Earl Slick Interview – A bit of a trade off between me and Earl Slick [Listen 33:00 min]
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S02 Ep12 (Part 1 of 2) - A bit of a trade off between me and Earl Slick
Interview Date: June 7, 2012 @7pm EDT
Special Guest: Earl Slick - is one of the most in-demand and top guitarists living today; the "who's who" in music ask for him by name, and you should know him too.
You might have come across him for playing on albums like "Young Americans," " Station to Station," and "Reality" for David Bowie or for playing on "Double Fantasy," "Season of Glass," and "Milk and Honey" for John Lennon and Yoko Ono. He has multiple side projects like Phantom, Rocker and Slick, New York Dolls, Ian Hunter, Robert Smith, plus 8 solo albums under his belt and much, much more. In this podcast we talk about where he got the name "Earl Slick," how he got started, some of the great bands he has put together and what it was like playing on "David Live," "Station to Station," and "Young Americans."
Coolest Names in Music
Rock’n’Roll names can come real fast, and are about as easy as venerial disease to get rid of. The fact of the matter is, true nicknames are invariably given to you by someone else, but sometimes nicknames in music come from ulterior motives (from record producers to increase sales). The best ones are earned.
Some of the things that determine a good name is; it needs to be catchy and memorable, it has to mean something that represents that person (onomatopoeias often help) and, of corse, it has to rock!
This is a tight race, and could go on forever, but these are some of the coolest names in history according to GTV.
Engelbert Humperdinck
(born Arnold George Dorsey) - Although this is not a competition, he still wins with the coolest and most unforgettable stage name ever. Named after a 19th-century opera composer, Humperdinck is famous for songs like "Release Me," "The Last Waltz," and "A Man Without Love."
Final Mike Garson interview [Listen 41:19 mins] – Mike Garson Sticks His Neck Out To Protect Our Country S02 Ep03 (part 4 of 4)
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S02 Ep03 (part 4 of 4) - Mike Garson Sticks His Neck Out To Protect Our Country
Interview Date: December 2, 2011 @2pm EDT
Special Guest: Mike Garson is an improvisational and multi-genre piano icon and one of the most respected and sought after rock sidemen in the industry. In addition to his side work, he has also had a successful solo career in both the classical and jazz worlds, as well as worked with some of the most impressive people in music. But the thing Garson is most known for is the work he has done with David Bowie. Having worked with Bowie since his North American Ziggy Stardust tour back in 1972, the amazing stories and insights into Bowie's output helps to add a depth into Bowie’s art that few, if any, could touch. Through the years, Garson has helped shape some of Bowie’s most notable songs and albums including; Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, David Live, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Black Tie White Noise, Outside, Buddha of Suburbia, Earthing, Hours, Heathen, and Reality. I met up with Garson when he played live at the Detroit Institute of Arts on December 2nd, 2011, during his “Bowie Variations tour” promoting his new album. In this podcast, Garson and I talk about Bowie being called a chameleon, Mike Garson being a secret weapon, and how he unselfishly risked his life to protect our country.
Well, I’m really sad to see Mike Garson’s concert and interview come to an end; I wish it could go on. As you may have noticed in a previous podcast, I alluded to another guest from Bowie’s entourage - Reeves Gabrels – guitar virtuoso, singer-songwriter, producer, previous Bowie collaborator, and all around music improv expert has agreed to come on the show. He is working to finish his new record and is on board to come on when it’s finished, so stay tuned for that! I was also talking to some members of Bowie’s old band and asked them for their list of favorite Bowie records. Both Mike Garson and Gail Ann Dorsey were nice enough to send me there picks; so here they are:
Mike Garson:
1) Aladdin Sane
2) Outside
3) Diamond Dogs
4) Young Americans
5) Hunky Dory
6) Buddha of Suburbia
7) Heathen
8 ) Reality
9) Ziggy Stardust
Gail Ann Dorsey: my Top albums starting at number one would be,
1) Young Americans
2) Station To Station
3) Stage
4) Outside
5) Earthling
6) Ziggy Stardust...
Low and The Lodger are also big on my list...
“Top Live Bowie Albums of All Time”
Number 7: Tin Machine – Oy Vey, Baby
Tin Machine – Oy Vey, Baby – I have to say, I had a lot of hope in this album when it first came out; especially after seeing Tin Machine play live earlier that year. Although the lowest ranking of the Bowie live albums, it’s worth
The David Bowie Variations – with Mike Garson [Exclusive interview and Full Concert](3 of 4) [Listen: 25:10 minutes] – Mike Garson helps us out of our Rut
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S02 Ep03 (part 3 of 4) - Mike Garson helps us get out of our Rut
Interview Date: December 2, 2011 @2pm EDT
Special Guest: Mike Garson is an improvisational and multi-genre piano icon and one of the most respected and sought after rock sidemen in the industry. In addition to his side work, he has also had a successful solo career in both the classical and jazz worlds as well as worked with some of the most impressive people in music. But the thing Garson is most known for is the work he has done
with David Bowie. Having worked with Bowie since his North American Ziggy Stardust tour back in 1972, the amazing stories and insights into Bowie's output helps to add a depth into Bowie’s art that few, if any, could touch. Through the years, Garson has helped shape some of Bowie’s most notable songs and albums including; Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, David Live, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Black Tie White Noise, Outside, Buddha of Suburbia, Earthing, Hours, Heathen, and Reality. I met up with Garson when he played live at the Detroit Institute of Arts on December 2nd, 2011, during his “Bowie Variations tour” promoting his new album. In this podcast, Garson and I talk about some of the amazing people he has been trained by and played with, such as Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans, what it was like playing on Trent Reznor’s last concert, and what Garson brings to a Bowie record. But first I ask him about the reported 22 hours of recorded jam sessions for the Outside album.
