8 Long Years

chriskisn · #1 08-31-2011, 07:38 AM

I was thinking today that it has been 8 years since the last PG album. I guess we will never get another one though. Even if we never get a new recording I wish someone woudl dig into the archives and find some unreleased Splinter Group songs. Surely there must be some.

dino · #2 08-31-2011, 04:45 PM

I'm not missing the Splinter Group; much prefer the live gigs Greeny did with Friends.
But we still don't know why it ended as it did, maybe there are still legal issues.

doodyhead · #3 08-31-2011, 09:48 PM

During the recording of the tribute to the Shadows of which Peter Green released "Midnight" while he was with the Splinter Group, there was another instrumental track that was recorded but never released.. I presume it was because there was some dissatisfaction with the outcome.
This track was alluded to on the documentary made before this last one. Cozy Powell was still in the band. Now that is an unreleased track if ever there was one.

doodyhead

wetcamelfood · #4 09-01-2011, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doodyhead

During the recording of the tribute to the Shadows of which Peter Green released "Midnight" while he was with the Splinter Group, there was another instrumental track that was recorded but never released.. I presume it was because there was some dissatisfaction with the outcome.
This track was alluded to on the documentary made before this last one. Cozy Powell was still in the band. Now that is an unreleased track if ever there was one.

doodyhead

Yeah that was their version of Walk Don't Run which was supposed to be on a Ventures tribute CD made by the same folks that made the Shadows tribute disc but it never materialized (the CD that is).

John

Wouter Vuijk · #5 09-01-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetcamelfood

Yeah that was their version of Walk Don't Run which was supposed to be on a Ventures tribute CD made by the same folks that made the Shadows tribute disc but it never materialized (the CD that is).

John

Cozy Powell: "DON'T TOUCH THOSE DIALS!!!"

chriskisn · #6 09-02-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino

I'm not missing the Splinter Group.

How can you not miss them?

Every time I listen to an album (and I was listening to Time Traders when I wrote the first post) it makes me sad.

dino · #7 09-03-2011, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriskisn

How can you not miss them?

Every time I listen to an album (and I was listening to Time Traders when I wrote the first post) it makes me sad.

Obviously it wasn't a good situation for Greeny. I don't want to se one of Peter's old builder buddies playing his famous solos. I do like the studio albums, especially Time Traders and Reaching the Cold 100. But the best ever recording from those years is Peter's solo Hitch Hiking Woman on the first album.

dansven · #8 09-03-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino

I don't want to se one of Peter's old builder buddies playing his famous solos.

My main concern with the "original" Splinter Group albums (apart from mr. Watson's lead guitar) are the weak lyrics. Potentially good songs are often ruined by stupid "poetry" by Watson/Stroud/Cotton.
A few examples:

Turn Your Love Away:
"Drifting away on a dream cloud, I'm trying to see what's inside
Don't think I'm able to see you, and you've really got nothing to hide
I don't really need to explain, there's nothing to show, you see
But if I can take you outside your world, you'll see what it all means to me
And it doesn't really matter what I do or say
'Cause you're always going to turn your love away
Hope I can get to the river, wash me down, wash you down too"

Oh really??

Running After You:
"You give me honey
I give you money
Is it a crime
To want to spend some time with you?"

Come on.. even I could write this...

Shadow On My Door:
"The thinness of your cold smile
Could chill the heart of a crocodile"

A crocodile??

(Down The Road Of) Temptation:
"Temptation gone and got me into trouble
I don't see it coming, she almost burst my bubble
Temptation was her name and she smelled so sweet
She took my breath away and shook me to my feet
I can hear her as she plays on my mind
And she whispers we are one of a kind
Then she leads me down the road of temptation"

Pleeeaaase.... give me a break..
Stroud must've been quite tempted to write this one.

Time Keeps Slipping Away:
"I'm a man of the world
Waiting for the night to call"

A man of the world, eh?

Nigel Watson very often gets pompous and passionate, but is usually turns into comedy, as in Cool Down, Needs Must The Devil Drives, Smile etc...
Cool Down:
"I'm burning up in the devil's fire
Driven by lust through the flames of desire
When that woman moves
She shows no shame
Sarah was her name"

SARAH??? What are you TALKING about???

Other times Nigel becomes a little bit... cute

like in this one, Wild Dogs:
"Pretty girls out on the streets
Your money for a quick trick between the sheets
She tells you you're the best John she's ever had
But if you stay too long her pimp gets mad"

dino · #9 09-03-2011, 03:16 PM

I think they used Webster's Cliché Dictionary.

chriskisn · #10 09-03-2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino

Obviously it wasn't a good situation for Greeny. I don't want to se one of Peter's old builder buddies playing his famous solos. I do like the studio albums, especially Time Traders and Reaching the Cold 100. But the best ever recording from those years is Peter's solo Hitch Hiking Woman on the first album.

I admit it wasn't a great situation for Peter, and to my mind that is the only reason we wouldn't want them back together.

Despite the fact that many people don't like Nigel Watson (and not just for the way Greeny was apparently treated), I really did like him as a blues singer and guitarist. I loved the music they made together, it is some of my favourite stuff to come out of the Fleetwood Mac member solo careers.

chriskisn · #11 09-03-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansven

My main concern with the "original" Splinter Group albums (apart from mr. Watson's lead guitar) are the weak lyrics. Potentially good songs are often ruined by stupid "poetry" by Watson/Stroud/Cotton.
A few examples:

Nigel Watson very often gets pompous and passionate, but is usually turns into comedy, as in Cool Down, Needs Must The Devil Drives, Smile etc...
Cool Down:
"I'm burning up in the devil's fire
Driven by lust through the flames of desire
When that woman moves
She shows no shame
Sarah was her name"

SARAH??? What are you TALKING about???

One of my favourite Nigel Watson songs though...

SteveMacD · #12 09-04-2011, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino

I think they used Webster's Cliché Dictionary.

I think that's why I quit digging blues in general.

dansven · #13 09-04-2011, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriskisn

I wish someone woudl dig into the archives and find some unreleased Splinter Group songs. Surely there must be some.

Yes, at least there must be tons of alternate takes in the vaults.
And I'm sure Watson and the other guys would like to have it released to get more money. But it's probably held back due to legal reasons.
I remember Peter Green once mentioned the demo of Splinter Group's "Man Of The World". He said it contained lots of great guitar layers, and he thought it was better than the "hidden track" on "Destiny Road".

dino · #14 09-04-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansven

Yes, at least there must be tons of alternate takes in the vaults.
And I'm sure Watson and the other guys would like to have it released to get more money. But it's probably held back due to legal reasons.
I remember Peter Green once mentioned the demo of Splinter Group's "Man Of The World". He said it contained lots of great guitar layers, and he thought it was better than the "hidden track" on "Destiny Road".

There's also the first demos Peter and Nigel recorded in late 1995...one of the song is Burglar.

dansven · #15 09-04-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino

There's also the first demos Peter and Nigel recorded in late 1995...one of the song is Burglar.

Yeah, and didn't Nigel have a rather corny one called "Tina"? Some sort of tribute to Tina Turner...

I've never heard a studio version of it, but I'm pretty sure they demoed it.
I think I've heard it on an early live recording.