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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 16, 2012 8:08:05 GMT -5
Listen to this song, then comment and/or vote!
4=Exceptional 3=Good 2=Average 1=Crap
"Old Dirt Road" (John Lennon, WALLS AND BRIDGES - 1974)
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 16, 2012 8:09:07 GMT -5
2- Average
Not one of my favorites, just okay.
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Mar 16, 2012 8:32:40 GMT -5
I have to agree with you Joe. This one is not a standout. It needs more energy and a better arrangment. The piano is annoying and doesn't fit the mood. That must be Nicky Hopkins and his style of playing to g damn many notes. The lyrics fall into that oblique bag and are kind of hard to discern. It could be about isolation, but there are so many metaphores involved. BTW, the "like trying to shoveling smoke with a pitckfork" is not an original one. Overall though not unpleasant. I give it a 2.
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Post by mikev on Mar 16, 2012 8:35:50 GMT -5
4- I love this song and Walls and Bridges. This one has that Harry Nilsson Pussy Cats feel to it.
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Post by debjorgo on Mar 16, 2012 9:45:49 GMT -5
A great song, not the best song on maybe my favorite Lennon album, but still a great song so I give it a 4.
Has the pitchfork metaphore been used before, Rtp? You didn't quote the whole line, "trying to shoveling smoke with a pitckfork in the wind".
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Post by Snookeroo on Mar 16, 2012 10:04:13 GMT -5
Always liked this song. I remeber hearing something about that wonderful "pitchfork" line not being John's, and I was mightily bummed out. Does anyoneone know where it came from?
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Post by coachbk on Mar 16, 2012 10:52:51 GMT -5
2-started out like a 3, but then went on a little long without much energy. WALLS AND BRIDGES is an album I have never gotten into (and I have tried). The only song I'd rate as a 4 is "#9 Dream"
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Mar 16, 2012 12:01:55 GMT -5
Always liked this song. I remeber hearing something about that wonderful "pitchfork" line not being John's, and I was mightily bummed out. Does anyoneone know where it came from? John asked Harry Nilsson for "an Americanism" (a uniquely American saying) he could use in the song. Nilsson responded with "it's like trying to shovel smoke with a pitchfork in the wind", a saying he had heard years before.
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Post by debjorgo on Mar 16, 2012 12:10:45 GMT -5
Always liked this song. I remeber hearing something about that wonderful "pitchfork" line not being John's, and I was mightily bummed out. Does anyoneone know where it came from? John asked Harry Nilsson for "an Americanism" (a uniquely American saying) he could use in the song. Nilsson responded with "it's like trying to shovel smoke with a pitchfork in the wind", a saying he had heard years before. Well, like "Life's what happens while you're busy making other plans" and "They're starving in China", it's his now.
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 16, 2012 13:10:17 GMT -5
I give "Old Dirt Road" a 3 for "Good." There is kind of a sad vibe running through it that I like. Of course, John says in Playboy that it was just a songwriting project for him and Harry because they needed to do something besides drink.
Still, I hear a beauty in it even if it doesn't seem fully realized lyrically.
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Post by stavros on Mar 16, 2012 15:56:01 GMT -5
Great idea Joe! I will catch up with the earlier ones you've posted too.
The new(ish) mix of Walls and Bridges was a big improvement on the old CD mix from the early 90s.
"Old Dirt Road" feels like it had great potential but somehow failed to fulfil it. It probably wouldn't have been out of place on Imagine. It's a good song but is delivered in a far too laid back style for me. A more rasping vocal and a bit more oommph could have made it great.
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kc
Beatle Freak
Posts: 1,085
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Post by kc on Mar 16, 2012 17:52:02 GMT -5
When I assess whether I like a song, or not, it is usually the overall sound, melody, instrumentation etc. that moves me, ahead of lyrics. I think that is why I appreciate many McCartney songs that others dismiss because of what they consider sub-standard writing.
I'm not saying that Old Dirt Road's lyrics are poor, they seem perfectly acceptable to me. A very atmospheric recording. I like the guitar and John's singing, especially the line "water, cool, clear water." It's not one of the major songs on Walls And Bridges and I prefer #9 Dream, Bless You, Scared and Steel And Glass. Nonetheless, I rate it as 3 (good).
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Post by ursamajor on Mar 17, 2012 0:50:54 GMT -5
It's a good album track and has a nice feel to it so I'll give it a 3.
I like the part "Hey Mr Human can you rainmaker to, I said I guess it's ok ya know the only thang we need is water - cool, clear, water"
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2012 2:55:44 GMT -5
There are quite a few gems on Walls and Bridges, this ain't one of them...
3
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Mar 18, 2012 23:39:11 GMT -5
This isn't John at his best or his worst. It's not bad, though. I can almost picture him in the studio making faces and recording this. 3 is where I put this one.
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gloi
Very Clean
Posts: 222
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Post by gloi on Mar 19, 2012 3:54:16 GMT -5
3. I like this song but it's not his best.
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Post by joshferrell on Mar 19, 2012 20:24:33 GMT -5
3..not bad but not great..
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Post by theman on Mar 27, 2012 20:02:30 GMT -5
This sounds better to me than I remembered. Very mature, if you will, but in a good way.
I'd give it a 3.
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