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Post by Marshall on Nov 8, 2023 11:47:12 GMT -5
Bob says, "Hello !"
I just talked to him on the phone for about a half hour. Then a customer came in the barber shop so he said, "Gotta go. Bye."
Last Sunday Sue and I went to a small concert in Rockford Illinois for James Lee Stanley. He (JL) hadn't toured through the midwest for 5 years. He did a show at Shank Hall in Milwaukee, Cafe Carpe in WI, a house concert, and finally this show in Rockford. The place was packed (50-60 people). And at one point James Lee stopped and said, "I feel bad for Paul McCartney. He plays in front of thousands of people, and he doesn't know any of them. I look around and I know everyone in the room." It was great fun. But I digress.
You see it was Chicago Bob who introduced me to James Lee. In fact during one of JL's tours, on a rainy slushy evening, he stopped at Chicago Bob's house and we played a few songs together before JL had to hustle off across town to where he was spending the night.
So, after the Sunday concert, I decided to text CB and tell him I had seen JL, and ask Bob how he was doing. He just called me back and we had a nice long chat. He's still playing guitar and cutting hair. His wife, Linda, died 7 years ago. I knew that. He now has a new girl friend. She's kinda moved in and his place is crowded. His son moved out. They had a falling out and he's not sure what he's up to.
He asked for Todd Frank's phone number, so I'll text that to him in a few minutes. He asked about how you all were doing. He remembers Hammond, and Marty and Todd, and millring and Russel and epaul, and all the regulars.
That's concludes today's report.
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Post by theevan on Nov 8, 2023 12:50:45 GMT -5
Wendy and I popped in on him at the barber shop a couple of times over the past two years. Gooood times.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,893
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Post by Dub on Nov 8, 2023 12:51:28 GMT -5
Wow! Marshall, thanks so much for being who you are and sharing all of this with us.
If you talk with him again, tell him I said hi.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 8, 2023 13:50:16 GMT -5
Wendy and I popped in on him at the barber shop a couple of times over the past two years. Gooood times. Yes, yes. He asked if Evan was still on the SH. He said you stopped by.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 8, 2023 13:54:32 GMT -5
In one of our chat points, I said I was thinking of maybe offering James Lee if he’d wants to do a house concert here next Spring. His web site said he’s in WI for a gig next May. I’d offer JL could stay here. Then I told Bob if he could get up here I’d pick him up at the airport/train station/bus station, and he could stay here too.
Big plans, but it might happen.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,893
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Post by Dub on Nov 8, 2023 15:06:39 GMT -5
This is the first one that came up in my YouTube search.
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Post by Village Idiot on Nov 8, 2023 18:27:15 GMT -5
Thanks for letting us know Bob is doing well. I have his number but haven't called since Kim passed away. I'll get hold of him tomorrow, hopefully. I miss the guy.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 9:14:08 GMT -5
Here's a video of James Lee doing his most requested song, Three Monkeys, which he wrote with Michael Smith. This is somebody's cell phone recording at a house concert. You get a sense of how James Lee interacts with his audience. The intro to the song starts at 2:18 into the clip. The actual song starts at 3:10
This is the most over-the-top song he does. But you get a sense of the versatility of the guy.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 9:23:59 GMT -5
Here's my favorite song of his; Daughter Devine. (Another cell phone live recording)
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 9:28:10 GMT -5
You get a sense of what a fantastic guitar player he is. Fantastic voice too. And he's a regular guy. Like I said before, he stopped by CHicago Bob's house when he lived in Naperville and we played guitar in Bob's living room and traded songs. Just like a Soundhole gathering. No pretension. Just a regular guy who loves people and performing.
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Post by millring on Nov 9, 2023 9:38:07 GMT -5
This is the first one that came up in my YouTube search. That's really nice.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 9:39:39 GMT -5
OK, here's another. A cover of "It's All In The Game." Once again you get a sense of how he loves interacting with people. Actual song starts at 2:00 into it.
(If nothing else listen to the instrumental part at 4:05 into it. So tasty and perfect.
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Post by drlj on Nov 9, 2023 10:01:00 GMT -5
I met Bob a long time ago in Valparaiso at some gathering I can’t recall much about. Howard may have been there & maybe Paul. It’s foggy. He seemed a nice guy but, like I said, memories are foggy. It was a long time ago.
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Post by coachdoc on Nov 9, 2023 10:29:41 GMT -5
Lovely singer, skilled guitarist, but the amplified sound of his guitar is awful. If you have to amplify, just put a mic in front of that beautiful Martin.
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Post by millring on Nov 9, 2023 10:39:51 GMT -5
OK, here's another. A cover of "It's All In The Game." Once again you get a sense of how he loves interacting with people. Actual song starts at 2:00 into it. (If nothing else listen to the instrumental part at 4:05 into it. So tasty and perfect. That's just wonderful. Wow, what a song.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 11:57:05 GMT -5
Lovely singer, skilled guitarist, but the amplified sound of his guitar is awful. If you have to amplify, just put a mic in front of that beautiful Martin. Picky picky picky. (If you don’t have something nice to say, . . ,) Yes he uses effects a lot. More so than I go for. But that’s part of his performing persona. He usually does a song somewhere in the show where he’s using a looper. But the guy can outright play acoustically with no adornment. I think he just tries to have a lot of variety within a show.
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Post by John B on Nov 9, 2023 12:25:02 GMT -5
Lovely singer, skilled guitarist, but the amplified sound of his guitar is awful. If you have to amplify, just put a mic in front of that beautiful Martin. Picky picky picky. (If you don’t have something nice to say, . . ,) Yes he uses effects a lot. More so than I go for. But that’s part of his performing persona. He usually does a song somewhere in the show where he’s using a looper. But the guy can outright play acoustically with no adornment. I think he just tries to have a lot of variety within a show. So I don't have to go through them all, which is the one with the "awful" sound so I can judge for myself?
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 12:48:28 GMT -5
Of course.
In JL’s defense, he’s 78 and has toured professionally his whole life. And during the 80s, everything was “electronic.” Nobody was very successful being an acoustic act. I think James just embraced the concept and found ways to portray his songs and keep performing. He certainly can play an acoustic guitar.
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Post by John B on Nov 9, 2023 13:05:53 GMT -5
Seriously, which clip is Coach complaining about?
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Post by Marshall on Nov 9, 2023 13:13:46 GMT -5
I knew I was in troubled waters here posting the “Three Monkeys” song. It’s JL’s most “out there” song electronically. Especially when he does the minute long intro.
I should have refrained. But it’s a cool song.
Oh well.
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