Legs
May 18, 2004, 01:44 PM
“We had real saxes, real guitars, real piano’s, real drums, real people playing real songs.”
George on creating Cloud Nine.
Cloud Nine represents an return to old Harrison standards. George’s guitar work is brought more up front ,and while the 80’s most populair instrument the synth is still on the album, it isn’t used as much as on prevous albums, given a chance for other real instrumenst to breath through.
Some feel that Jeff Lynne has a to heavy hand in producing this album. But everything was already done by George before, on songs like “If You Believe” and “Don’t Let me Wait To Long”, which sounds like Jeff Lynne produced them, but it was pure George. All that Jeff did was bring out the best of George’s musical talents, his guitar and voice shines through on Cloud Nine.
Eric and George’s, call and answer guitar duels on the title track, are among the best they ever done, great to listen to. Lyrics are more simple, George is unassuming when he sings “you can have my love/ use it while it does you good”. On one hand it seems that the lyrics are built around the music and that the words are more of a afterthought, but then “Take my smile and my heart They were yours from the start”, are beautiful words.
Sometimes I get stuck writing reviews, and I understand why it’s dificult sometimes to write about music. I had to stop writing about That's What It Takes cause I just had to listen. This is another one of these songs, where every guitar bit, every note and word gets into my body, and I just stand there with a smile on my face listening, from the intro to the end.
Fish On The Sand is where Jeff Lynne comes in.The song has the most beatle-esgue sound on the album.The guitar sound, the backing and answer vocals, have that Beatles mark. No doubt Jeff Lynne has a hand in that, but there’s nothing wrong with bringing out the best from someone through his songs. I don’t know wheter George at one point felt he lost touch with God, but I can imagine that like every person he sometime has his doubts and strugles, and that he still was searching. The words “ I want to know that you're not lost inside of me” or as I sometimes hear them, “That you’re not lost sight of me”, shows some fear that he feels alienated from God.
“Basicly it’s really for anybody .Don’t worry about anything, just deal with one thing at the time.” George on the lyrics of Just For Today. Alcoholics Anonymous might be an inspiration, or a handfull of rock stars going in and out of diferent addictions.But I agree, anyone having a dificult time in life, can relate to this song. The beautiful mournful guitars, the music and backing vocals, completes the sad tone of this song.
This Is Love bring out George’s wonderful guitar skils throughout the song. I get shivers down the spine, to use that phrase again, everytime I hear that intro. A comercial song, but yet pure George and nothing to be ashamed of. Jeff’s touch can be heard on the falling chords, which he uses on at least one song, on every album he produces.
When We Was Fab ,back when income tax was all they had. A dream come true for Jeff Lynne on this built yourself a Beatles song. You either love it or hate it, I love it. Ringo’s drum fills the cello’s, the references to Beatles songs, most prominent is “I Am The Walrus” which “Fab” borrows a lot from, I really don’t mind.Some references to Dylan and Smokey are included as well.
Devil's Radio came when George passed a church in a litttle country town in England. The billboard outside read ‘Gossip The Devil’s radio. Don’t be a broadcaster’.Being subject of the gossip journalism, George takes them on in this solid rock song, with some great guitar parts.
Somehow, while it being a great rocking track, it’s not a favourite of mine. The production is a bit to overpowering, try to have as many instruments at once at full volume level.
Someplace Else , the love song for the naughty couple witten for Shanghai Surprise. This beautiful ballad with a strong melody is a rest point,after a few uptempo songs.The original demo of this song, found on bootlegs, sounds even more Beatle like, perhaps George thought it was to much and re-recorded it.
Wreck Of The Hesperus is similar in content as “Devil’s Radio” as George got out of the line of media fire, and emerges like the wall of China, rocking as good as Gibraltar, which he does on this song. The verse about “Poison penmen speak” is a clear attack at the media.
The chinese introduction to Breath Away From Heaven is a reminder of where the song comes from. Also written for the Shanghai Surprise movie, but the oriental sound doesn’t really fit on the album.True enough George likes to try out different styles, but in this case he just had to write it for a movie.”It’s supposed to be just slightly Chinese sounding”. A left over, but still nice to listen to.
Got My Mind Set On You the number 1 hit needs to introduction. A great solid rock version, of this Rudy Clark song. I haven’t heard the original version yet, but George’s cover supose to be totaly diferent then the original. “It rocks along”.
To a bootleg colector like me the bonus songs are nothing new this time. The good thing tho is that “Shanghai Surprise” is now finally released, and gets the recognition it deserved. Pardon the expresion but the song kicks ass.Good to have a good and clear version of it. Zig Zag is a nice little instrumental. Finally the booklet on the re-release is an improvement over the original, some liner notes and photo’s added, as well as the hand written lyrics of Cloud Nine, to bad that not all of the lyrics are included.
A great solid rock album.
