Happy Hammond
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Registered: 12-2005
Posts: 622
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Danger White Men Dancing
I've posted this in the Jon Lord section as well but just in case you don't visit that section...
The one key thing to say about this album is that it should cary a warning that it features Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ!
The opening number, "The blues just got sadder" starts with Jon setting the tone for the song with a slow intro - using different drawbar settings than we're used to but perhaps a little more traditional for blues.
It also contains one of my favourite lyrics - "...more snakes than I'd had ladders..." perfect to describe hard luck blues.
"Gotta find me some fire" is the next track with a more familiar sounding Hammond this is an up tempo rocker with - dare I say it - an almost Blackmoresque guitar solo - part bottleneck - part fingers. Good stuff!
"Twisted System" is the first featuring a guest vocal from Jeff Duff - a new voice to me but it suits the feel of the song and again Jon uses a more traditional drawbar setting.
Time for a bit of a ballad "Over and Over" is introduced by gentle piano and organ (Jon gets a writing credit for this one) and features a nice vocal from Gillan - could almost be a Purple track to start with.
It gets a bit heavier and, for me seems to lose it's structure as a song and I'm not sure it really works but as the song fades it's brought back to life with a powerful drum fill and a strong refrain with a good guitar solo from Tim Gaze.
"Let it go" is a fun number with a catchy lick to start before settling into a more traditional boogie style - Jon's solo comes late in the proceedings and owes a debt to the style of the late great Jimmy Smith.
"Heart of stone" is a cover of a Stones song and features Jimmy Barnes. Hmmm - do I like his voice? Never really been sure but he's fairly restrained here and this is fairly traditional blues, that ticks all the boxes with another short but sweet solo from Jon.
"If this ain't the blues" again features Gillan on vocals and is quite a slow number, a little heavy in places and features a rather dark, brooding solo from Jon. I'm not sure if it's a favourite or not - this might have to grow on me.
The title track is a great instrumental with a lovely groove and feel, perhaps a little bit of Freddie King here,or even Robert Cray, but some strong performances from all the musicians and some unusual chords. Just a great all round feel to this muber.
"Dead Presidents" is an old Willie Dixon number and is given the ol' shuffle treatment here (you can't go wrong with a shuffle) and it's a bit of fun.
"Hoochie Coochie Man" is another Willie Dixon number with (again) restrained vocals from Jimmy Barnes - a slighty different arrangement gives it a bit more interest.
"Bottle o' Wine" features Jeff Duff again on vocals - this is my least favourite track so far - it's a slow number but it didn't work for me.
The other extreme is the delightful "Everybody wants to go to heaven" a slow 6/8 blues with a tasteful solo from Jon, again with a more traditional blues drawbar sound, switching effortlessly to a minor scale towards the end. This album is worth it for this track alone.
The closing number "Tell your story walking" is a rockier number with Jon using a more overdriven sound. It's got a catchy riff but it seems to run out of steam towards the end, almost as though somebody forgot to write an ending.
Overall impressions - great to hear Jon playing the Hammond full bore again but, it's not a Jon Lord album there are 3 other excellent musicians in the shape of Bob Daisley, the very underated Tim Gaze (guitar/vocal) and Rob Grosser on drums who underpins everything with a tight style.
I could probably do without Jimmy Barnes but some people like him and, of course, he's a big star downunder. I don't know about Jeff Duff to really comment and Gillan is just, Ian Gillan - 'nuff said.
Very enjoyable album overall .Would it get the attention if Jon wasn't featured? Hard to say.
Ideally I'd want to see 'em live in a sweaty bar.
If this ain't the blues it'll do 'til they come along!
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It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.
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19/10/2007, 19:25
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sail away
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Registered: 09-2007
Posts: 1741
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Re: Danger White Men Dancing
Great review, I'm getting this one soon.
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20/10/2007, 16:39
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sail away
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Registered: 09-2007
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Re: Danger White Men Dancing
It is good especially the gillan numbers.
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17/12/2007, 21:10
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Hessu
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Registered: 05-2007
Posts: 309
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Re: Danger White Men Dancing
Kiitos,Happy Hammond...
What about the prize and where did get it from..?
The prize..always important...-well-for me....
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bYT9hL1uDY
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10/1/2008, 21:31
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Happy Hammond
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Registered: 12-2005
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Re: Danger White Men Dancing
Huomenta Hessu,
(See them laugh at the Englishmans feeble attempt to write in a foreign language!  )
I ordered the CD+DVD version via The DP Appreciation Society http://www.deep-purple.net/
Just browse the CD section and you should find it.
Price in the UK was £14.99 which I think is around 20 Euros but it may be a little different ordering from Finland.
There's a CD only option which is a little cheaper.
Hope that helps!
---
It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.
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11/1/2008, 8:37
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DeepOz
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Registered: 10-2005
Posts: 515
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Re: Danger White Men Dancing
"Over and over" is a superb track. The CD is worth buying just to hear this 8 minute gem.
I'd love to hear the guys do a "Well Oiled Millionaire", a song by a late 70's band called Mickey Finn.
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15/2/2008, 12:46
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Gillans micstand
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Registered: 11-2003
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Re: Danger White Men Dancing
Great stuff, highly recommended, nice review too.
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18/2/2008, 9:53
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