup musicians, bassist Dick Kniss and guitarist Mike Taylor, were evolving into an exuberant folk-country sound that would prove enormously appealing over the next few years. The album contained one of Denver's finest ballads, "Goodbye Again," as well as one of his better old songs, "For Baby (For Bobbie)."

Scorpions
Animal Magnetism
1980

2 - Lady Starlight

Although Animal Magnetism contains such classic songs as "The Zoo" and "Make It Real," the album is somewhat disappointing when compared to its predecessor, Lovedrive. The well-written songs on this album end up saving it from total disaster, and it's obvious the band wasn't sure what to exactly put on this record -- many of the songs sound like the work of some other rock group and simply don't blend together as they should. Singer Klaus Meine, known for his excellent vocal performances, sounds bored and just plain overshadowed. Although far from bad, Animal Magnetism isn't a highlight of the Scorpions' career.

Tom Petty
Full Moon Fever
1989

3 - Feel A Whole Lot Better

the distinction between "solo" and "Heartbreakers" is a fuzzy one because Full Moon Fever is essentially in the same style as the Heartbreakers albums; Mike Campbell co-wrote two songs and co-produced the record, and he, along with Benmont Tench and Howie Epstein, all play on the album. However, the album sounds different from any Heartbreakers record due to the presence of former Electric Light Orchestra leader Jeff Lynne. Petty co-wrote the lion's share of the album with Lynne, who also is the record's main producer. In his hands, Petty's roots rock becomes clean and glossy, layered with shimmering vocal harmonies, keyboards, and acoustic guitars. It's a friendly, radio-ready sound, and if it has dated somewhat over the years, the craft is still admirable and appealing.

Led Zeppelin
Houses of the Holy
1973

4 - The Rain Song

"The Rain Song" is one of Zep's finest moments, featuring a soaring string arrangement and a gentle, aching melody. "The Ocean" is just as good, starting with a heavy, funky guitar groove before slamming into an acappella section and ending with a swinging, doo wop-flavored rave-up. With the exception of the rampaging opening number, "The Song Remains the Same," the rest of Houses of the Holy is fairly straightforward, ranging from the foreboding "No Quarter" and the strutting hard rock of "Dancing Days" to the epic folk/metal fusion "Over the Hills and Far Away." Throughout the record, the band's playing is excellent, making the eclecticism of Page and Robert Plant's songwriting sound coherent and natural.

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JD - I remember Denver from around this time. He had a guest-appearance in Mcloud in 1974, my favorite TV-show when I was a kid. I liked Denver back then, and I like this tune. Good guitar and a good voice.

SCORPIONS - Now there's a band, I was a minor fan of in the 80's, and can't stand these days. They were "ballad-experts" back then, and this song is also nice, but I prefer Denver. This song is too long and too  slow at the end. It also sounds to me, as they have listened to Nazareth's song "Star" from No Mean City from 1978/79. 

TP - Ah, Petty has completed stoled the riff/song from The Searchers (Needles and Pins). Buuuuuuhhhhhh!!!!

ZEPPELIN - Awesome track!!! I remember back in the day, I pretended I could play this on guitar. Problem was, that I didn't even own a guitar.....only a ukulele. One of the best songs on Zeppelin's sixth best album. But still a waaaaayyy better album than their seventh best album.

Rocky Mountain High is like a hometown theme song to me because that's where I was born and raised so it has a bigger role for me in my life. 

I've had a genuine renaissance with the Scorpions and their 50th Anniversary remasters, they are so well done and sound so good that it brought new life to the albums they released so far.  Still would like to see  their first 3 albums remastered properly (Lonesome Crow remaster is actually quite good though, so 3 remain) and Crazy World at least.   All that to say, I like em!

AH TP...  The fallout of RJ's decade long jaunt through his catalog has had an impact on me.  What can I say!  Ive enjoyed a few of his albums as of late.

House is my favorite Zeppelin, I know its not critically the best, but its my favorite by a hair...  Heres another band whose remasters are so good that I'm having yet another renaissance that I've totally engrossed myself and loving it - just got my BBC session discs the other day.

