Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny has recently released a new album — What’s It All About. From the Nonesuch Records site:
After nearly 40 recordings under his own name, this is the first Pat Metheny album where there is not a single Metheny composition represented. This is a personal view of ten classic songs, some very well known, some less so, filtered through the harmonic and melodic ideology of a modern master with a most individual approach.
Of the three videos he’s released so far of performances from the album, this is probably my favorite. About it, Metheny himself says (at the same page linked above):
This was a huge hit in the late 60’s. One day i started playing around with it and while under the hood of the tune I found myself marveling at all the interesting moves that happen with the chords, especially on the bridge. And I used the same whole step modulation for the final A section of the song that was on the record, although I added a tag that is really not exactly derived from any obvious single point in the tune.
Gorgeous.
And, just for completeness’s sake, here’s the original, recorded in 1966 by The Association:
[Below, click Play button to begin Cherish. While audio is playing, volume control appears at left — a row of little vertical bars. This clip is 3:26 long.]
Nance says
We are so used to electric guitar and digitally mastered music, we forget the slide sound that fingers make on strings.
It’s the girls who made that song #1 on the Hit Parade. Is there a boomer female alive today who hasn’t mooned over The Association’s hit, wishing her guy would leave the Stones (19th Nervous Breakdown, Get Off Of My Cloud, Satisfaction) long enough to listen with her to the words? That was a stupendous album with an unusually lush sound for its time that’s since been called baroque pop. I still get chills from Along Came Mary.
Nance says
P.S.
Here’s something worth watching.
The Association on The Smothers Brothers
Jayne says
I love the bells in The Association’s Cherish, but Metheny brings a new eloquence to the song. I remember seeing him in my college days, at Brandeis U.– I think–and it’s a wonder to watch him work that guitar.
He’s as sharp as ever, and still has the hair! I’m glad some things don’t ever change.
John says
Nance: yes, exactly (to the comment about fingers on strings)! Something about that reminds me, for some reason, of Mason Williams and “Classical Gas…”
Loved that Smothers Bros. video!
(Hmm. And now I’m thinking the Mason Williams connection may actually have to do with the Smothers rather than guitar strings… The human mind is a curious instrument in its own right, ha.)
John says
Nance, a postscript of my own: the first fan of The Association I ever encountered was actually a guy who became one of my brothers-in-law. And I knew almost nobody who favored the Rolling Stones! (This was an inadvertently sheltered upbringing.)
s.o.m.e.one's brudder says
Well, you didn’t know that you knew someone who favored the Rolling Stones. One of my more interesting youthful wanderings was to occasionally stop by “Aunt Theresa’s” while her kids were out. She would let me listen to their record collections, which included – The Stones! Okay, it included the Beach Boys, too and I found them both to be more interesting in those wee years than The Beatles, actually. I’ve since modified my judgment. May have been all those years of the Beach Boys touring with the SAME songs.
Metheny, STILL one of the most amazing concert experiences I’ve ever experienced. Don’t know if he’s ever been nominated for the MacArthur Award, but he is certainly due. There are those I know that certainly don’t “get” him, but even the one sour-note I experienced in my fandom must be applauded for it’s viruosity – Song X with Ornette Coleman. Adding this exemplary version of a family standard (made the same bro-in-law “association” immediately. hey, that pun is especially appropriate here!), just moves him a notch higher in my book. And then there’s the ever popular – I Agree With Pat Metheny http://www.richardthompson-music.com/audio/I_Agree_With_Pat_Metheny.mp3. A slightly different but officially endorsed version by Richard Thompson.