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Whole Lotta Love going on here

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It Might Get Loud sets the bar for music documentaries.

Director Davis Guggenheim gets together rock guitar gods Jimmy Page, the Edge and Jack White for, in the words of Jimmy Page, a little chat and then something else happens!

The boys just happen to have all their instruments of honour off to the side and then it happens … Jimmy starts playing this little song called Whole Lotta Love. I don’t know if this was planned but this is the first song that is played with all three sitting together, PERFECT I say!

The other guys just melt when he begins playing. The Edge stands up to get a much closer look at how Jimmy does it (holy shit, I sure would) and it looks like Jack starts to smile and shake inside with excitement! He is trying his best not to totally freak out, check it out. This is the best part of the show!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suGVO5t96wI&feature=related

If you haven’t see it then search for it online or go out and buy it, I guarantee you’ll love it. I did. I remember when it first came out I thought that the concept was ideal. Having three generations of guitarists in one movie talking about whatever they want to can’t be all that bad. I didn’t think that they’d actually play but I couldn’t of been more wrong.

Keep on Jammin’





Elvis Costello playing Town Crier

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I saw Elvis Costello perform his song called Town Crier on his TV show Spectacle January 2010 and after hearing it for the first time I was hooked!

The song is a beautiful ballad that is so soft on the ears that it is difficult not to like it. He had the tables turned this time in playing the part of the interviewee? Mary Louise Parker is the interviewer that just sits there and melts for all to see. I know I did when I heard it.

I love how he just strums the strings on his acoustic guitar, a Stella I think, that gives off such a warm and inviting sound to the piece. This is a perfect example of how not using a pick can create a very intimate sound to a song. The chord structure and bridges that Mr Costello uses are simple and to the point.

In the beginning part before he starts playing, Elvis makes the point of saying that he would love to hear Barry White sing this one but with no disrespect to Barry, I think only Elvis could pull this one off. Mind you, it would be an interesting version for sure!

So sit back, turn down the lights, fire up a candle or two, OR if it’s raining outside get out your notebook and watch it while the rain is hitting the roof just right and enjoy!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c74V89CA8Y

Keep on Jammin’ Elvis

John Mayer says I Don’t need No Doctor

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As a guitarist who loves to show who and what has influenced his style over the years, John Mayer surely isn’t hiding his love for that Motown sound!

In the song I Don’t Need no Doctor by Motown songwriters Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford while made popular by Ray Charles (1966), he pays a reverence to this genre. It’s also from his live performance DVD in LA titled Where The Light Is. The intro that he does for Neon is a real nice. Now back to my post!

Many bands have attempted to play this great song like Humble Pie, New Riders of the Purple Sage or W.A.S.P. (remember them?). John Mayer’s interpretation of this song closely resembles that of John Scofield, which features guess guitarist Mr. Mayer. In Ray Charles adaptation, he has a more upbeat rhythm were as John Mayer’s is performed with a slower tempo with a swampy bluesy swagger.

In I Don’t Need No Doctor, which is a classic 12 bar blues song in the key of E, John hooks his distinctive chording in it. The trumpet player Brad Mason and saxophone player Bob Reynolds fill out the song rather fittingly.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXWKMwnWP4Q

Here are some neat chord inversions that John Mayer plays in this one. For this song, I will provide you with the chords in TAB form that I think he uses. Please be patient with this new TAB tables that I am using here folks. I’m just seeing how it comes up on some people’s screen. Please tell me if there is a problem viewing this post, thanx!

     C#m7b5     Dm9     Cadd#4     A7sus4     B7sus4  
E  X X 0 5 7
B  4 4 2 5 7
G  2 3 0 7 9
D  3 1 3 5 7
A  1 2 1 7 9
E  X X X 5 7

Keep on Jammin’

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