Chris's blues piano

[aleuzzi]

Finally received my Chicken Shack Compilation today. I'd already owned the first two CS cds (and records) but "It's Okay with Me Baby" was a new thrill. MacFan had posted it as an mp3 here a while back and I liked it. But today was the first time I heard it on a proper stereo.

Wow she could play some fine blues piano! Her tasteful lick at towards the end of the song is brilliant. Not over-the-top showboating but certainly more up-front and assertive than a good deal of her piano playing with Mac.

I noticed, too, that for the studio recordings she gradually moved from acoustic piano to organ and then electric keyboards. She's great at all of these, but I'd love to hear her pound away for a while on the keys, you know?

[Gailh]

I noticed, too, that for the studio recordings she gradually moved from acoustic piano to organ and then electric keyboards. She's great at all of these, but I'd love to hear her pound away for a while on the keys, you know?

I recently received by copy of Christine Perfect and the prominence of the piano is very noticable and made me think that perhaps ITM could have had a little more keyboard.

I think we should start a campaign for more Ms McVie piano!

Gail

[Brwn_eyes0511]

I recently received by copy of Christine Perfect and the prominence of the piano is very noticable and made me think that perhaps ITM could have had a little more keyboard.

I think we should start a campaign for more Ms McVie piano!

Gail

:lol:

I TOTALLY AGREE!

Actually listening to ITM, you can pick out the keyboard lines on just about every track...it still is very much a part of her craft, just not as defined as it was back in her "blues" days. For example, listen to the acoustic version of Friend...the keyboard line is AMAZING...but when you layer more instruments on top of that clear keyboard line, it isn't as easy to pick out. The one thing I DID miss on ITM was her Hammond B-3, which is my favorite instrument she plays...:thumbsup:

[macfan 57]

Finally received my Chicken Shack Compilation today. I'd already owned the first two CS cds (and records) but "It's Okay with Me Baby" was a new thrill. MacFan had posted it as an mp3 here a while back and I liked it. But today was the first time I heard it on a proper stereo.

Wow she could play some fine blues piano! Her tasteful lick at towards the end of the song is brilliant. Not over-the-top showboating but certainly more up-front and assertive than a good deal of her piano playing with Mac.

I noticed, too, that for the studio recordings she gradually moved from acoustic piano to organ and then electric keyboards. She's great at all of these, but I'd love to hear her pound away for a while on the keys, you know?

I just got my copy of the Chicken Shack box set yesterday. I'm actually listening to it now as I type. I LOVE her blues piano! I totally agree...no showboating(which I hate), but very tasteful.

Mike Vernon also removed Stan Webb's impersonations(which I didn't like) from the O.K. Ken songs.:thumbsup: And, the liner notes are great. Mike Vernon knows how to write liner notes. And, there's even a few new pictures that I'd never seen before in the booklet!

[ThePenguin]

And, there's even a few new pictures that I'd never seen before in the booklet!

Which perhaps you'll scan and share w/ us if i beg really pathetically?? :p

-Lis

[Gailh]

Mike Vernon also removed Stan Webb's impersonations

I used to have a vinyl copy of OK Ken and the impersonations are funny the first time but after that they do tend to drive you up the wall!

As a matter of interest did you know who he was impersonating? I seem to remember him doing Albert Steptoe and it actually being quite good.

Did you have Steptoe & Son in the states?

Gail

[macfan 57]

Which perhaps you'll scan and share w/ us if i beg really pathetically?? :p

-Lis

You don't have to beg.:D I'll get to that either later today or tomorrow. I'll have plenty of time this weekend with all the snow coming.

[macfan 57]

I used to have a vinyl copy of OK Ken and the impersonations are funny the first time but after that they do tend to drive you up the wall!

As a matter of interest did you know who he was impersonating? I seem to remember him doing Albert Steptoe and it actually being quite good.

Did you have Steptoe & Son in the states?

Gail

I just checked my CD booklet from O.K. Ken? This is from the liner notes:

"The voices of John Peel, Hughie Green, Max Wall, Kenneth Williams, Chris Wood, Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, Steptoe and Son, and that of a Radio 5 announcer, appear by courtesy of Stan Webb/Special Effects: Harry Simmonds Chorale/M.C. for "Live" Track: Harry Boxer."

I don't know most of these names, do you Gail? Wasn't Harold Wilson Prime Minister of Britain? I've never heard of Albert Steptoe either.

