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OK, we’ve taken stabs at this in the past, especially back in the old usenet group, with mixed results. However, there’s this evil little demon perched upon my shoulder who keeps dragging the subject up for another spin around the block….
The subject is: “Wouldn’t it be cool if Bruce played
?” Now, you might ask yourself “what prompted Rich to resurrect this whipped old puppy?”
And you might ask yourself, “what might I contribute to this thread?”
And you might ask yourself, “where is my beautiful wife?”
And you might ask yourself, “he isn’t really suggesting that Talking Heads tune, is he?”And, finally, there would be an answer. “No, not really. I just got carried away with the ask youself thing. Sorry.”
What prompted this was playing poker on Full Tilt last night and setting Media Player to shuffle and having a couple of loved-yet-nearly-forgotten tunes play. One, in particular, was one that made me think, “Damn! Wouldn’t it be cool if Bruce were to open a show with this tune? The folks in the crowd would probably wet their pants!” And, let’s be honest, nothing would make us smirk more than seeing a bunch of folks leaving a Bruce show looking like they had 1 too many beers at a place with 1 too few toilets.
Before mentioning the actual tune, let me put this challenge to you. Not only should you suggest a tune that you’d love to hear Bruce play, but… make the song one he’s never supposedly played live (see the Bruce Base just in case), where in a show you think it should be (especially if you can think of a tune Bruce would play anyhow that it could be melded in with, a la the way he worked Comfortably Numb in with Fortunate Son), and why you’d dig hearing it played.
That said, I’d love to hear him and his band open up a show, set, or encore with the Band classic, Chest Fever. The organ opening and the piano jam that accompanies it in the opening deserves to be played by the best keyboard band in the world. It would be JT and Bruce making a statement along the lines of “you ain’t at just any old rock and roll show, baby.” The only other time I heard this played live was ages ago at a Letterman Anniversary show at Radio City Music Hall when the twin organs were manned by Billy Joel and Carole King, and that was a pretty surreal experience. It would take Noisemakers to outdo that, but they’d easily be up to the task.
Next?
Rich
“Hit me slowly, hit me quick. Hit me! Hit me!” – I. DuryI wrote:“Hit me slowly, hit me quick. Hit me! Hit me!” – I. DuryCome to think of it, I think the band would have a blast if they decided to throw in a little “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” in the middle of some jam!
Rich
They’ve done Great Balls of Fire before.
My own “Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…” actually made it into several shows, as did my back up.
The original was Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke”, which even got an airing on Good Morning America in the middle of The Way It Is a couple of years back.
Plan B was “Get Off of My Cloud”, which I got first time of asking.
New challenge is either “Tempted” by Squeeze, which I fancy hearing coming out of “Passing Through” (that’s the trick, find a song that matches and present them with a challenge)
or
preferably, I can hear them doing this old classic:
si_twining wrote:Inspired, sir. I had forgotten that wonder ful song, and it would make sense, since he’s played other of his tunes.
I like The Band’s “Acadian Driftwood.” Seems like it would be a natural for Bruce. How about “Both Sides Now”? He’s a Joni Mitchell fan, isn’t he?
I’d also like to get Bruce to do some of the rarities he’s done in the past, again: Girl From the North Country, Imagine, etc.
Even though I wasn’t into The Grateful Dead, I’d love to hear Bruce put together an album of all-Dead covers since I always seem to like his take on the Dead material.
Allisa,
At the risk of sounding like Si, actually, he has played “Every Little Thing She Does”, even with the glissade(sp?). Waaaaay back, the Police played either in Norfolk or Hampton. Anyway, a surprise guest pianist showed up…..guess who!!!
Hey, Si,
Way to rain on MY parade. I didn’t realize you were asking for requests that had never been done before. Obviously, I must have missed that concert. And, since I’m too poor to have anything but dial-up, I can’t even get the Daily Doses every body raves about.
Dave Rich wrote:well, we do two of his songs so I think it’d be cool if he did one of mine
and then
Miss Virginia Former wrote:Okay, Rich wins the “Coolest Request Award”. Now, how are we going to make it happen???
I’m hoping she meant “Mr. Rich,” as I’m inclined to agree with him wholeheartedly! After we finish up with the 3rd BH tribute album, our next project should be original compositions that we think we sound even cooler if Bruce played them.
…and then we should cajole him (in the fun and loving spirit that such things are offered up) into mixing in a couple of them in a show and/or at least attempting his versions of our versions of his songs. I think it’d be a trip to hear TWII in 5 time, or as a bluesy slide guitar tune, or a totally freaky rendition of Passing Through.
Rich
{i}”Weave your web of rhyme upon this summer night” – N. Diamond[/i]
Here is my list:
Blues #3-Duke Ellington
Hey,What Do You Say-Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Love and Understanding-Kool & The Gang
Fat Man in the Bathtub-Little Feat
I Know You’re Out There Somewhere-The Moody Blues
Let Me Serenade You-Three Dog Night
So Hard To Find My Way-Jackie Greene
Blues with a Feeling-Taj Mahal
Melody-The Rolling Stones
True Religion-Hot TunaJackie
daverich wrote:well, we do two of his songs so I think it’d be cool if he did one of mineI agree with David Rich!
“Driving by the Light” would be really cool by Bruce! Check it out!