Next Rob will take you to Japan, if I’m not mistaken.
George on creating Cloud Nine.
Cloud Nine represents an return to old Harrison standards. George’s guitar work is brought more up front ,and while the 80’s most populair instrument the synth is still on the album, it isn’t used as much as on prevous albums, given a chance for other real instrumenst to breath through.
Some feel that Jeff Lynne has a to heavy hand in producing this album. But everything was already done by George before, on songs like “If You Believe” and “Don’t Let me Wait To Long”, which sounds like Jeff Lynne produced them, but it was pure George. All that Jeff did was bring out the best of George’s musical talents, his guitar and voice shines through on Cloud Nine.
Eric and George’s, call and answer guitar duels on the title track, are among the best they ever done, great to listen to. Lyrics are more simple, George is unassuming when he sings “you can have my love/ use it while it does you good”. On one hand it seems that the lyrics are built around the music and that the words are more of a afterthought, but then “Take my smile and my heart They were yours from the start”, are beautiful words.
Sometimes I get stuck writing reviews, and I understand why it’s dificult sometimes to write about music. I had to stop writing about That's What It Takes cause I just had to listen. This is another one of these songs, where every guitar bit, every note and word gets into my body, and I just stand there with a smile on my face listening, from the intro to the end.
Fish On The Sand is where Jeff Lynne comes in.The song has the most beatle-esgue sound on the album.The guitar sound, the backing and answer vocals, have that Beatles mark. No doubt Jeff Lynne has a hand in that, but there’s nothing wrong with bringing out the best from someone through his songs. I don’t know wheter George at one point felt he lost touch with God, but I can imagine that like every person he sometime has his doubts and strugles, and that he still was searching. The words “ I want to know that you're not lost inside of me” or as I sometimes hear them, “That you’re not lost sight of me”, shows some fear that he feels alienated from God.
“Basicly it’s really for anybody .Don’t worry about anything, just deal with one thing at the time.” George on the lyrics of Just For Today. Alcoholics Anonymous might be an inspiration, or a handfull of rock stars going in and out of diferent addictions.But I agree, anyone having a dificult time in life, can relate to this song. The beautiful mournful guitars, the music and backing vocals, completes the sad tone of this song.
This Is Love bring out George’s wonderful guitar skils throughout the song. I get shivers down the spine, to use that phrase again, everytime I hear that intro. A comercial song, but yet pure George and nothing to be ashamed of. Jeff’s touch can be heard on the falling chords, which he uses on at least one song, on every album he produces.
When We Was Fab ,back when income tax was all they had. A dream come true for Jeff Lynne on this built yourself a Beatles song. You either love it or hate it, I love it. Ringo’s drum fills the cello’s, the references to Beatles songs, most prominent is “I Am The Walrus” which “Fab” borrows a lot from, I really don’t mind.Some references to Dylan and Smokey are included as well.
Devil's Radio came when George passed a church in a litttle country town in England. The billboard outside read ‘Gossip The Devil’s radio. Don’t be a broadcaster’.Being subject of the gossip journalism, George takes them on in this solid rock song, with some great guitar parts.
Somehow, while it being a great rocking track, it’s not a favourite of mine. The production is a bit to overpowering, try to have as many instruments at once at full volume level.
Someplace Else , the love song for the naughty couple witten for Shanghai Surprise. This beautiful ballad with a strong melody is a rest point,after a few uptempo songs.The original demo of this song, found on bootlegs, sounds even more Beatle like, perhaps George thought it was to much and re-recorded it.
Wreck Of The Hesperus is similar in content as “Devil’s Radio” as George got out of the line of media fire, and emerges like the wall of China, rocking as good as Gibraltar, which he does on this song. The verse about “Poison penmen speak” is a clear attack at the media.
The chinese introduction to Breath Away From Heaven is a reminder of where the song comes from. Also written for the Shanghai Surprise movie, but the oriental sound doesn’t really fit on the album.True enough George likes to try out different styles, but in this case he just had to write it for a movie.”It’s supposed to be just slightly Chinese sounding”. A left over, but still nice to listen to.
Got My Mind Set On You the number 1 hit needs to introduction. A great solid rock version, of this Rudy Clark song. I haven’t heard the original version yet, but George’s cover supose to be totaly diferent then the original. “It rocks along”.
To a bootleg colector like me the bonus songs are nothing new this time. The good thing tho is that “Shanghai Surprise” is now finally released, and gets the recognition it deserved. Pardon the expresion but the song kicks ass.Good to have a good and clear version of it. Zig Zag is a nice little instrumental. Finally the booklet on the re-release is an improvement over the original, some liner notes and photo’s added, as well as the hand written lyrics of Cloud Nine, to bad that not all of the lyrics are included.
A great solid rock album.
Next Rob will take you to Japan, if I’m not mistaken.