Santana-Clapton
December 14, 2010 8:11 PM   Subscribe

guitar It doesn't get much better than this.... I would suggest you close your eyes as you listen..
posted by HuronBob (73 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
those shoes Clapton's wearing did make me wish i'd closed my eyes, i will grant you that.
posted by radiosilents at 8:13 PM on December 14, 2010 [3 favorites]


Mr. Eric Clapton!
posted by serazin at 8:21 PM on December 14, 2010 [5 favorites]


(Ugh, I had insta-regret for posting snark. Sorry HuronBob. I do think it's worth sharing that Clapton is a big dick though.)
posted by serazin at 8:22 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


To be fair, Clapton had a big heron habit.

Also in that link - a story about Jerry Dammers pointing out to Clapton at the Mandela concert that this was his chance to apologise for what he said in 1976, and him not just refusing but feeling insulted that he was asked.

I've heard stories that the 1976 gig wasn't the only one where Clapton has given voice to his racism in public, though I can't find confirmation right now.

On the other hand, listening to Santana ripping him a new one in this video is indeed a pleasure.
posted by motty at 8:32 PM on December 14, 2010


They were wearing shoes? I didn't notice because THE AWESOME WAS TOO STRONG
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:32 PM on December 14, 2010


Serazin... It's ok...

Metafilter is an interesting place, lots of opinions....you have a right to post your thoughts..

There are not many topics or FPP's that don't have a counterpoint...

but...the music is still good..

peace..
posted by HuronBob at 8:32 PM on December 14, 2010


You know, I used to do a lot of drugs when I was younger too! They never made me say things I didn't actually think - they only made me say things that I was thinking yet knew to not say to other people when I wasn't on drugs.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:34 PM on December 14, 2010 [4 favorites]


The audio quality is better in this copy: link
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 8:34 PM on December 14, 2010 [3 favorites]


it gets so much better than this
posted by triceryclops at 8:36 PM on December 14, 2010 [12 favorites]


I'm going to have to honestly say that the "shreds" version is more entertaining, musically.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:36 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


clapton had a big heron habit until BP poisoned them all.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:36 PM on December 14, 2010 [4 favorites]


I prefer pelicans myself.
posted by spitbull at 8:39 PM on December 14, 2010 [4 favorites]


I contend that the phrase "it doesn't get better than this" has been ruined by married parents on Facebook.
posted by rhizome at 8:39 PM on December 14, 2010 [7 favorites]


I've never understood why this style of music has always filled me with anger. I can't stand Clapton or Santana and never could. It always just sounds like so much guitar masturbation. No doubt a failing of my own but I can never hear the tune. It always just seems to be screaming "Look at me!"

But then I hear stuff like this and am just wowed. Same instrument, same lack of vocals, and I'm dumbstruck.
posted by dobbs at 8:43 PM on December 14, 2010 [18 favorites]


It gets a lot better than this - Eric Clapton? Oy.
posted by dbiedny at 8:45 PM on December 14, 2010 [3 favorites]


This doesn't suck.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:52 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


dobbs.... thanks...
posted by HuronBob at 8:53 PM on December 14, 2010


Metafilter: ...
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:01 PM on December 14, 2010 [2 favorites]


You're welcome, HuronBob. If you enjoyed that, here's some Blackshaw MP3s, though not of solo guitar.

I don't think he's 30 yet but he's got 8 fantastic "solo" albums and tours regularly. I saw him in a small room last year and it was wonderful.

He's also half of Brethren of the Free Spirit--the other half being lute player Jozen Van Wissem. They have two albums.
posted by dobbs at 9:09 PM on December 14, 2010


Clapton is one of those guys that I have to occasionally remind myself is better than I give him credit for. He's an incredibly gifted guitarist, but it seems like that gift seldom translates to anything I enjoy. If I'm going to rave about a rock guitarist, usually the first one I go to will be Richard Thompson.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 9:15 PM on December 14, 2010 [5 favorites]


i closed my eyes. and immediately closed the pop-up window. things got better.
posted by rainperimeter at 9:18 PM on December 14, 2010


As long as dobbs is gonna drop in a gem, I've got a few:

Mediterranean Sundance (also: album version)

maybe the most important music you'll ever hear in your life
posted by carsonb at 9:23 PM on December 14, 2010 [5 favorites]


I swear this is a dub, but I can't find it. It must have been in a comment or something.
posted by sunshinesky at 9:26 PM on December 14, 2010


On the other hand, listening to Santana ripping him a new one in this video is indeed a pleasure.

i don't know - i thought the bass player owned both of them with his little solo - that just plain took it to another level
posted by pyramid termite at 9:47 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


guitar | guitar | guitar
posted by koeselitz at 9:48 PM on December 14, 2010


But then I hear stuff like this and am just wowed. Same instrument, same lack of vocals, and I'm dumbstruck.

you should be - he's actually picking each string of the courses of his 12 string separately at times, which is incredibly advanced right hand technique - and trust me - it seems that a lot of people go on endlessly about what the fretting hand does, but it's the picking hand that makes or breaks a guitar player
posted by pyramid termite at 10:06 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


I love every link posted in this thread so far, and just what the hell is supposed to be wrong with masturbation, anyway?
posted by adamdschneider at 10:11 PM on December 14, 2010 [2 favorites]


I've never understood why this style of music has always filled me with anger. I can't stand Clapton or Santana and never could. It always just sounds like so much guitar masturbation. No doubt a failing of my own but I can never hear the tune. It always just seems to be screaming "Look at me!"

