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Posted by Big Jim on 07-05-2008 at20:41:

Hgb!!

First of all, let me say that I'm envious of those that have or will see the 77's live for this tour. Kudos to you folks - wish I could have been there, esp. @ C-stone...

HGB - the whole thing rocks, plain and simple! I got my copy on Tuesday (good turnaround) and have been spinning it at every opportunity, much to the chagrin of my wife (my wife does like some of it and my boys do dig it!) :^) So far, I don't think it's going too far to say it's definitely in my top two for 77's albums. Every track is great and the musicianship is stellar on each one. The guitars, bass and drums - all awesome. Hearing Mike's work on "Refuge" just blows me away - incredible! The harmonizing (sorry for the pun) is great on several tracks, esp. "What would you give in exchange for your soul?" "I'm Working on a Building" and "Keep your lamps..." both groove! But I already knew that b/c I had taken several sneak listens on myspace. "Stranger Won't you Change your sinful ways" - if I'm not mistaken, this classic was penned by fellow friend/musician Steve Scott (Lost Horizon)??!! This is an awesome tune! "I'll Remember You, Love, In my Prayers" - Mike out-Keiths Keith Richards on this one! Rockin' tune to say the least. "You're Gonna Be Sorry" - great groove - vocals sung along to some of the lead guitar, like in "Nobody's Fault But Mine". Things are slowed down a notch with "He's a mighty good leader" - great acoustic guitar playing and vocals here on this one. "When my Blue Turns to Gold Again" sounds like it came right out of the Sun studio sessions - nice vocals and guitar playing - very cool. "Everybody ought to pray sometime" - fun song - I know this isn't what Mike was going for, but for some reason I envision Adam Sandler singing that song based on the delivery of some of the lines. I understand it is faithful to the original, so with this one (as well as the others), I will try to find and listen to the originals - Mike Beidler said he was going to find the originals on itunes (make it a 77's tribute) and that sounds like an excellent idea... The new 77's tune "A Lifetime without You" is a jangly pop tune, a sad tune that leaves us wanting more (since it is the last track on this gem of an album). Very emotive tune, even if the writer calls himself an f'in dunce. We've all been there...

Thanks to the 77's for an awesome achievement - I hope this album garners all the recognition it deserves... Looking forward to hearing the reports about C-stone!

~Jim O'Dell

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Posted by Nailtatt on 07-06-2008 at00:02:

 

I got the disc today!!!!! Naturally I spun it IMMEDIATELY! I love it! Every song is excellent! I dig the last song but admit it almost feels out of place on this particular album but I am glad it's there that's for damn sure!!!!!!

Once again the fellas come through with flying colors not that I expected anything less! I love you guys and thanks for another great piece of ear candy!!!!!!

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Posted by pmac on 07-06-2008 at21:16:

  RE: Hgb!!

quote:

Originally posted by Big Jim "Everybody ought to pray sometime" - fun song - I know this isn't what Mike was going for, but for some reason I envision Adam Sandler singing that song based on the delivery of some of the lines.

Hey Big Jim - you're close to ruining that song for me with that comment!

I love this album. I've tended to be more of a Dog's fan than the 77s (probably in the minority on that count), but I'm really enjoying this CD. I suppose because it feels more bluesy, with bits of country and bluegrass... more, I think, than other 77s discs.

Can't pick a standout, enjoying them all. Although A Lifetime Without You - while good - seems out of place with the rest.

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Posted by nick on 07-07-2008 at04:14:

 

A lifetime without you reminds me of something off of fun w/ sound which isn't a bad thing!!! I love this CD and it is now in my top fav Cds of the 7s. The concert was stellar also. More to come later....

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Posted by Big Jim on 07-07-2008 at09:55:

  RE: Hgb!!

quote:

Originally posted by pmac Hey Big Jim - you're close to ruining that song for me with that comment!

Sorry PMAC - please forget I said anything then! I love this song! Must get this out of my head! I do think Adam Sandler is funny sometimes, but he has no place singing a 77's song (even if it is in my head!)

quote:

I love this album. I've tended to be more of a Dog's fan than the 77s (probably in the minority on that count), but I'm really enjoying this CD. I suppose because it feels more bluesy, with bits of country and bluegrass... more, I think, than other 77s discs. Can't pick a standout, enjoying them all. Although A Lifetime Without You - while good - seems out of place with the rest.

Yeah, that's cool - I like the 77's and the Lost Dogs, but for different reasons. I'm hard pressed to pick a standout as well - it really is ALL GOOD. This CD does bring in all those influences you mention and is a GREAT concept. I understand what you're saying about "A Lifetime Without You" - doesn't really fit in with the theme of the entire album, but I think is a good tune nonetheless... I think of it as a nice bonus tune...

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Posted by God-rules on 07-07-2008 at10:37:

 

I haven't actually listened to it yet......But of course I saw Mike perform it solo last month, got the whole band feel at the Gallery, saw Mike do another cut or two solo, then saw a couple tracks on the mainstage. Sorry, the disc can't come close

not trying to rub it in..........

Michaelmaybetomorrow

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Posted by God-rules on 07-07-2008 at10:39:

 

Oops BTW, welcome guys, haven't seen you around previously (either much or at all)

Glad you took time to post. Now you can come down to the off-topic area and play with the "big dogs"

Michaelwelcomeagain

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Posted by Chesterdox on 07-07-2008 at10:39:

 

Hey Big Jim, I thought the exact same thing about Adam Sandler... I actually pictured him singing it. I was gonna post the same thing but thought I would be the only one who heard it that way!

