A Sailor's Life - the Genre

[andy_ck87028]

Hi all,

I've had a habit of being stuck in the 70s now for around 35 years and still absolutely love the music.

In the car, I was playing "A Sailor's life" again (Watching the Dark version) and I just so love that track.

True, I love RT's guitar and Sandy's voice and the crispness of the drumming is devine.

However, what it strongly caused me to recall is that for the last 30 + years, I have been looking for more of the same as is encapsulated within that track.

I used to call the music "tripping" music (never having taken lsd) and "trucking" music (it just goes on and on and if it went on for ever, I'd be happy).

I love the multiple layers that complement each other but it always has an incessant yet relaxed drive about it.

In short, can anyone point me in the direction of alternative examples of this "genre" for which I have one shining example called "A Sailor's Life"!

I often expected the Grateful Dead to satisfy my need and recently bought Aoxomoxoa. Don't like the west coast influence and I was very disappointed with it being a studio album. Perhaps "Live Dead"? I feel I get close to the Sound at times with Can who I was lucky to see many decades ago in Friars Club Aylesbury. Aspects of King Crimson also do it for me and I absolutely love their Album "Islands" because of that melodic "groove".

I would love to hear other people's taste in this genre. Really, what I am looking for is examples of the style of music that is so beautifully captured in "A Sailor's Life"

Yes, I know Sloth (Magnificent) and Matty Groves (Haunting) but I want to find examples outside of Fairport and RT.

Happy recalling and reminiscing.

Andy

[Nick Reg]

Try "On The Shore" by Trees.

[sliprigilio (Al)]

Agree with 'On the Shore'.  'Aoxomoxoa' is not a particularly good choice dor the Dead. Try 'Anthem of the Sun' and 'Live Dead' (the original, with the red cover'.  Television 'Marquee Moon' - the title track.
Quicksilver's first two albums.  Mighty Baby 'Jug of Love'.....I'll be back later with more suggestions

[Jules Gray]

Agree about Television's Marquee Moon.  I think that one might just do it for you.

Jules

[Mindwarper]

I think you fall into the intricate jam band type of sound. Alman brothers, santana, and even Phish have this sort of sound. You might also try the band renaissance. Carpets of the sun and mother russia have some of that sound. I always called this type of music as noodling or jam band. If you like KC, you might also try some of the space rock, jazz fusion,  or prog bands like necktar, gentle giant, weather report, etc.

[jude]

And you could try Astralasia (sort of Spacey Dancey)

Or Robert Fripp's Soundscapes

Or Eno

Or any of that crowd really....

[Goaty]

And you could try Astralasia (sort of Spacey Dancey)

Most definitely seconded.

[Mr Cat (Lewis)]

Some of the tracks off "No Roses" - the Shirley Collins/Albion Band - have a similar feel, especially Maria Marten and the Poor Murdered Girl one.  R< live created that similar kind of groove, i.e. Night Comes In, Calvary Cross.

[andy_ck87028]

My word ... thanks all

That's certainly stirred up some good memories

A few themes I know and have some examples - Robert Fripp, Eno, Gentle Giant, Dead, Renaissance, Santana

A few themes I know of but have yet to purchase - Quicksilver

A few themes that are new - Television, Trees, Albion Band, Australasia, Mighty Baby, Nektar

A few themes that I've tried but struck dead ends - Weather Report


Wow, where next for me and my cheque book.

Definitely Quicksilver, more Gentle Giant and more Fripp (Soundscapes). Very curious about Television, Australasia, Trees (On the Shore).

Thanks again and more examples are really welcome. For me this is a really great way to expand my knowledge of aspects of music. I hope others are enjoying this thread also.

Andy

Btw, Born in Oxford, lived in Wheatley.... saw many of the 70s band but just missed out on the Doors due to events in Paris .....

[Jules Gray]

saw many of the 70s band but just missed out on the Doors due to events in Paris .....

Funny - I nearly mentioned the Doors.  Some of their longer instrumental passages sometimes get into Sailor's Life territory.

Jules

[jude]

My word ... thanks all

A few themes that are new - Television, Trees, Albion Band, Australasia, Mighty Baby, Nektar


Definitely Quicksilver, more Gentle Giant and more Fripp (Soundscapes). Very curious about Television, Australasia, Trees (On the Shore).

Ummm Astralasia not Australasia

try here
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=117831920

[Dr Clive]

Wow, where next for me and my cheque book.

Hmmm... I see your methods of payment are also wedded to the 1970's  

DC

[Mindwarper]

A little out there, but you might try the bones of all men. It is philip pickett with RT and FC. It is medieval noodling. I like it, but it doesn't fit exactly what you want, but it is one of my favorites and it is hard to classify.

I also like Gryphon.

Steve Morse high tension wires cd has a lot of instrumentals.

The Grateful dead song sage and spirit might be want you want.

Traffics john barlycorn has the feel.

Maybe Jethro tulls thick as a brick.

The band Oregon.

[Dr Clive]

Yeah, definitely Bones of All Men is a superb set, and I like Gryphon, too, but I don't think either is in the same genre as Sailor's Life - but if you like any of these you'll probably like them all, if my taste is anything to go by (probably not!).

Interesting crossover between baroque classical and folk/rock - Bex and I are experimenting with playing some Carolan in the baroque style as opposed to the Irish trad style, as we believe he was a contemporary of some of the baroque clasiical composers.

DC

[Jim]

personally i think "a sailors life" is its own genre theres nothing that springs to my mind that builds quite like it, true musical genius, it transcends all attempts to sully its memory. i think we all know who and what i'm on about

[andy_ck87028]

Thanks for the pickup on Astralasia. I guess my error is due to me now being an antipode.

Perhaps "A Sailors Life" is indeed its own genre.

On the Doors front, I find I am in the same groove when listening to "When the Musics Over" on Absolutely Live.

Although I haven't heard it for decades, "Lost in Space" by Hawkwind does it for me as well.

Another one that does it is an Asturian folk band called Felpeyu.

I think the word that fits best is jamming. (Even though the Hawkwind and Doors examples above violate that principle).

I just love the sense of a band of people each working within the same rythmic energy whilst also exploring  their own boundaries in a manner that builds and complements rather than segments and destroys.

People may say I'm talking jazz but I'm not as jazz seems to me to be played for the benefit of the players rather than the community. Folk roots play for the community not for the ego.

I feel included with folk music. I feel excluded by jazz.

Does that make sense to anyone??

Andy

PS From sunny Australasia. (Shame that global warming is leading to our extinction. It sure feels nice!!)
PPS Nice pickup with "Thick as a Brick" ... wonderful album.

[jamesiegang]

A few themes I know of but have yet to purchase - Quicksilver

To link with this try the Welsh Band....Man.
The late John Cippolina (SP.?) from QMS guested with them on a live album.
To link with 'A Sailor's Life'..the longer tracks from Fotheringay?

[Ian_]

 Ah! Noodling.....

  Neil Young produced quite a few pieces which have that extended, moody, jamming feel - thinking particularly of Cortez the killer, Cowgirl in the sand, Down by the river...

  A single suggestion would be Tim Buckley's 'Dream letter' - a fairly intense, atmospheric live album, with elements of jazz that don't overwhelm the warmth and honesty of the songs. Brilliant musicianship too!  

[Ollie]

Has anyone mentioned the live version of Reno, Nevada by FC? That builds in much the same way and has a blinding solo by RT on it.

[Jack O Diamonds]

Night Comes In.... Calvary Cross...