By the way, why don't you still have your vinyl copy of O.K. Ken? That's worth quite a bit of money these days. I'd love to get a vinyl copy of both Chicken Shack albums, but they're just so expensive.

[jbrownsjr]

yeah those impersonations do get on your nerves when you are just trying to listen to the music....

[Gailh]

I just checked my CD booklet from O.K. Ken? This is from the liner notes:

"The voices of John Peel, Hughie Green, Max Wall, Kenneth Williams, Chris Wood, Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, Steptoe and Son, and that of a Radio 5 announcer, appear by courtesy of Stan Webb/Special Effects: Harry Simmonds Chorale/M.C. for "Live" Track: Harry Boxer."

I don't know most of these names, do you Gail? Wasn't Harold Wilson Prime Minister of Britain? I've never heard of Albert Steptoe either.

By the way, why don't you still have your vinyl copy of O.K. Ken? That's worth quite a bit of money these days. I'd love to get a vinyl copy of both Chicken Shack albums, but they're just so expensive.

John Peel was a DJ who died quite recently most famous for championing new young bands
Hughie Green was the presenter of an awful TV show in the 60's called Opportunity Knocks which was an earlier verions of shows like Pop Idol - catch phrase "and I mean that most sincerely folks I really do"
Max Wall was a comedian (deceased)
Chris Wood - never heard of him (her?)
Kenneth Williams was a very camp comedian (deceased)
Harold Wilson former Labour Prime Minister (deceased) once said "this will not affect the pound in your pocket" which was repeated many times by various impersonators
Steptoe & Son - sitcom about father & son rag & bone men. Albert was the father and Harold the son. I always though Albert was a digusting dirty old man. The bloke who played him was a total screaming queen!

I've just thought - do you know what a rag & bone man is? You don't see them any more but basically it was a man with a horse and cart who collected any old rubbish and bric a brac that people wanted to get rid of. I haven't seen one since I was a little girl (which was many moons ago)

Her endeth the lesson on British culture of the 60's!

I got rid of most of my vinyl when I bought my first CD player because I didn't keep my turntable. I've never been one for keeping things but maybe I should have kept hold of a few of them to sell and keep me in my old age!

Gail

[jbrownsjr]

Chris Wood played Sax later on for Traffic and wrote with Steve Winwood

[HomerMcvie]

Did you have Steptoe & Son in the states?


It's what our TV show Sanford and Son, was based on.

[aleuzzi]

I used to have a vinyl copy of OK Ken and the impersonations are funny the first time but after that they do tend to drive you up the wall!

As a matter of interest did you know who he was impersonating? I seem to remember him doing Albert Steptoe and it actually being quite good.

Did you have Steptoe & Son in the states?

Gail


I'm not sure if we do. Don't think so. But I know Webb's overzealous impersonations must be funny to people in the know. To me, however, they were a distraction from the fine music. Maybe if he relegated them to a radio show or something...

[aleuzzi]

I just got my copy of the Chicken Shack box set yesterday. I'm actually listening to it now as I type. I LOVE her blues piano! I totally agree...no showboating(which I hate), but very tasteful.

Mike Vernon also removed Stan Webb's impersonations(which I didn't like) from the O.K. Ken songs.:thumbsup: And, the liner notes are great. Mike Vernon knows how to write liner notes. And, there's even a few new pictures that I'd never seen before in the booklet!

There are also a good number of Webb songs where the piano-driven instrumental backing is magnificent. His singing voice irritates me, a bit too high-strung for the blues, which makes me wonder why CS didn't exploit Christine's lead vocals very much on those two albums.

[macfan 57]

John Peel was a DJ who died quite recently most famous for championing new young bands
Hughie Green was the presenter of an awful TV show in the 60's called Opportunity Knocks which was an earlier verions of shows like Pop Idol - catch phrase "and I mean that most sincerely folks I really do"
Max Wall was a comedian (deceased)
Chris Wood - never heard of him (her?)
Kenneth Williams was a very camp comedian (deceased)
Harold Wilson former Labour Prime Minister (deceased) once said "this will not affect the pound in your pocket" which was repeated many times by various impersonators
Steptoe & Son - sitcom about father & son rag & bone men. Albert was the father and Harold the son. I always though Albert was a digusting dirty old man. The bloke who played him was a total screaming queen!

I've just thought - do you know what a rag & bone man is? You don't see them any more but basically it was a man with a horse and cart who collected any old rubbish and bric a brac that people wanted to get rid of. I haven't seen one since I was a little girl (which was many moons ago)

Here endeth the lesson on British culture of the 60's!

