Mack the Knife

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I have a space-time-continuum/temporal-loop story that involves this song, and a LOOOOONG trip back from a coal mine project in Colorado circa 1976ish...but I'll not go there tonight!

🙂
Loyal

Imagine a time when musicians actually appeared in formal attire to audiences who did the same. Pretty cool! Thanks for the post Loyal!

CV

yep the original Mack the Knife is not an upbeat jazzy song.

My daughter had a gig playing trumpet in the pit orchestra for a local production of that play.

[flash width=480 height=385] http://www.youtube.com/v/_QXJ3OXWaOY?fs=1&hl=en_US [/flash]

LOL! Loved the 1st link in the OP. It appeared as though Louis's audience didn't know whether to get up and groove, run from fright or die from boredom. Gotta love those Brits. Thanks for sharing, Loyal. (Louis's take on the song was the best ever imho. Horns and gravelly vocals rule on that tune.)

Take care,
Ed

Louis Armstrong has a huge callous on his upper lip.

> yep the original Mack the Knife is not an upbeat jazzy song.
>

>
> [flash width=480 height=385] http://www.youtube.com/v/_QXJ3OXWaOY?fs=1&hl=en_US [/flash]br>
No doubt. Almost makes ya want to ask, "hey!, is the circus back in town?!" 🙂

> Louis Armstrong has a huge callous on his upper lip.

As well as he was meant to have, maybe? 😉

I saw Louis Armstrong live in Las Vegas in the early 60's with my parents. It was kind of sad because that kind of music was not considered cool at the time and the place was only half full but I and my parents enjoyed it. It was around the "Hello Dolly" period so he was somewhat of a current draw.

Louis is one of the artists I never saw live that I wished I had. One of the ways I've compensated is my several sojourns to Naw' Leans through the years. Spirits like his live there. And they're everywhere round those parts.

I like to go see the old-timers even when they might be a little past their prime. Some recent examples being Tom Jones, Al Green, both of which I couldn't imagine being any better. When we saw James Brown many years ago, he was old but he was still James Brown and there was nothing like him, ever.

Steve

There is an article in the Wall Street Journal, Friday Journal section yesterday about Bob Dylan.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704594804575648691223353352.html

One thing they said was Bob Dylan is still pursuing his art while most of the 60s and 70s groups still performing are mostly trading on nostalgia. For example, The Rolling Stones are now The Rolling Stones incorporated and they mostly play faithful renditions of their big hits for the crowd.

here's the first comment...

"The word "should" can be dangerous. I try never to use the term when discussing an adult. As long as Bob Dylan enjoys what he is doing, and as long as there are people who want to listen to him, it's no one else's business.

I have seen Dylan perform many times over the years. Some concerts were fantastic; some were awful. You never know what you'll get with him. But I am very happy to have had the opportunity to see him perform, and I still regard him as a unique and special talent.

Good, bad, or indifferent, I hope Bob Dylan continues to perform and create music for many more years." -Kenneth Beitler

Of course the guy is correct.

Dylan

I've been a Dylan fan since the early days and I have most if not all of his records. In 1998, I think it was, my wife and I went to see him and she became like a born-again Dylan freak. We've gone to at least a couple of his shows a year since then, sometimes four or five. She's got her ipod half full with studio and bootleg Dylan including boots of his radio show "Theme Time Radio" which good road-trip listening. His last four albums stack up with his 60's material quite well if you ask me.

I think he makes his voice sound that way on purpose, trying to sound like Howlin' Wolf or somebody. The more people criticize him, the more he does what they criticize, he's always been that way. On some of his more recent songs, his voice is clear and melodic, it's not like it's damaged beyond repair. Every time I see him, I feel privileged in a way I don't feel with too many other artists. I am a huge Rolling Stones freak but I think they could learn from Dylan to reinvent themselves a bit in their old age. Mick can still pull it off acting like he's 25 but why?