That said, it doesn't even come close to ruining it for me. Great tune, great performance.

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Posted by pmac on 07-07-2008 at19:50:

 

quote:

Originally posted by God-rules Oops BTW, welcome guys, haven't seen you around previously (either much or at all) Glad you took time to post. Now you can come down to the off-topic area and play with the "big dogs" Michaelwelcomeagain

Thanks for the welcome, G-R. Hopefully will make more time to participate. Been following the 77s off and on for years, since reading a review of Drowning... in True Tunes News. Which I still have sitting on a shelf - 1994? Where has the time gone?!?

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Posted by pmac on 07-07-2008 at19:58:

  RE: Hgb!!

quote:

Originally posted by Big Jim I'm hard pressed to pick a standout as well - it really is ALL GOOD.

Yep. I know it's a winner when my kids are already playing air guitar and singing along to some of it, after only a couple listens. Even my 13 year old daughter, whose musical tastes are starting to turn towards some real crappola...

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Posted by Joey T. on 07-09-2008 at12:24:



it's finally here and it's fabulous!

(about the only review i can give after only a couple spins......... )

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Posted by Chesterdox on 07-09-2008 at13:33:

 

I know this is way premature, but I sure hope there's a sequel to HGB. I'm sure there's enough material to do it again.

I wondered how good the concept was before the album was finished & released, and now that I've heard & re-heard it many times (my wife is starting to roll her eyes at me when I try to put it on in the car ), I still think it's their best album yet.

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Posted by dennis on 07-09-2008 at18:17:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Joey T. it's finally here and it's fabulous! (about the only review i can give after only a couple spins......... )

Yes. Yes it is!

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Posted by Skevin on 07-11-2008 at11:26:

 

HGB to me is the best album they've ever done, musically. And maybe the best all around. I'm impressed with how they took a bunch of songs they didn't write and made them sound like their own. If anyone's listened to any tribute albums you know this is a hard task but the 77's nailed it.

I love how this record was recorded "live in studio" and this makes Dr. Love's guitar playing on "You're Gonna Be Sorry" even more impressive. Truth is, I can't skip a track and I can't seem to eject it from my cd player. And it's been a while since any album's done that. Last was "Illinoise" by Sufjan I think.

I remember the album title nomination thread and I was thinking, "I hope their next album is "Ear fashion for the blind". So I nominated it. And even though they didn't choose that title, it certainly is.

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Posted by Cynthia on 07-11-2008 at11:54:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Skevin HGB to me is the best album they've ever done, musically. And maybe the best all around. I'm impressed with how they took a bunch of songs they didn't write and made them sound like their own. If anyone's listened to any tribute albums you know this is a hard task but the 77's nailed it.

That's one of the things I'm the most amazed with too. It's got to take a great deal of talent to change the tune of so many songs and not have any of them on the album sound like the other on the album. If I tried that I know it'd be the some melody over and over for each song. I've always been amazed by how they were able to change "It's So Sad". To be able to take the original song and completely redo the melody for the Mutt album, has got to just take an incredible amount of talent.

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Posted by Chesterdox on 07-14-2008 at09:26:

 

Bruce & Mark do the Jordanaires proud on Blue Moon.

Buh-dup-buh-dup, Buh-dup-buh-dup, Buh-dup-buh-dup, Buh-dup-buh-dup-buuuuhhh...

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Posted by snowblind on 07-15-2008 at12:22:

 

quote:

Originally posted by Marti quote: Originally posted by larryl my 9 yr old, who has never cared about dad's music, suddenly wants a copy of this........ My 20-year-old wants a copy of this album, and will probably get one for his birthday. He was vastly impressed and is 110% 77s fan after the show last night.

I bought a copy for my 66 year old father at the Atlanta show. He's never been a 77's fan, but he loves that old rockabilly stuff from the 50s, so I played a couple of cuts off it the day of the show. He says he really likes it....

Now, I keep waiting for the inevitable question, "what is an 'effin' dunce'?"

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Posted by Pharmjimmy on 07-15-2008 at15:53:

 

My 75 y/o Father was able to make it to the John the Baptist tour. It was so funny b/c he hated my music when I was growing up "Doing it For Love".

Dad was very impressed with Mike and loved all the songs. He unfortunatelly wasn't able to make the Holy Ghost Building Concert here in Rock Island because he passed away three weeks prior to show.

He was truly blessed by the music. What a great memory to have.

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Posted by Doctor Love on 07-15-2008 at23:16:

  great pic Chesterdetox!

Don't forget Doctor, who's one of the Ordinaires also !! ~~ and check out your namesake 'ol Chester Atkins leanin' in on rhythm guitar

quote:

Originally posted by Chesterdox Bruce & Mark do the Jordanaires proud on Blue Moon. Buh-dup-buh-dup, Buh-dup-buh-dup, Buh-dup-buh-dup, Buh-dup-buh-dup-buuuuhhh...

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Posted by dennis on 07-16-2008 at03:12:

  RE: great pic Chesterdetox!

quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Love Don't forget Doctor, who's one of the Ordinaires also !! ~~ and check out your namesake 'ol Chester Atkins leanin' in on rhythm guitar

Mr Atkins is the coolest one in the room!