Gail

Thanks for the lesson.:laugh: I did know John Peel. Remember that little film clip of Chris accepting that Melody Maker award? That was John Peel who presented the award to her.

[macfan 57]

It's what our TV show Sanford and Son, was based on.

I didn't know that. I didn't think that show was based on anything.;) I never much cared for it.

[HomerMcvie]

I didn't know that. I didn't think that show was based on anything.;) I never much cared for it.
I didn't like it either. I know I've talked about playing NTN trivia here before. I'm not proud of this, but I know every single TV trivia question known to mankind!(well, up to about 1995). And my memory must be photographic, because I can still see the credits rolling, and name alot of those names(even for the stupid stuff).
What a dork I am.;)

[macfan 57]

There are also a good number of Webb songs where the piano-driven instrumental backing is magnificent. His singing voice irritates me, a bit too high-strung for the blues, which makes me wonder why CS didn't exploit Christine's lead vocals very much on those two albums.

His voice could be very annoying & sometimes screeching. Chicken Shack was really Stan's band. In interviews, Chris has said they had to talk her into doing more vocals. She was pretty content just playing piano. If she hadn't quit the band when she did, I'll bet she would have sang more on the next record, especially since "I'd Rather Go Blind" was such a big hit.

[macfan 57]

Here are the Chicken Shack pictures from the CD booklet from the new box set. The first picture is on the cover of the booklet. The second picture we've seen before. The third picture was in the CD booklet of Forty Blue Fingers. This picture is probably the earliest known picture we've seen of Christine since the drummer in the picture was the original drummer in the band. The fourth picture is a new one that I'd never seen before as is the fifth picture. This is another very early picture since the drummer was the second of three drummers in the band.

[macfan 57]

Here are some more. The first picture we've seen before. I think the second picture was on that Fleetwood Mac Behind The Music VH-1 special. This is the first time I've seen it in print. The third picture is in the O.K. Ken? CD booklet. I think the last picture is a reproduction of the artwork from the O.K. Ken? LP.

[SteveMacD]

His singing voice irritates me, a bit too high-strung for the blues,
No worse than John Mayall...

[Gailh]

I'm not sure if we do. Don't think so. But I know Webb's overzealous impersonations must be funny to people in the know. To me, however, they were a distraction from the fine music. Maybe if he relegated them to a radio show or something...

The impersonations are actually quite good but after hearing them once they drive you mad!

I believe that at one point Stan Web was going to appear on some kind of amateur talent show on the TV for impersonators but it wasn't allowed because he was a professional (although not as an impersonator).

I think I'm remembering that right but I'm willing to be corrected because I'm not sure.

Gail

[ThePenguin]

Here are some more. The first picture we've seen before. I think the second picture was on that Fleetwood Mac Behind The Music VH-1 special. This is the first time I've seen it in print. The third picture is in the O.K. Ken? CD booklet. I think the last picture is a reproduction of the artwork from the O.K. Ken? LP.


Thanks for scanning all those pics! There were a few I'd never seen before. Love that one of her at the keyboard, w/ her little white sneakers and that cute short haircut, LOL ahh how cute was she. :p

--Lis

[macfan 57]

Thanks for scanning all those pics! There were a few I'd never seen before. Love that one of her at the keyboard, w/ her little white sneakers and that cute short haircut, LOL ahh how cute was she. :p

--Lis

I know. That was my favorite too. Now, that was a "short" haircut.:D

[goldustsongbird]

Those pictures are great! I hadn't seen some of them. I love the white runners one... How adorable. And that hair. :laugh:

[SteveMacD]

I think the second picture was on that Fleetwood Mac Behind The Music VH-1 special.
That second one :eek: Not a very flattering pic!

[aleuzzi]

No worse than John Mayall...


This is true. But then I have the same complaiint about HIS voice. Green had it over either of them insofar as his deep, straightforward baritone was well-suited to the genre.

[chiliD]

Chris Wood played Sax later on for Traffic and wrote with Steve Winwood


And later died. :( RIP Chris.

[jbrownsjr]

And later died. :( RIP Chris.


yeah a sad day when he passed :(

[goldustsongbird]

A post at the Seven Wonders forum reminded me I had this pic...

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/84/chickenshacksinglerec5ra.jpg

[macfan 57]

A post at the Seven Wonders forum reminded me I had this pic...

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/84/chickenshacksinglerec5ra.jpg

I've seen this picture before, but this one is much bigger.:) It must be from a singles sleeve.