Playing the saxophone Rubber Soul - which songs?

[mrblackbat]

In my life is currently being used in TV adverts.

The whole album is a cliche.

That’s like saying music is a cliche.

 

[Pete Thomas]

The whole album is a cliche.

You may be right but I’d still appreciate some explanation about why.

 

[LostCircuits]

You may be right but I’d still appreciate some explanation about why.

Michelle, my bell
These are the words that'll land me soon in hell
I loath you I loath you I loath you, that's all I can say
Until I find a fray ....

Nobody would overuse those, except for maybe Roger Daltrey!

 

[Colin the Bear]

You may be right but I’d still appreciate some explanation about why.

It may be an age related opinion.

Cliche. "A saying or expression that is so overused it becomes boring and unoriginal."

Overused or overplayed certainly applies. It was very interesting when it came out but after 60 years it I'm unimpressed and fed up with the whole Beatles thing. They weren't the best band at the time and aren't ever on my playlist now.

Purely a personal unqualified opinion. Music from before and after has stood the test of time better.

I equate the Beatles back catalogue with that earworm "I know a song that will get on your nerves".

I put them in the same bag as Pink Floyd and Queen.

 

[mrblackbat]

I would challenge your definition of cliche: ‘an overused phrase that lacks original thought’ would be close for me.

Are The Beatles tunes overused? Yes. Did they lack original thought? No.

I appreciate music is subjective and people will like different things, but objectively there was an awful lot of creativity to come from the Beatles, in terms of songwriting, instrumentation and orchestration, experimentation with recording techniques.

 

[Taragot]

I haven't heared Michelle for years in the Radio. 30 years ago, when Pop choirs became a thing, they all sang Michelle. In most songbooks for campfire it was in, not anymore.
And I find it has a really nice melody and chord progression, Not trivial with those semitone movements and the quarter triplets. And the transition to that Bass melody part with John in dialogue ist great imo.
So cliche? Not in my Opinion. I would be glad If I had written one song as beautiful as this.
PS: I have to leave now for a quick fotoshooting with a new band, where we copy the cover of "Abbey Road" at a random Crosswalk. Now that's a cliche 😀

 

[PiccoloPirate]

I liked Rubber Soul.
First time I gave it a spin, was when I accidentally, put the B side up,
on, These Boots are Made for Walking.
It's been said, that songs are nice, when you hear it once, and it's in your memory forever.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Blue Suede and Black & White saddle shoes, were often on my feet, playing in the 60s.
Heard the Beatles were fans, of Perkins.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRNyvO4QouY

 

[Grumps]

I did think of that, but just as a sax/bass duo I’m not convinced it would work.

Sure it would. The melody begs for a sax voice... played slowly, and even a bit out of time... with a bass player who listens and fills the empty spaces.

 

[Taragot]

Baby you can Drive my car would be a nice Bossa

 

[mrblackbat]

Sure it would. The melody begs for a sax voice... played slowly, and even a bit out of time... with a bass player who listens and fills the empty spaces.

I’m not convinced. I think you’d lose a lot of the harmony. Or you’d lose the bass pedal.

 

[Grumps]

I’m not convinced. I think you’d lose a lot of the harmony.

You color the melody by playing through the harmony. Free feel. Heck... now I want to do it.

 

[mrblackbat]

You color the melody by playing through the harmony. Free feel. Heck... now I want to do it.

I know how to play music y’know. I just think song will lend itself at all to a sax bass duo. The defining parts for me are the rich vocal harmonies in rhythmic unison, the bass pedal ostinato, the chiming guitar. The beauty of the melody is where it stays static whilst the harmony from the guitar and vox move. You can’t that effect from a bass sax duo without losing the ostinato.

 

[skeller047]

I know how to play music y’know. I just think song will lend itself at all to a sax bass duo. The defining parts for me are the rich vocal harmonies in rhythmic unison, the bass pedal ostinato, the chiming guitar. The beauty of the melody is where it stays static whilst the harmony from the guitar and vox move. You can’t that effect from a bass sax duo without losing the ostinato.

Just play faster so the notes blur together. Use a lot of delay and echo. Emphasizing the static notes of the melody of course.

Sorry Matt, couldn’t resist. 🙂 I look forward to hearing the results of this project, it sounds interesting!

 

[Grumps]

I know how to play music y’know.

I'm not arguing with you.

 

[mrblackbat]

In all fairness I’d love to hear your take on it. Like I said, I don’t hear it, but get something up and maybe i will.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I'm not arguing with you.

Oh yes you are. 🤡

 

[Grumps]

In all fairness I’d love to hear your take on it. Like I said, I don’t hear it, but get something up and maybe i will.

Well, I'll have my horn out today, but I don't make home recordings. I was actually planning on giving it a go to warm up on once I figure it out. If anything interesting comes up I can give you a call?

 

[mrblackbat]

So the four songs I'll be doing are Nowhere Man, Michelle, Girl and In My Life. Going to do them all in a Cuban son style, and may have a pianist along. So knocked up some very quick demos to give to the other guys.

Nowhere Man - Nowhere Man.mp3
Michelle - Michelle.mp3
In My Life - In My Life.mp3

I haven't done one for Girl as yet. Let me know what you reckon!

 

[rhysonsax]

I appreciate that these are only rough demos and imagine that a human piano player will make a significant difference. Will you work out intros before the sax comes in with the melody ?

Liked the sax and feel on Nowhere Man but some of the chords sound a bit strange to me.

Michelle sounds really good.

In My Life works well too.

I think that they all work with this Cuban style but I would prefer to hear the different tunes done in different Latin styles for the sake of interest. Probably not Bossa Nova (too hackneyed) but maybe Calypso could be one and a Boogaloo another.

Rhys