New CD Hank

[kipper]

Well I can't speak for others but as I believe I may have said elsewhere, what I want is to experience again the thrill I got on hearing Wonderful Land, Atlantis etc., for the first time, and I know I'm not going to get it from this collection of tired old recycled songs. Why is it even allowed to be called a 'new' album when there's only one new track on it?

Personally I don't think any of us would experience that thrill we got back then, no matter what he recorded these days.....We have to face it...........it's over ...Just Saying

hate to say it but a do agree with derek. what happened back in the day happened it was exciting but has passed. I like this album and have brought it in vinyl. peter

[Uncle Fiesta]

... I don't think any of us would experience that thrill we got back then ... we have to face it ... it's over ...

Well it might be for some, but not for others. I recently bought an album called Flight Of The Surf Guitar by the Atlantics. this band have been going since 1963, yet have managed to produce a genuinely new album, containing not a single cover. Perhaps one or two tracks fall a little short of the mark, but overall this is more exiting than anything Hank has done in years. So why would I bother with a collection of tired old recycled songs when I can listen to this instead?





P.S. They've even released a version of the same album, containing just the backing tracks, so I get to play them all as well as just listening to them!

(EMI please take note.)

[Gary Allen]

When all is said and done...nobody does it like Hank, and any other guitarist worth mentioning would tell you the same.

[kipper]

think this fits here
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.” peter

[Stu's Dad]

I think you've missed the boat here lads, look here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=14495

Len

[emielvisser48]

Hi,

It seems to some of you that I criticized the quality of the CD or his playing.
That is not the case. I just said that I don't experienced the spirit or whatever you call it.
This is more of the same, like The Shadows did with albums like Hits Right Up Your Street, Life In The Jungle, etc.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with that, but we all know Hank wrote many beautiful tunes and it looks that he chose for the easy way.
I can't believe the record company pressed him to do so, I think he is independent.

Let's face it, the word wide sales won't be spectacular, it's just for those who are familiar with his and that kind of music.

But he is surely not the only guitarist who is repeating him self, Clapton, Knopfler, etc.
And again there is nothing wrong with that, I'm just a bit disappointed because I expected a bit more.

But maybe is it just me.

Regards,
Emiel

[martcaster]

When I hear virtually any of The Shads' recordings from 1960 through to about 1968, I can 'visualise' them sitting round playing these gems again and again until they hit the 'right' take. We've all seen the pics, and heard some of the outtakes, so we can, to a small degree, share that experience and hear, in the music, the 'thrill' of a 'live' performance, where we're pretty sure all four of them were playing together; (excepting for double-tracking, overdubs etc) I can't think of many tracks from the last thirty years when I experience that 'involvement' with the music in the same way. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed it (Skye Boat Song/Eastenders apart) but you know in your heart of hearts that it's four individual performances glued together to manufacture the sound, rather than a cohesive 'live' joint effort.
I have to say that Hank's recent offerings, for me, fall firmly into the latter category; pleasant enough, but rarely inspiring. Rarely do I think "I wouldn't mind us tackling that one".
This community/"family" has dozens of lead players who are easily capable of laying down tracks in a similar style to 'Hank' or 'Guitar Man' and many have done so to great effect and acclaim (which is wonderful). But because we have such a wonderful back catalogue of recordings to refer to, unless Hank, Bruce, Brian and Jonesy/Mark can be persuaded to get together and record another '1st album' or maybe 'Curly Leads', then I'm afraid the thrill has gone, and we can only be grateful that we can refer back to those earlier gems and use them as our inspiration to emulate this great music.
So, let's expand our horizons, and look for performances which match those of the 'great years' from other sources. My suggestions would be The Charades and/or The Hellecasters. And let's accept that Bruce's magnificent, driving rhythms or sublime arpeggios are never again going to mesh seamlessly with Brian's always just exactly right,discreet yet inspiring 'driving' support which inspires Hank to the inventive heights which thrilled us all in the Glory Days. It ain't gonna happen. But isn't that all the more reason for us to keep striving to carry the torch and pass our enthusiasms on to others? Keep playing, guys, and keep listening. That way we'll get closer to re-creating "that sound" ourselves (whatever "that sound" is) and we won't have rush down to the shop with 32/6d in our hands, wondering if we're going to be inspired again. We could do it ourselves.
As always, love to all. I'm off a for a lie down and one of me tablets, now
Mart

[Fenderman]

I feel old recordings (of anyone) tend to sound 'warm', new recordings sound sterile and cold but this probably due to the change of recording technology rather than the playing. I don't mind hearing the odd mistake now and again, sometimes it adds to the charm.
As for Hank's new album, the cover looks good, i like his Shadow on the wall, no doubt a reference to his band but as for the music, i'm unsure but will buy it anyway. I'm guessing it'll probably peak at the lower end of the top 10 as did his last 2 or 3 did.

[Tigerdaisy]

Basically what's missing is the aggression of youth- you can hear it disappear very soon after the first few recordings, in the way the guitar is played, the way the guitar sounds and especially the use of the trem bar. The selection of copycat groups on Youtube from different parts of the world demonstrate a much more frantic and aggressive style occasionally over the top, differing very much from the path the Shadows took which was to be more family orientated... and perhaps boring. Personally I loved the early trem bar use, it was very effective in that it contrasted to the straight 'unwobbled' notes, but I tend to think it sounds somehow sloppy and cliched now and maybe overdone/overused.

[MikeAB]

Hank once said to Brian Matthew before the final tour 'I am supposed to be retired' and it seems that since then we, and indeed he, aren't sure if he is really 'into' his 'electric' recording career at all, and every release feels like it is a bit reluctant and we wonder if it is the last one. Gypsy Jazz apart as his heart seems to be in that far more I hope he can decide to really go for his considerable 'electric legacy' as well and really 'mean it' in his and our last couple of decades. There are encouraging signs of this I think e.g. the PG/BEW video.

In fact a re-listen to 'Hank' suggests it was actually pretty good in reality and the new album sounds very promising.