But then I hear stuff like this and am just wowed. Same instrument, same lack of vocals, and I'm dumbstruck.


I generally feel the same way - Clapton leaves me totally cold, but I'll sit there dumbstruck while listening to Fahey, Kottke, or Jack Rose.
posted by LionIndex at 10:14 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


Tosin Abasi. Also.
posted by vanar sena at 10:19 PM on December 14, 2010


Since we're offering alternatives: consider Atkins, Douglas, & Fleck.
posted by kneecapped at 10:22 PM on December 14, 2010


It doesn't get much better than this.... I would suggest you close your eyes as you listen..
I would suggest I am not as high as you are.
posted by sanko at 10:22 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


Clapton's a conundrum in all manner of ways. Over-rated, asinine personal politx, not God, but without him we wouldn't have moments like this (watch out for the short guy in the red hat).
posted by philip-random at 10:37 PM on December 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


And here's Marisa Anderson with a measly 28 views. She's got a record coming out on Mississippi in January.
posted by dobbs at 10:38 PM on December 14, 2010


just what the hell is supposed to be wrong with masturbation

Nothing. In fact, I'm doing it right now.
posted by dobbs at 10:44 PM on December 14, 2010 [3 favorites]


Glenn Branca, 1978
posted by radiosilents at 10:49 PM on December 14, 2010 [4 favorites]


I've been digging on this kind of awesome lately. In my world Clapton isn't worthy to wash Norman Blake's underpants.

And, I'm with dobbs and slack-a-gogo. Sorry HuronBob but I hate Clapton's electric stuff, and everything by Santana. I despise Carlos Santana with a fierce, burning passion. The soundtrack to hell is that song by him and what's his nuts from Matchbox 20. I could never really put my finger on it but I feel like it's the dumbed-down commercialization of blues and rock that got shit out of the 80s in a lazy pile of we-don't-give-a-fuck but we have 9 Ferraris and a wheelbarrow of blow and we'll coast on Layla for a decade. I was really glad to see Clapton go back to doing more acoustic blues stuff.
posted by jimmythefish at 10:55 PM on December 14, 2010 [3 favorites]


I saw these two play together in 1972 (Keith Moon and Joe Cocker joined them on stage) - I don't remember the entire set list but all four were on stage for "Why Does Love Got to So Sad" and "Badge"

This video however... I really, really don't want to snark, I mean the following as lifelong fan of Eric: except for 30 seconds around the 5:00 mark, it looks to me like Eric phoned this in. If I was trying to show somebody why Eric is God, I would not point to this particular performance.
posted by victors at 10:57 PM on December 14, 2010


Sorry, off by 3: here's a rundown of the concert I was referring to.
posted by victors at 11:00 PM on December 14, 2010


Lots of great stuff everybody, thanks! Here's a few more:
Robin Trower
Frank Zappa
Randy Rhoads
Andy McKee
Steve Vai
Eric Sardinas
and Steve f-ing Howe
posted by and for no one at 11:14 PM on December 14, 2010




Dirty Projectors - Temecula Sunrise
As my friend gabe says, that guy is an absolute monster on the guitar.
posted by thetruthisjustalie at 12:07 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


This post has reminded me that I'm overdue for a healthy dose of old school Friedman/Mustaine, Rust in Peace style.
posted by Rhomboid at 12:42 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


Why are all these awesome videos limited to 240p?! I'd love to hear some cleaner audio.
posted by archagon at 1:12 AM on December 15, 2010


Carlos Paredes is my favorite guitar soloist.
posted by okokok at 1:50 AM on December 15, 2010


I swear this is a dub, but I can't find it. It must have been in a comment or something.

yes, i've been led up this garden path before from the blue. and i hated it the first time as well.
posted by peterkins at 2:52 AM on December 15, 2010


It's like the CNNNN news ticker: "Audience secretly fears Santana guitar solo will go on forever", only now there's Eric Clapton thrown in to make it even more meandering & pointless.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:15 AM on December 15, 2010 [5 favorites]


John McLaughlin / Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Jan Hammer on the keys!
posted by sklero at 3:39 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]


Are we plugging our favorite guitarist? Cause I've got this.
posted by Dr Dracator at 4:26 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


James Blackshaw is utterly amazing - i can't find a good version of his "Cloud of Unknowing" online but it's easily one of the most beautiful pieces i have ever heard for guiter

guitar lovers all need to check out: Friday Night in San Francisco (John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Paco DeLucia)

- Mediterranean Sundance
- Frevo Rasgado
- Fantasia Suite
posted by jammy at 4:53 AM on December 15, 2010


I liked it.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:03 AM on December 15, 2010


Let me guess: Santana does all his solos modal.