Top 5 David Bowie Albums of All Time
I envy people who are looking to discover David Bowie and have never heard these last five albums. Records so original and exciting are very rare. To discover them and experience the thrill of expanding your appreciation of Bowie (and of music in general) is alone an experience profound enough to give birth to a new vinyl aficionado and spur a lifetime hobby of searching, digging, and collecting. My advice to those new Bowie fans is to take these albums on one at a time and consume them gradually. These aren’t “Jager bombs” or bottles of “Blue Nun” that you are consuming for a quick buzz, but these albums are like the finest aged Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot the world has to offer (musically speaking). Let the music gradually wash over you while the concepts and their sounds slowly take you over. I have found, like with all of the greatest music in the world, it is an acquired taste. It is only with repeated and attentive listening that records of this calibre become your favourites. Each one of these albums have a character quite separate from each other; but together, in my opinion, they make up the finest part of one of the finest musical careers in rock history. I have rated each of these Bowie albums according to my thoughts; but with the pack so close together in this race, I really had to listen to my heart and go with that.
Number 5: Heroes
Heroes – This album captures the ambiance of what it must have been like to be in Berlin circa 1977.
The David Bowie Variations – with Mike Garson [Exclusive interview and Full Concert](2 of 4) [Listen: 1:03:13 minutes] – Saying YES to going on the road.
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S02 Ep03 (part 2 of 4) - Saying YES to the question of going back on the road again
Interview Date: December 2, 2011 @2pm EDT
Special Guest: Mike Garson is an improvisational and multi-genre piano icon who is one of the most respected and sought after rock sidemen in the industry. In addition to his side work he has also had a successful solo career in both the classical and jazz worlds as well as worked with some of the most impressive people in music. But the thing Garson is most known for is the work he has done with David Bowie. Having worked with Bowie since his North American Ziggy Stardust tour back in 1972, the amazing stories and insights into Bowie's output helps to add a depth into Bowie’s art that few, if any, could touch. Through the years, Garson has helped shape some of Bowie’s most notable songs and albums including; Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, David Live, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Black Tie White Noise, Outside, Buddha of Suburbia, Earthing, Hours, Heathen, and Reality. I met up with Garson when he played live at the Detroit Institute of Arts on December 2 2011 during his “Bowie Variations tour” promoting his new album. In this podcast, Garson and I talk about his new album “Bowie Variations,” his reason behind the songs he chose, the Aladdin Sane, and Battle for Britain solo and we get into the genius of David Bowie. In this podcast, Garson and I talk about being micromanaged in the studio, the songs "Bring me the Disco King" and "Time", the albums Young Americans, and Reality, the turmoil in and around the Diamond Dogs tour, and even the latest on David Bowie (aka Davy Jones). P.S. Stay tuned, there could be some news about Bowie coming out with new album in 2012!!!
DAVID BOWIE'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!
If you haven’t done so already, please take your protein pill and put your helmet on; we will be commencing countdown and turning the engines on in just a few minutes . . .
I hope you enjoyed last week’s podcast and our Bowie countdown. This week we are starting off at Ground control itself by counting down David Bowie’s Top albums of all time. The planet is still blue but there is something you can do and that is send me a message below in the comments (yeah, that’s right I’m the “Action Man” giving you the junk that makes you happy). Tell me what you think. Do you agree with the list, and how would you rate them differently? Do it or I’ll send my little green wheels after you. Here we go . . .
Number 10: Heathen
Heathen – A dark horse in more than one way. This album started off as a failed throw-back album titled “Toy”
Bowie Variations – the Full Concert and Exclusive Interview with Mike Garson (Part 1 of 4) [Listen: 34:27](S02Ep03)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
S02 Ep03 (part 1 of 4) - Doing the smaller budget thing with Mike Garson
Interview Date: December 2, 2011 @2pm EDT
Special Guest: Mike Garson is an 
improvisational and multi-genre piano icon who is one of the most respected and sought after rock sidemen in the industry. In addition to his side work he has also had a successful solo career in both the classical and jazz worlds as well as worked with some of the most impressive people in music. But the thing Garson is most known for is the work he has done with David Bowie. Having worked with Bowie since his North American Ziggy Stardust tour back in 1972, the amazing stories and insights into Bowie's output helps to add a depth into Bowie’s art that few, if any, could touch. Through the years, Garson has helped shape some of Bowie’s most notable songs and albums including; Aladdin Sane, Pin Ups, David Live, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Black Tie White Noise, Outside, Buddha of Suburbia, Earthing, Hours, Heathen, and Reality. I met up with Garson when he played live at the Detroit Institute of Arts on December 2 2011 during his “Bowie Variations tour” promoting his new album. In this podcast, Garson and I talk about his new album “Bowie Variations,” his reason behind the songs he chose, the Aladdin Sane, and Battle for Britain solo and we get into the genius of David Bowie.
The David Bowie Countdown:
(to the “Top Fifteen Bowie Albums of All Time”)
Where is David Bowie? A question every fan has been asking and very few know the answer to. Some are saying he has retired for good because of his heart, others are saying there's a rumour that he is in Berlin recording another album . . . just keep looking.