TimHighfield
Group: Members
Posts: 543
Joined: Oct. 2000 |
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Posted: Jan. 25 2003, 23:48 |
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There's been a bit of talk recently about cover versions, Mike's popularity and cowbells. Just recently I've come across (stuff related to) some of these, so I'll make a few observations about them.
First, the 'Moonlight Shadow' cover by, I think, Groove Coverage. It's started getting airplay on a (few) radio station(s), at least here in Perth - so much so that one station, a teenage-early 20s-orientated station (92.9FM) had the cover version voted as the #1 song at least once in a 'New 30 Countdown' or something like that - I think that these countdowns happen once an evening each weekday, and are voted for by listeners of the station, but I'm not sure since I don't normally bother with that particular station.
Anyway, about the cover - it's nothing special. Reminds of the approach taken to, for example, the cover of 'Boys of Summer' late last year - same basic track, same style for vocals, just no guitar solo and heavy on the drums in parts.
Moving on - 'Tubular Cowbells'. Ah yes. While I haven't heard it, I came across this article in a local newspaper which I thought I might as well type up:
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Duncraig's Mag Seven go for gold
If Duncraig band Magnificent Seven brings back a Golden Guitar from the Tamworth Country Musical Festival next week, it will be a coup for more than one reason.
For starters, it will be the first WA-based group to win the coveted title.
And unusually, the accolade will be for a B-side track to the band's latest single.
Tubular Cowbells, a country version of Mike Oldfield's '70s classic Tubular Bells, is the culmination of various musicians' work and months of arranging by band members Tim Count and Alan Simpson.
When the band slapped the track on the B-side of their single A Little Tropical, the last thing they expected was for it to be nominated for a Golden Guitar for Instrumental of the Year.
A Little Tropical, which topped the Australian Country Music charts this month, tells the story of a character that drops out of the rat race to sit under a tree, drink beer and smoke marijuana.
The song was picked up by an ABC disc jockey in Far North Queensland last year and has enjoyed national airplay ever since. Drummer and band manager Alan Simpson said the DJ had contacted him to nominate it for a Golden Guitar.
"But he thought there would be an outcry because of the subject matter," Simpson said.
"So he nominated the B-track, which happened to be Tubular Cowbells.
"It's basically a country take on Tubular Bells with honky tonk instead of grand piano and banjo instead of the mandolin."
Simpson said a Golden Guitar would be a coup for Mag Seven, as they are affectionately known to Perth audiences.
"It's a bit like the footy - no-one has ever won from WA," he said.
"We're all family men who work full-time jobs and play in the band as a hobby.
"We're also unsigned, which makes it hard to get promoted and get airplay."
Tubular Cowbells and A Little Tropical feature on their latest CD, Rust, Dust and Diamonds.
The CD is a collection of 23 tracks, including hits from the band's first two albums as well as several new tracks.
While major recording contracts have eluded Magnificent Seven, the band has won a People's Choice Award for two years running and narrowly missed-out on a Golden Guitar in 2001 for their hit single, Yes or No.
The band formed in 1986 from the remnants of popular Perth acts of the time V-Capri and The Frames.
The line-up has undergone several permutations since then, highlighted between the numeric discrepancy between the band's name and its current five members.
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Well, that's that. One more thing: I was in a furniture/computers/appliances shop yesterday, wandering through the TVs and DVD players when I heard a familiar sound. Followed it, and stood in front of a TV screen for twenty minutes or so watching the TB2 concert from Clear Light through to The Bell while it was on to demonstrate DVDs or TV clarity or something. I have to get that DVD now  .
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