Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). John Denver live in London 1976 - on BBC4 last night - Acoustics Discussions on The Fretboard
›
UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

John Denver live in London 1976 - on BBC4 last night

What's Hot
CaseOfAceCaseOfAce Frets: 1067
edited March 2022 in Acoustics
What a voice and no slouch on his acoustic technique either. 
I was surprised how much he used a capo and with a thumb pick as well.

That Guild 12 string got absolutely thrashed.
Had to chuckle when he played This Old Guitar for the last number on his custom built James Olson $$$$$ guitar - it sounded incredible. Imagine sticking that in the airplane hold - or he did buy a seat next to him for it?! 

I never get tired of hearing Annie's Song - what a tune - but Leaving On a Jet Plane is a close second
(what is it with planes, 12 strings and troubadours - Gordon Lightfoot's Early Morning Rain is a gem as well).


Just like a headless horse without a horse.
1reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter

Comments

  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 24852
    I haven't seen it but my mum is/was a huge fan, so JD was basically the soundtrack too my childhood. Saw him 3 times at the RAH, including one front-row show which was one of the founding "core memories" that started my wanting to play guitar. 

    Some incredible songwriting and a phenomenal voice.
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 15603
    I saw most of the documentary that was on beforehand. He was pretty much a what you see is what you get kinda guy. Very talented, dogged to some extent by the snobbery of music critics. 
    I’ll handle this Violet, you take your three hour break. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    Yep watched it. A talented guitarist. He did have his faults offstage but don't we all! :) 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    It's also rather funny that he had that wimpy Milky Bar Kid image and apparently 'lightweight' sounding music - he must have had fingers like steel to get that full, clean sound on a 12-string with a thumb pick... obviously done with a fairly high action and big strings, even if they were tuned down and capo'd.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    will try and look that up,  Im assuming it will be repeated
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 15603
    There were two or three Denver programmes on BBC4. I don't know if this also happened to be on Sky Arts or it was on BBC4? Either way there should be some Denver content on iPlayer. 
    I’ll handle this Violet, you take your three hour break. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • CaseOfAceCaseOfAce Frets: 1067
    Updated thread title to say BBC4 instead of my error saying Sky Arts.

    Another thing I noticed was that Denver's primary weapon of choice was the 12 string Guild. 
    I'm used to players breaking out a 12 string for one song in a set at most..but to use it for most of a televised set?
    And in such an unconventional way with thumb pick (and capo) - wow!

    When you see a great player / performance - you can't help rethink your rig (!) and approach to the instrument / gear / song / techniques choices!).

    (thinks of selling off my entire rig and ditching this electric nonsense and procuring a pricey Guild 12 string and doing it Denver-style - it's not gonna happen - but it's nice to rethink it occasionally!).
     =) 
    Just like a headless horse without a horse.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • artiebearartiebear Frets: 810
    Absolutely loved it. I remember listening to a BBC radio in concert in about 1976, my mates were trying to sound like Led Zeppelin. I bought John Denver live that weekend. I was weird enough to love playing what was later called finger style guitar and just loved those songs and that production. ( I did like Led Zeppelin as well, but so glad I took notice of JD ).
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • HonkycatHonkycat Frets: 4
    Watched them today. SO good, thanks for the tip! JD songs were the first I really tried to learn, along with Paul Simon.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.