Happy Birthday, Chuck!
I LOVE this video. If I had a lot of time today I would kick off a discussion with my commentary, but maybe Pik, K and BtEG can do so in the comment section.
"The slurs start right here."
"You want to get it right... let's get it right."
LOL
Oh yeah. I have lost lots of sleep watching that movie when it shows up on cable late at night. Love it -- love it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'd agree with the "arrogance" label, Pauli. This is just two craftsman dealing with one another, and adding a little alpha-dogging on top of it. When all is said and done, it is all about the music, and you can see it on their faces.
I also like the bit in the movie with Bruce Springsteen talking about what it is like playing a gig with Chuck. Chuck travels by himself, and expects a house band to be there and ready to play at show time -- Bruce and the band were that house band one time, and Bruce talks about it. Classic.
Here's the link to the Springsteen bit. (Turns out they weren't the house band, but the opening act.)
ReplyDeleteLooks like Bruce got to play with Chuck another time.
There's a lot to love in that clip, and the look on pianist Johnnie Johnson's face while Keith is trying to get it right is high on the list.
ReplyDeleteI believe Johnson sued Berry for copyright infringement at one point. The look he gives Richards can be translated "Man, don't get him started!"
ReplyDeleteDefinitely alpha-dogging is the short characterization, but remember, this is Berry's song. The arrogance I'm talking about is Richards at the beginning saying stuff like "I don't think Chuck realizes what he did... I don't think he does" blah, blah, blah. Idealizing Berry as some kind of idiot genius is sort of condescending, perhaps inadvertently.
Then he is forced to learn some humility under the tutelage of the real Chuck Berry who is anything but unaware of his greatness. The perfect response to Richards earlier musings comes about in the Carol rehearsal when Berry says "OK, well then REALIZE IT!!" Keith is still talking to Berry as if Berry doesn't understand how to record. Richards is actually acting much more professional than Berry, who can better be described as professorial.
That beginning monologue with Richards would work well as a "This is your brain on drugs" commercial.
ReplyDeleteBoth the drummer and the pianist looked like they were impatient to get on with the song at one point.
Pauli, did you know there's some kind of Chuck Berry tribute going on down at the Rock 'n Roll Hall?
NO! That's cool. I'm going to hit the streets for Romney-Ryan tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI only watched the first half. Musicians are difficult people, period. the more they care the more difficult they are.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could appreciate guys like Chuck Berry the way 1960s English guys do. but too much came after and I don't hear it the way they do. the Brits also have a yen for things american that strikes me as an over-sentimentalizing of pretty dysfunctional stuff .
I don't think the heated dispute is about how to play "Carol" -- the heated dispute is about the setting on Chuck's amp. (There is a quick edit at 2:08 from Chuck sitting on the couch to Chuck then standing up playing the song.) When Keith is learning the song, there isn't any dispute -- just Keith frustrated until he gets it and Chuck being a perfectionist.
ReplyDelete(Sorry, I have a soft spot for Keef, for some unknowable reason.)
Don't know if you've seen the whole movie, but the project came about because Keith wanted to put a concert together for Chuck in honor of his 60th birthday. IIRC, Keith figured that Chuck never got to play with a first-rate band, and that he deserved to have that.
All's well that ends well, as the show comes off well.