Mellotronists

-----Original Message-----
Con:
    Graham's drumming (although he did appear to spend some time in 
     the woodshed circa "LDV"
Actually, Graeme is quite a good and innovative drummer - unlike boring
metronomes like Charlie Watts. Listen also to the two Gurvitz albums -
the first one including a certain red-haired wildman pitching in on the
skins.
 
One has to remember too that the Moodies have always been a rock band
with an edge (oops! pun) - not just Montovani on acid - I remember my
Led-Zep-Bonzo-lovin (read: "loud" and "raucous") drummer at a Moodies
concert responding to an uninitiated fellow in a nearby seat who asked
if this was going to be a mellow concert by saying: "No, no - they
rock!"
 
I think the key to the difference you hear on record and live is the
inimitable Tony Clarke. Pip and Visconti were quite different..listen to
the "classic eighth" Moodies album (Blue Jays) with Tony producing -
excellent work again - and even the Godley/Creme production of "Blue
Guitar", while trying hard to imitate Tony, misses it. Without Tony,
things just aren't the same in the studio: 4-track or 24 - and live you
get to hear the raw product - and it's still a helluva lot of fun..
 
Cheers!
Vance (waiting for the fur to fly re: any one of the following - my
taste, Adrian Gurvitz, Ginger Baker, Paul Gurvitz, Montovani, my
drummer...)