July 2020
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 25, No. 7
Live meetings are Cancelled due to CoronaVirus.
However, we will be attempting on-line Zoom meetings.
We will send details under a separate email, and in the Facebook group page.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
By CyberToad
Rick Barker video WHAT YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON AS A MUSICIAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbYzh48Ie0
On The Record Part 3 And Other Diversions
By Jackie Mason
This article continues my evaluation of a 2009 interview of head Kink Ray Davies
by Will Hodgkinson. This is the YouTube link to that interview. Split up into eleven parts
but finally running chronologically with all eleven parts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8B_LYW1lB0
I am also going to take a diversion this month. This Ray Davies is very important
but it’s a big subject and I’d like to cover alternative ground too.
When I left off last month I was talking about character driven songs. Ray had talked
about the down on his luck aristocrat of “Sunny Afternoon.” There were other character
songs from that period. The “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion” who was “Eagerly pursuing
all the latest fads and trends.” Inspired from an argument with a fashion designer and
written in a “fit of anger.” There was “A Well Respected Man” “doing the best things so
conservatively.” These mark a hard departure from the earlier hits. Ray is back in England
and barred from the USA. He’s married with a child and living in a bedsit. When the family
has gone to sleep. He writes quiet songs like “This Strange Effect.” This haunting piece was
released as a single by English rocker Dave Berry in 1965. The band is touring with a stand
in guitar player as he has nervous exhaustion and has to remain home. Ray describes the
song “Two Sisters.”
“Sylvilla looked into her mirror
Percilla looked into the washing machine
And the drudgery of being wed
She was so jealous of her sister
And her liberty, and her smart young friends
She was so jealous of her sister”
Percilla is Ray and Sylvilla is his brother Dave. Another beautiful song from this period is the
Indian flavored “See My Friends.” Inspired by a trip to Bombay, there is a spiritual approach
to this song. If you pull this song up and listen to it you will begin to realize just how good an
ensemble singer younger brother Dave was. Also joining in on the harmony is Ray’s wife, Rasa.
The guitar playing is so effective and it’s beauty as a song is in it’s simplicity. Ray wrote it on a
Framus acoustic. A cheap German guitar with rusty strings. I have had a couple of Framus
guitars pass through my hands. There’s still one in my family. It’s a bright orange semi acoustic
being played by my nephew in England. You don’t need expensive gear to make great music.
One of the true gems in Ray’s catalog of songs is “Waterloo Sunset.” In 2010 Ray Davies
stated the song was originally entitled "Liverpool Sunset". In an interview with the Liverpool Echo,
he explained, "Liverpool is my favourite city, and the song was originally called “Liverpool Sunset.”
I was inspired by Merseybeat. I'd fallen in love with Liverpool by that point. On every tour, that
was the best reception. We played The Cavern, all those old places, and I couldn't get enough of it.
I had a load of mates in bands up there, and that sound – not the Beatles but Merseybeat – that
was unbelievable. It used to inspire me every time. So I wrote 'Liverpool Sunset'. Later it got
changed to 'Waterloo Sunset', but there's still that play on words with Waterloo. London was home,
I'd grown up there, but I like to think I could be an adopted Scouser (someone from my Liverpool).
My heart is definitely there.”
The harmonies are magical. Once more Ray’s wife, Rasa Didzpetris contributes to the high
harmony sang in unison with brother Dave. Ray says he knew it was special. It was composed
on a baby Grand. It was written over a three week period. The recording itself is unique. Dave
Davies commented later, "We spent a lot of time trying to get a different guitar sound, to get a
more unique feel for the record. In the end we used a tape-delay echo, but it sounded new
because nobody had done it since the 1950s. I remember Steve Marriott of the Small Faces came
up and asked me how we'd got that sound. We were almost trendy for a while.” It’s the first Kinks
song produced by Ray Davies and not by Shel Talmy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_Sunset
It is a true observer’s piece of writing. Ray says that he often goes to places like train stations
and concentrates on the people there. It’s another useful tip for us aspiring writers. The “lonely shut
in” watching the world go by from his window. Watching “Terry and Julie cross over the river where
they feel safe and sound.” For an interesting reading about Ray’s wife check out the following article.
https://andrewhickey.info/2018/01/28/did-a-teenage-girl-make-the-kinks-great/
This section of the interview ends with a new rendition of the song featuring guitarist Bill Shanley
and The Crouch End Choir. That’s part 5 if you are following along. More to come next month on this
amazing and informative interview.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out to some of the wonderful musicians we’ve lost during this stressful
time. Not all passed because of the virus. You may find a detailed list at this link.
https://www.billboard.com/photos/9349420/musicians-who-have-died-from-coronavirus
I will miss Kenny Rogers and John Prine.
These are especially hard times for musicians. Stay safe everyone. Stay strong.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool
with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for June, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2020 ISG