Re: covers in general

[Ian Derby <csc2imd@cabell.vcu.edu>]

> 
> Ian:
> Just a few things...
> SOMETHING ELSE was released 9/67.

In the US? The US catalog says 1968.  But since the UK release was probably 
before then that's what counts.  You get the idea anyway.


> I have the CD of ARTHUR, and it sounds great. I would say that it is indeed
> their best work (even better than VGPS). 

I disagree.  I love Arthur, but Village's so much better IMHO.  It's
an opinion anyway.  Soundwise it's still not better than Tommy, that
was my original point.


Davies' songwriting is so much
> different than Townshend's, I couldn't say that ARTHUR "lacks the musical
> aspect." Rather, Townshend was more innovative musically and Davies more
> dancehall. Or more British traditional, if you prefer.

Well since Townshend lifted things from the Kinks in his early
writing, I would agree and yet disagree.  Arthur is great (listen to
the horn break on Yes Sir, No Sir) musically, BUT it doesn't have
the intricate tendencies of Tommy.  That's what I'm pointing out.
In comparison, it does lack the musical aspect, because Townshend
was innovative while Davies stuck to his clutch.  IE, what he did
best.  I'm not saying Arthur was bad, but Tommy was moving forward.



> I would say that the production on SOMETHING ELSE is miles above what was
> done with VGPS, especially considering the overloads (Johnny Thunder, for
> instance) and weak separation. 


Something Else IMHO sounds dead in comparison to Village.  "Sitting
By the Riverside" sounds better than anything Shel produced, yet Ray
incorporated Talmy's techniques.  



By ARTHUR, Ray had his sea-legs.
> Re: Lambert's production of TOMMY. The TOMMY Demos, if you've had a chance
> to hear them, are better produced than the album. And Townshend produced
> them, I suppose.


I have the Tommy Demos, but again that wasn't my original point.
PT's production still doesn't have the life of the Tommy album, at
least bass wise.  If you don't have the gold disc of Tommy then I
can understand.