Thursday, September 4, 2008

Guitar God VI - George Harrison


sorry if i mislead ya---
after those first five truly technicians of their axes-----probably my TRUE #1
but in this list--6--
george my inspirational one,for without me seeing him and johnny
rickenbacker--gretsch--in hands--or arms---
i had lived thru--although very young--elvis-buddy-chuck-eddie-carl-james-bo-
all those 50's icons---when i was like four---i went out trick or treating as elvis---
burnt cork--sideboards---ha---and my hair---greaseeed up---with my disney--micky mouse--
crank on the side---ukelele----that played pop goes-----but i burst in---with a "you ain't nothin but a hound----"and boy did i score candy--and pinched cheeks---anyway-------
my point is-----i remember early days of rock and roll--then crap---for too many -like 5-years---then---summer of 63--i grew up here in philadelphia--section of the city called olney--and there were these "trucks"---that had amusements built on them--one had this

mini-ferris wheel--another a couple of whip type cars that rode around in circle---
these trucks had 45rpm record players on them--
you'd pay a nickle or dime--for a ride--the guy would ride you for usually two records
like 5 minutes-and that summer i heard--from me to you-please please me-she loves you-and
i'll get you---all early singles of the beatles---i was really interested--but wouldn't SEE-what
caught my interest--until--feb-64--------ed sullivan show---
and yes like the kennedy thing----"i was sitting in my living room"--staring at the tv-----
my family all eyes with me----
"dad--mom---i want one of those guitars"---yeah---ok----ask santa----
and i did----but my guitar wasn't "one of those"-----anyway---
when i really-truly---remember back---the drums-were what i wanted----my dad loved drums---a big krupa follower
i had a sears roebuck--paper--headed-set-for an earlier christmas--that lasted til new years
really--really did--went out in the trash within 2-weeks----
anyway---i briefly requested drums---got the you are insane look
and by the time--a hard days night--came out---being george or john was the cooler thing--
so-i got the folk guitar-that christmas--followed by an electric--a year later
anyway---after learning how to play--you look for someone to aspire to be--and george was my first---me wanna be----
i see lists published--top--100--etc----and most put george after top ten---
but not me-mine----(missing--i)---ha----so---to me -too important---and shouldn't be-or get diminished----his solo's---his songs----most to me--just amazing---yeah i know mccartney's influences--or do this'-------are part of why some diminish his skills---but look how influential
the stuff he did was-----is
listen to his slide work-!!!---the 70's stuff----
and i guess "all things must pass"--umm grammy---as far as i remember--first-maybe only triple record--to do that---oh yeah---and his "friend"--mr eric----not a slouchy sideman on so many of george;s recordings----yeah---check sleeves of records---or liner note stuff--of his recordings---for the people who "wanted" to record with him----
and--although not as busy as eric--with "sidework"--george was a busy guy--with everything from cheech and chong to soundtracks
in the late 60's---i was still a teenager and pondered sometimes why george was george--
you know the indian influence--his "spiritual"changes--but i accepted what he was doing--actually admired---him for being him
later in my life i was quite happy to have knowledge of things he lived--talked about in his music--i found a lot of useful things in his music----words
so yeah--he was no speed-demon guitar soloist--but--listen to lennon's--"how do you sleep"-
especially the anthology-(lennon;s)-----killer slide----
and oh yeah--don't know what the "wilbury's" would have been without him---
i know i have "no idea"what my life woulda been like---if there was no--george harrison---
in my life
oh yeah--he didn't write that one--but did cover it--"here's one-jake wrote"
oh yeah--another first----bangla-desh concert-----
so--number six is his spot on my list
and yeah--i still miss him
hey-------maybe a break--on next post---
i feel a rant----coming on----peace---love---gary