For Michael: "Your Mind" banter

[silentseason]

Michael,

One of the best studio documents for the band was the tracking session for "Your Mind..." from Jan '68. In particular I was wondering what the deal was with Arthur's somewhat critical analysis of Johnny after a complete take of the song was performed and Arthur offered this (this may not be the exact wording but it is close):

"Echols, man, I don't get your trip. You played in one key for the whole song. You're the one who always says you can blow in the studio, with no one to bug you. You gotta blow man."

I just find it curious as the take that was done before this opinion sounds very similar to the recorded version. The whole band was rocking, and I thought Johnny gave a real blistering solo. Was this just "Arthur being Arthur" or was there a technicality that a non-musician/non-band member wouldn't pick up on?

[MichaelStuart-Ware]

Sorry for the slight delay getting back. Yes, that was Arthur being Arthur. There was nothing wrong with the way Johnny was playing. His solo was indeed blistering.

Strange isn't it, that we (yes, I've done it too) sometimes feel the need to conjure up an explanation for Arthur's occasional forays into the unexplainable by characterizing it simply as Arthur just being Arthur?

So why do we do it? Because we want to like the whole Arthur. He gave us so much joy and pleasure, his insight was so gargantuan, and his talent so profound, we don't want to think he could do something selfish, or arrogant or mean. Besides, it doesn't make any sense does it? How can the two opposing entities coexist so peacefully in the same human being?

You know...I hear Einstein was a lousy cook. Seriously. Couldn't bake a potato.

[jamestkirk]

Funny! I bet Einstein knew the science of baking it though! He likely had a theory on why his potatoes wouldn't bake.




Hey Michael....did Arthur ever berate or question your drumming during a particular tracking session, and did you shrug it off, as usual, as "that's just Arthur"?

[MichaelStuart-Ware]

Arthur never questioned or berated my drumming (to my face, anyway) and only made one request during the sessions for both Da Capo and Forever Changes...that was for me to "push the tempo" on some of the already-upbeat cuts.