I kid, of course.

Sort of.
posted by clvrmnky at 5:26 AM on December 15, 2010


Not forgetting Martin Simpson - just him and a rather good guitar.
posted by jan murray at 5:47 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


Guitar virtuosos? I give you Andy Gill.
posted by stargell at 7:02 AM on December 15, 2010


Bill Orcutt FTW!
posted by battleshipkropotkin at 7:03 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


It's Santana. It's Clapton. While there's a lot of what you'd expect on stage when Santana and Clapton are sharing it, I was kind of hoping for Clapton to do more than stroll around, chunking out a rhythm and occasionally moving his hips with a forced grin on his face, as if he were an white guy out of his element, trying to fit in at the street party down at the other end of the neighborhood.
posted by ardgedee at 7:47 AM on December 15, 2010


Frank Zappa already won this game thirty years ago with "Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression."

Meanwhile, everyone should watch this video. Pay close attention to the guy in a medical mask to stage left, and watch especially for what he does at 1:41. That's Ichirou Agata, the greatest and most talented guitar player in the world today. Someday tired old people will sigh and talk reverently about Agata's guitar solos the way they do about Clapton and Santana now.
posted by koeselitz at 8:27 AM on December 15, 2010 [3 favorites]




Glenn Branca's been referenced already in this thread, but not his crazy proteges who took his planet expanding disciplines and used them to rearrange the entire known universe ... or something like that.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Sonic Youth (while they were still actually young) riding their silver rocket to here knows when.
posted by philip-random at 9:49 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


As my friend gabe says, that guy is an absolute monster on the guitar.

He is, but so is Amber.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 10:42 AM on December 15, 2010


Archagon: Why are all these awesome videos limited to 240p?! I'd love to hear some cleaner audio.

I have no idea whether it's accessible from outside of the Netherlands, but if so, this might be of better quality: http://player.omroep.nl/?aflID=6967979 - James Blackshaw starts at 19:08.
posted by Ms. Next at 1:21 PM on December 15, 2010


The guitar work here is pretty good (I think that's Blixa Bargeld playing, though he has said that he hates guitars) but it's sort of overshadowed by the superlative jackhammer and pavement saw combo.
posted by koeselitz at 1:46 PM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


Yes, guitar thread! This is my current favorite guitar thing.
posted by Put the kettle on at 3:17 PM on December 15, 2010


The only thing special about Santana and Clapton is that they are Extremely Popular Musicians. To suggest they are the pinnacle of guitar is kind of ridiculous.
posted by tehloki at 5:40 PM on December 15, 2010


also gonna throw in a clip of my favorite acoustic guitar nerd

seriously if there was a guitar version of linux it would be don ross
posted by tehloki at 5:43 PM on December 15, 2010


Kevin Drumm
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:39 PM on December 15, 2010


... and in case you missed it last time, there's Iron Man on electric guitar with tesla coils to be considered.
posted by philip-random at 10:32 PM on December 15, 2010




Frank Zappa already won this game thirty years ago with "Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression .

except that carlos can play one note with more feeling than frank did in the entire song - and i like frank, and i like what he does here - but carlos plays from the heart, not from the head
posted by pyramid termite at 9:37 PM on December 16, 2010


"feeling"

(Pantomime passion face ftl)
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:29 PM on December 17, 2010


also gonna throw in a clip of my favorite acoustic guitar nerd

I have been listening to this nonstop ever since you posted it. That top comment is priceless, too.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:26 AM on December 19, 2010


pyramid termite: “except that carlos can play one note with more feeling than frank did in the entire song - and i like frank, and i like what he does here - but carlos plays from the heart, not from the head”

Absolutely. This is admittedly stretching a little, but I always saw it as a kind of backhanded tribute – sure, Carlos plays along with the same chord progression a hell of a lot, but he's amazingly soulful, and Frank was mostly using it as an occasion to shut up and play his own guitar. I'm pretty sure Carlos has heard that piece and is on record as having enjoyed it. I do, in any case, think it's a definitive statement in some ways on Santana's skills and limitations. Frank was certainly a faster guitar player, but that doesn't mean much in the end; Carlos Santana could construct a fantastic and deceptively simple melody on the fly. That's really what counts. It's sort of the difference between Fats Waller and Art Tatum, really; Art could play the fucker fast, but Fats had soul.
posted by koeselitz at 10:49 PM on December 19, 2010


If Carlos Santana has soul, I'm a salmon taco.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 3:17 AM on December 20, 2010


can i get fries with that?
posted by pyramid termite at 8:15 AM on December 20, 2010 [1 favorite]


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