You will like it! http://www.myspace.com/daverichband
David Day
Lake Lanier, GADavid Day wrote:daverich wrote:well, we do two of his songs so I think it’d be cool if he did one of mineI agree with David Rich!
“Driving by the Light” would be really cool by Bruce! Check it out!
You will like it! http://www.myspace.com/daverichband
David Day
Lake Lanier, GAYou can stream it hi-quality from http://www.lemonrock.com/daverichband
but if bruce wanted to use it I could *probably* send him a copy.
Kind regards
Dave Rich
si_twining wrote:that’s the trick, find a song that matches and present them with a challengeSuper Freak > U Can’t Touch This
Yeah, it would be cool if Bruce sang these songs . . .
“We’ll Be Together” (sting) I want to hear Bruce howl like the dawg that he is in the beginning. It also could be a nice segway into Camp Meetings’ “We’ll Be Together” which I love as well.
“Just Like Heaven” (the cure) Just because I like it.
“Little Pink Houses” (john cougar) Ain’t that American?
“Yesterday’s Wine” (willie) Why not?
“And So It Goes” (billy) Joel’s got Soul.
“When She Loved Me” (randy) I don’t think Bruce should sing about short people.
cooleveningdancer wrote:Yeah, it would be cool if Bruce sang these songs . . .
Yesterday’s Wine” (willie) Why not?
“And So It Goes” (billy) Joel’s got Soul.
“When She Loved Me” (randy) I don’t think Bruce should sing about short people.All your choices are really interesting. The ones that really intrigued me:
“Yesterday’s Wine”-what would be your opinion of Bruce doing a duet on this song with say, Mark Knopfler or Ricky Skaggs? Wouldn’t it almost rival the Haggard/Jones version?“And So It Goes”-Bruce singing this would have me in tears for days…
“When She Loved Me”-yes! I’ve been thinking Bruce could really sing a great version of “Baltimore,” but this is an even better idea.
Thanks for the refreshing observations.
Jackie
Knopfler all the way! No, of course I was thinking about Ricky and Bruce, and actually I’m not quite sure why I picked that song. Back in the day, I used to ski to Waylon and Willie and the Boys cranked up on the ol’ Walkman. I would sing “T for Texas” at the top of my lungs. The songs on the Wanted! The Outlaws album are so fun to listen to and sing along with. When Bruce sings “Nobody There But Me”, sometimes I think he sounds just like Willie.
From wine to Winehouse.
“Rehab” (winehouse) Yes!Yes!Yes! (I don’t think Bruce should cover this song, but in the video Amy’s backup band can really lay it down and play . . . and it got me thinking that Bruce can ‘bring it’ – layin’ down as well, i.e. Intersections last page photo!)
I’ll bet Bruce and band could even make the transition between “Big Stick” and Ian Dury’s “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” and back work.
A fun “cover” medley would be to do a quick run of a bunch of “Superman” songs out there. I can’t imagine any other active artist who would either have the chutzpah to try or be able to pull off mixing songs like Five For Fighting’s “Superman’s (It’s Not Easy)”, The Kinks’ “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman”, Crash Test Dummies’ “Superman’s Song”, Spin Doctor’s “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues”, REM’s “I Am Superman”, Bush’s “Superman”, and any of the myriad other Superman-related songs that have been recorded. That would be kinda cool in a goofy sorta way,
Rich
“It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive. Even heroes have the right to bleed.” – J. Ondrasik
I think I’m going to request the Ray Charles classic, “What’d I Say?” the next time I see the man play. I don’t see that in the BruceBase.
As for a combination/segue that would fit with the topic, I think that Stevie Wonder’s “Livin’ For The City” as a prelude to “The Way It Is” would be pretty hip.
Rich
“To find a job is like a haystack needle, ‘cuz where he lives, they don’t use colored people.” – S. Wonder
Someone’s mobile phone rang here at work earlier and they had “I get the sweetest feeling” by Jackie Wilson as their ringtone. The tune got into my head and now I’m thinking it would be a great request for Bruce and the band. Any suggestions for what it could be combined with?
Back in August, our dear old friend and confidante, known unto us mainly as Miss Virginia Former wrote:Okay, Rich wins the “Coolest Request Award”. Now, how are we going to make it happen???I think the ticket is a small piece of paper, quitely stuffed into the request pile, with a silly cartoon of someone bonking someone else over the head with a club and the words “Play Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” on it might suffice. This could be done in a relatively tasteful manner at Bay Days. Come to think of it, something similar for Chest Fever would be good, too.
Does Bruce ever read this forum? It could save us a lot of time if he’d just write down our online requests in advance 😆
Rich
“If I could do it all over, I’d do it all over you!” – D. Sinclair
Jonathan wrote:Someone’s mobile phone rang here at work earlier and they had “I get the sweetest feeling” by Jackie Wilson as their ringtone. The tune got into my head and now I’m thinking it would be a great request for Bruce and the band. Any suggestions for what it could be combined with?How about “Halcyon Days” or the non-bluegrass version of “Mandolin Rain”? I know these are sad/contemplative songs,but I couldn’t think of a “happy” song that would fit with what I was hearing in the Jackie Wilson song.
Jackie
“Driving by the Light” would be really cool by Bruce! 
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