I stopped with the Zeppelin Deluxe-boxsets after Physical Graffitti. I do not like Precence or ITTOD at all!! In fact, have we ever had a "discussion" about "Bands you love, who has made some of your favorite albums of alltime, but also a couple of album, that you practically hate"? The Beatles is probably THE only band in the entire universe, who (IMHO) haven't made a crappy album (Yes, Jeff, Steven Wilson has made a crappy album!!).

It was my intention to buy the BBC-set, but...no, enough's enough. I own the double-CD released in 1997, and that's more than enough. How many more times, do you need to buy "Communication Breakdown"?!!!!

 

Niels, I really expected you to dislike the JD song, which is why I alluded to that in my comment below.  However, since you like it, you should listen to Southeastern by Jason Isbell.  Have I mentioned that before?

Also, I don't think Petty stole anything regarding this song, since he paid the writers to cover it.  Unless I'm misunderstanding your comment. 

Ha ha ha...actually I did start to listen to that Isbell-album. It might take a while, to go through it, though. Today, new albums by Marillion and Kansas are released and they will get my attention for a few days. After that, who knows?

Didn't know anything about a cover? I though the song only kind of sounded like the mentioned song. Whats to misunderstand about "Buuuuuhhh" 

I don't like this John Denver song because it's about drugs plus, when we were driving thru Colorado, we expected the Rocky Mountains to be rockier and then we decided that John Denver was just full of shit.

I don't like this Scorpions album because of that disgusting cover. Therefore, I don't like this song.

I don't like anything to do with Tom Petty because I'm still burned out by that TP overload from a few years ago. Plus, he was in "The Postman" and that movie wasted 8 hours of my life.

I don't like this Led Zeppelin song because they forced naked grey kids to climb on sharp rocks and it probably scarred them and their feet for life. Plus they dumped yellow hair dye on their heads and the kids weren't able to wash it out and that scarred them as well.

Yeah, I guess a 12 string geetar is cool for normal people. I got something that is going to blow that out of the water.

Are you ready for this?

13.....string.....geetar.

Think about it. You walk into a music store, you see a 12 string geetar sittin' there, there's a 13 string geetar right beside it. Which one are you gonna pick, man?

Keep talkin' about your 12 string geetar. It's like you're dreamin' about Gorgonzola cheese when it's clearly Brie time, baby.

I've had enough of this.

Image result for you really liked it

First off, I have to hand it to you.  I could never tell if I was listening to a six string acoustic or a twelve string acoustic. Either way, it's a terrific sounding instrument.  Second off:

Denver - I knew it.  Scott does like country rock.  Actually, this is folk rock, but whatever.  I like it, that's for sure.  I don't really see how anyone in this world, excluding maybe someone from Denmark or somewhere like that, couldn't get inspired to get outside and breathe some fresh air when they listen to John Denver.  Great song, beautiful acoustic guitar work.

Scorpions - I have this album, but really haven't listened to it.  I really haven't listened to much of the Scorpions at all. I keep telling myself to correct that, but have yet to do so.  I do like this, that's for sure.

Petty - We have possible collusion here, as you will see after I post this week's AOTW.  This is a cool little cover on an absolutely fantastic album.  One thing of note, and I'm sure Scott will agree on this item's noteworthiness, is the descending riff towards the end of the song.  The Smithereens have a song that basically uses that exact movement. To a tee.  The beauty of music.

Zep - This is definitely one of the band's finest moments, as it says in the write up above.  It's a beautiful, moody song. One that I haven't heard very often due to the fact that most of my time spent with Zeppelin has been spread out over the first four albums.  I've never even listened to the complete album HOTH.  Yet another thing I need to do one of these days.

Enjoyed this one, all four songs bro.

Jon likes 13 string guitars...

When I was a kid, a gentleman that attended the same church played a 3 string guitar.  He could tear it up to. He couldn't figure out what to do with 6 strings, so he took 3 of them off and the rest is history.

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